Vacuum Handy Cleaner

What it is for

A small handheld vacuum cleaner for the modeling bench. It clears up what arises nonstop while a model is being built: sanding dust from sanding filler and joints, small offcuts from sprues, bristles from sanding paper and the ridge left behind after scribing panel lines. It fits in the hand, so it can be used to vacuum directly over work in progress without your having to clear the parts away.

Why it pays to draw the dust off

Dust from sanding is fine and light. If you only blow it off the bench, it settles back down after a while, and most often onto a freshly sprayed surface, where it bakes into the varnish and can no longer be removed without sanding it back. It also settles in seams and in panel lines, so a glaze on them creates patches instead of a clean line, and under a decal it creates a bump. Drawing it off is the clean solution against that: the dust disappears from the bench completely.

How to work with it

• Vacuum the bench every time before spraying, not only afterwards
• After sanding, vacuum the model as well, above all the seams, the rivets and the corners
• On thin parts, antennas and landing gear legs, vacuum from a greater distance
• Rather clear small parts off the bench first, so that the airflow does not take them with it

Do not rely on a handheld vacuum cleaner to extract paint mist while spraying; a spray booth serves for that.

Who it is for

For anyone who builds on a bench that serves other purposes too and needs to clear up after themselves quickly. Paints, sanding supplies and other tools are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.