Yellowing help:(

[threaders]

Hi Everyone.
I know there is a thread on here about getting rid of yellowing with the use of some kind of chemical soloution, but I was hoping to find out a bit more on how to prevent it in the fist case and find out what causes it.
I have this boxed shuttle, which I have had four about 6 years. When I bought it, it was as mint as can be. I have the box stored in a cuboard, but have always had the vehicle on display on a desk in my room.
I have noticed over the last year or so, the very tip and the neck between the cockpit and ship has ever so slightly discouloured. Here are pics

You can only just make it out, but it has definatly got worse over time and the same thing has happened to a remote controll R2D2.
The both items have been on display for years and are still in great condition, I just wondered about preventing it in the future and if once the yellowing starts, will it continue to get worse and is there anything I can do about it.
Many thanks fellow collectors

 

[threaders]

Anyone??

 

[edd_jedi]

As far as I know, I'm afraid you can't stop it. I am also into vintage computers that suffer the same problem, and apparently it is the fire retardant chemicals in the plastic that make it go yellow.

There are ways of whitening it, but it's a lot of work and quite dangerous.

 

[Caswellbot]

To be honest, I wouldnt bother with trying to put chemicals on things like this to try to remove yellowing. It wont "remove" it but may just act like a bleaching agent; in which case it may be even worse for the plastic. I think unfortunately this kind of deterioration is to be expected on some toys of this age. :|

 

[threaders]

Thanks guys. Does anyone know what causes it in the first place? Why are some stormtroopers minty white and others yellow? Is it a storage issue?
Many thanks

 

[tiefighterboy]

Thanks guys. Does anyone know what causes it in the first place? Why are some stormtroopers minty white and others yellow? Is it a storage issue?
Many thanks

Because some are made by "Mark Poon" and the other ones are actually vintage......Just messing around. Anyways...I think it just depends on the day they were made. Plastics is a funny business and the mix ratio and settings at time of molding differ from day to day.

 

[edd_jedi]

Here you go, same principal:

http://www.vintagecomputing.com/index.php/archives/189

 

[e30318is]

Uv light and heat also accelerate the process. Eventually though, they will all go yellow IMO.

Except tri logo bubbles though!!!

Honestly I wouldn't touch that shuttle- it looks very nice. You might be fortunate to pick up a whiter cockpit cover on eBay? Edit- just released it's not on the cockpit..... :roll:

Bleaching might work in the short term but i reckon it will make It more susceptible to yellowing in the future.

 

[threaders]

Thanks for that very interesting info about computer consoles. I will definatly keep all my starwars stuff away from the window in future after reading that.