Yamatos don't age well

[Matt Random]

I recently pulled out my v1 TRU CF VF-1A. First thing I noticed is that two of the missiles and the rear landing gear doors had yellowed to a shade that almost matches the CF brown! Second thing I noticed was that one of the clear lights in the wings had come loose. Then while transforming the head came off when the mounting plate cracked into two pieces. While trying to fix that one of the tabs that holds one side of the chest hinge in place broke. Some other little piece also flew off and hit me in the eye. No idea where that came from. Who knew I need to wear eye protection when playing with my toys!

Guess I'll try to get it back together enough to get it into fighter mode then never transform it again. If you have any old v1s sitting around I suggest you not try to transform them ever again.

[Benson13]

I recently picked up a VT and VE 1 V.1 and didn't have these issues. No eye-pro required. Maybe your CF is mad at you for neglecting it or replacing it with that 171 you ordered.

[Deadeye_281]

I recently picked up a VT and VE 1 V.1 and didn't have these issues. No eye-pro required. Maybe your CF is mad at you for neglecting it or replacing it with that 171 you ordered.

It's just like the TV show...CF's exploding into fiery debris!

[CoreyD]

I have a bunch of V1s myself, they're all in pretty good shape as far as I can tell (cannon fodder's included). It could be a combination of any number of variables, storage conditions, light, inherent nature of the plastic used in that batch.

Plastic isn't made to last anyhow, so I'd imagine a lot of us will be complaining about disintegrating valks in 2040 regardless

[grymg]

Did you happen to store it in your garage? Or somewhere else that is not climate controlled? Cyclic exposure to heat and then moisture is sure to damage a lot of things over time.

[anime52k8]

the only 1/60 v1 I own had it's backpack shear off at the hinge along with both nose landing gear wheels. I chock it up to the v.1's just being complete crap.

[Valkyrie Magnus]

I guess I have been lucky, mine have stayed in great condition. Except for one that was borrowed and was damaged through neglect

[Matt Random]

Did you happen to store it in your garage? Or somewhere else that is not climate controlled? Cyclic exposure to heat and then moisture is sure to damage a lot of things over time.

Stored indoors. Hasn't seen the light of day since late 2005 IIRC. I put it away when I started collecting 1/48s.

[skullmilitia]

That's funny because my TRU CF did the exact same thing.

Doors are brown, and the wings/ back pack basically exploded when I took it out a few weeks ago.

[realdeal]

All mine are pretty good with no yellowing except one which was exposed to direct sunlight.

[Guest davidwhangchoi]

Stored indoors. Hasn't seen the light of day since late 2005 IIRC. I put it away when I started collecting 1/48s.

yeah , it's not just light that yellows, i read about yellowing stories even if it's in a dark place in storage.

[Gakken85]

All plastic will break down eventually. Some people get lucky and get good batches of plastic, and some people get parts made from the gunk at the bottom.

Way it's always been with toys unfortunately.

Their are toys from the 80's that have never yellowed, and toys from 5 years ago that are yellow. Nothing to do but treat them well and hope for the best.

Edited June 5, 2013 by Gakken85

[skullmilitia]

yeah , it's not just light that yellows, i read about yellowing stories even if it's in a dark place in storage.

Being sealed in plastic is a big reason. Plastic creates fumes that react with plastic.

That's why if you buy bagged goods, they always have a hole punch size hole in it,

It lets the gas/fumes leave.

I have two vintage bagged Star Wars figures that were kept in a storage shed in AZ for almost twenty years

With no yellowing, but a carded figure that has yellowed with the bubble.

[Guest davidwhangchoi]

so the starswars bagged had holes in them to prevent them from yellowing? interesting, i better punch holes into my valk boxes and trays

[dapro]

Sounds like the plastic needs to breathe air.

[Sandman]

I've only had yellowing occur on any of my v1s. Both times was with hikaru's vf-1 dyrl. I've always chalked it up as being the first v1 release. Amusing enough the only other valk to yellow on me was alto's v1 vf-25 dx. Something about red and white valks that are the first release of their v1 line.

