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10/12/2015 11:11 am
Paint question re: '53 DM Buick Skylark in Reef Blue
Just curious if anyone who owns this model has an issue with seriously cracking or chipped paint? Mine is pretty bad on close inspection although it still displays well, especially w/my bad eyes! It was stored for years before I got it out again this past year when my diecast car addiction resurfaced. Someone here mentioned a few months ago that off-gassing from the styrofoam storage container may be the culprit. Makes sense to me. It may also be a manufacturing defect. Was wondering if anyone here knew about that possibility. I can replace it easily as there are many for sale on that big auction site. It was my first DM acquisition way back in the early 90s.
10/12/2015 1:10 pm
Too bad, sorry to hear that. I just checked mine out and thank goodness...
it is a perfect as it was when arrived many years ago. Which is a good thing because this has always been one of my favorite models.
I hope you find one to replace it if that is what you decide to do.
John Merritt
South Lyon, Michigan - USA
10/12/2015 5:32 pm
Thank you, John. Appreciate it.
10/12/2015 5:33 pm
Does styrofoam cause paint failure on diecast models? Most of my models are still in their boxes in their styrofoam "cocoons." Does keeping them inside the boxes cause damage? If this isn't good for them, I will remove them and find some other way to store or display them. Thanks.
11/12/2015 12:16 am
I can only speak for myself here...
Over the years posting on this 1:24 Forum, I've read many stories of fellow collectors cars suffering from paint rash and cracking. I'm always sad to hear that. When I do read such stories, I always examine some of the cars mentioned and I've been very lucky to find nothing wrong. Not saying everyone of my cars is perfect with regard to a paint bubble here and there, but I've not seen anything that I'd not expect to maybe just be normal over time.
I personally have always displayed each of my cars in their own plastic protective cases, out of direct light, and when not showing them to someone or just enjoying them for a few minutes myself, they are in the room with it being as dark as I can make it.
One thing I do buy in to though, is that keeping them in their original foam boxes is not good for them. It just seems logical to me that there could be a heat and sweating problem when they are enclosed in those boxes. Not to mention too, if they are stored in a very cold place, I'm thinking that could present some issues as well.
Not saying these are always the answers to never seeing paint rash or paint cracking problems, but since the above suggestions have worked for me, I'll stick with them.
The other thing I always apply to my cars staying as nice as they were when I received them and removed them from the boxes, is that I don't play around with opening and closing the doors, hoods, and trunks, and I don't move or steer the wheels. I examined each car when it was new to assure that all opened and closed properly, and were tight fitting too. Then they are put in their individual plastic case and put on the shelf with the precautions I speak of above.
I can only believe that dust, light, oil from hands, heat/cold, and handling them is going to damage them and prevent their remaining as perfect as possible for as long as I want to enjoy them.
Just my thoughts here, not saying my answers/suggestions are the cure all. But after 25+ years of collecting these little cars, it's worked for me.
George Schire
Oakdale, Minnesota
11/12/2015 6:29 am
I have virtually NO paint issues on my 250+ models.....
Mine are removed from their styro boxes the day I receive them and go right into my curios. I've only had one problem and it was with the zamac crumbling problem. I do believe that the models need to "breathe" off vapors. I can't attest to the styro boxes causing the paint issues but mine are all on display and are OK!
11/12/2015 6:47 am
Thx for the feedback, guys.
Now that I recall, I did handle my Buick quite a lot in the early years. It was also exposed to cigarette smoke by a frequent visitor to my home in those days. My other cars were stored in their boxes for the same amount of time and, fortunately, they are all still in good to excellent shape, save for the door paint on the black FM '57 Eldo Brougham, which is a widespread production flaw.
11/12/2015 9:19 am
Thank you, George. Those are all excellent points.
11/12/2015 3:01 pm
If that is the true ... then I am soooo screwed ... really bad!!!
12/12/2015 4:24 am
If styrofoam is the culprit, then how do you explain that the many 1/24 Nascar diecasts that I have stored in their boxes within a styrofoam shell have no paint issues after 10-15 years of storage? Also, diecast aircraft stored in boxes within stryofoam have no paint problems. And if being sealed is bad for paint, why don't Matchbox and Hot Wheel cars sealed in their packaging have paint and metal issues?
I am a firm believer that the metal alloy used by FM, DM and some 1/18 diecast manufacturers had quality problems that, when combined with no (or inadequate) prep before painting, led to inevitable paint issues and sometimes metal deterioration.