Does this sound familiar? You get a model tank home and put it together. You then place it on a shelf for display. Then it sits and sits. It just gathers dust until you finally decide to push it into a box instead of giving it the care it deserves. With just a little bit of care you can keep your model looking great and worthy of keeping its place on the shelf for years to come. You can even pass it down to your children as they get old enough to appreciate the work that went into building it.

The work of cleaning it is not difficult. It is just something that you will have to remind yourself to do. It is best to begin by washing the parts of your model tank before you ever begin assembly. Keep them on the sprue so that they do not go missing. Place them in a container filled with lukewarm water and a little bit of dish soap and let them soak for awhile. This will help to remove the residue that can accumulate during the manufacturing process. If you get the water too hot you will run the risk of warping your parts which would require you to buy a new model. By removing the residue you will help to ensure that the paint adheres properly when you pain your tank.

Use a small brush to get into tight spots so that you don't miss any possible crevasses. Make sure that the brush you use is a soft bristled one so that you do not scratch the plastic itself. You should also try to make sure that you do not get any cement on the clear surfaces of your model such as window covers as well as stray bits of cement elsewhere.

Any leftover cement should be carefully removed with rubbing alcohol. Alcohol wipes are easy to handle and will work best if used carefully. After you have finished the assembly process and placed your tank in its place of honor you just have to clean it occasionally. Take a cloth that has been lightly dampened and wipe any surface dust from the model. A damp brush can be used for the hard to get places.

You might even consider using canned air to blow some of the dust from the model. If you do you should make sure that you secure any moving parts so that they are not damaged. You then should just use small bursts and not hold it for longer than necessary. The oils from your hands can actually damage the paint itself. With just a little care you will keep your model tank looking new for many years.