Jump to content

Removing tobacco smell from kits bought online


Recommended Posts

I have never seen this subject discussed anywhere, so here it goes.

I recently bought a 1/32 jet kit, and when it arrived, the box and all the parts bags reeked of tobacco smoke. The parts bags appear to still be sealed, so I don't know yet if the smell has gotten inside the bags.

What can I use to remove the smell from the box & bags, without destroying them? If the plastic sprues are also contaminated, what can I use to remove the smell from them, without damaging the plastic parts?

Larry

Link to post
Share on other sites

Seal inside a plastic bag with some baking soda, and leave for a day or so - the sodium bicarbonate should absorb the odour.

If it doesn't completely eliminate it first time, 'rinse and repeat' - though without actually rinsing, of course!

Link to post
Share on other sites
3 minutes ago, andyf117 said:

Seal inside a plastic bag with some baking soda, and leave for a day or so - the sodium bicarbonate should absorb the odour.

If it doesn't completely eliminate it first time, 'rinse and repeat' - though without actually rinsing, of course!

Thanks, I'll try that. I need to see if I can find a ziploc style bag big enough to hold the kit & box.

Link to post
Share on other sites

I feel for ya.  I once received a model kit that I had purchased online (second-hand).  The moment I opened up the shipping box, woof!  I felt like I had just smoked a carton of cigs in about two seconds!  How on earth does a box get that permeated with cigarette smoke smell???  I can only imagine the guy would take a drag on his cigarette and blow the smoke directly into the box.

 

In a perfect world, all my model boxes would smell like bacon.

Link to post
Share on other sites

On opening my 'big Boeing' boxes - the -135s, E-3s, etc - I'd like to get the waft of JP-4...

 

....and the scent of AVTUR from all the helicopter ones - for modelling with Smell-O-Vision!

Link to post
Share on other sites

I ended up scrubbing the sprues of a Monogram F-101B with a toothbrush and soapy water. The decals were so yellow they went in the trash with the box and instructions.   It had to have been directly in the path of two tons of second hand nicotine.  Sometimes it’s like that. 
 

Rick L. 

Link to post
Share on other sites

I had cancer from smoking for 20 years , quit in the '90s, that smell makes me noxious. I throw away everything but the kit plastic and wash it then build it. Do NOT keep the box, decals or instructions unless you absolutely need them. Tried the dryer sheet thing..... nothing really works but tossing all the paper and cardboard stuff. jon

Edited by jonwinn
grammar
Link to post
Share on other sites

Sorry about the cancer.  Not to be pedantic but I believe the noxious smell makes you nauseous....   :gr_barf:

 

My (ex) mother-in-law smoked, when we helped her move the smell of her clothes stunk up my car for weeks.  I had 5 or 6 of those little tree shaped fresheners in there, still didn't cover the smell.

Link to post
Share on other sites
8 hours ago, skidbuggy said:

Why not build it? That will ultimately remove the odour.

 

Because I am like jonwinn, in that the DISGUSTING tobacco smell makes me nauseous.  :gr_barf:

And since the baking soda failed to remove the odor from the box & instructions (after a week), I will probably do like he says and throw out them, after photocopying the instructions. But if the "sealed" parts sprues still have the smell, they'll sit in my garage until the smell goes away (If ever).

Larry

Link to post
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...