Spots on postware equipment...

[Anonymous]

I had some trains in the basement that collected dust for a while, I dusted them off the other day and they had these spots on them, that weren't there before! It looks like crap! Anbody know what this stuff is, how to get it off safely, and how to prevent it from happening again?

links to images
http://home.comcast.net/~uber_caulker/boxcar_top.jpg
http://home.comcast.net/~uber_caulker/wc_top.jpg
http://home.comcast.net/~uber_caulker/wc_side.jpg

[3railguy]

The dust attracted mildew which attacted the paint. The damage is irreversible unless you buff the paint which is a very risky task. Armor All will hide it but will not remove it. To prevent it from happening again, keep your trains stored so they won't get dusty and keep your basement well de-humidified.

[Anonymous]

that's kind of what I tought, that sucks, thanks for your help

[nitroboy]

I have had luck with wiping "K&N Knocker Loose" on with a rag, let it sit, then wipe it again. It removed all of the mildew off of a 6456 hopper car of mine, and helped, but not completely removed all of the mildew off of a car that had serious damage. Its worth a try. You can get the stuff at most automotive stores.

[Dave Farquhar]

I have heard of people removing mildew from books by microwaving them. Obviously you'd have to remove all the metal parts before microwaving, and you would want to put a glass of cold water next to the item to absorb the heat, since the heat will warp the plastic. The post I read said two minutes. With the quantities you're talking about, and with the mildew exposed on the surface, I'll bet you could get by with a lot less.

[3railguy]

QUOTE: I have had luck with wiping "K&N Knocker Loose" on with a rag, let it sit, then wipe it again.

Thanks for the tip.

[nitroboy]

The Knocker Loose is also the best thing I have used to restore the color in pre-war stuff. It puts oils back into the old paint and really brings out the color again. With the pre-war stuff, I apply the Knocker Loose, then put it under my heat lamp for a little bit, not letting it get too hot, and the color comes right back to life.

[Anonymous]

I usually buy old dirty cars and fix them. When I do I take the bodies off and scrub them with a tooth brush and some warm water and dish soap. I have used *bleach* to kill the mold. When I use bleach I only use a cap full per gallon. It is important to dilute the bleach so it
1) does not destroy the paint job
2) plastic is pourus so if you put too much your car will smell of bleach for a long time.