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Models and Heat

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  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Central Vermont
  • 4,565 posts
Posted by cowman on Wednesday, May 27, 2020 6:41 PM

All moved into a knee wall closet, recently partially cleared out as son bought his own house last week.  (Still plenty of stuff to go.)  Though I started fairly early, worked up a good sweat before all the boxes were upstairs.

OldEngine - Yup, still in central VT.  Trouble is the shade moves.

They were al boxed, so no direct sunlight, just hot.

Have seen other things that the sun remodeled.

Thanks again,

Richard

  • Member since
    January 2017
  • From: Southern Florida Gulf Coast
  • 18,255 posts
Posted by SeeYou190 on Wednesday, May 27, 2020 10:15 AM

dknelson
distorted and partly melted while the engine was on display in the hobby shop window.

Something simlar happened at Aardvark's Model Trains in Nashville, Tennessee.

There was a stack of plastic automobile models in the front window on display. When these were taken out of the window and put on the shelf to be sold, they were being returned because the bodies were all warped.

-Kevin

Living the dream.

  • Member since
    March 2002
  • From: Milwaukee WI (Fox Point)
  • 11,439 posts
Posted by dknelson on Wednesday, May 27, 2020 8:54 AM

I know someone who bought a Mantua steam locomotive real cheap because the plastic parts (at the time, cab and tender) distorted and partly melted while the engine was on display in the hobby shop window.

Dave Nelson

 

  • Member since
    December 2008
  • From: Heart of Georgia
  • 5,406 posts
Posted by Doughless on Wednesday, May 27, 2020 7:53 AM

Having the models directly exposed to the sun through glass could lead/ has lead to warping.  If its kept in the shade, I don't think temperatures can get high enough inside the box to do damage.  Even covering them with a blanket to keep the sun off of them helps a lot.

- Douglas

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Central Vermont
  • 4,565 posts
Posted by cowman on Wednesday, May 27, 2020 7:50 AM

Than you for the responses.  Looks like I have a project for the morning, before  it gets too hot to do things.  This quick change in the weather makes it seem even hotter.

Thank you,

Richard

  • Member since
    February 2018
  • From: Danbury Freight Yard
  • 459 posts
Posted by OldEngineman on Tuesday, May 26, 2020 10:24 PM

Central Vermont? Is that where you are?

Just park the car under a tree...  Stick out tongue

  • Member since
    January 2017
  • From: Southern Florida Gulf Coast
  • 18,255 posts
Posted by SeeYou190 on Tuesday, May 26, 2020 10:02 PM

There is no hard and fast answer.

Again... this is wargaming figure experience... I left my army in the car when we stopped for lunch... 60 minutes in a Cracker Barrel in South Florida.

The car got hot enough to warp the plastic bases, but the plastic figures were all OK.

Some plastics will warp before others, but never take a chance.

Get them out of that car!

-Kevin

Living the dream.

  • Member since
    February 2020
  • 52 posts
Posted by sandjam on Tuesday, May 26, 2020 8:31 PM

cowman
they are currently stored in the vehicle that was going to take them to the show.  Now with late summer heat in May I am concerned about what the heat may do to the models.

My question is how much heat can the plastic of structures and rollng stock take before they begin to warp?  I'm assuming that the electrical components shouldn't get hot enough to effect them.

A vehicle is not a good place to store plastic models they can quickly become ovens. Get them out of there ASAP.

  • Member since
    September 2003
  • 10,582 posts
Posted by mlehman on Tuesday, May 26, 2020 8:22 PM

I agree, get them to someplace cooler. It's also not so much melting the plastic as it is the temperature extreme tend to cause glued joints to fail, paint to flake and various other maladies.

Mike Lehman

Urbana, IL

  • Member since
    February 2015
  • 869 posts
Posted by NHTX on Tuesday, May 26, 2020 8:04 PM

    Extended exposure to the temperatures found in closed vehicles, especially those parked in direct sunlight could possibly damage the plastics.  It would be best to store the models indoors vs. a vehicle, even if it is a garage with no air conditioning.

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Central Vermont
  • 4,565 posts
Models and Heat
Posted by cowman on Tuesday, May 26, 2020 7:29 PM

I have a number of structures, locos and rolling stock that I was supposed to sell for a friend who can no longer get to his railroad.  Unfortunately the current mess came just before the show was to take place.  I tried to search for similar problems, but not just sure how to word the search.

My question is, they are currently stored in the vehicle that was going to take them to the show.  Now with late summer heat in May I am concerned about what the heat may do to the models.  I'd also like to get the space in the vehicle freed up, but that's another problem.

My question is how much heat can the plastic of structures and rollng stock take before they begin to warp?  I'm assuming that the electrical components shouldn't get hot enough to effect them.

Do I need to act quickly or will they be OK in the vehicle until a suitable place to store them is found?

Thanks for the input.

Richard

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