Layout cleaning
Layout cleaning> main > modelling > maintainance
General layout cleaning
If you have
a
large layout or only a few modules, they gather some dust over time.
This dust looks
dirty and impairs performance of your models, so it is wise to deal
with it.
Dust can be removed with a vacuum cleaner, but be careful as the
suction of
a vacuum cleaner is usually quite strong. So use a vacuum cleaner with
adjustable
power at a low setting. Good experiences have been made with the
smaller
vacuum cleaners meant for cleaning car interiors. Use a soft brush to
wipe
away dust that has accumulated in corners and crevices. When working in
close
proximity of scatter material, use a piece of nylon stocking over the
mouth
of the vacuum cleaner to protect the loss of a lot of scatter material.
With a piece of nylon stocking placed over the mouth (nozzle) of the
vacuum
cleaner, scatter material will not get lost in the vacuum cleaner but
could be saved for later use.
Track cleaning
Track cleaning is necesssary from time to time. Over time your track becomes dusty and oxidized (rusted) and you need to deal with both for reliable performance. Dust can be removed with a track cleaning car like the one oferred by Tomix, which has 3 functions and is very effective. Apart from the vacuum function, it can be fitted with cotton or abrasive pads which could be used for track polishing or track grinding (please be very careful with this!) Inside the Tomix track cleaning car is a small tank which can be filled with alcohol or a track cleaning fluid.
Oxide could best be removed with a track rubber. These track rubbers are blocks which look like an eraser (rubber in UK English) and contain a fine-grain abrasive. Use these blocks to polish your track. After using a track cleaning block, it is wise to use the Tomix track cleaning car in 'vacuum mode' to get rid of the tiny particles left behind by the track rubber. Some manufacturers offer dry track cleaning blocks mounted to the underside of railway cars. These ensure a continuous cleaning action during operating sessions. Cheap and effective is a home-made track cleaner which is made of a piece of masonite, rough side down and attached to a car with track pins. Make it in such a way that the masonite sits loosely on the track and can move up and down. Bevel the edges of the masonite to prevent it from hooking to uneven rail joints. ZTC Controls offer a track-cleaning rubber that is non-conductive to prevent short circuits caused by debris from the track rubber.
Wet cleaning is recommended to get rid of oil and greasy deposits left behind by running trains. There are several solvents which you could use but all require careful handling, nearly all are flammable! Tomix offers an effective cleaner but the stuff is rather expensive, so time to look out for cheaper products. Personally I like the use of meths or isopropanol (rubbing alcohol). Both are relatively harmless and evaporate fast. Both are also compatible with most plastics used in railway modelling. Lighter fuel (the stuff used in 'Zippo' style cigarette lighters) is very effective, but also very flammable and is easily ignited by even the smallest spark. When using lighter fuel I recommend it the use after an operating session. 'SR 24' which is offered in Europe should be avoided for Z, N and H0 scales. The stuff contains a great deal of oil which makes your track slippery and the oil attracts dust! Apart from this SR24 affects traction tyres, these become hard, brittle and slippery when they get in contact with SR24. SR24 however, is well suited to be used in smoke generators, the manufacturer even recommends it as 'smoke oil'. US-based modellers made good experiences with 'Goo Gone' a citrus based household cleaner. Unfortunately I do not know of a similar product that's available in Europe, the UK or Japan. Centerline, manufacturer of track cleaning cars, recommends 'Goo Gone' to be used with their track cleaning cars. 'Goo Gone' can be purchased through Centerline Products.
Manfred Jörger from Germany owns a small business
specializing in model railway accessories, Z and N scales in
particular. Mr. Jörger offers track cleaning tools made of hard
felt. These cleaning pads come either together with a wagon to make a
track cleaning wagon, or with a handle to which a cleaning pad fits.
These pads can be used wet or dry, but are most effective when used
wet.
Track cleaning links:
Modelling 
Layouts 
Modeller's
Corner 
Train
Simulators 
Various
