The fruits of my work, or: why I hate the Evil Empire ...

[warrenpeace]

That US Navy article was fantastic!  Seems like the main culprit is a closed atmosphere containing acetic acid and carbon dioxcide, which that article claims can't be countered by any known sealant.  Of course, heat doesn't help either.  Now I'm worried about two or three of my collections. 

My 15mm SYW collection contains a lot of older figures that probably contain a lot of lead, and they are mostly mounted on cardboard using white PVA glue and are stored in closed cardboard boxes.

My 28mm WSS collection contains newer figures, mostly cast this decade, but some likely contain lead, perhaps the softer Old Glory figures in particular.  They are mounted on basswood, one of the highly damaging woods, and the bases are covered in PVA.  They are also stored in closed boxes, some cardboard and some plastic.

My 1:2400 naval collection contains old models, and the C-in-C in particular are soft and likely contain quite a bit of lead.  They are mounted on basswood using mostly PVA, and PVA was used to make some wave shapes on the bases.  They are stored in closed containers which are not airtight.

[silvana]

I knew about the deterioration of lead parts in cases that were made of acrylic/plexiglass.  One of the explanations I had heard was that the atmosphere inside the case gradually took on the aspect of a miniature electric storm, particularly if the case was constantly being wiped down! I guess the charged particles grounded out through the lead, or something, increasing the rate of decay.  This was from many, many moons ago so I have no idea where the info came from or even if it is true.

Is this true? I store my minis in acrylic cases.

I'm so sorry to see your mini being ruined as it's painted so beautifully.

Just a thought does sealing the mini with varnish/primer before it's painted have any benefits?

[Bako]

Just a thought does sealing the mini with varnish/primer before it's painted have any benefits?

I've heard as such, but not really found out more in that regard.

[Ramshackle_Curtis]

If you are worried, earth the cabinets and allow airflow to disrupt any interior microclimates.

[Smokeyrone]

That's a shame.

Curiously, I have lead fishing sinkers (probably 100% lead, no?) That have been outside, in a heavy salt atmosphere, for ten plus years, with no "rot" or anything.  Maybe pure lead is more immune?

[former user]

lead doesn't get tin rot

[Smokeyrone]

lead doesn't get tin rot

That makes sense.   


 

[doobry]

the dreaded lead rot did for my hundred yeare war englih army, or most of it the ones that survived I suspect are pirate copies, there were a lot about at the time .What I do remember was that citedel were more expensive[nothing changes] and there were rumours of roofs being stripped at the asgard stage pre citadel oh happy days

iain