Displaying sets with springloaded Shooters

[DarthBrickus]

I recently put some of the new sets up for display that use the new "long" springloaded shooters.

Do you keep them in / loaded?

I'm afraid they're gonna wear out or break or something, but in some sets they are part of the aesthetics, so i'm conflicted.

[kevkipo]

I think you can keep them in, if you are really worried you can have them lying in the canon loose

but i think you are fine keeping them loaded

[frogstudio]

Keeping them loaded will keep tge spring compressed, so, over tume it will loose some strength.

[DarthBrickus]

Ok, thx, i guess i'll just keep them loaded and accept the inevitable. Wrinkled-Stickers-Style

[Faefrost]

One other issue with keeping them loaded is their tendency to go off randomly when you dust. I have lost a few missiles to parts unknown during cleaning.

[TheBrickDaddy]

Ok, thx, i guess i'll just keep them loaded and accept the inevitable.

In all of the instruction books for sets with new spring-loaded launchers, it specifically says to remove the ammo when not in use. I'd keep them unloaded

[Apollo VI]

I keep them in but I put a 1/2 Technic pin on the other end. That way if they accidentally go off, they don't travel too far or they don't launch at all. For the large springloaded launchers, I put a 1/2 pin in the last Technic hole of the missile.

I'm not worried about wear and tear that much because how they look on display (keeping all the pieces in place) is more important to me than functionality. But if I were worried about wearing out the spring, I'd consider removing the missiles.