How Do You Keep Your Scale Models Dust-Free After Displaying Them?

[feseho]

Hi fellow model builders,

I’ve been model building for quite some time and have recently finished a few builds I am truly proud of. I finally took the time to display them, but I’m finding that in the course of time I am experiencing dust build-up. Even when I clean them throughly with a soft brush or compressed air, some of the details get clogged or lose their sharpness. While on forums during my looker training sessions, I came across a few people suggest using display cases or certain anti-static cloths. Do these actually work well for our type of models?

Hence, I’m interested in knowing what you all do after your models are finally on the shelf? Do you swear by sealed display cases or have you found a way to protect your work without hiding it? Does the type of paint / top coat matter about how much dust sticks?

Clear body and turrets - how do you glue together

Speaking of Future, dip all your clear parts in it and allow to drip dry in a dust-free environment, ie; just cover it and don’t let anything touch it overnight. This will improve the clarity of the clear plastic like you wouldn’t believe!

I would really love to hear any tips or lessons learned from your modelling adventures. You always get the best information from this forum!

Thank you!

[Tojo72]

As my wife likes to say dust is everywhere,if models are out,they will get dusty no matter what type of paint you use.You can dust them occasionally,some use air,different kinds of brushes,but it takes time and you still risk breaking stuff off in the process.The only sure way to avoid is to put them in individual cases (expensive and take up space),or curio type cases,and those cases don’t shut out dust completely either.This is what I use.

Those short ones were custom,they are pretty sealed,but they still get some.The other curio types I picked up used over the years and aren’t perfect either,I guess it depends on how determined you are to protect them.

[Sauron]

If you have the room, I’d recommend these racks from Sams. They are $100 each, have 6 shelves, liners, and wheels. Get an extra one and and use two shelves from it to make 8. Cheaper than buying the shelves separately and leaves some for future (or larger spacing between shelves). Get 2 clear shower curtain liners from Walmart for $3.50 each, a couple packs of round magnets and a handful of Ty-Wraps from HD. Use the magnets to hold the overlaping corners closed. I have 6 of these in my shop and they are all full. Time for another one I guess.

[Tojo72]

That’s a great idea,although my wife wouldn’t want them in the living space but in the basrment would work for me.

[SSGToms]

Hello feseho and welcome to the forums! I compete in contests, so all of my current finished builds are stored in 14 gallon (9" tall) totes for dust prevention and transport. Once a model has done this season’s show circuit, I have a shelf 12" from the ceiling running around the entire perimeter of my shop, where I place finished models. They do collect dust, but every year I spend a day dusting with a soft brush and compressed air. That keeps them relatively clean.

[Damraska]

For models on display, I use custom built cases made from 1/8" or 3/16" acrylic sheet. The cases are sized to fit my book shelves and seal tightly.

For models in storage, I use plastic storage tubs with dust proof, weather seal gaskets. They are light weight, sturdy, and stack nicely.

To keep dust out of a traditional display case like the ones in the first picture above, an aquarium fish pump, supplying filtered air into the case, will create enough positive air pressure inside the case to keep dust out. It works just like the over pressure system in a modern armored vehicle. Such a system requires a display case with relatively good seals in the first place. Even quiet pumps are noisy, at least for me, and generate heat.

It should be possible to add foam weather seal tape to just about any container or piece of furniture, improving the seal. The down side is that the tape will break down over time and may leave residue. It becomes a maintenance item.

I have a lot of card models out in the open and use anti-static cloths to dust them. While not a panacea, such cloths are better than rags. It is way better to prevent dust from landing on a model in the first place, which is why I made so many display cases and purchased so many storage bins with weather seal gaskets.

I noticed that living spaces in my own house with high air flow attract significantly more dust. If you can keep air flow through a room low, the rate of dust accumulation will diminish. Note that fans in a computer generate air flow and thus move dust around. This strategy worked with my old office, which currently serves as a display room and library. The biggest improvement occurred when I moved a big computer (and myself) out of that space.

Make sure your air conditioner and furnace filters are clean. If you want to go extreme, have all your ducts cleaned.

Pets generate a ton of dust and detritus. Keep them out of display rooms. My sincere apologies to Callie Cat.

Dust and vacuum frequently. If you keep dust accumulation low in the first place, it will not settle on your models.

[BGT]

I found the biggest dust problem came from the floor. Last hobby room had carpet and was a nightmare. I now have timber floors and the same display setup and dust has been cut by 90%. No I never measured the 90% but I now dust once every 18 months rather than every month.

[Terminator]

Display cases:

A bit expensive but your models are safe.

[smolensk]

I use Ikea shelf Billy
but after years ultra fine dust is penetrated.
I think to put a fan to give a little over pressure inside (in a far future,)

[Stryker45]

I like the fan idea. I had a glass case that was supposedly sealed. However, over the period of several months fine dust still found it way inside and in the models.

[Tojo72]

We could also consider the dust a weathering effect