Caring for your pirate sets.

[Dovchenko]

Obviously , no pirate is never clean. :-/. But after their unfortunate discontinument, Pirate sets have become extremely rare. Due to this, AFOLs try their best to keep their collection at MINT condition for displaying, selling, or the like. What methods (if any) do you use to clean off your figurines?

I do the easy thing. First of all, I try to wash any important displays every once and a while. Taking the model/figures, I bring them into the downstairs bathroom and either break them into their seperate pieces or seperate them into sections concerning size and time. Then, I place the components into the sink (don't forget to close the drain, or you'll regret it forever). Taking some liquid soap, I try my best to then rub in some soap on, making sure to get into every crack carefully to get the dust, grime, dead fruit flies, sand and dog hair out. By now the soap has been washed off in the water, and is dried with a facecloth (I don't like using paper towels because they will break into soggy "crud" and stick to the model, nor do I like using a washing towel because... well, who knows what's been on there?). I like to leave a BIT of water on so the plastic can benefit... I compared two of the same set, one hadn't been washed while the other had gotten the "treatment" as I call it- the washed bricks are not only obviously cleaner, but more flexible and "worn in". I find this really improves a set.

Then, I rebuild the parts of the set and put it back on display. With figures, I don't do it as much due to fading stenciling. But it looks so much better!

I'd like to hear your methods... I would like to experiment with different techniques and find out what benefits the model the most. ;-)

[Lord Of Pies]

How do I clean my pirate sets? I generally just get an old unused paint brush and give my Lego a good old brush! *y* It works surprisingly well, as does using canned air.

Edit: I meant Unused!!

Edited November 2, 2007 by Lord Of Pies

[simonwillems]

How do I clean my pirate sets? I generally just get an old disused paint brush and give my Lego a good old brush! *y* It works surprisingly well, as does using canned air.

I use the paintbrush as well, no disused ones though, brand new ones! Just don't brush any window panes because that leaves scratches. No panes in Piratesets, so no problem!

I never use canned air, why would one pay money just to get.... air..? (I see your point though, being compressed and all *sweet* )

[Captain Green Hair]

Hmmzz, last time my lego's were cleaned my mom threw them in the washing machine, electric lights with 'm and all.............

That was 15 years ago, now i just dust the models off. Since they're al MOC and no building plans, washiung is going to be hard......

But, Simon, youre welcome to show your method on my bricks anytime :-P

Caring for bricks on!!

[Opproperaar]

A toothbrush, some soap and hot water'll do wonders *sweet* I didn't expect it to, but several things like my flags (which were old and dirty from nearly ten years or so of neglect) are now back in well, not MINT condition, but as close as I can get to it. :-P

[Mister Phes]

Always remember to feed the monkeys otherwise they become cantankerous and annoyed the mini-figures. Needless to say this disrupts the overall harmony of your set if the mini-figures haven't had a good night's sleep because of the monkeys.

[Dreamweb]

Sometimes I use a toothbrush + some liquid soap + warm (but not too warm!) water. Too bad this doesn't help bricks which are simply worn. I don't dismantle MOCs while washing them as it would be hard to put them together again - I never make any sketches or instructions. Although usually in the process of washing with a stream of water from the shower some bricks get separated anyway - there were times I was forced to look at my Brickshelf galleries just to make sure where to attach them. :-)

And I do it way too rarely, because I'm too lazy :-)

[Col. Whipstick]

Dirt isn't half the enemy that sunlight is... My lego models were out on display for some time and as a kid I lived in South Africa and the sunlight got through the windows and buggered up all the white bricks pretty bad, the white on the mini-figs seems to have stayed okay but the imperial flags and white bricks need replacing as does a couple of the blue boards for some reason.

Just thought I'd make a point of warning you all about where you display your stuff though the sun in Europe or North America usually isn't as deadly.

[Captain Green Hair]

Always remember to feed the monkeys otherwise they become cantankerous and annoyed the mini-figures. Needless to say this disrupts the overall harmony of your set if the mini-figures haven't had a good night's sleep because of the monkeys.

ROFL :-D Rememer to keep the dragons locked up too, otherwise your army's might be a bit smaller the next day X-D

Dirt isn't half the enemy that sunlight is... My lego models were out on display for some time and as a kid I lived in South Africa and the sunlight got through the windows and buggered up all the white bricks pretty bad, the white on the mini-figs seems to have stayed okay but the imperial flags and white bricks need replacing as does a couple of the blue boards for some reason.

Just thought I'd make a point of warning you all about where you display your stuff though the sun in Europe or North America usually isn't as deadly.

Just turning the other side to the light evry other week does wonders!

Edited November 2, 2007 by Captain green hair

[Dreamweb]

Talking about caring for your pirate Lego:

see also:

http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/Dreamweb...rious/bath2.jpg

http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/Dreamweb...rious/bath3.jpg

[Opproperaar]

It's sinking!

The Flying Dutchman has struck once again! :-)

[Mister Phes]

ROFL :-D Rememer to keep the dragons locked up too, otherwise your army's might be a bit smaller the next day X-D

There are no dragons in Pirate sets so that's not usually an issue...

[natelite]

if you can afford it, get an acrylic display case. :-P don't ever need to bathe them again. ;-)

issue with UV light though still exist. suggest to put your lego sets in the basement. :-P or cellar or whatchamacallit.

[SlyOwl]

I never keep MOCs or sets up for more than a fortnight and the bricks all get handled a lot, so I rarely clean anything. Dusty eBay stuff I clean with hot water and a nail brush. One unfortunate incident I had was when I spilt molten wax all over a base plate. I still haven't got it all off - I don't want to scratch it but I want the wax off - what do I do?!

[Opproperaar]

I never keep MOCs or sets up for more than a fortnight and the bricks all get handled a lot, so I rarely clean anything. Dusty eBay stuff I clean with hot water and a nail brush. One unfortunate incident I had was when I spilt molten wax all over a base plate. I still haven't got it all off - I don't want to scratch it but I want the wax off - what do I do?!

LOL, when I was working on a model ship of mine (BB-63 USS Missouri) I accidently hit a little jar of red paint, flew all over two or three airport road plates. And since it was plastic paint, I still haven't managed to get oeven the slightest bit off. Hot water, scratching, soap ... nothing works >:-(

[Mister Phes]

if you can afford it, get an acrylic display case. :-P don't ever need to bathe them again. ;-)

I've always thought I getting display cases, but why do you say "acrylic" over other kinds of materials used to construct display cases?