How does everyone keep their displayed collection from getting so dusty?

[Little Jo]

Hm ... Little Jo seems to be focused in Noah's Ark collection
Must be his favourite theme.

Uh, not at all (to be honest I actually do not have Noah's Ark in real life  ) -- problem was that in those days when photo was taken there wasn't much modern live micro figures (which changed in the meantime). Although I must admit, that I really love all the animals, but I have not many animal customs and the display cases are primarily for displaying customized figures.

I don"t know how my fire department apparatus, police department vans, & cars, & other theme items would handle going through the washing machine process as recommended by Little Jo  ! I know that my 3551 Suzanne fishing trawler IS NOT going in the washing machine no matter how dusty she gets   !

Ok, not large pieces are not going to the automated PM wash -- but I disassemble large items into small pieces as much as possible and those smaller pieces are going into the washing machine procedure. So far no losts are registered. Anyway no customized items are going this way and that's the reason why they are bagged away or kept in the dust free display case zone 

[Bill Blackhurst]

Ok, not large pieces are not going to the automated PM wash -- but I disassemble large items into small pieces as much as possible and those smaller pieces are going into the washing machine procedure. So far no losts are registered. Anyway no customized items are going this way and that's the reason why they are bagged away or kept in the dust free display case zone 
[/quote]


Back to my original question for you,....how do you display your larger items, like trucks, trees, cars etc., & keep them from getting covered with dust  ??

[Gepetto]

When I have a castle  or a ship out for a while I limit my dusting to hitting it with compressed air occasionally (a can I can re-charge from my compressor).




Gepetto

[Gustavo]

Uh, not at all (to be honest I actually do not have Noah's Ark in real life  ) -- problem was that in those days when photo was taken there wasn't much modern live micro figures (which changed in the meantime). Although I must admit, that I really love all the animals, but I have not many animal customs and the display cases are primarily for displaying customized figures.

Not yours, Jochen ... Little Jo's

(I'm joking )

I understand. I'm with plans for stories with some characters, but there isn't enough playmo in my closets to make what I want ... Which will take some time to change. That's great that the medieval & pirates' stories are doing fine, and going ahead.

(I have to get a dragon (old style ...), so as to make one (other) line in my stories ...)

Er ... I'm straying here, everyone ... Don't pay attention to me.

Gus

[Bill Blackhurst]

When I have a castle  or a ship out for a while I limit my dusting to hitting it with compressed air occasionally (a can I can re-charge from my compressor).




Gepetto

I have tried this procedure myself with my large shop compressor, but it causes too much mayhem by blowing the small pieces about, & dosen't thoroughly clean items as good as soap & water  ! I'm still at a loss for a better procedure !

[Little Jo]

Back to my original question for you,....how do you display your larger items, like trucks, trees, cars etc., & keep them from getting covered with dust  ??

 

No display of larger items (due to lack of suitable display case) 

Only exception is the display case for the cars we currently drive and drove in the past (one display tower for me wife, one for myself) -- actually this is no Playmobil stuff but customized as well (I bought the 1:18 model cars and painted them in the original car color).

Anyway such a display tower would also be perfect to display larger Playmobil items (but not for me as my wife forbid me to display any Playmobil stuff in our living room so I have to settle for the display case just in my office right over my desk  ... although I managed to bring up at least one Playmobil part in the display towers used as stand for the car flyers (cf. detail pic) 

We bought the towers at IKEA (they have been quite cheap). Drawback is that there are gaps between the glass elements and so dust also finds its way to the inside, although not that fast as on open shelves.

I have tried this procedure myself with my large shop compressor, but it causes too much mayhem by blowing the small pieces about, & dosen't thoroughly clean items as good as soap & water  ! I'm still at a loss for a better procedure !

For larger items I used a steam cleaner. Quite less dangerous to stickers than pure water although I must state that I never had a problem with original Playmobil stickers in the washing machine: they all got stuck on the item and didn't become any damage resulted from the washing procedure.

[Bill Blackhurst]

No display of larger items (due to lack of suitable display case) 

Only exception is the display case for the cars we currently drive and drove in the past (one display tower for me wife, one for myself) -- actually this is no Playmobil stuff but customized as well (I bought the 1:18 model cars and painted them in the original car color).

Anyway such a display tower would also be perfect to display larger Playmobil items (but not for me as my wife forbid me to display any Playmobil stuff in our living room so I have to settle for the display case just in my office right over my desk  ... although I managed to bring up at least one Playmobil part in the display towers used as stand for the car flyers (cf. detail pic) 

We bought the towers at IKEA (they have been quite cheap). Drawback is that there are gaps between the glass elements and so dust also finds its way to the inside, although not that fast as on open shelves.

For larger items I used a steam cleaner. Quite less dangerous to stickers than pure water although I must state that I never had a problem with original Playmobil stickers in the washing machine: they all got stuck on the item and didn't become any damage resulted from the washing procedure.

Hello Little Jo!

 That steam cleaner is quite an extravagant cleaning operation you have there  ! I do like your display towers though  ! My displays are confined to the office/extra bedroom to which I have access to the entire wall space  ! Which brings me back to the original problem, the more extensive, & bigger the displays, the more upkeep & cleaning required  ! It's a never ending cycle  !

[Rasputin]

Hi Bill, I would say that i think i understand your problem slightly . There is no way i can or want to glass everything in and i like it all or as much as possible on display .  We live on a farm so you can imagine how much dust is around us . We have a gravel driveway that trucks are constantly going up and down on and the tractor is tilling the fields a dozen times a year. There is no way to get rid of the dust i have to contend with . What i have found out is that i either do nothing at all until i photograph the piece or i let the kids play with them . If it is a truck they handle it enough to rid it of dust or if it is a boat it goes into the hot-tub with them and it comes out all clean, sails and all ( extra bubbles of course ).

Here is a pic of one corner of one room .

[Bill Blackhurst]

Hi Bill, I would say that i think i understand your problem slightly . There is no way i can or want to glass everything in and i like it all or as much as possible on display .  We live on a farm so you can imagine how much dust is around us . We have a gravel driveway that trucks are constantly going up and down on and the tractor is tilling the fields a dozen times a year. There is no way to get rid of the dust i have to contend with . What i have found out is that i either do nothing at all until i photograph the piece or i let the kids play with them . If it is a truck they handle it enough to rid it of dust or if it is a boat it goes into the hot-tub with them and it comes out all clean, sails and all ( extra bubbles of course ).

Here is a pic of one corner of one room .

AAHHH  ! Yes, I see that we share the same dilemma ! I appreciate your truthful candor regarding this subject  ! I'm trying different procedures, using plastic along with the shelves, but in your situation the only thing that would possibly work would be an air tight building with an air filtration system  ! Very impressive collection you are displaying  ! I can't display all of my collection at one time , but I like to show as much as possible! What do you do to clean the other items that are not trucks or boats  ?

[Martin Milner]

I think keeping the Playo Display room at a positive air pressure would blow dust out of it, through any small openings that might be present, like they do with hospital operating theatres.