Newbie with a cleaning question.

[027_Daniel]

 I hoping that I am posting this in the right place. Please correct me if wrong.

 Recently, I was given a a post war 2037 set that my uncle has had in storage for years. His father bought it for him and my mother in the 50s. It runs well but cosmetically is rough as all teh track and cars were kept unprotected in a large box. 

There is some kind of a blue-green grease that is one some of the components. There is a little on some track pieces, the plastic cars, and a little on the engine. I can't identify the source and it may have been spilled into the box. 

 The problem I am having is that a little is on the outside of the engine and when I try to remove it, the paint comes with it. I was thinking of repainting the engine anyway but am uncertain if I should just wipe away the grease and repaint...

 The grease came off the track pieces and plastic parts just fine but pulls the paint from the engine. :(

 Also, what is a good restoration paint to use on the engine? I do not plan to sell or get rid of this set prefering to keep it for my young sons. I would like to make it look like new again.

 

Thank you,

Daniel

[PhilaKnight]

If you not worried about selling the engine I would just use regular spraypaint but a semigloss. I think it looks better than a flat or gloss. I would Take the shell off. Clean it real good with soap and water than spray it but mask over the cab numbers.

[brianel027]

Daniel, if you use the box on the right of your screen where it says "search community" and type in "repaint" or "repainting" you should find quite a bit of info posted previously by me and many others who have done repaints. I do quite a bit of it with spray paint, and there are others who have used spray paint for steam engine projects. You should be able to find loads of info that will help you out.

As far a cleaning your cars without ruining them, you might give Lemon Pledge a try. That's worked for me without ruining the lettering or paint on older cars. Might not get off the gunk but it'd be worth a try.

[027_Daniel]

 That's what I ended up doing.

 Thanks to both of you for replying. I missed the sSearch feature as I am used to looking at the top of forum pages. I guess I should open both eyes...

 I cleaned it up and used a Krylon Flat black in a satin finish. I think it turned out great. I'm going to do some detail painting before putting the clear on. 

 I'll be sure to post pictures when I am finshed.