Aftercare

Tips!

Preserving Your Investment: Handling and Protecting Your Weathered Fleet

Every weathered locomotive and wagon is a unique piece of miniature artwork. To ensure your OO gauge models maintain their realistic, matt appearance for years to come, it is vital to treat your weathered stock with respect and protect them from physical damage. The specialized layers of pigments, washes, and protective matt fixatives require careful handling to prevent chipping, scratching, or fading.

Essential Rules for Handling Weathered Stock

• Hold by the chassis: Always lift models by the heavy plastic or die-cast underframe.

• Avoid bodyside contact: Do not press your fingers directly against the weathered body panels.

• Watch natural skin oils: Oils from your fingertips can leave shiny marks on matt finishes.

• Wear cotton gloves: Use fine, lint-free cotton or nitrile gloves for absolute safety.

• Mind delicate details: Watch out for separate wire handrails, windscreen wipers, and etched grilles.

Storage and Transit Protection

• Use original packaging: Store your models back in their factory boxes with the original plastic cradles.

• Deploy tissue barriers: Place acid-free tissue paper between the model and the packaging shell.

• Avoid loose transport: Never let locomotives roll freely or rub together in a shared box.

• Control the climate: Keep your stock away from damp sheds, high humidity, and extreme heat.

• Shield from sunlight: Avoid long exposure to direct UV light to prevent pigment bleaching.

Why Our Professional Process Lasts

We use premium-grade, chemically inert fixatives to lock in the weathering layers. While our sealed finishes are robust enough for normal layout operation, they remain vulnerable to rough handling and abrasive friction. By treating your upgraded fleet with respect, you preserve the lifelike grimy character of your layout for the long haul.