Storing models

[diecastfan]

I'm in the process of waiting for a new display cabinet arriving for my collection. What I would like to know is it safe to store my models in a sealed plastic storage box or will this harm the models.

[motorman]

I have many boxed and loose models that have been in storage in sealed plastic tubs for many years with no ill effect. Having said that i ensure that the area i store them in is dry and dark.

[diecastfan]

Thanks motorman for explaining your storing advice a great help.

[motorman]

Thanks motorman for explaining your storing advice a great help.

This topic will no doubt cause some debate as there are a few members who may have concerns regarding the long term effect of storing models in plastic containers.

[diecastfan]

Thanks motorman for explaining your storing advice a great help.

This topic will no doubt cause some debate as there are a few members who may have concerns regarding the long term effect of storing models in plastic containers.

This will be interesting to see other member's views on this subject.

[Idris]

Thanks motorman for explaining your storing advice a great help.

This topic will no doubt cause some debate as there are a few members who may have concerns regarding the long term effect of storing models in plastic containers.

At one stage, all the evidence seemed to point very strongly towards paint softening as a result of a model being stored in some types of collector’s cases (Fred Bronner cases were highlighted as being suspect), the proposed mechanism being evaporation of plasticisers from the case into the closed environment within it, followed by absorption by the paint on the models.
Whilst this may be true, I have discovered a small but significant number of models in my collection which I know for a fact have always been stored in their boxes and have never been near a collector’s case but which have decidedly tacky paint. These models all date from the RW/SF transition period, and I now suspect that a poorly managed change in paint formulation and/or baking/curing process is to blame. (IIRC, Tinman one stated that SF paints have a different formulation to RW ones.)
If any Member has a model with tacky paint which does not date from 1969 – 1971, I would be interested to hear about it.

[diecastfan]

Hello Idris thanks for the interesting read in your post. It amazes me how certain things can change our models especially through storage. Looking forward to hearing what other member's say on this subject.

[GHOSTHUNTER]

It is a Grey area for many collectors. Long term storage of models in any sealed container will have an effect on rubber (tyres), Glazing (some plastics can turn Amber) and Vacuumed plated parts (grilles and bumpers etc) will evapoarate leaving the coloured plastic underneath to show.

I had several mint models in what I thought at the time of storage was a very good storage medium, paper packing, cardboard boxes etc, stored away from direct Sunlight and any heat sources such as wall mounted oil filled radiators. This would probably have been fine if only I could have opened tham all up for breathing and a change of aIr. this was not done and so paper packing and cardboard storage containers had all become damp with the resulting mint models all being ruined by the loss of their 'Chromed' bumper/grille components.

Long term storage is usually fine, but you must not put them away and forget about them, get them out a couple of times a Year or even every Month for an airing.

Sealed display cabinets have their own problems. I remember seeing a Model of Yesteryear sealed in one of the 'Giftware' Glass bottles and the paint was lifting away fom the larger areas of the model such as the bonnet and along the body sides. The air inside had gone stale causing problems for the surface of the paint resulting in some shrinkage and subsequence lifting as it lost adhesion to the metal.

Cabinets with gaps to allow the Air to pass through is preferable to sealed cabinets, but then allows dust to settle on the models and shelves so a bit of spring cleaning is in order!

Ghosthunter.

[diecastfan]

Some more interesting reading Ghosthunter thanks for sharing this with me. So an airing of the models should help prevent problems while being stored.

[ClOwY]

I prefer spring cleaning myself(to ruined models), it also brings back when and were they were bought,imho.
Gary