I have found "water spots" on the roofs of some of my postwar boxcars.
I reviewed the files here and found cleaning agent suggestions of: water & soap, soft cloths, Crisco oil, white vinegar, heat, baking soda, and then the commercially prepared concoctions that seemed universally vetoed.
The cause has been ascribed as chemicals coming out of the plastic, agents from the mold it was cast in, and mold ( as in fungal ). Also given consideration was Christmas snow, over-spray from painting, and isolated other stuff one might be whipping up in the basement.
I decided to sacrifice an old boxcar to experimentation. Started with soap and water....then heat....then vinegar...then oil. Only the oil had an appreciable positive effect. It LOOKS a lot better.
Now, I called them " water spots" as I don't know what they were. They appeared over time in a climate controlled & non smoking dedicated train room. Not all the cars got this. I obliviously didn't purchase all the cares originally and bought from around the country over the last 20 years. They have all been on the same metal shelves with more or less the same amount of artificial incandescent lighting.
I am wondering your opinions, suggestions, & comments...even your rants and insults as even a broken clock is correct twice a day.
Thanks in advance
ernie
