I'm cleaning up my childhood Falcon finally and I wanted to get some thoughts from you. My Falcon is only "randomly yellowed" in little edges and stripes and random small blotches. Overall, the hull is generally now off-color to the cockpit cover and the rear lid, but it is not extreme. In fact, the real yellowing is quite random, looking almost like, well, a weathered ship hull.
Some people have suggested RetroBrite or Novus plastic polish or even the peroxide solutions, but my reading has shown a lot of fear toward this method as many claim it actually damages the molecular structure of the plastic beyond what the yellowing indicates has already happened internally over time.
I have attached a video of the first step toward a cleaning and rebuild. Part 2 is being posted this evening. Any advice or help with any of my questions will be greatly appreciated.
Michael
Section 8 Imperial Commander
Posts : 435 Join date : 2012-09-25 Age : 47 Location : Lancashire, UK
I'd sell it, and buy a stripped Falcon without any yellowing. Can often be found on ebay and should have a net cost of no more than £10 - £15. Would save the cost of polish and the time of cleaning it up.
I'd sell it, and buy a stripped Falcon without any yellowing. Can often be found on ebay and should have a net cost of no more than £10 - £15. Would save the cost of polish and the time of cleaning it up.
I appreciate the practicality of your solution, but I'm a bit too sentimental. I couldn't possibly sell my childhood Falcon.
DarthBerizing Johnpaul Ragusa
Posts : 7050 Join date : 2009-11-24 Age : 52 Location : Dutchess County, NY
Unless it's very yellowed I wouldn't do anything about it. Usually yellowing that's spread all over dissapear very easily from hard plastic. But there is another type that does not go away no matter what. Since your yellowing is only on spots I don't think you should do anything about it. You could just replace the parts that got yellowing with non yellowed parts. Since the procedure of removing the yellowing is not safe. I've removed a lot of yellowing on stuff, the largest was an imperial shuttle. And the hydrogen peroxide that is used in most recipes is very hard to deal with, including leaving toxic gases if done indoors. If treated to long it will "unarm" the plastic making it fragile and breaking easily.
Let me know how it goes with the engine
trappedtexan Moderator
Posts : 4772 Join date : 2012-12-01 Location : USA, Texas
To go with what John said I would leave it be and remember all the good times you had "flying" it around your yard or house. If you want a whiter one buy a different one. I don't know how much a minty example goes for but it is better than possibly destroying the childhood toy you had. Just my opinion.
Dr Dengar TIG Benefactor
Posts : 7048 Join date : 2010-05-07 Age : 53 Location : The Netherlands
The yellowing adds to the vintage charm, I would leave it as is.
BTW: I watched your Millennium Falcon video last weekend and learned something new about the different cardboards used for the vintage and POTF2 versions. Thanks!
And Off Topic: why did Youtube dare to remove your epic video about the downfall of the ROTJ line? ("sticks instead of guns!" )
The yellowing adds to the vintage charm, I would leave it as is.
BTW: I watched your Millennium Falcon video last weekend and learned something new about the different cardboards used for the vintage and POTF2 versions. Thanks!
And Off Topic: why did Youtube dare to remove your epic video about the downfall of the ROTJ line? ("sticks instead of guns!" )
Thanks everyone. I washed it last night with warm water and mild soap. I have decided not to try to use chemicals to de-yellow it. It means too much to me to put it at risk.
Hey Dengar - YouTube randomly decided the YubNub song and the Parade of Ewoks music clips were no longer allowed. Despite the fact that I had acknowledged them and YouTube was cool with it for over a YEAR. They changed the rules - and never notified me. But I was able to re-edit and re-upload it rather quickly, so it's back, just with different music.
Dr Dengar TIG Benefactor
Posts : 7048 Join date : 2010-05-07 Age : 53 Location : The Netherlands
Hey Dengar - YouTube randomly decided the YubNub song and the Parade of Ewoks music clips were no longer allowed. Despite the fact that I had acknowledged them and YouTube was cool with it for over a YEAR. They changed the rules - and never notified me. But I was able to re-edit and re-upload it rather quickly, so it's back, just with different music.
about the start of your re-edited version, with a sense of drama.
Please let us know when Part 2 of your Milllennium Falcon project is being aired.
I have to agree the yellowing gives it charecter that's why I left mine alone I do however have parts from another falcon I found at a flee market that IS use to test cleaning ideas on once I find something that works I will let everyone know IF have figs for the same reason.
Rawlin Grand Moff
Posts : 993 Join date : 2011-01-17 Location : Sweden
Michael, I'm sorry to say looking at part 2, that looks just like the type of yellowing that wont go away. I'm not sure why it becomes like that and why it won't dissapear like normal yellowing. It's a pretty distasteful color like yellow brownish.
When you come to the stickers you can use a mild toxic free glue stick.
Rawlin Grand Moff
Posts : 993 Join date : 2011-01-17 Location : Sweden
I have to agree the yellowing gives it charecter that's why I left mine alone I do however have parts from another falcon I found at a flee market that IS use to test cleaning ideas on once I find something that works I will let everyone know IF have figs for the same reason.
It's already been discussed a lot about yellowing here on the forum if you do a search. Here is an X-Wing I removed yellowing on half and used some homemade stickers.
Sure yellowing does have it's charm but I don't think it did in my case lol, might be a good opportunity to update. it's been around 2 years now after all. This x-wing have been abused a lot since it was "half" restored 2 years ago, it was done to show how much difference it can be. It's been a bit everywhere by now mostly just thrown in a box of damaged parts and it's been having a lot of sunlight for 2 years now. It's still white but the stickers have yellowed. The plastic was not damaged by the treatment, however I have done tests with letting stuff being treated to long and I've had some items damaged, they became fragile and broke very easily. Doesn't work well on figures, unless they are hard plastic, I'm happy about that with all repro stormies around.
