Shocking Facts About Foam (1 Viewer)

[Cardigan600]

Yo Troopers, I have been looking around for foam to line the boxes for the Toy Soldiers the modern way I thought, how wrong can you get. I received this Chas Stadden yesterday forget the damage that can be sorted, but the foam in the box had completely disintegrated it was a right sticky mess nearly destroyed the box as well (see Photo), it just looked like oily sawdust. I asked my mate trooper about it and he said foam doesn't last long, which I thought strange. Anyway just been on to a Foam company in the UK, no problem we can supply all the foam you want in different sizes etc. So I just happened to mention about the Chas Stadden I got yesterday and the state the foam was in, they asked how old it was, so soft lad here said its only from the 1970s they nearly fell off the phone laughing. I said what are you laughing at, REPLY, the life expectancy of foam is only 5-10 years. WHAT and here I am buying Soldiers to put away for my lad when he grows up and half the sets are foam lined. I think we should have some sort of answer on this problem from the main Manufactures, we all know how important boxes and there packing are when you come to sell them on the open market.
Gads Sir, this Hussar is totally stunned by this information
Bernard.

 

[thebritfarmer]

Wow I didn't know that Bernard, thanks for the info. I have collected some great boxes from work that have foam in them. I was going to use them to store some of my lead pieces. Don't think I will bother now.

 

[theBaron]

What about upholsterer's foam? I would expect that that would last longer than the foam used in packing, since most pieces of furniture are expected to last longer than 10 years.

 

[PolarBear]

As a Britains collector I am glad to that they are moving away from foam to the clamshell packing. According to Richard Walker all single figures will be issued this way although for now I believe sets will still have the foam. I think William Britain was on to something with his black thread. The traditional black thread is currently Bill Hocker's method as well.

 

[glossman]

Hi Bernard,

Very sorry to see the condition of your set.

I looks as if it was put in the microwave. Even the figure took a beating !!

I had a discussion with Dickbuttons in his thread "Vintage Britains Color Parties" on the old method of figures string tied to cardboard backing.

Not sure if you would like to go "retro" this way.

Another option is to ditch foam and use cotton wool.

Just my thoughts, Raymond.

 

[thebritfarmer]

I agree with you Randy the clamshell packaging is a great idea. Easy to open and also easy to pop the figures back in if needs be. They also don't take up a lot of space, which is a plus as storing the empty packaging can take up more space than the items we are collecting.

 

[Toy Soldier Brigade]

Just one more reason why I toss the boxes

 

[lancer]

This foam problem is something I had to deal with when I purchased some Trophy sets years ago. Upon opening some artillery sets that had individual pieces wrapped in foam and secured with rubber bands, I found the figures and pieces had a sticky residue that I was never sucessful in removing. I dumped the foam and used tissue and bubble wrap to protect the figures when repacking them. I found that some of the paint sheen can be altered by contact with foam also. -- lancer

 

[Louis Badolato]

In some of the very early glossy K&C sets from 1984-1986, when Tamiya paints were used, then covered with a gloss coat, the foam in the box would actually react with the gloss coating, discoloring the foam, causing the figures to stick to the foam and become dull, almost matt, in appearance. After a couple of years, each individual glossy figure would be placed in a little plastic bag, then put in the foam in the box.

 

[1879fanatic]

Relax Guys,
The foam we are used to(off-white and charcoal open-celled) is fine and will not degrade----unless it comes into contact with something that caused it to degrade, like acid-based or oil based liquids. Heat is the other factor. When heated, the foam will not degrade, the PAINT will, then interacting with the foam. Bernard's figure was in an attic and caused the outer coat on the figure(or outside contaminant) to release and interact with the plastics in the foam.
Keep the boxes in a dry cool environment with stable temps. And tissue-wrap the figures before putting into foam. This helps keep and process oils from touching either way. I've worked with large amounts of PVA, EPDM,PET, PolyU , etc. foam in the last 15 years, and one piece of super-resilient PVA disintegrated-extended storage in a car trunk. $.02
Mike

 

[1879fanatic]

In some of the very early glossy K&C sets from 1984-1986, when Tamiya paints were used, then covered with a gloss coat, the foam in the box would actually react with the gloss coating, discoloring the foam, causing the figures to stick to the foam and become dull, almost matt, in appearance. After a couple of years, each individual glossy figure would be placed in a little plastic bag, then put in the foam in the box.

Louis ,
Have you had any problems by fully wrapping soldiers in plastic bag? Seems they should breathe,
Mike

 

[Louis Badolato]

Louis ,
Have you had any problems by fully wrapping soldiers in plastic bag? Seems they should breathe,
Mike

I didn't wrap them . . . K&C did. By around 1988 they started placing each glossy figure in a little plastic bag. I have seen many of the old glossy figures still mint in the original plastic bag inside the original foam packed box after 20 years, so I guess the figures are okay in the bags . . . unless you were being funny about live soldiers in plastic bags . . .

 

[theBaron]

I got it, Mike

Seriously, I often use tissue paper to wrap mine, and place them in boxes. Also bubble wrap. Foam has been too much effort, so far, cutting out the spaces to hold the figures. But then again, I think the finishes hold up a little better, since I seal mine with Future.

Prosit!
Brad

 

[1879fanatic]

I didn't wrap them . . . K&C did. By around 1988 they started placing each glossy figure in a little plastic bag. I have seen many of the old glossy figures still mint in the original plastic bag inside the original foam packed box after 20 years, so I guess the figures are okay in the bags . . . unless you were being funny about live soldiers in plastic bags . . .

Louis,
I'm sorry about the confusion...This time(with caveat) I was being serious. If you have stable temps, the plastic is ok, but the acid-free Kim wipes are the best..They fit around each figure (4" x 4") and they absorb both contaminants from the figure, as well as any agents in the foam/environment.
My question is based on the fact that I recently got a mint Britains Fokker Red Baron and the chock wheels were in plastic bags...The paint looked like it had melted and reattached. The figures were wrapped in tissue and were fine.

No confusion meant at all!
Have a Great Weekend!
Mike

 

[aujj65]

Bernard, what a horrible thing to happen! I take it it the seller hadn't checked the condition before sending it to you? How bad is the paint work and is it going to have a air flight in a brown box?

Jeff

 

[maddadicus]

In the toy train market, folks are being steered clear of wrapping their collector pieces in plastic bags. Lately ,paint issues have been croppng up, because of air leaks and moisture trappment. The enviroment that the pieces are being stored in ,has become more important than the packing..Michael