Will sunlight affect the paint job on figures? (1 Viewer)

J

jeffs

Private
Joined
Nov 21, 2011
Messages
33
Hi guys, please bear with me here since I'm a newbie. My figures are exposed to moderate/high sunlight coming through the bedroom windowduring daytime. Over time, will sunlight affect the finishing/color of the figures? The figures in question are matte SOOHK series. Thanks in advance for your comments.
 
jeffs said:
Hi guys, please bear with me here since I'm a newbie. My figures are exposed to moderate/high sunlight coming through the bedroom windowduring daytime. Over time, will sunlight affect the finishing/color of the figures? The figures in question are matte SOOHK series. Thanks in advance for your comments.
Click to expand...

Over time, direct sunlight will fade the colours on just about anything.

Terry
 
Guy said:
Terry
the best advice I can give you is: protect your figures with a thin coat of matt varnish and problem solved
guy:)
Click to expand...

Good idea - but far too much work and mess for a non-painter. I just keep them out of direct sunlight.

Terry
 
Even an overcoat will not prevent the effects of the visible and invisible light in sunlight. Terry's advice is the best.

Prost!
Brad
 
In the 1930's people were told to coat autographed baseballs to preserve the signature. It worked at the cost of turning the baseball dark yellow and gave it a varnished look.. I am leary of using any coating - sometimes the coating can have a bad effect over a long time period.

Terry
 
Well, varnish on leather is one thing, and a sealer on enamel or acrylic paints are another, but in either case, it can't prohibit fading, only inhibit it.

I use Future floor polish to coat and seal my figures, when I paint them. Some have said that Future will discolor over time, too, but I don't think anyone's used it long enough to notice a big difference yet.

I have noticed that some older figures that were clear-coated, like King-White/Reeves figures, have taken on a yellowish tint with age. KW/Reeves is a good example to be able to compare coated and uncoated figures, because they made their figures in both finishes, so we can often compare the same figure, in either finish.

Prost!
Brad
 
Better to cover the window with a drape or curtain versus applying anything to your costly figures. ! The greater the sun exposure, the more color fading will occur over time {sm2}
 
Jeffs...

Welcome to the forum. I would probably by a blind or shade for your window as its a lot easier and probably cheaper than doing any work to your figures. I have had an aircraft on the window at my home which, is south facing and, its been there 18 months and, compared to a boxed version there is no noticable depreciation in colouring. Having said that its better to not take chances if you are worried
Mitch
 
Hi there,
As stated, Ultra-violet light will fade any color over time. Clear coats will not help much at all, so in the end minimizing the exposure to sunlight will be the best option. There are UV- filtering Plexiglas products available and you could consider using this product for cases, but a simple shade, blinds or curtains should do the trick.
Ken
 
theBaron said:
Even an overcoat will not prevent the effects of the visible and invisible light in sunlight. Terry's advice is the best.

Prost!
Brad
Click to expand...

Brad, I can assure you, if you use a good quality varnish,the colours will not fade and not turn yellow. I have figures in my collection that received a coat of varnish more than 20 years ago. Colours are still the same; I can compare them with pictures taken so many years ago.
guy:)
 
I think the exposure would diminish them some...but I doubt if it would be very noticeable...if at all...
 
Guy said:
Brad, I can assure you, if you use a good quality varnish,the colours will not fade and not turn yellow. I have figures in my collection that received a coat of varnish more than 20 years ago. Colours are still the same; I can compare them with pictures taken so many years ago.
guy:)
Click to expand...

This is really bad advice; two big variables in a varnish coating are a) is it indeed UV blocking & b) how long would it last before the UV/oxidative processes degrade it. A big roll of the dice.
 
Sounds like you really have to know the varnish product. The simplest and maybe safest thing to do is keep the figures out of direct sunlight. That is especially true in the tropics.

Terry
 
There should be no doubt about it.
Figures, Miniatures, should be displayed without any direct sunlight at any given time.
Colors will fade when exposed.
Konrad
 
Thanks for the advice guys. I just installed curtains to solve the problem. Not going to risk painting my figures as I'm a lousy painter. Thanks again
 
Another thought to bear in mind is, the desired climate control being essential in the preservation of your burgeoning collection. Overtime, one can imagine heat added may expedite the decay process in the finish of paint pigments; therefore a cool-humidity controlled space is optimum.
 
Last edited:
I am in a similar boat with Jeffs as where I live (Darwin) has high humidity for around 7 months of the year. My collection is in an air-conditioned room but I cannot afford to run the A/C for 24 hours every day. All I do is keep the afternoon sunlight off my collection as best as possible (with curtains and other means) and try and keep the room as cool as possible.

Tom
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Users who are viewing this thread

Total: 2 (members: 0, guests: 2)
Community platform by XenForo® © 2010-2024 XenForo Ltd.
Back
Top