A Fear Of Mine (1 Viewer)

wellington

wellington

First Sergeant
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I have heard that old lead figures eventually fall apart....does anyone know or worry about the metals, paint or other materials (polystone) that K & C use eventually deterriorating. I would like to pass my collection onto my children and I would hope they will last a long time. I know metals and paints are much better today than years past but it has been a worry never the less. Maybe ANDY can comment on this one. I would hate to see the paint flake and fall off my figures 30 years down the road or a Polystone tank fall apart.


WELLINGTON
 
Wllington

I know from talking with Mike at K&C UK that the OLD Lead toysoldiers can get what is called LEAD ROT where the internal lead crumbles making it very brittle and only the paint keeps them together then when you lift your figure up the heads fall off etc.

Mike says that K&C use a different mixture of soft metals that mean you do not get lead rot. He has advised also storage is important ie do not expose to extremes of temperature etc. Frankly mostly common sense issues.

So you should be OK as long as you look after them

regards

Monty
 
Thanks Monty for the info......I'll be a little more aware when I expose them to light etc in the future.....

Cheers
WELLINGTON
 
The question would be was when King and Country started using this different formula as they have been producing soliders since 1984 and I doubt that the older ones were different than soldiers made by other companies.
 
I've read a number of different things about Lead Rot. I believe the thing to be most leery of is moisture. Do not keep your metal soldiers in highly humid or damp locations.
 
Jim Hillestad of the Toy Soldier Museum put out an article on how to take care of toy soldiers. Moisture and extremes of heat or cold are bad, but one thing he specifically warned about was the type of cabinet you use to display your figures. First of all he warned against putting your figures directly on certain unvarnished or otherwise unfinished wood (I think oak was a big no-no), as there was some sort of acid in the raw wood that caused lead rot. Also make sure your cabinets are not air tight, as trapping the fumes from the acids accelerated the lead rot. Jim sells a binder with the article about to care for and properly display lead soldiers on his website (I think it costs about $17): http://www.the-toy-soldier.com/contents.htm
 
I don't see a problem with K&C pewter figures but don't expose them to extreme temperature changes. With the old hollowcast figures I avoid oak cabinets unless the oak is well sealed. The Dimestore and hollow Britains require a few precautions. I coated the figures inside and out with WD-40 and let them air dry. I also keep those little bags of silica in cases containing metal figures. I change bags every year. On figures that showed some lead rot I remove them immediately. It can spread. I usually remove paint if castings are good and repaint figure. I have seen very few figures with lead rot unless it was at garage sale. Less lead is used in modern figures ,so lead rot is becoming rare. Leadmen
 
I'm wondering what are the tell tale signs of lead rot?
 
jazzeum said:
I'm wondering what are the tell tale signs of lead rot?
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Lead rot usually occurs around the figure's head. I saw lead rot on arms, legs, chest so I guess anywhere. It has a greyish appearance and like powderly build up that looks like a grey ball of dust. Some figures also will show tiny white spots on the paintwork. It has a moldy look to it. Lead rot will chew through a hollow figure to a point it cannot be saved. I have not seen any on newer figures. Most manufacturers nowdays prime their metal figures which helps prevent it from happening. Old figures were never primed. Never paint a metal figure without priming it first. Leadmen
 
How many of the figures manufactured in the last 10 years are even made of lead ? My biggest fear is that I'll be rotting well before my toy soldiers :)
 
Toy Soldier Brigade said:
How many of the figures manufactured in the last 10 years are even made of lead ? My biggest fear is that I'll be rotting well before my toy soldiers :)
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Get yourself primed, quickly!

Alternatively,
Make sure you consume regular mouthfuls of embalming fluid to prevent the rot setting in. I find single malt to be particularly satisfying. :p

Simon
 
Wraith said:
Get yourself primed, quickly!

Alternatively,
Make sure you consume regular mouthfuls of embalming fluid to prevent the rot setting in. I find single malt to be particularly satisfying. :p

Simon
Click to expand...

Simon

We had a thread on favourite tipple once ...... before prohibition I think!
 
Hey this thread is starting to fit into my Egypt line now......I have MANY other fears that I could share with you guys but I don't want to shock you all.
One of my worst came true so this is why I worry sooo much...MARRIAGE......:eek:


WELLINGTON
 
Wraith said:
Get yourself primed, quickly!

Alternatively,
Make sure you consume regular mouthfuls of embalming fluid to prevent the rot setting in. I find single malt to be particularly satisfying. :p

Simon
Click to expand...

Simon,

I may be part Scottish, but I love single malt Irish Whiskey. I also love a good single malt Scotch, like Glen Morangie.
 
Louis Badolato said:
Simon,

I may be part Scottish, but I love single malt Irish Whiskey. I also love a good single malt Scotch, like Glen Morangie.
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Funnily enough, I'm in the gradual process of embalming myself with that said mentioned product as I type.

However, I can still read what I'm typing, so me thinks I need to speed the process up a bit. Wouldn't want to go down with a nasty case of rot now would I. :)
 
Pewter is a VERY long lasting alloy as evidenced by pewter plates, cups etc lasting from centuries ago.
 
Dragoon said:
I've read a number of different things about Lead Rot. I believe the thing to be most leery of is moisture. Do not keep your metal soldiers in highly humid or damp locations.
Click to expand...

So playing with them in the shower isn't a good idea? :D
 
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