What!?! In water?

I don't have any experience in this regard, however, logic tells me that the water would have to be quite warm or contain some kind of soap/detergent to remove the oil and residue from fingerprints.

I think I would prefer using a wet towelette or something to soaking a model is hot water or my kitchen sink with suds.

Sorry about that. I forgot to mention putting soap in the water.

I wet the model with a solution of warm water & dish soap. Scrub it with an old tooth brush to get any sanding residue out of the panel lines, then rinse under a tap with warm water running. Not actually submerging the model, but it does get pretty wet. Set it on a folded paper towel & let it air dry for several hours before painting. One word of caution, if you used any water soluble glue, like white glue, to attach parts or fill seams, don't use this technique.

Regards, Rick

I use lighter fluid. It cleans and dries quick.

QUOTE: Originally posted by woeyd I use lighter fluid. It cleans and dries quick.

Don't use it anywhere near an ignition source or you & the model may go up in a ball of fire .

Regards, Rick

I too am weary about submerging the model in water. I like to shoot the model with isopropal achohol at a high pressure srubbing the oily areas with a soft toothbrush or q-tip. My airbrush works a mini power washer.

Lighter fluid is an oil base fluid that my mother & grandfather used to clean their watches and PaPa's beautiful pocket watch...He used the lighter fluid because it had the slight oil to keep the watch movement working smoothly.....I'm 65 and they did n't have the air-tight watches of today...(next time you light a lighter that uses lighter fluid look at the flame! Black Smoke! put it under a glass bottle and you have soot! Paint will not stick to oil...Maybe an oil base will but not acrylic's and others for long)The whole reason of washing your model is th remove the body oils from your hand when sanding handeling etc....Also to get the mole relise odd the model...Wash the model in warm water with a mild dish soap...I put a hair screen in the sinks drain in case a small part is washed into the sink it won't go down the drain...Then let it air dry or use a hair drier to dry your model....When it's dry use a pair on either cotten lint free gloves(best) or a new pair od rubber gloves and don't handle it again with your bare hands untill you've painted it...The reason behind the wash is so the paint sticks to the plastic and the body oils/mole release not being there it will give a great paint job...Only wash when your ready to paint...Oh yea! You can use lighter fluid to thin Enamel Paint! for your air Brushing..So maybe you could...Good Question! Can you use lighter fluid to clean your models??
"RC"

Ka-boom! Isoproply alcohol could be used as a wash too with a lint free cloth or towel. Make sure you do it in a well ventilated room though, or you'll be flying higher than a B-17! There's also the ka-boom! factor, so don't do it by candle light