SUN FADED MODELS.

[GHOSTHUNTER]

We have a 'Sun Faded' section for the 'Regular Wheels' models so here is the same section for Modern Matchbox.

The first examples are interior colours. The models are pretty regular issues and are as brand new out of their packaging. They have been sitting on a model railway layout since they were purchased, but on looking at the seats now, I see I have two very rare 'Tan' coloured examples with one of the models also suffering amber glazing syndrome combined with actual cracking!

When I collected Vauxhall models, I was only aware of the Brown and Grey interiors on these models, not any Tan interiors, so I know these are Sun Fades. The outer body colours however, still match another mint model that's never been in the sun, so this colour red holds up well in the Sunlight.

Ghosty.

[RacingFreak]

Very nice, I only got one with the usual grey interior which I took apart carefully yesterday (I bought it solely for that purpose), gonna make it a Met Police liveried Vectra in future. Luckily it isn't sun faded one, however the windows glazing has some dot-scratches on it's rear side, fortunately not too bad.

I don't think I have any seriously sunfaded models as I'm quite picky about that, however I have this England base Rover 3500 Police with badly sun-attacked windows glazing (which turned green)




Atleast it aint cracked, eh

[johnboy]

That window cracking is quite extreme Ghosty, it's suprising the paint hasn't changed.

[GHOSTHUNTER]

That window cracking is quite extreme Ghosty, it's suprising the paint hasn't changed.

Yes Johnboy, it is and the reason is simple. As the whole model is bathed in Sunlight, it gets quite warm, warm enough to make the internal seats component suffer and with the model under stress due to the way the base holds the seats tight and the seats hold the glazing tight...something has to give and the glazing is usually the first to suffer, resulting in cracking, therefore releasing tension.

The Rover glazing shown by "Racing Freak" is pretty close to cracking had it been in sunlight for not much longer, going by the 'Crazed' effect in the plastic itself.

Ghosty.

[GHOSTHUNTER]

Here is a "FAB I" model that appears to be another 'Sun fade' victim. The pictures here were posted on our old 'Lefora' site, so putting them here brings them back to the attention of the forum members, on this site.

GHOSTHUNTER.

[matchboxkiwi]

Ghosthunter,
That top one is the first ever trial run of that model. They were only ever sent to hot countries so of course the UK market never saw them!!!!!
On a serious note though Ghosty, were the clear plastic dome is and has changed to the dark amber colour, how come the exposed plastic interior has gone to exactly the same colour? That doesn't make sense. Could it be smoke damage rather than sun light?

Cheers Steve
Matchboxkiwi

[GHOSTHUNTER]

Hello Matchboxkiwi,

Yes well spotted and this same question was asked of the model when originally posted on the old forum. I did take a picture of the underside to show the two seat mouldings together, to help come to a conclusive answer, it is missing, so I will try and take another one and post here ASAP.

Ghosty.

[RacingFreak]

Hi Ghosty, I do not own this model but it's a sunfaded one I guess?

Seller thinks its a rare variation. lol

[GHOSTHUNTER]

A technical issue has removed the picture from last post by "RacingFreak", he has either moved it into a different album within his hosting account or the account has expired.

GHOSTHUNTER.

[Malibu]

Hi,

here are two more examples of models with sunfaded windows.

Stephan

(c) Malibu

57_Chevy_1.JPG (32.94 KiB) Viewed 2663 times

(c) Malibu

39B_1.JPG (51.32 KiB) Viewed 2663 times