Displaying Models Harmful to Bricks?

[Freekysch]

As i only display my Lego Technic sets, i am wondering if over time the rubber tires, beams and other bricks will get damaged. I noticed on my 9397 truck that the beams bend a little so i had to improvise something to support the middle of the truck. Now, looking at my 8285 Tow Truck i see the same problem. Another example is 8265, because of its weight the tires flatten a bit if i do not move the model every month.

So, is displaying models harmful to them ? What do you guys do to your models to keep them „safe”.

Too see what i am talking about, i uploaded pics of the way i got my 9397 and 8285 not to bend.

Edited February 5, 2014 by Freekysch

[nicjasno]

The main harm is discoloration if exposed to sunlight.

[aol000xw]

Some models can't support its own weight. I recently rebuilt my Imperial Star Destroyer and had to move one of the support pillars 16 studs to achieve better weight balance because some beams were bent.

Most models don't suffer that problem, so sunlight is the other damaging factor. Dust is an annoyance, but can be washed if neccessary.

On the other hand I guess a model exposed for a few years to cigarrette smoke could become something really gross.

[Mtx]

I have made similar supports under some of the sets. I use normal lego bricks and plates to achive normal ride height. I noticed the problem when I added 10220 to 8109's flatbed. After couple of months axles and some liftarms were bent, but now they are reverted at normal position.

[nicjasno]

Smoking and lego just don't mix. That should be obvious. (smoking doesn't go well with anything for that matter...)

[Gee]

Well, that's what happens with liftarms. Never, ever had that problem with bricks...

[Freekysch]

I have made similar supports under some of the sets. I use normal lego bricks and plates to achive normal ride height. I noticed the problem when I added 10220 to 8109's flatbed. After couple of months axles and some liftarms were bent, but now they are reverted at normal position.

If i had some spare lego bricks i would have done the same, but i do not have any. I can confirm that sunlight is bad for white pieces, my 42000 is turning a little yellow-ish, despite i have tinted windows to the cabinet that it is in.

[aol000xw]

I guess the glass is just tinted however a vinyl film could help with the sunlight. Some act as UV filters.

[dragofoscar]

Hmm.

I had similar problems with my 8455. The tires flaten of the weight. I aranged and fixed an older lego tire unterneath. Works fine.

But thre is another topic which I thought of...

I have bought some modular buildings as well lately and to protect them from light I hve also bought a Plisee (Jalousie). As a matter of fact this one has an orange colour and let pass only 18% of sunlight. There is no direct sunlight any more - yeah :O)

But the lightning is a little orange tinted.

Yeah and now it become like a real nerd.

Shall I better change the colour of the Plisee (Jalousie) in order to protect the lego from forced discolouration.

What do you think?

THX

[Milan]

There were reports that keeping bricks stacked..in storage or when a model is built for a very long time, that some bricks cracked. Not muck, but there were visible cracks on few bricks.

[Lakop]

Heat would also be a factor in your models bending or parts becoming warped over time. I would suggest building some sort of stand from studded beams, which are still available from lego. I've known this happen before, not with lego as I don't display much, when a piece of material exposed to a tiny amount of heat over a long period of time finally gave up. Bang! it all came crashing down.

Maybe some cooling in the summer months or cover them up in warm weather.

Hope that helps.

H

[kieran]

Does anyone know what effect florescent lights will have on models? do they have much UV in them

[aol000xw]

Artificial light wont make any damage. UV rays from sunlight can trigger a chemical reaction with the fire retardant in the abs causing decoloration and in the long term the abs itself may become brittle.

[kieran]

But the amount of UV from a 1.2m Light is not enough to cause any damage?

[aol000xw]

It is like 3 orders of magnitude lower than sunlight exposure. Perhaps after a few years some decoloration will be noticeable but the abs will stay strong.

[davidmull]

I try keep any models with outriggers down to take the weight off the tires. I do find the tires get flat spots. Also dust isn't a big issue as my room is only used for Lego. People walking around rooms creates dust.

[Freekysch]

I tried to put the outriggers down too on my models, but then i realized that i do not think lego ever made a technic set with outriggers that actually hold the model (beside 8455, which has pneumatic outriggers).

[Madoca 1977]

If it's a heavy model with suspensions, I am worry about suspension travel becoming shorter. I usually put lego tires underneath models.

[Blakbird]

I have had hundreds of models on display for a decade, and I've never had any problem other than UV discoloration or dust.

[davidmull]

I have had hundreds of models on display for a decade, and I've never had any problem other than UV discoloration or dust.

Do u ever dust them down?

[Blakbird]

Do u ever dust them down?

No; I'm allergic to dust (not a joke). My LEGO room is low traffic so it doesn't get a huge amount of dust, but some of them look pretty grim. I've been trying to convince my wife to dust them, but to no avail. I need an intern.

[legolijntje]

What about the spings, Blakbird? I bought a second hand 8880 (in good conditon) last year and kept it on display since then, but I was afraid the old shock aborbers wouldn't survive it, so I put the 8880 of the ground with 4 32009 beams. Would it matter if I let the 8880 rest on it's own shock absorbers?

[aol000xw]

The problem with dust is that given enougth time and some ambient humidity a thin layer encrusts and it can't be dusted, needs to be washed... and brushed.

I found this worked best for me (to prevent washing)

Every now and then I toroughly remove any dust by vigorously "brushing" all the surfaces while holding the vacuum cleaner close to the brush

Edited February 5, 2014 by aol000xw

[DreamsKnight]

What about the spings, Blakbird? I bought a second hand 8880 (in good conditon) last year and kept it on display since then, but I was afraid the old shock aborbers wouldn't survive it, so I put the 8880 of the ground with 4 32009 beams. Would it matter if I let the 8880 rest on it's own shock absorbers?

my 8880 is on its wheels from 1994 and the only problems are dust and a couple of spiders. it is time to wash. :D

[Blakbird]

What about the spings, Blakbird? I bought a second hand 8880 (in good conditon) last year and kept it on display since then, but I was afraid the old shock aborbers wouldn't survive it, so I put the 8880 of the ground with 4 32009 beams. Would it matter if I let the 8880 rest on it's own shock absorbers?

Typically a metal needs to be at a high load and at an elevated temperature to creep. Helical compression springs are in torsion and will never creep at any load you can apply (the actuator bottoms out before the load is big enough to be relevant). Even at solid height those springs wouldn't creep. So you should be OK to display them indefinitely.