Displaying Models Harmful to Bricks?

[nychase]

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.

Every once in a while my mind is blown with knowledge I wasn't expecting. I too was a believer that the springs would eventually succumb to the constant stress. Now, on the 8466 the metal isn't the issue the plastic is. Those springs are constantly bent after taking apart that model.

[dr_spock]

I find some stickers cracked over time. Is there a way to avoid that?

[Ape Fight]

So, is displaying models harmful to them?

Nope

What do you guys do to your models to keep them safe?

Nowt

Glad I could help

[vliet]

I've got some discoloured parts in a bunch of bricks I bought via e-bay, and I found out that the stickers cracked on my 8258 caused by the sun.

[therealjustin]

The problem is that some parts are discolored from the factory. Some of the thin red lift arms on my 8420 and 8272 sets were quite a bit off to begin with, not to mention the various shades of "Bright Yellow" that Lego surprises us with. I have tires from 1998-2001 and they look grayish compared to the newer ones but they may have been this way all along due to the compound used during those years.

Three of the four shocks on my 8110 Unimog are losing their ability to hold up the vehicle and it now tilts to one side. This is a known issue and Lego sent me four brand new replacements in the mail after emailing them my invoice. Excellent customer service for sure!

-Don't display in direct sunlight or close to light bulbs

-Don't leave batteries in them

-Regularly dust or cover sets with protective bags

-Rotate tires every month or so

[Blakbird]

I find some stickers cracked over time. Is there a way to avoid that?

The only way to avoid it is to completely stay out of the light. Perhaps take up vampirism. There's a topic about stickers. Note that my models are all in a climate controlled room with UV blocking window coverings and the stickers still disintegrated. The old clear stickers are OK, it is the white vinyl stickers that are trouble.

[Alasdair Ryan]

This topic may be of interest to those guys who need to renew stickers.

[Blakbird]

This topic may be of interest to those guys who need to renew stickers.

Cool idea! Unfortunately it only works for clear stickers and those seem to last reasonably well. To do stickers on a white background you either need a vinyl printer or one that prints white.

[Alasdair Ryan]

What about vinyl paper rather than buying a vinyl printer?

[D3K]

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

Coffee and beer!

On topic: the only problems I've ever experienced are dust and discoloration.. I don't keep any sets built though, but random assemblies are scattered around my apartment, and they tend to collect some dust...

[skriblez]

All my sets are full of dust since i have been remodeling my bathroom, if it wasn't for all the pf parts i would be tempted to but them in the dishwasher :P Guess i will just have to use an aircompressor to get rid of all the dust

[N-4K0]

I don't remember finding this info, so I have to ask:

Does anyone know what the minimum and maximum temperature is that Lego can be exposed to before it gets damaged?

[Blakbird]

Does anyone know what the minimum and maximum temperature is that Lego can be exposed to before it gets damaged?

I don't think there is any relevant minimum temperature. You'd be dead before the temp would bother your LEGO. As for maximum, the melting point of ABS is ~105 C, so obviously you want to stay well under that. Even in the arid desert where it can be 50 C you should be fine.

[Phoxtane]

On the other hand, I've heard that at least a few of Lego's sets go through a heating oven that warms them mildly to see what happens to the model when the clutch power is decreased slightly by the heat. This could be an issue with some models, though I don't think Technic would be as susceptible to these issues.

[Blakbird]

Keep in mind that LEGO is shipped all over the world in metal shipping containers that can get VERY hot when in the sun for long periods of time. If this doesn't damage the parts, I don't think any temperature a user will even expose them to will be a problem.

If you search this forum, you will find a thread in which a user intentionally melted some bricks in the oven to make a certain kind of sculpture. I don't remember what temp he used.

[grum64]

Anyone else feel deeply envious everytime you read the words 'Lego Room'?