General Kahn Force Addict
Posts : 3099 Join date : 2011-04-10 Age : 45 Location : England
I have had a similar dilemma myself, not with my childhood Falcon, but a very dirty one a bought. I think the thread has already stated certain things like DON'T bleach it or anything. Like it has been said, the discoloured look is unfortunately inevitable in many toys and does add to the charm in some respects, so be happy with it, as for the stickers, I faced the very same dilemma, and ultimately decided, I'd rather have none than repro's so stuck with the damaged one's I had, in terms of resticking them, I just simply applied double sided sticky tape to the back of the old stickers and then carefully cut around the edge and then re-applied them. You can see my restoration project here.
Rawlin Grand Moff
Posts : 993 Join date : 2011-01-17 Location : Sweden
Thanks for the advice everyone. Tonight's intended video was a bust. The alarm motor is completely toasted and there's no bringing it back. Looks like I will need to acquire another.
.... Some people have suggested RetroBrite or Novus plastic polish or even the peroxide solutions, but my reading has shown a lot of fear toward this method as many claim it actually damages the molecular structure of the plastic beyond what the yellowing indicates has already happened internally over time. ...
Finally....I see all my posts on that matter at least reached one guy!! Happy about that! If I can only save one childhood Falcon it was worth the trouble!!
Great you got the motor back to life. Most of my childhood toys motors just neede some cleaning, oiling and then tipping them on and let them run for while again. If not: I once found the exact same motors (there is seriously no differneces to my X-Wing motors at all...they are exactly the same) on the fleamarket...so I will always have some spares!! ;) So these must be out there and maybe not even hard to find?!?!?
PS: My childhood Falcon didn't survive. He had one cozy night in front of a heater.....and melted down (the back rear). I cried like a baby (and I was 14 or 15)...... Anyway....as soon as I discovered ebay I replaced mine. and left him as it is....a childhood Falcon from another child...but still played with...and a loved one!
.... Some people have suggested RetroBrite or Novus plastic polish or even the peroxide solutions, but my reading has shown a lot of fear toward this method as many claim it actually damages the molecular structure of the plastic beyond what the yellowing indicates has already happened internally over time. ...
Finally....I see all my posts on that matter at least reached one guy!! Happy about that! If I can only save one childhood Falcon it was worth the trouble!!
Great you got the motor back to life. Most of my childhood toys motors just neede some cleaning, oiling and then tipping them on and let them run for while again. If not: I once found the exact same motors (there is seriously no differneces to my X-Wing motors at all...they are exactly the same) on the fleamarket...so I will always have some spares!! ;) So these must be out there and maybe not even hard to find?!?!?
PS: My childhood Falcon didn't survive. He had one cozy night in front of a heater.....and melted down (the back rear). I cried like a baby (and I was 14 or 15)...... Anyway....as soon as I discovered ebay I replaced mine. and left him as it is....a childhood Falcon from another child...but still played with...and a loved one!
Sucks to hear about your childhood Falcon! But I'm glad others like yourself have taken the time to research these chemical baths that seem to be the rage these days among toy collectors. You really cannot undo that kind of damage. I think there's been a lot of good advice on here about allowing things to age gracefully. I always go into a repair or cleaning with the utmost care - moreso with my childhood Star Wars toys for sure.
In fact, the only time I've really compromised on that even slightly was when I was fixing my childhood G.I. Joe Hovercraft. The steering vanes on the back were long since gone, and so I found a massive pile of already-broken ones for sale and cobbled them together to create a frankenstein set that I screwed together with miniature hinges from a hardware store. (Again, the parts were already broken and there was no seamless/rugged way to put them back together otherwise)
nohandluke Imperial Recruit
Posts : 29 Join date : 2012-07-08
Subject: Re: Millennium Falcon Restoration Advice? Fri Aug 02, 2013 3:19 am
More progress! Any recommendations for re-attaching vintage decals?
Rawlin Grand Moff
Posts : 993 Join date : 2011-01-17 Location : Sweden
Subject: Re: Millennium Falcon Restoration Advice? Fri Aug 02, 2013 3:33 am
nohandluke wrote:
More progress! Any recommendations for re-attaching vintage decals?
You can use a mild toxic free glue stick, it don't eat its way into the stickers like liquid glue does. Just apply carefully. Usually its easier to apply on the plastic instead of the sticker but some places are pretty hard to get too. It sticks fairly, but atleast it don't damage the stickers.
wbobafett Force Addict
Posts : 2515 Join date : 2009-11-20
Subject: Re: Millennium Falcon Restoration Advice? Fri Aug 02, 2013 4:24 am
nohandluke wrote:
More progress! Any recommendations for re-attaching vintage decals?
Glue stick will do and doesnt harm the plastics, not the stickers: This http://www.papierprofi.de/bilder/produkte/gross/STA9HPK411_Klebestift-Pritt-ohne-Loesungsm-11g-EAN-40151595.jpg
or this i.e. http://www.softgate.ch/thumb_uc_66727_z450_UHU_Stic_Klebestift_21g.jpg
Subject: Millennium Falcon Restoration Advice? 
Mon Jul 22, 2013 11:52 am
about the start of your re-edited version, with a sense of drama.
But I'm glad others like yourself have taken the time to research these chemical baths that seem to be the rage these days among toy collectors. You really cannot undo that kind of damage. I think there's been a lot of good advice on here about allowing things to age gracefully. I always go into a repair or cleaning with the utmost care - moreso with my childhood Star Wars toys for sure.
