Always having an eye open for a bargain I was intrigued to see these 54mm semi-flat figures on EBay for only £2 each ! - however the seller pointed out that they had reacted badly to their storage and had damaged paintwork on one side where they had reacted with the paper they had been stored in . I thought at that price I can't be bit - so I ordered them and they arrived promptly .
Lead Rot !!! - I've only come across it a couple of times in 50 years collecting toy soldiers , it can be caused by dampness but it seems to be the contact with the storage material as only one side of each figure is affected .
Also the unprimed basses have been effected . I have been investigating 'lead rot' on the internet and it's rare in modern castings (the two others I've come across were early 70's Minifigs) and luckily not contagious and it can be treated .
On further investigation I think the figures are pure lead - which would help in the rot and when scraping some of the paint off, not undercoated another cause of the rot . I've wire brushed the effected areas with my Dremel back to shinny metal and I think its only started to affect the paintwork as there's hardly any pitting on the metal . I think I might have caught them just in time so I'm giving them a wash in soap and water and letting them dry before undercoating the damaged areas . I'll report back on further progress .
I remember debates about figure rot in Military Modelling in the 1970s. Memory tells me that the MM staff view was that undercoating and sealing the bases was the answer. There was some panic in the community. I stood in a shop in a queue behind a bloke who handed Minifigs back as they were shown to him had a powder on the surface which he was convinced was metal rot.
ReplyDeleteThe two other cases I've come across were painted figures , which bubbled the paint up , I've never seen it on a bare casting .
DeleteMust be pandemic related....(kidding!)
ReplyDeleteWell it is the plauge year : )
DeleteI saw those and was tempted! I am glad they have gone to a good home with you. I look forward to hearing about what you do with them.
ReplyDeleteThey were a bargain , but will take a bit of renovating .
DeleteThis is the stuff of nightmares - not so much your own current experience, but the idea that whole armies could crumble. One thing that I've seen occasionally in recent years was examples of bought-in (eBay) 1970s painted figures which showed a reaction to the flesh-coloured paint. The faces had turned white and powdery, and the metal had deteriorated just in those areas - obviously a chemical reaction of some sort, but what? Maybe someone made a lead-based flesh paint? This is the perfect 2am episode - waking with the sudden conviction that your armies are rotting at this very moment - have to get up for a cup of tea and a quick check...
ReplyDeleteLuckily don't think lead rot happens overnight , interesting about the flesh coloured paint - something to do with the pigments ? . Wonder what horrors the modern acrylic generation have in store 20 years in the future ?
DeleteVery interesting topic! It sounds like you have done everything that you could to save these figures. I look forward to your progress report.
ReplyDeleteHopefully I've got them cleaned up now .
DeleteI've come across it occasionally. One of the causes can be when figures are displayed in an oak cabinet especially if there is no air movement. Keeping the dust off this way[i.e. sealed environment] can lead to trouble. There's something in oak that reacts with lead.
ReplyDeleteThe Manx Military and Aviation Museum were given a beautiful collection of painted 54mm and bigger figures and displayed them well but I spotted that lead rot was appearing and it seemed to be the display cabinets may have triggered it. I moved away before learning if they had a solution.
This reminds me to open the doors and change the display in my own cabinet [which isn't oak]
The only time it's happened to my figures was about 50 figures bought [new] from a magazine advert. I've always presumed it was to do with the metal used.
It's a horrible feeling.
Let's not talk about brittle plastic.
Stephen
I've been reading up about lead rot , certain methods of storage seem to trigger it and it seems more prevalent in older figures with a high lead content .
DeleteVery interesting post. I've come across lead decay but suspect the metal had been overheated with some of the scum used in the castings. The white powder is lead oxidisation which will occur if figures are left in humid and stagnant conditions combined with something acidic (tannic acid in wood products). If the figures were clean when painted, and stored in healthy conditions they should stay fine. Since most of us now prime our figures too, and utilise them in a fairly dry environment I see no reason for decay. Great buy, Tony, and a worthwhile project!
ReplyDeleteMichael
The seller said it was something to do with the paper they were placed on - only one side was effected , think they are pur lead so that may have played a part .
DeleteTony, could be the paper, I remember reading an article that said some types of paper/card could damage photos. Paper from wood, acidic?
DeleteMichael
Yes the seller blames the paper .
DeleteI had some old ACW figures which had "rotted" horribly over many years of lack of use. Not knowing what else to do, I put them in vinegar--after a couple of days they were totally rot-free. Might be worth a try. It was certainly easy and cheap.
ReplyDeleteBest regards,
Chris Johnson
Yes I've read white vinegar can cure lead rot but din't want to totally immerse them in case it took the paint off .
Delete