Care of Sideshow Collectibles Products.

[creecher]

Dwight123 has asked in the LOTR/Weta forum about care of his statues. (refer "What about Dust"). I, myself, would like to know what Sideshow suggests is the best way to look after 1/6 scale. Kierbaudy has given a great post on the preservation of helmets and swords, also in the LOTR/Weta forum (refer "Noble Collection Anduril or LE UC Anduril??").

My question is : Could you, perhaps, put such details on your web page?

[Goldberry]

I second that request, creecher! I consider it even a must. Somebody on this forum told me for instance that sunlight is bad for the polystones. That was by coincidence because I had posted that I have the sun shine on my Easterling every morning. Information like that is literally vital for a long and healthy life of the statues produced by Sideshow.

[Ericske]

Indeed....taking care of our precious should be a primal concern....hate to see the colors fade away..
Any suggestions are welcome....

Ericske
Be

[Kangolkkid]

....well here are some quick tips for caring for you SSC.
First off sunlight is a damaging factor in any circumstance. The UV rays will suck the life out of pigments....weather it is collectibles, car interiors, or human flesh! eeeew! So, keep your figures out of direct sun. Secong, dust them periodically. You can use one of those fluffy make-up brushes used for appliying blush (any ladies in the house?). Camera lens brushes work great too. You can also use canned air for those pesky areas. If you have been slacking and haven't dusted in some time....you can use a damp wash cloth/soft rag to wipe down the figure...as well as the clothing, just make sure you use a gentle touch....no need to scrub paint off.
Thats basicly it....as long as you keep up on your dusting you will be good to go.

Kangolkid:evil
Cleanliness is next to Godliness

[creecher]

I thought I would copy and paste Kierbaudy's post that I referred to initially. Keep all the info in the one place, yeah?

Here's what Kierbaudy Had to say in his post under " Noble Collection Anduril or LE UC Anduril??"

5/11/04
Re: Found this board
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A note about sword and helmet care. Best product to use is renaissance wax. It is used by museums and can be helpful in preventing tarnish on metals. Dust and humidity will trap in moisture and unprotected metals exposed to fingerprints and just plain dust, leading to rust and tarnish. Careful with caustic products like windex (ammonia) and heavy oils. Also do not store in cardboard box because it is acidic, best to store in cloth sack, there are ones specifically made for helmets. Unless you are displaying them. Reapply the wax approximately every month if in humid conditions, and every 3 months if dry and dust free. Use your best judgment.

Brown cutlery is currently out of stock. Less expensive is an online store, www.restorationproduct.com. I spoke to the owner, he is very nice and answers his own phone, his price is about 1/3 less.

It's an expensive hobby with lots of dusting.


5/21/04
Re: Found this board
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Yes, use the renaissance wax when displaying the swords. They are safe (used by museums), use a very light coat and then buff lightly. I have worried about tarnish on the legolas knives because they are gold plated and over years it will tarnish if unprotected for sure. I am uncertain renaissance wax will protect gold plated metals from tarnish, but if you had to get something, that particular wax would be your best shot and the brown cutlery people recommend a light coat. Their sword expert did not answer my question when I asked about the gold plated lettering on the legolas knives because I wanted to get them. I will still probably get them at a later date, but those knives in particular will require extra care.

[creecher]

This question has raised it's head again. So I thought I would copy and paste some of the replies, others on the board have posted.

DONT use pledge it will ruin your statue.

Swiffer Dusters. Very gentle and it sucks the dust right off them, you basically just touch the statue and the dust is sucked off.

Anyone know what sorts of paints to use to best cover up the damage?
Acryllic paint would indeed be the best option. The same stuff you would use to paint miniatures for wargames or table-top roleplaying.
Play with the colors alongside the bust/statue before applying the paint, and let it dry so you know what it will look like before applying it to the bust. Also, DO NOT apply the paint on in a thick manner, but sort of lightly brush it in so it will sort of meld with the original.



I would be interested if Sideshow could recommend anything to do to care for my beloved 'Creature from the Black Lagoon' figure. I wouldn't want to apply 'amourall' or other chemical product without an OK from the experts.

[srst]

Can display case lights fade away the colours like direct sunlight? I have a 7watt bulb about 10" away from the figure.

[SauronsVengeance]

For the absolutely most effective way to clean your Sideshow Collectables, or any polystone collectable, ship you statues to me and I waith faithfully and painstakingly restore them to their original condition.

PM me for details :p

[RodLonghi]

Incadescent or Fluorescent light ? ... I have some questions also. Hopefully SS will post a FAQ about that in their site.