Triang Class 47 Paint Problem - Why Has This Happened ?

[Stentor]

I have been restoring an old Triang Class 47 that I bought recently, it's an early unpainted R060 with the metal chassis and the Fleischmann style ringfield motor.

 

The body had some sandy dirt in the grilles and some oil/grease on the inside of the body shell so I decided to give it a gentle wash in some warm water with a little Ecover washing up liquid.

 

But when it dried I noticed that the body colour has gone dull and patchy - see photos - it's as if the washing up liquid has dried the residual oil out of the plastic.

 

I've washed many plastic parts like this but never seen this problem.

 

So to prevent me making this mistake again is this down to the washing up liquid ?

 

Can I fix this by buffing up the body with a little T Cut to cut back to a fresher layer of plastic or do I need a repaint ?

 

Any advice much appreciated.

 

//Simon

 

 

[33C]

Had this problem a few times. T.cut can work or a wipe with "Klear" polish. Personally, with that body style, I would try and take the raised paint lines off with a small, sharp chisel, sand smooth and respray! 

Edited December 12, 2021 by 33C
Missing letter.

[The Johnster]

Or use it as the basis for a weathered finish of faded paint.  In any case I would want to remove the raised lines.

[kevinlms]

You could always put it on your favourite auction site and advertise it as 'professionally weathered'!

 

But if you are going to do anything with it, it's the perfect opportunity to get rid of the lines.

 

I'm no chemist, but there is something in the liquid that doesn't like the plastic on the body - Aloe Vera? Says not tested on animals, but neither on old Hornby locos!

[Il Grifone]

8 hours ago, kevinlms said:

You could always put it on your favourite auction site and advertise it as 'professionally weathered'!

 

omis

 

It looks a lot better than some of those "Professionally weathered" !

 

A replacement body could probably be obtained reasonably on eBay. I've never had great success attempting to repair this sort of problem. It invariably needs a repaint

[RedgateModels]

Warm water.

 

Years of accumulated hand oils built up on the body have emulsified with the warm water. I only ever use Carex hand soap with as little cold water as possible worked over the loco body with a soft toothbrush. clean cold water to rinse an immediately towel dry.

[Stentor]

Thanks to everyone who took the trouble and time to reply, especially to Redgate Models, I’ll add this experience to my lessons learned and just use cold water and hand soap from now on.

 

As Il Grifone says it is probably my best ever attempt at weathering, maybe, maybe as Bob Ross says “we don’t make mistakes in railway modelling, we just have happy accidents “.

 

//Simon