How do you handle dust on the layout? It ruins the look of the trains and the buildings. Does everyone just dust everything with a brush occasionally?
Original Post
Replies sorted oldest to newest
Kitbasher posted:How do you handle dust on the layout? It ruins the look of the trains and the buildings. Does everyone just dust everything with a brush occasionally?
Personally,I think it adds to the weathering patina on the buildings (everything is already weathered anyway), but I do use make-up brushes to dust off the rolling stock as I vacuum.
I let it lay there.
I only worry about keeping the track clean.
Mikey
I have atlas track. I dust the rails if I have not run trains for a while and if I see grime on the cloth, I then go over the track with a fiber pad. But I probably will also clean the rollers on a loco before I run it. Since I only have 7 engines it's not too time consuming. If I see dust piling up on the locos and cars and building roofs, I use a soft paint bush.
I use a vacuum and sweep everything, I hate Dust. when not in use I will cover entire layout with plastic.
I dust my 1/43 cars and the tops of passenger cars with a soft brush. The rest is "weathering".
I use one of those new "Swiffer" ? brushes. It's a little more delicate and seems to pick up more dust than a regular brush and is less susceptible to breaking anything. I also use it on my diecast cars.
I just take my glasses off and the dust goes away. ( and so does a lot of other small things too)
I use a Shop vac attachment kit from Lowes. Works great!!!
I used to use soft make up brushes until my wife bought these micro fiber brushes from QVC. They're super soft and act like a dust magnet. They are absolutely fantastic.
Attachments
Images (1)
Where is the dust coming from?
Do you have cats and dogs around the layout?
Is the layout in a garage?
Is the layout near a clothes dryer?
Andrew
falconservice posted:Where is the dust coming from?
Do you have cats and dogs around the layout?
Is the layout in a garage?
Is the layout near a clothes dryer?
Andrew
I asked our maid the same question and she said "just like chit, dust happens."
Exactly, Wild Mary! Andrew, I don't have any dogs or cats, the layout is in the basement and I have shut the vents in the room, no where near the garage or laundry room, but dust happens!
falconservice posted:Where is the dust coming from?
Do you have cats and dogs around the layout?
Is the layout in a garage?
Is the layout near a clothes dryer?
Andrew
Actually most of it is you. Most indoor dust is just dead human skin cells.
I have found that a (very) soft 1" paint brush works best for dusting trains and buildings for me.
My goal is always to not break something while working on something else.
LOL, I am not always that lucky!
I have been blessed with a finished basement with an 8 ft high drop ceiling, and no garage. (We clean the room regularly) We have very little dust, and we use small bristle brushes to dust the trains. No humidity issues, it’s heated and cooled by Trane, nothing stops a Trane. We clean the track and trains regularly and will be enjoying the hobby even more after March 31st, it’s called Retirement. It pays to keep everything like new when selling this merchandise to others. Good Question.
Dust on my model railroad is not one of my problems.
Perhaps people who have dusty layouts will have to shower or wash their skin more often and change their clothes more often.
Andrew
Are you insinuating that you are the only clean Person.
Mikey
falconservice posted:Dust on my model railroad is not one of my problems.
Perhaps people who have dusty layouts will have to shower or wash their skin more often and change their clothes more often.
Andrew
REALLY!!
Attachments
Images (1)
Specs of dust make perfectly-sized O-scale pebbles. 
Like some others have said...the dust is a layer of scenery as far as I'm concerned...seriously...it DOES add some realism, so I keep my rolling stock and motive power dusted, but sure not worried about some natural dust on my railroad.
Bob
I live in Southern Nevada, we have windstorms (like the March winds right now) that are the stuff of legends. It ain't just dust, its actual dirt that filters through to indoors no matter how hard we try to block it. We have undeveloped hills all around our cul-de-sac with all that nature provides, dirt, all manner of bugs, coyotes and the occasional big horn sheep.
If I shower more often, will all that go away?
Chris Sheldon
