Jonathan M Posted September 17, 2020 Share Posted September 17, 2020 I don't mind the faff of cleaning glow-fuel residue off IC models after flying before packing them away in the car, but wondering what the easiest/best method is? Been using baby-wipes (never been without them since the kid was a nipper fifteen years ago!). These seem to lift most of the gunk off, then I wipe the surfaces dry with some kitchen-roll tissue. But is there a better method - what do other people do, or what products do you use? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrman Posted September 17, 2020 Share Posted September 17, 2020 I use "Rhino Goo" from Demon Tweeks. I'm sure similar products are available elsewhere but they sometimes do 2 x 5 l for the price of 1. I use it diluted 50% with water and it works extremely well, also good in an ultrasonic cleaner for engine parts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
i12fly Posted September 17, 2020 Share Posted September 17, 2020 Kitchen non-ionic surfactant spray or Furniture polish. Only a light spray required. The cheapest is as good as any. The former if really gooey but the latter gives a nice finish on glossy film. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Former Member Posted September 17, 2020 Share Posted September 17, 2020 [This posting has been removed] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Acland Posted September 17, 2020 Share Posted September 17, 2020 I have a spray bottle of water and washing up liquid mix which I spray on and then wipe off with kitchen towel. takes a couple of minutes and my model ends up gleaming. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark H75 Posted September 17, 2020 Share Posted September 17, 2020 Just normal glass and cleaner nowadays; I've tried various concoctions and ratios including meths, Isopropyl, washing up liquid etc, but glass cleaner seems to to the job. I use blue roll paper as I buy it in bulk for use around the workshop. Edited By Mark H75 on 17/09/2020 19:39:48 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cymaz Posted September 17, 2020 Share Posted September 17, 2020 I use these...because I can get them cheap at work. Also this is a great degreaser Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin McIntosh Posted September 17, 2020 Share Posted September 17, 2020 Flash or Tescos hard surface cleaner is only £1 a bottle and diluted 5:1 not only cleans off the oil but gets rid of the smell as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zflyer Posted September 17, 2020 Share Posted September 17, 2020 Elbow Grease £1 a bottle and/or Elbow Grease wipes. (Dont know if the latter are enviroment friendly) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J D 8 Posted September 17, 2020 Share Posted September 17, 2020 Spray of Fairy ready mixed in water and kitchen towel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ASH. Posted September 17, 2020 Share Posted September 17, 2020 Tesco Anti+Bac lemon multi-suface wipes. Works wonders. Try it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doctor Chinnery Posted September 18, 2020 Share Posted September 18, 2020 Used to be old (v.v. old) Terry Towelling nappies, now tired (v.v. tired) old hand towels or old tea towels to wipe off the worst of the grott, Anyway you need one after starting and tuning your engine before you fly and again after carirying your pride and joy back to the pits after a flight. I then wrap the engine and silencer in one of the grotty towels to prevent oll stains in the car on the way home. When I get home it could be whatever spray SWMBO has in the kitchen for cleaning surfaces that day or alternatively automobile glass cleaner spray as supplied in the usual pump sprayers (Auto Glym is excellent) any of which will shift pretty well anything that's likely to be stuck to your airframe. The secret, whatever cleaning fluid you use is to remove it with a clean towel and as a final flourish polish with another clean cloth. As mentioned above - a homeopathic misting with your furniture polish of choice at the polishing stage is the finishing touch, or overkill depending on your point of view. As a last resort diluted washing up liquid or screen wash will also do the job, but not up to the standard of the dedicated automobile glass cleaner. Finally - in the cause of marital harmony - don't try to sneak your 'flying' towels in with the family wash - Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel R Posted September 18, 2020 Share Posted September 18, 2020 Old t shirts. Household glass cleaner spray. Wash t shirts every so often. By themselves, as noted above. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Flyer Posted September 18, 2020 Share Posted September 18, 2020 I keep an industrial blue paper towel roll in the car and use a quick spray of mr muscle kitchen and bathroom cleaner which immediately removes any traces of oil. Very quick! My planes are stored hanging horizontally from the garage ceiling and I put a “nappy” of the paper towel round the cowl to prevent oil dripping out onto the floor later on. Edited By Tim Flyer on 18/09/2020 07:17:14 Edited By Tim Flyer on 18/09/2020 07:18:51 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leccyflyer Posted September 18, 2020 Share Posted September 18, 2020 Used to use Jif Mousse and pretend that I was laying down a foam blanket following an emergency landing, Then again I murmur takka-takka-takka under my breath every time my FW190 swoops down on the field. Can't say that I miss that clean-up routine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Engine Doctor Posted September 18, 2020 Share Posted September 18, 2020 I use the spray windscreen de-icer . It contains high amount of alcohol that cuts through oil and leaves models clean without being sticky like some baby wipes that I've seen being used. I also buy cheap tea towels for the cleaning and after a few rinses replace them. Buy the de-icer during the summer when cheaper or 2 for 1 . You can buy the de-icer in gallons or half gallons if you have an old spray bottle handy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonathan M Posted September 18, 2020 Author Share Posted September 18, 2020 Windscreen de-icer is a good idea - ordinary de-icer spray bottles advertised as "down to -15 C" or "down to -40 C" etc? Edited By Jonathan M on 18/09/2020 09:41:57 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Christy Posted September 18, 2020 Share Posted September 18, 2020 Muc-off - followed by mechanics paper towels. Muc-off is also good for cleaning trannies without affecting the plastic! -- Pete Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cuban8 Posted September 18, 2020 Share Posted September 18, 2020 50:50 Elbow grease and water does the job as well as any of the 'witches brews' I've tried over the years. Cheap as chips from Poundland and lasts for ages. Similar to the excellent Desolve-it that we used to use in work but much more diluted. Use Muc-off on my motorbike, good for very heavily oiled models now and again when required, but quite expensive for use after every flight. Usually around a tenner a bottle but sometimes on offer for less than half that. Can be diluted. Edited By Cuban8 on 18/09/2020 09:55:44 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Flyer Posted September 18, 2020 Share Posted September 18, 2020 For transmitter cleaning mr sheen multi surface polish is great ... removes oil and leaves them like new. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel R Posted September 18, 2020 Share Posted September 18, 2020 Smells nice too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon H Posted September 18, 2020 Share Posted September 18, 2020 i just use a dab of wasing up liquid in a trigger spray bottle. works fine as most of my models are pretty clean as they are all 4 stoke powered Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Engine Doctor Posted September 20, 2020 Share Posted September 20, 2020 Posted by Jonathan M on 18/09/2020 09:25:42: Windscreen de-icer is a good idea - ordinary de-icer spray bottles advertised as "down to -15 C" or "down to -40 C" etc? Edited By Jonathan M on 18/09/2020 09:41:57 Yes ordinary de-icer in trigger bottles. It has a high alcohol content , Isopropyl alcohol I believe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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