How would you / how much would you clean an older brass model prior to painting it?
dlm
Disassemble it as you would for painting, repair any loose details, then wash everything but the motor in hot water and dish detergent. If necessary, clean the gearbox and gears with a suitable solvent, too, then throw the parts in the sink with the rest. If your model has been painted with brass-coloured paint, you can either paint right over it, or use a primer, then paint. Unless it's extremely thick, there's not much point in removing it. If you do need to strip the paint, lacquer thinner works well - wear a two stage respirator and plenty of ventilation.
If your model is unpainted, there'll likely be some tarnish, and the solder will be blackened - the procedure is the same, as neither will affect the paint job. After washing, prime and paint.
Wayne
Thanks. I didn't know how the tarnish might affect the paint...