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So I run out of place in my house and had to move a lot of my minis to my attic. Now some of those are not even primed and I have neither time nor conditions (temp/ humidity) to prime them until spring at least. The trouble is, the temperature there is ussualy below 10C and some days it drops below zero for sure. There also will be some inevitable dust build up as I haven't cleared the attic for a long time.
Here's what I'm concerned about:
- tin pest with bare white metal models, I'm bit puzzled here as I remember reading that it's only pure tin that is affected from one source only to see another source claiming that bismuth and antimony actualy speed up the process. I know it would take a year and a half to ruin a model even if happened but still I would prefer the thing to not even start obviously.
- lead rot with bare pre 1997 lead alloy models as some of those sit in the carboard boxes (what is a good material btw? There is a consensus about air circulation being needed but contradicting info about material)
- FW models primed but not 100% covered
- painted models, mostly without varnish, will the paint chip or sth? I know sub zero temperatures are not reccomended but I'm asking mainly for experiences.
Thanks in advance
From the initial Age of Sigmar news thread, when its "feature" list was first confirmed:
Kid_Kyoto wrote:
It's like a train wreck. But one made from two circus trains colliding.
A collosal, terrible, flaming, hysterical train wreck with burning clowns running around spraying it with seltzer bottles while ring masters cry out how everything is fine and we should all come in while the dancing elephants lurch around leaving trails of blood behind them.
I left stuff in my garden shed for years, during which time it must have got below zero on occasion, as we had several cold winters. (Not common in the London micro climate.)
I never noticed any problems except with some lead rot on a few old unprimed figures, which I think would occur anyway and probably quicker if kept in a warmer environment, since many chemical reactions speed up with heat. These figures were bought in the mid 1980s. Other figures of the same period were fine.
I've not heard of tin pest however I think that it would be slowed down by cold. It is presumably an oxidation reaction, like lead rot.
The snails did a bit of a number on various books and cardboard boxes that were not securely shut up in plastic. You are unlikely to get snails in an attic.
If you are worried about the attic going below freezing, leave the access hatch slightly open on cold nights. Everyone used to do it in the old days when we had water tanks in our attics. It only needs a little bit of heat from the house to stop it freezing.
Only thing I've heard of is lead rot. I think the white metal alloy is designed to last a lot longer so should be fine in cold.
For resin and painted stuff I'd be concerned about extreme heat but should be fine in cold unless there is large temperature swings which may cause paint to crack..
Apart from the above posts you should be fine. I personally have never stored mine in minus temperatures but i wouldnt imagine it having that much of an effect.
Free from GW's tyranny and the hobby is looking better for it
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Kilkrazy wrote: I've not heard of tin pest however I think that it would be slowed down by cold. It is presumably an oxidation reaction, like lead rot.
It is actualy the opposite as far as temperature goes:
"At 13.2 degrees Celsius (about 56 degrees Fahrenheit) and below, pure tin transforms from the (silvery, ductile) allotrope of β-modification white tin to brittle, α-modification grey tin . Eventually it decomposes into powder, hence the name tin pest .
The decomposition will catalyze itself, which is why the reaction seems to speed up once it starts; the mere presence of tin pest leads to more tin pest. Tin objects at low temperatures will simply disintegrate. "
It also says that
"Tin pest can be avoided by alloying with small amounts of antimony or bismuth, which prevent the decomposition. Silver, indium, and lead have also been used, but lead has been mostly banned by RoHS. "
but I think i read something opposite (about antimony and bismuth), have to find it but it was a few months ago.
Another question, does someone know the exact metals that make up the alloy GW used post 1997?
From the initial Age of Sigmar news thread, when its "feature" list was first confirmed:
Kid_Kyoto wrote:
It's like a train wreck. But one made from two circus trains colliding.
A collosal, terrible, flaming, hysterical train wreck with burning clowns running around spraying it with seltzer bottles while ring masters cry out how everything is fine and we should all come in while the dancing elephants lurch around leaving trails of blood behind them.
Still, I think that tin soldiers would be safe as mine were all stored in cardboard and wood boxes in a garden shed for years. Most of them are even on cardboard or wood bases. Only a few suffered lead rot and I saw no signs of tin pest.
Here is a very interesting paper if you misread the title slightly.
If I understand correctly, they say that transformation was faster in tin and zinc alloy (can't say whether they compare to pure tin or tin and copper alloy), maybe that's what I read back then about the procces being accelerated in some alloys. Have to try to find it but am low on spare time.
d-usa wrote: I'd be more worried about plastic and resin models and heat during the summer.
Yep I am, that's why I will have a cabinet ready for summer, that if I manage to move the kids to the other room. I hate the low melting point of polystyrene, drives me nuts when moving models in a car on a hot day, especialy that I don't have the case. That's also one of many reasons I avoid finecast like a plague, and rarely take FW models out.
btw I sometimes wonder, why GW uses polystyrene and not for example polypropylene? Is it price or material properties?
From the initial Age of Sigmar news thread, when its "feature" list was first confirmed:
Kid_Kyoto wrote:
It's like a train wreck. But one made from two circus trains colliding.
A collosal, terrible, flaming, hysterical train wreck with burning clowns running around spraying it with seltzer bottles while ring masters cry out how everything is fine and we should all come in while the dancing elephants lurch around leaving trails of blood behind them.
I've left mine in my car for over a week in approx -10 degree Celsius weather with no issues. The models were fully painted and still show no signs of damage. For those in the US that is 14F.
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