Plastic Degeneration

[e30318is]

Ok, this might not be to everyone’s taste, but I’m concerned.
Ive started buying moc's recently, my concerns are:
1 How long will the glue hold the bubble to the card?
2 How long will the bubbles stay "clear" - i.e. not yellow?

The reason for my concern is that "we" (My fellow collectors) value the items we buy on condition, so say for example, the clear bubble Tig Fromm I bought a few months back. If the bubble had turned yellow before I bought it, it would be worth 25-40% less. My worry is that in a few years time my moc's will yellow, vastly decreasing their value and losing their displayability. (BTW I have not started collecting in the hope of doubling my money, but I have "invested" some savings, as the interest rates are pathetic at the mo)
There seem to be so many yellowed bubbled items for sale now- they are only 20-30 years old, how long will the bubbles stay clear for? I have made a display case, with a 4mm glass front, placed out of direct sunlight. I hope it will stop/ slow down the yellowing!
The other worry I have is glue drying out, once again; there are a lot of figures for sale with lifting bubbles.
Do any of you lot share my thoughts?
Im not trying to alarm anybody, just wanted to know what folks do to protect their items?
Cheers, Ed

 

[Bollux]

the bubbles are held on by heat and forcing the bubble into the card I believe, therefore the glue cant dry out!

eventually they'll probably all fall off and go yellow or become so brittle that the horribly disfigured figures will fall right through the bubbles.

enjoy them while you can :mrgreen:

 

[spoons]

most items aren't an investment - you're better off with a low interest savings account

All the cards and bubbles will age, and as Bollux says the bubbles will probably fall off eventually or become brittle.

 

[jabbawokkie]

on a good note everyone will have a well mint loose collection .

 

[Clone Collector]

Degeneration is a pain the ass for carded figures. When I first bought my ROTJ Vader, it had a beautiful clear bubble, an absolute GEM it was, I checked it a few weeks ago, along with all my MOC's and it has just faintly started to yellow, as has my AT-AT commander ROTJ card. It's a shame but it happens. I'm told that the Tri-Logo bubbles don't yellow. Best buy MOC Tri-logo instead. I have a Dengar that has not yet yellowed, so I'm happy!!

 

[Capetown]

on a good note everyone will have a well mint loose collection .

Yeah, but for how long. :roll: