provopaul

Hi there,
I assume you just can't take the hose and spray these things off - what are some of the things you guys do to clean them up after a day of "off roading"? i'm really curious as to how clean you need to keep the tracks and runnning gear and how best to clean them.
Thanks a bunch,
Paul

TheBennyB

Wait a second....you want to clean it? Thats free weathering right there.

Strato50

If I EVER clean anything it's just the gearboxes. Spray them out with contact cleaner / degreaser and then just re-grease and oil.

Tank is now clean

LosTxSouL94

If you're talking tracks and you were me, I'd take them off and use warm water and an old toothbrush to scrub off the mud/dirt. Actually, I'd personally apply water (soapy or not) and toothbrush to pretty much everywhere.

ausf

[h=2]After a rough day of tanking - how do you clean your tank?[/h]You take it out for another rough day.

Imex-Erik

Air compressor for me. Lots of sand here.

Lord Haw-Haw

For inside: MAF cleaner & air compressor. The MAF cleaner is kinda like your normal contact/ brake cleaner but is plastic safe.

cleong

What TheBennyB said - cleaning is not necessary except for the gearboxes and bushings/bearings in the wheels, especially if you have a WW2 tank. Otherwise, just running it around dirt adds visual effect more easily than spending hours on the bench with pigments and paints:

Darryl Usher

I put tank in sink on a 2 x 4 add water to bottom of tracks add a bit of Dawn soap and run tank.
Darryl

Old MSgt

If my tracks get TOO dirty with wet sand/mud I just lay the garden hose on the drive way and turn it on then drive the tank thru the flowing water. That way the thick grit don't dry out and start falling off on to the shelf where I keep'em. Usually they're not 'dirty' enough!

Mike

Panther G

You mean I was supposed to clean them?

jarndice

Clean my Tank !!!! are you related to my wife? shaun

Max-U52

Hey guys, I've been thinking about this subject so I'm reviving the thread to ask, what are you using just for general maintenance cleaning? I'm talking about the dust and grime that collects from sitting on the shelf. I've always used a blush brush and a tack cloth to clean things up, but I've found that this is a GREAT place to get new and innovative ideas on the simplest subjects, so what tools do y'all recommend? I've been thinking about one of those tiny vacuums, anybody tried those?

Old MSgt

Well, if the lint, dust, and wooly-boogers get to thick on my upper hull, I usually turn the air compressor down to a gentle blow, put on one of those trigger air guns then take a small soft paint brush and as I blow the stuff I gently brush it off. Works GREAT around the tools, tight corners, crew, and delicate stuff.

I tried one of those tiny computer vacuums with the little brush but it didn't pull stuff up from around the tools/corners AND it was time consuming... maybe it'd work with the soft paint brush used too, but I've had to open the larger garage shop vac and dig ('OOOUUU!!") out some small parts before. THAT'S when I went to light air blowing on and small wide paint brush.

Mike in Kentucky

Panther F

I put mine back on the shelf, dripping wet from Danville.


They get some light dusting now and then plus a can of air to get the dust & cob webs off but NO cleaning!






Jeff

Max-U52

It's great that you can do that, Jeff, but at my house I have to worry about more than just dust. I don't think it would be very realistic to roll out the Jagdpanther only to see that's it's covered in cat hair.

Panther F

Oh, that's too bad. I had cats once and now we have 3 dogs.

But I restrain them from anything more than just visiting in the "Mission Room" and I have a screen filter over the AC/Heat duct in that room.


Have you ever thought of relocating them OR using an air ionizer/air cleaner? I heard they remove 99% of dust, hair and pollen. I'm thinking of getting one just for the dust. With my shoulders being fried, dusting is an option I cannot do well anymore. PLUS, my paint booth is in there too so I need one.




Jeff

Augustus1967

I use a Swiffer Duster to dust my tanks.
Its like a Dust Magnet.
I just pat the Tank Down so as not to drag any Detail off the Tank...

- gus

bowlman

Other then the seasonal tear down and clean and lube of the in side I only clean out the grass that's stuck in the wheels and idlers after a battle the dirt makes it look better .

Jimmy

Panther F

Cool. I use one of those HUGE makeup brushes from WalMart and some canned air.

Never a casualty! LOL






Jeff

Pah co chu puk

I just use clean water and drive back and forth through the stream.

Markocaster

The local drive thru tank wash

Max-U52

Swiffer duster? Now that's a good idea that I probably wouldn't have thought of. Like Jeff, I use a huge makeup brush (girlfriend calls it a blush brush) and a tack cloth. The tack cloth can sometimes tend to leave a sticky residue, though, so I'll definitely try the Swiffer. Now this is why I wanted to come back to this topic. Sometimes you can learn something really cool about even the simplest stuff.

As for the drive-thru tank wash, ever seen that commercial for the inventor that came up with the inflatable car wash for kids? Hmmm, maybe we should call Ron Popiel.

Airbrushler

still the best digital camo i've seen looks like a real tank