This model of the Frisco Baggage Caboose is for sale on eBay right now. It might go for a bargain price because it is so tarnished. This is one of the models on my "must buy" brass list.
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I am thinking of making a run for it if the price stays low enough, but I am not sure if it can be cleaned up from this condition good enough to paint.
I usually clean brass in a soltion of water and cleanser with a stiff brush. I do not know if that will work on this one. I also do not know what is actually all over the model. It could be paint residue, tarnish, or some type of corrosion.
Does anyone know how hard it might be to prep this model for the paint shop? Is it worth the risk?
Thank you for the help.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
"Sandblasting" with baking soda is the answer. Baking soda is abrasive enough to remove any dirt, grime or corrosion, but soft enough not to pit the surface.
Happy times!
Ulrich (aka The Tin Man)
"You´re never too old for a happy childhood!"
I agree with Ulrich. Since you have a "list" of items to buy, I recommend the Badger kit. I bought it and used it on several items. Works great...
Simon
I agree with Ulrich and Simon regarding the baking soda. I've also used very fine aluminum oxide from Paasche, but it's considerably more expensive.
If some of that discolouration is from paint, drop it (carefully) into a sealable jar of Super Clean - works great on pretty-well any paint. Some will come off almost immediately, while other types may need to soak for a few days. Some scrubbing with a toothbrush will get rid of the cling-on bits.
Wayne
Thank you ro everyone thattook the time to respond...
Now the item just needs to stay in my acceptable price range.
SeeYou190Now the item just needs to stay in my acceptable price range.
Twenty nine bucks. Hope that was you, Kevin
Cheers, Ed
Nope, I was trying to pay for another item I won, and for some reason it wanted my to log into PayPal again. I exited eBay and went directly to PayPal to log in, and then the computer locked up.
By the time the computer unfroze, the auction had ended.
Oh well. There will be another one, but that was quite a deal.
Rambo2Does badger make a sand blast kit?
SeeYou190Nope, I was trying to pay for another item I won, and for some reason it wanted my to log into PayPal again. I exited eBay and went directly to PayPal to log in, and then the computer locked up.
This is technically off-topic but I mention it here because it concerns people bidding on items in this hobby that are important to them.
eBay appears to be revising its user interface to "increase security" but the practical effect is to reduce sniping (except for the professionals who use proprietary software). The periodic insistence on 'logging into PayPal' when this is familiarly handled by account configuration data, followed by a crash, is not something a responsible programmer does. Neither is their new 'session timeout' without warning, which triggers whether or not you're periodically refreshing the page while watching the countdown timer, and then provides a tiny prompt in an unexpected place and a bunch of unanticipated data entry.
Be careful when you have an extraordinary bargain on eBay not to be surprised by these sorts of unnecessary 'gotchas'.
In general, I'd pickle an item like this in solvent (to remove residual paint and oils) and perhaps in a gentle acid like vinegar (taking note of the condition of the solder joints) before baking-soda-blasting it. (Note that I would expect the baking soda to 'passivate' any remaining acid solution wicked into joints and crannies...)
Some discussion of the type and application of primer, if you're going to paint it, or 'brightening' and applying new clear coat (if maintaining it in bare finish) would be appropriate in this post.