RC10Talk - The Net's Largest Vintage R/C Community

as a vintage R/C car player for a few years' time........I have been visiting several forums before......... trying to get more info about how to restore those vintage stuffs........in order to make my own collections as perfect as possible.........

any brothers here have your own magic methods of cleaning/ restoring old R/C stuffs ??.........(apart from buying a new one of course)....... please share with us here.......

as far as I know........
- use brake fluid (dot 4) to clean up the old paints (Tamiya PS & TS paints also work ??)
- use blue "Swipe" to remove the old foam tyres glue
- use caustic solution to remove the multi-color coating (like GPM stuffs) of aluminium parts, all turn back to original silver color
- use "Soft 99" to prevent rubber tyres from cracking

actually I would like to learn how to remove the instant glue from old buggy rims............

hope this topic won't make you feel boring......

minimini wrote: actually I would like to learn how to remove the instant glue from old buggy rims............

dip the whole wheels in acetone and wait 24hours, tires will go off very easily, be sure to test the reaction of the plastic to acetone, some plastics actually melt! You will also have to use a sealed container as acetone is a very volatile substance. This is in my opinion the best method. Some people also boil the rims or place them into the microwave oven with various success...

when i start restoring parts, the first thing i do is reduce the height of my sig from 8" to about a 1/2".

scr8p wrote:when i start restoring parts, the first thing i do is reduce the height of my sig from 8" to about a 1/2".

I have found that my best method so far for cleaning up 'white' parts is to use partially diluted automotive degreaser. Items such as 'Purple Power' 'Greased Lightning' they can be bought at Pepboys, Kragen, Orileys, etc I have only used this solution for associated plastic bits but it also makes fiberglass parts like shock towers look nicer as well.

I take a small tupperware container submerge the parts with degreaser and the rest with hot water. With a lid on I shake up the parts and let sit, repeat for really dirty parts and add some scrubbing with a toothbrush. I don't recomend this for parts with anodizing, I noticed it turned some of my gold screws natural finish so it's strong stuff.

Pipe cleaners are also great with some acetone/rubbing alcohol from the drug store to clean out suspension arm holes that get all gunked up. Cuetips with acetone or rubbing alcohol for ballcups as well.
Suntan lotion for foam tires, however, I dont have a process for that. I kinda just rub the lotion in and let sit. Store tires in ziplock backs with most of the air pressed out away from sun light.

scr8p wrote:when i start restoring parts, the first thing i do is reduce the height of my sig from 8" to about a 1/2".

jas i thought the ending was "and gave her a bone of his own" or did ya tame it down

i degrease my whole car(cheap degresser for 5 mins ), hose off the dirt and grease, then take it all apart, dry it all off soke the bearings in shellite(white spirit)and get to work on the parts that need a good scrubing with a toothbrush, any corosion i use a fine wire wire wheel or my buffing wheel...just did a 1/8th scale vanning in a day came up a treat

for cleaning up metal parts that have corrosion or minor scratches I like to use these dremel finishing buffs. it gives a satin-like finish. The only problem is that they tend to be a bit expensive. does anyone know of any similar products that aren't as expensive?
http://www.dremel.com/en-us/AttachmentsAndAccessories/Pages/CategoryProducts.aspx?catid=42&catname=Finishing+Abrasive+Buffs

scr8p wrote:when i start restoring parts, the first thing i do is reduce the height of my sig from 8" to about a 1/2".

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

scr8p wrote:when i start restoring parts, the first thing i do is reduce the height of my sig from 8" to about a 1/2".

Wurth rubber care works good on tires too.

bngiles wrote:Wurth rubber care works good on tires too.

True dat! Been using it for a long time.