How to clean my big cat?

[Marco Peter]

Took my Tiger out for a first spin in the wild last night!
I ran her over some grass and some (wet sand), leaves and dirt/soil too. It was FUN! But... OMFG it get's dirty!

Currently she is parked in the living room for restoration, so I did some cleaning right there, it was a mess. Sand, dirt, even dog poo... Yikes.

Took the tracks off and took them into the shower, kilo's of sand and hands full of branches removed, still not very clean. We also tried to brush off most of the sand from the wheels (a lot of wheels! I'm beginning to understand Panzer-crews now haha!)



So... The big question... Since you are all owners of one of these steel beasts...
How to clean my big cat? And how often? Tips/tricks?

Video of the ride:

[Vince Cutajar]

OMG

It seems the second hand batteries worked well.

I don't know the answer to your question but do you really have to clean it every time?

I suspect a power wash will do the job although one has to be careful because it can remove paint also.

Vince

[Marco Peter]

I suspect a power wash will do the job although one has to be careful because it can remove paint also.

I'm more worried about the electronics.

[Steen Vøler]

Well, I rarely clean the tracks on my tanks. When the dirt is dry it will normally just fall of the tracks when driving. Only if i have been driving in clay type mud that sticks to the tracks like glue, i take my garden high pressure water pistol and clean the tracks where i block up the tank the the tracks are frre from the ground, and then let the tracks move slowly while i “wash spray” them.

[Chris Hall]

Steen +1

You have to choose your ground carefully. Wet grass is fine, as it will dry off and not clog the tracks. Wet mud is also OK, as it can be brushed or jetted off when dry. Large gravel is to be treated with caution, especially if it gets inside the tracks. Sand and fine gravel are to be avoided if at all possible. I have to say I've never heard of people running their tanks through doggy do's .... there's a first for everything !

Cleaning tanks is a personal choice. Some do it religiously, others don't bother at all, regarding it as 'natural weathering'. I'm somewhere in the middle - I brush or vacuum off loose dirt, and pull out sticks / leaves / clogs of mud / balled grass. But the odd streak of mud doesn't cause a problem.

The only risk to the electrics is if you run through deep water. The hull should be sealed enough to avoid excessive water ingress, and the boxes kept high up in the hull.

These things are pretty robust, and should be enjoyed. Treat them with respect, but it doesn't do to be too precious about them .....

All the best,

Chris

[Steve Stuart]

I am a great believer in natural weathering, and I have allowed Bovington dust to settle on my Tanks along with grass and other suitably sized vegetation to lodge on the hull, with I think, to good effect!
However canine excrement is not part of my acceptable weathering and does need washing off, immediately. And the perpetrators, or Americans might say, poopertrators, need to be firmly discouraged, along with those who sit there watching it happen, perhaps with an atypical, stunned silence
The advice I received many years ago, which is to dry tacks off after use, and not to think about lubricating the track pins, seems to have paid off.
I keep most of my Tanks when stored raised off the bench so the tracks can turn freely and also have air circulating around them. I do remove dirt and organic matter from the inner surface where the tracks have the wheels and rollers run over them, but the outer surface can have mud etc. left on them until it falls away naturally.
The main thing is get your tanks out and about, and have fun. Plus allowing other people to share their enjoyment of them really makes it worthwhile
Steve

[Gerhard Michel]

Well, a tank is a tank is a tank! The cat has to accept any kind of dirt and mud without beeing cleaned, including sandy grounds as well. Especially dry fine sand is an excellent cleaning material removing rust and adding some natural weathering. OK, there also is a certain amount of wear, but again: a tank is a tank is a tank!









Driving in very fine and dry sand is a simple pleasure and an effective cleaning method, but also causes some wear:



Driving in wet sand however is a high risk for the whole drive chain and only acceptable when using steel track links to avoid cracking:

[Robert E Morey]

I blow the tracks and running gear off with compressed air from compressor before storing them. I have a small opening gun type nozzle - easy to get into reaches of tank. I also use this method for muddy RC trucks and crawlers. I would locally wash the dog poo and goose guano off FIRST with soapy water and a small paint brush - before blowing it all over. I store my tanks in garage so they don't have to perfectly clean. Make sure to wear safety glasses when using this method....

I also don't completely wash the tracks - for fear of rusting the pins. If the running gear gets really gunked up - then a garden hose wash off would work. But run the model after to dry out the tracks and remove excess water.

Fantastic running ground Gerhard. Like a mini Paderborn.
Bob

[Marco Peter]

Lots of advice, lots of different experiences, thanks guys!

About the tracks: we are gonna take them completely apart, each of them, because the pins are already rusting a little. Any advice on how to handle those? Sand them and lubricate them with oil? Or not at all?

[Gerhard Michel]

I wouldn't lubricate them. Oil or grease and sand give a marvellous abradant......

[Steve Stuart]

Again, don't lubricate, as it will create with grit and sand a cutting paste. Dry the tracks and then use the Tank again, frequently. Track movement will stop rust from building up and the links seizing. My Tiger Track pins are slightly rusty in places but otherwise fine.
Steve

[Gerhard Michel]

All my tanks besides (actually) the Jagdpanther use steel track links. OK, they are rusting (flash rust), but I see that as a kind of 'weathering'. Driving in dry sandy grounds removes the rust again.

[Robert E Morey]

Marco
As others have stated, no oils or grease. I have had good luck with dry spray (PTFE containing) lubes. They leave very thin film and don't attract dirt. Of course these will eventually wear off too. I also like dry graphite, like used on locks. But both are time consuming to apply. Best is to just run it occasionally as others have mentioned.