Large Scale Central

Pledge spray wax and large scale

Problem Solving
#1

So your RR fleet looks a little worn - and dirty. Maybe that’s the look you want or maybe that’s the look that is easiest to maintain. Here’s a suggestion that has worked for me and others.

What has kept the fleet of hundreds of rolling stock looking new running in the Living Desert sun is to spray the car and loco bodies with Pledge spray wax. Not too much, just a light spray and wipe off – some Q TIPS work well among the steam engine fittings and the diesels horns and window corners. Improvement in appearance? There’s nothing like the shine on the FA and F3 passenger locos and the cars – especially the ones imitating the stainless bodies. The steamers black bodies look new again.

Our trains at home get the same periodic treatment. The application lasts at least a month plus for those rolling stock remaining outside with a vinyl cover. One disadvantage is it may attract dust in your locale if there are regular winds. There has been no damage to the plastic bodies and that’s over five years of use on my layout and at the desert display.

Excess? In the Living Desert environment of paid attendees seeing the myriad of operating trains, they want to see that we take care of what is obviously our responsibility. Many of the locos --and passenger trains, for that matter – are donated by the guests and they want to know they are cared for. It is difficult to present weathering as a feature in this setting unless is very purposeful in appearance.

Take the Pledge!

Wendell

#2

Hmm, interesting.

#3

This is a new idea for me. In my climate, many of my cars are showing sun damage. I think I’ll try it. Thanks for the suggestion. My locos go inside after running, so they all still look pretty good.

#4

I use armorall type stuff, since it has a UV screen in it, and it is made for plastic.

I’d be a little worried about Pledge, since it has a bit of solvent in it.

Also, the armorall type stuff can be left on, it “soaks in” a bit it seems.

Greg

#5

Back in the day, copier manuals told the end user to clean the covers with furniture polish. And those covers were ABS or Polystyrene.

#6

Greg-

Your caution may reference a product that is similar to the protectorant spray, Armorall - a specific brand.

If you are referencing the brand “Armorall”, I have had experience with it per vinyl dashboards in collector cars. The Armorall product has caused, in my experience, hardening of the material leading to eventual cracking. One of our restorations is at the Peterson Museum and for years I have used nothing but Pledge to clean and shine the interior dash. Both of our daily use cars have the Pledge treatment.

One caution, leave the windows open in case you use the Lemon Pledge as it can draw a few bees into the car – no matter, the odor and the bees do disappear shortly!

#7

Yes, the original formula on old dashboards and some plastics did harden, I did a vacuum cleaner hose once and it turned stiff.

Never an issue on my rolling stock or locos and that numbers around 200.

The plastic on trains is very different than the early vinyl used on dashboards.

Greg