LogFAQs > #964209635

Questionmarktarius posted...

Anyone who claims "plastic doesn't decompose" never had to deal with a box of disintegrating Transformers from the 80s. The metallic-plastic Transformers from the 90s are probably dust by now.

You're probably thinking of Gold Plastic Syndrome. G2 Transformers and Beast Wars were notorious for it. Beast Wars Megatron with fall to pieces if you look at him the wrong way.

Vintage Star Wars figures start breaking down and become sticky as the plastic degrades. It's oil leaking from the plastic. I've had the most problems with original Star Wars figures and MASK figures, both made by Keener. Vintage He-Man figures actually exhibit what's known as Crotch Rot where the plastic degrades near the hip joints. They also suffer degradation in the form of "plastic mold" spots. GI Joe plastic on the other hand becomes incredibly brittle. That's why a "Grunt" figure without broken thumbs is incredibly rare.

LeadPipeCinche posted...

How well have you taken care of that stuff though over the years. Is it packed away nicely but accessible, just tossed around laying wherever, sitting on a shelf....

Incredibly well in a dark air conditioned environment. It didn't prevent the plastic from breaking down. Just like you can find yellowed figures from sealed boxes.