Store models… safely
After finding a nasty surprise within a box of models, George Dent resolved to take a few simple steps to organise and protect his collection.
After finding a nasty surprise in a box of models, George Dent tells you how to protect your collection.
As a modeller with somewhat eclectic tastes, I’ve managed to amass a modest collection of locomotives and rolling stock, many of which get only occasional use on layouts. By and large, I’m a modeller who looks after his collection, but I encountered a few surprises when I opened a box that had been stored in the attic for the past few years. Some items had fared better than others, with physical damage arising from the odd dropped box or inappropriate packaging material. Loose detail fittings, glazing, footplate crew and broken buffers were the most common issues and were easily remedied with a little glue and a touch-up of paint. However, a more serious issue also became apparent, in the form of heavily corroded steel wheels and axles on a number of ‘O’ gauge wagon kits. Luckily, the problem was discovered early enough to make the repair straightforward, but it was frustrating to know that the problem could have been easily avoided.
ATTIC ATTACK
Lofts are not the ideal place to store delicate and valuable models for long periods. Dusty and prone to wide fluctuations in ambient temperature and humidity levels, attics can be unbearably hot in summer and freezing cold in winter. In such conditions, materials can expand and contract, and lubricants may dry out or lose their viscosity and seep away. Condensation forms in colder conditions and this moisture can have detrimental effects, being absorbed and retained by porous paper or card packaging, which greatly exacerbates the problem. Indeed, the worst of the corroded steel wheels were found on wagons that had been wrapped in paper kitchen towels and boxed for ‘protection’ (not by me, I hasten to add!). Once these were discovered, I resolved to unpack my entire collection and check on the health of every item, ensuring that each was safely packaged before returning it to storage. A modest investment in sturdier plastic boxes, with secure-fitting lids, plus moisture-absorbing silica gel sachets, should be rewarded by improved security and accessibility.
Top: Slipping a small sachet of silica gel inside every box will help to avoid problems when storing models in less-than-ideal conditions.