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Can anyone explain how the underside of the roof images christian has posted show such uniform sunfading? I would have thought that the underside not being in direct sunlight would not fade to the same extent as the exterior roof surface. Am i missing something here??

motorman wrote:Can anyone explain how the underside of the roof images christian has posted show such uniform sunfading? I would have thought that the underside not being in direct sunlight would not fade to the same extent as the exterior roof surface. Am i missing something here??

I cannot explain it, but I have seen similar effects on the paintwork of various models. My assumption is that it is due to long-term exposure to diffuse (i.e. indirect) sunlight. What I mean by that is that, rather then the model being stood on a windowsill, it is somewhere in a room where sunlight can get at it with roughly equal intensity from all sides (so probably not tucked away on a shelf). This results in a general and (more or less) even bleaching of certain pigments. Areas which have a significantly greater depth of paint retain their colour longer, whilst hidden areas are unaffected.
Sunfade is a very, very odd thing!

This discolouring may not always be sun fade, I have had models stored in the loft with white plastics that have gone a cream colour.
Maybe if left long enough it would end up tan in colour. I have always thought it was to do with extremes of heat and cold.
Also prolonged smoke can do strange things to plastic, I have some great yesteryear examples somewhere,
Jason

Thanks Hugh and Jason,

I agree with you both that some factors other than sunlight must be considered to be involved to ensure such a uniform colour change, Smoke seems a very plausible explanation and considering the number of boxes of diecast there must be tucked away in millions of attics all over the country, the hot/cold theory may very well be a likely cause for this uniformity.

In relation to paintwork I dont think that uniform sunfade on a displayed model on a window sill or display case is likely especially even in diffused light situations, i have a few sunfaded SF#8 Wildcats were the paint shows some very clear uneven sunfade, clearly indicating how the model was positioned in conjunction to the sunlight hitting the paint work.

motorman wrote:In relation to paintwork I dont think that uniform sunfade on a displayed model on a window sill or display case is likely especially even in diffused light situations, i have a few sunfaded SF#8 Wildcats were the paint shows some very clear uneven sunfade, clearly indicating how the model was positioned in conjunction to the sunlight hitting the paint work.

I think pigment composition plays an important role in all this. Some seem to be very unstable leading to uneven fading (as is often seen on the 8f Wildcat Dragster), whilst others degrade slowly over time, giving a much more even appearance (e.g. 21c Milk Float in pale blue).
As I said, sunfade is a strange thing and we should not underestimate what it is capable of. (Think back to our recent discussion/debunking of the dark blue 33a Ford Zodiac.)

Glad to have u back Christian and posting once again.

All forum members: What about this artists impression on the 23D Caravan.The roof does look Beige/Tan to me.
numi

as Christian said the tan color may not go through the whole of the plastic...well he is right...the rear of the interior has a crack...enough that under light with an eye loupe i saw the middle and it is bluish...i took a pic the best i could...i think you might be able to see its blueish in the middle...if not sorry





could the color turning from the blue to tan be a reaction of the plastic mix they did when they made this...i mean in 40 more years the plastic could be a tan all the way through the plastic

hi numi! congrats on your wedding!

Here is a link to Caravan articles on the old site...

...http://vintage-british-diecasts.lefora. ... -23?page=1
and...http://vintage-british-diecasts.lefora. ... -23?page=2

GHOSTHUNTER.

P.S. Some members are unable to use the links above, so I have included the pictures below.

GHOSTHUNTER wrote:Here is a link to Caravan articles on the old site...

...http://vintage-british-diecasts.lefora. ... -23?page=1
and...http://vintage-british-diecasts.lefora. ... -23?page=2

GHOSTHUNTER.

those links take me to a log on page and doesnt recognize my name or PW

Brad Pittiful wrote:

GHOSTHUNTER wrote:Here is a link to Caravan articles on the old site...

...http://vintage-british-diecasts.lefora. ... -23?page=1
and...http://vintage-british-diecasts.lefora. ... -23?page=2

GHOSTHUNTER.

those links take me to a log on page and doesnt recognize my name or PW

Me too Dan....so you can relax you are not the only one having difficulties

I don't really want to have to log on to that pile of shit again any time soon anyway.