brittle plastic (1 Viewer)

[sage742]

I received some old Marx plastic figures the other day and most were fine but some of them are very brittle . Is there anything I can do to preserve the ones that are left? I'm afraid to even touch them now. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[kilted vampire]

I would like to know as well. I do imagine any restoration process would depend on the plastic type.

 

[gk5717]

Can,t help you with a solution, but I will tell you be carefull they will break.
Six months ago I sold my old Marx collection and a few of the figures I sold arrived broken to the buyer, and up until that time I thought they were fine.
The guy that bought them said it is a common occurance as the figures being 60 years old dries out.
Gary

 

[OzDigger]

This also happens to other makes like Timpo and Herald which I tend to avoid these days. Airfix and Lone Star seem to last ok.

 

[Gideon]

The secret is the smell. If they smell like crayons (it's unmistakeable in oder) then avoid. If it just smells like plastic or like nothing at all you'll be fine.

 

[OzDigger]

The secret is the smell. If they smell like crayons (it's unmistakeable in oder) then avoid. If it just smells like plastic or like nothing at all you'll be fine.

I'll only do that in private as my wife has caught me sniffing my models in the past She's a special education teacher and says it's an indication of a learning disability. I just like to think of myself as being special, as are my models. I guess I'm lucky to have a wife that's trained to cope with people like me

 

[Leadmen]

Now I know why my wife puts up with me and my quirky hobby. She is a special education teacher also. But I guess after 43 years she is use to it. Leadmen

 

[kilted vampire]

The secret is the smell. If they smell like crayons (it's unmistakeable in oder) then avoid. If it just smells like plastic or like nothing at all you'll be fine.

Ican attest to the crayon smell. My Airfix highlanders have that smell and are they ever brittle!

 

[OzDigger]

Ican attest to the crayon smell. My Airfix highlanders have that smell and are they ever brittle!

I wonder why the Highlanders smell yet my Airfix Aussie figures don't have any smell at all. It must be some Scottish thing, I guess the water is a bit cold up there

 

[Wraith]

Ican attest to the crayon smell. My Airfix highlanders have that smell and are they ever brittle!

Kilted Vampire,

I feel the need to reassure you of the quality of most Airfix figures. If you pm me with your details, I'll get some across the water to you. There are some good poses amongst the 4 sets of Waterloo figures, especially the Old Guard.

Let me know and I'll get some bendy, supple non-smelly ones across to you.

Simon

 

[kilted vampire]

Wraith , thank you for the generous offer. I do know there are recast airfix available here in the states. The ones I have were given to me by my father just recently. I should also note they were made in the 70's

 

[Wraith]

I should also note they were made in the 70's

Yep, it's a fair point, the guys probably haven't had a wash for 30+ years. I'm surprised it's just crayons they smell of.

Wraith

 

[kilted vampire]

In my fathers defense. The figures were unopened in the original box