Removing "Smoke Pellet" residue. What to use?

[kblester]

My Brother in Law gave me a 1957 Lionel 2018 Steam set. It cleaned up great with the exception of the white residue on the outside of the boiler and cab. I think this is from the Smoke Pellets being used. What would you recommend to safely remove this without damage to the paint? I used hot water and dish soap with a soft toothbrush to clean the engine after dismantling. The white "crust" (spots) remain.

[nitroboy]

You can hold a lighter to the white stuff and melt it off. Hold the engine upside down so it drips off the engine.

[msacco]

I believe Lionel's orginal directions for removal (of course it wasn't supposed to be on there for 50+ years), is to use vaseline/petroleum jelly to remove it. Never tried it though, but it's also on the cab sticker that's still on some of my engines. You might have this sticker as it's sometimes just under the cab roof on the back of the engine.

Mike S.

[kblester]

I believe Lionel's orginal directions for removal (of course it wasn't supposed to be on there for 50+ years), is to use vaseline/petroleum jelly to remove it. Never tried it though, but it's also on the cab sticker that's still on some of my engines. You might have this sticker as it's sometimes just under the cab roof on the back of the engine.

Mike S.

Mike,

That worked great. I had to let the vaseline set for an hour or so on a few spots. I tested it on the inside of the boiler stack first.Applied it with Q-tips. Looks fantastic.Cleaned the vaseline off with more hot water and liquid dish soap with childs soft toothbrush. A few spots turned out to be paint chips, but I think I will let them alone.

Many Thanks, Ken

[Jumijo]

I have a 2055 that came to me with a lot of white residue on the top of the shell. A little Vaseline took it right off and gave the shell a nice sheen.

Jim