[sreichma]

I bought a small freezer that I store my toys in. I keep it in a room in my basement with a dehumidifier in the room. I heard this helps to keep them cold and you can also fit a lot of toys in it.

just kidding.

Edited June 6, 2013 by sreichma

[Gakken85]

I pulled my Yamato Votoms out of the box today. I kept in a cool state while it was in my car at work. I checked on it and parked it in the shade. Kept my windows cracked.

Even so, when I pulled it out I could feel the heat on the plastic. I'm glad it's home in the AC

I think plastic just holds heat and it changes the chemical bonds eventually.

[Graham]

To be honest, I've found Bandai white plastic to yellow much faster than Yamato white plastic.

I just pulled a v.1 Alto VF-25F out of a storage box in my closet where it's been stored away from sunlight. It was bright white when I packed it away several years ago, but now it's extremelly yellowed (I'll post pics later). By contrast my Yamato 1/48 VF-1A and VF-1S, stored in the same closet for even longer have only some very mild yellowing.

I've had similar issues with other white Bandai toys I stored for several years, especially some of the older Victory Gundam toys from the mid-90's.

Graham

[Valk-1S]

I think it also depends on the batches. For example, I have all three GQ Impulse. One yellowed quickly and while it was in its box brand new stored away from light. Another yellowed a bit later, while the other is still in fairly good shape.

My V1 VF-25F, has yellowed slightly but not too much that's it's obvious. Some of my 1/48 VF-1 has some slight yellowing but not too noticeable, but if you compare to some others you will notice it.

Really depends on the batches the plastic was made in.

[Reïvaj]

I haven’t been aging well lately; I wonder what kind of plastic I’m made of

[Valkyrie addict]

My v1's are in good shape, some slight yellowing and some wear and tear on my vf-1s roy but I transformed that thing a gazillion times, the rest are all fine. Most went back into storage except M&M that are still on display with the v2's.

Only Yamato that I have noticed has yellowed is the VF-0S, that thing was in a closed shelf in a corner angled away from the window and it still yellowed.

[1/1 LowViz Lurker]

just repaint them all white again.

[Matt Random]

Repainting doesn't help the inherent chemical reactions going on in the plastic.

Any plastic colors that seem to be better than others? White of course has a tendency to yellow. I've heard that gray can be more brittle.

[Sandman]

Took out my vf-1a hikaru 1/60 ver 1 last night so i can decide if i should sell it to fund future purchases. Moved one of the arms and the shoulder joint started to crumble and bend rather than move. LOL i guess i won't be selling this one.

[jvmacross]

An early 80's "survivor" valk!....

[CoreyD]

It doesn't count if you keep it in a nitrogen filled chamber!

[Sandman]

An early 80's "survivor" valk!....

Nice. haven't seen one that nice before.

[jvmacross]

It doesn't count if you keep it in a nitrogen filled chamber!

How about a stable fold bubble filled with trapped air from 1984!!!

[David Hingtgen]

That can actually be a selling point for vintage cars---if they have the original air in the tires. (some people do get that picky about it being EXACTLY how it left the factory)

[anime52k8]

That can actually be a selling point for vintage cars---if they have the original air in the tires. (some people do get that picky about it being EXACTLY how it left the factory)

WAT?

[1/1 LowViz Lurker]

And how do they go about checking for the authenticty of the air being from the time it was built? Do they have an air sniffer dog that can recognise if the air inside is really the same air from back in the day?

[Loop]

I feel like the thread title is a bit unfair. I mean it's a known fact that white plastic can and sometimes will yellow.

[BlueMax]

To be precise: Plastic, white or colored, will yellow (at various rates), just that on white plastic it is most obvious.

[Matt Random]

I feel like the thread title is a bit unfair. I mean it's a known fact that white plastic can and sometimes will yellow.

Yellowing is only part of it. I've had three pieces break off as well (latest is the plastic pieces that forms the hinge for the little pegs that go into the back of the nose in battroid mode). Next time I touch it I won't be surprised to have more stuff break. It is literally falling apart in my hands.

I have toys from the 70s and 80s that are still in one piece.

Edited June 11, 2013 by Matt Random