phughes

Wow . . .there are as many different ways to clean a model as there are modelers! Here is my routine, and favorite products: I wipe the airplane down at the field with a towel (not paper) and any cleaner I have (windex etc). when I get home I put after run oil in my glow engines, then follow that up with a 5-10 minute session with Dirtex (available at lowes in the cleaning products section). Again, I use cotton cloths that I get at Target / Sams Club (I think they are 20 for 9.99, and you can wash them). After I have everything clean, I spry instant car detailer on (there are hundreds of these out ther . .a .choose the cheapest if you like) the plane and rub until dry . . .leave the plane in great shape, and you gte to check the air frame over really well. Takes me a total of 15 minutes tops.

Eagle Flyer

My Feedback: (84)

The stuff you mentioned is my concoction. Reading other posts sounds like maybe we should leave out the vinegar perhaps. My question is, If it's acidic and can attack the contacts is that possible from just the fumes or does a guy have to spray it directly on a electrical connection, which obviusly I don't think any of us would do. Thanks for your input! My next batch I'll try without the vinegar and let ya all know how it worked out.
thanks; Eagle Flyer

wbrian

Feeling lazy try Baby wipes. It actually gets the oil off

FCC

Warm Water...

jjordan-RCU

My Feedback: (1)

Vinegar and water works for me....vinegar cuts the fuel and cleans right up....

Windshield washer fluid also seems to work well....

rb765

My Feedback: (9)

i just got back into the hobby and when i started buying supplies, i picked up a can of monocoat foaming model cleaner. it works great but all it is is an orange oil based cleaner similar to that orange-glo stuff. 1 paid 4 bucks for a small can of the monocoat stuff, but u can prob pick up a 32 oz bottle of orange glow at wally-world for the same price.

LEDZx

I use green clean. It takes All of the oil off the film . try , it works beautifully . !

R. Carver

Greg, you shouldn't even have to do that...a good zoom launch will take all that dust off

airdevil85

I use orange clean in my planes cuts greases and leaves the plane smelling nice

Texas 3D

My Feedback: (16)

How do you guys think about mixing 50/50 of windshield cleaner and denatured alcohol ? would it work sounds like a good combination to me.
I am still using that nasty windex, but am loking for an alternative. I hate those films that windex leaves

RCaeroguy

My Feedback: (4)

I just started flying this year and the guys in my club all use Dow bathroom cleaner. I was at my grocery store and they don't have Dow but if my memory serves me (ya right!!), isn't that the same thing as Scrubbing Bubbles? You know the commercial where the little bubbles say "we work hard, so you don't have too." Anyway, it seemed to work really well on my trainer and with just one washing, there are no visible signs of anything wrong with the covering.

phaebes

My Feedback: (1)

I've been flying for 20 years, and I had three babies during that time, and it never, ever occured to me to use those baby wipes that were always around the house.
Because of this thread, I tried a tub last weekend. They work GREAT--and your hands SMELL GOOD when you're done--and it DOESN'T STREAK! It's the little things.....

wbrian

phaebes
I figured that since I treat my planes like a baby I should use baby wipes. Now my planes are; smother, cleaner, and softer then a baby butt.

Just don’t tell me my baby’s ugly!!

MinnFlyer

My Feedback: (4)

Wow, you guys clean your planes? I just put 'em back in the car dirty, that way where ever I go, it smells like the flying field Plus it has the added bonus of giving my wife something to bi*ch about which always makes her happy.

RCaeroguy

My Feedback: (4)

That's sad.

visioneer_one

My Feedback: (506)

I've tried the denatured alcohol/water/dishwashing liquid concoction. It worked but left a slight film on everything.

I also tried across some of the citrus-based stuff. "ORANGE-BLAST" or something like that. Mixed it with alcohol and water. Again, it leaves a bit of a film on the planes afterward.

Perhaps the above mixes work better on castor oil than synth oil.

I've been using Fantastik or 409 at the field. I spray 'em down than use a big 'ol beach towel (instead of the cheap rolls) to wipe 'em clean. I fling the towel back in the trunk afterward... when it gets too grimy I wash it.

MUTTLEY

sig pure magic it works

Live Wire

I use K&N air cleaner fluid purchased a motor cycle shops or aut parts stores. Works well but expensive. spray on spread around wipe off. use wet rag to wipe off for repairs. Degrades oil. Plastics and glass can be rinsed with plain water.

Perminator-RCU

100 % ethanol, works good and quick

Kevlar

My Feedback: (47)

Just recover after every flight....works great, looks new....

sfaust

My Feedback: (11)

I do the same thing. However, I fly mostly gas, so they end up going in clean even after flying all day. BUT, when I turn on the smoke system, its worse than any glow plane I flew. In that case I'll use the Fantastik Lemon Power, which cuts the grease and doesn't leave any film. I used it towards the end of last season, and haven't seen any ill effects on anything so far. Time will tell, but it does clean up nice.

3D_FLYER-RCU

I USE SPREY-N-WIPE @ THE FILD THEN TURTLE WAX X-PRESS SHINE WAX FOR A SWEET FINISH

Deadeye

Nobody uses ether (starting fluid)?

I dampen a rag with it, and can go over the whole plane with one rag. Hopefully I'm not ruining anything! Does anyone know if ether will eat monokote over time?

Live Wire

What kind of sergury do you do

adrian-RCU

mom cleans our planes spotless and if she's not flying with us on the day me dad and brother do a really bad job with plain windowlene