We're all pretty much aware of degraded figures so I'm not aiming this topic in that direction at all. And I think most of us know about yellowing bubbles on certain MOC items.

What I'd like to discuss are some of the other areas of SW production that are showing their signs of age.

For example, the white production X-Wing Fighter for the figures often suffers from yellowing. Minty white fighters with a clear canopy always command a premium. Any other vehicles or playsets that are going this way? The Millenium Falcon also comes to mind with yellowing glue to its joints.

Lifting and peeling decals?

Another big one is the foam from the Dagobah playset. These things crumble to bits just breathing on them it seems. Do you think in this case it's acceptable for a replacement foam part?

What are your thoughts on baggies? We know that a tape seal can be prone to drying out and lifting. But what about the plastic bags themselves? I remember learning that the old plastic (shopping) bags could last 100 years before degrading (now they make them to degrade within months). How do you think the life span of the baggies plastic will hold up?

here's a fairly recent post by Dan on RS about a pair of SW Clarkes shoes degrading, with an interesting view on storage conditions: http://forum.rebelscum.com/t1075879/


I'm curious to see how some items hold it together in the next 10 to 30 years.


Or maybe it will just be the coins that are the last things to survive


So what are your thoughts on this? Any other items starting or have already gone to the dogs? What about books and paperwork items?

Be great to hear your thoughts, thanks.

I replaced the foam on a Chewbacca bandolier a while back and gave it away to kid. The old foam where falling off and completely unusable. It could even be scuplted to some degree because of it's condition.
As far as original I wouldn't want to own one that fell to pieces all over the floor as soon as you touch it. The stuff even made black marks on what ever it touched. But dunno if I would rather have one with replaced foam.

Soap and candles tend to get *whiter* over age.. another reason to start collecting oddball!

Rawlin is correct about the Bandolier foam being sticky stuff. I have a few boxes that are really badly sunlight faded. All the white vehicle plastic seems to suffer a bit- Imperial shuttle, MTV-7,rebel transporter, remote R2 ....
I am yet to see a clear cockpit for the cardboard Deathstar- they always seem to be orange.
The plastics/rubber getting brittle are also a concern- broken reins, Security scout strap...
Even coins can oxidise.
Humidity is a big external factor killing our toys/collectables.

aussiejames wrote:

I am yet to see a clear cockpit for the cardboard Deathstar- they always seem to be orange.
.

i could be wrong, but i think they were always orange?

I've heard rumours of repro ones
These ones are quite clear:

i stand corrected: the box art on the toltoys version shows a clear canopy



and upon further investigation, so does the pali version LOL
i guess my wrong view on the matter only amplifies the point you were making, james

Hyver wrote:

i stand corrected: the box art on the toltoys version shows a clear canopy



and upon further investigation, so does the pali version LOL
i guess my wrong view on the matter only amplifies the point you were making, james

But it's not so far fetched, Many times the product on the picture is not 100% like the one that is in the box.

Interesting topic!

How about the battle damage stickers of the X-Wing, they always seem to peel off.

Dr Dengar wrote:

Interesting topic!

How about the battle damage stickers of the X-Wing, they always seem to peel off.

BD Tie fighrer ones as well.. maybe they were conceived as stickers to place and replace at one's will?
In any event, it should be clear by now that Kenner, or most other licencees, did not have decade-long collectors, or collecting, in mind!

Dr Dengar wrote:

Interesting topic!

How about the battle damage stickers of the X-Wing, they always seem to peel off.

Maybe they are doing what they where intended, bringing damage to you piece

MISB items suddenly becoming MIB items because of the tape seals drying out/peeling away.

Or does that make them NRFB items? Never removed from box.

I think most would consider it both MIB and NRFB. I also seen some described it as MIB/NRFB on ebay before, but thats ebay of course.

Decal sheets also seem to degrade. Moist damage, yellowing/browning and glue drying out so the decals come loose from the sheet. Especially the decal sheets of the Sand Crawler, The Droid Factory playset and the PDT-8 always seem to have that problem for some reason.

Good info thanks Emiel, nice to see you back mate

Stickers are a pain. On 2 imperial shuttles I've had the stickers had some very odd degradation. The paint on the stickers had turned to powder, at touch the paint literary fell of the stickers. Only thing I've seen this on is imperial shuttles wing stickers.