Is direct sunlight bad for scale models?

you are correct, but depends on the material the models are made of.
Vacuform windows turn yellow
Resin becomes flexibel
Glue will disolve

but only with excessive warmth, UV or sunlight.

My cabinets have only glass fronts, and I keep that side away from direct sunlight.
Don't have lights either.

Hans

 

i agree what Hans says
I moved my models to my dressing because there is no direkt sunlight

 

get the windows some nice 3M UV film.

3M? Sun Control Window Films, Prestige Series for Residential | 3M United States

Also available in Europe, I'm sure.

Keep a nice sunny room, or cut down a little on the inbound light, while blocking heat and UV to avoid your models falling apart or fading.

I have this on all my windows here in SW Florida, the heat reduction was amazing and is saving me money every month on my cooling bill. Reduced light in the house by maybe 5-10%, but cuts down UV by 95%+-.

 

I agree with Hans. And... paint and decals definitely fade if exposed to direct sun light. The 3M film would definitely help, but at least some (or all) of your models will eventually be affected. Shades and or the combination of the 3M film and shades would be better.

99% of my collection is displayed with NO direct sunlight hitting it. That said, I do have some cases in my house next to a full glass sliding door that does receive a lot of direct sun every day, but when we first moved in..... about 15 years ago, I had UV blocking protective film applied to the door. It is light and not at all noticeable. I have moved many display items in and out of the case as I have bought and sold things, but there are many in there for a long and none have been affected.... at least not as far as I can see.

As far as lighting goes, you do need to be careful. Stay away from Halogens to near, and incandescent bulbs too. I use a minimal amount of low wattage LED strips, and I also hardly ever turn them on.

Last bit of my "two-cents" here..... for those who don't know..... I didn't until someone who knew more than me on this explained it to me. Fluorescent lighting will also fade paint, decals, any type of art work hanging on your walls! I found this out too late for some of my art, and also model boxes. Be careful. This can happen fairly fast too. And of course the closer items are to fluorescents.... the faster and more significant the fading will be.

 

Two other important things not to be ignored: excessive temperature variations are bad for hand build models because of the variety of material used and home dust which is usually a bit greasy because of central heating and cooking.

 

I have a minimal amount of Fluorescent lighting in my gallery [but mostly indirect daylight and halogen] about 10' up and have not noticed any degradation...I will keep an eye on this

I know clear coats over decals tends to invite criticism but the clear I use does have UV protection. I have had clients report back after many, many years stating they look like new .

Some of the older British decals i.e. Marsh, SMTS. etc will go yellow in the box and when placed in direct sunlight for a day or two will go white again. I actually tested this and it is true.

 

All my models are kept in the Original plexy-cases that come with most handbuilts, that way
They are displayed inside the boxes in the showcase

For models that are mounted on plinths, like old AMR's I had custom boxes made.
I Have handbuilts made around 1990 that are still in pristine condition

Dusting and cleaning a handbuilt is "not" my kind of job..

 

Yes, completely agree. I keep the temperature even all year around - no excessive heat or cold, and all cabinets with models are tightly sealed and weather stripped preventing dust and other contaminants in the air from laying down on the models.

 

I'd like to upgrade my cabinet as my shelves have drop off space and I live in earthquake country. Anye recommendations?

I also am moving to a place heavy on sunlight so I've been thinking a tight fitting shade is the way to go. No room without windows.

I keep a little humidity / temp hygrometer In my cabinet. My humidity probably varies 5% per day but stays under 60% all year.

 

Direct sunlight is bad for everything except green plants. Good rule of thumb.

 

Or put uv window film on your display case, rather than go to the expense of applying it to your windows and skylights.

 

Using real Plexiglass -acrylic glass- display boxes also helps, since PMMA is a good UV-filter.
What doesn't help at all is using those much cheaper clear polystyrene display cases.

Best
Martin

 

Where do you get that data from?

PMMA is no better at UV filtration than regular glass without specific additives.

D

 

IIRC red is the most likely color to fade from UV exposure. Just noticed yesterday that the red label on my office computer's PSU is noticeably faded since I've had the side panel off and it's exposed to a few hours of afternoon sun.

 

Interesting observation. And actually there were many cars painted in red during the 80s which suffered from severly faded paint. Only the red ones, especially from VW and Opel (GM)
Don't know why red, but an interesting topic for further research.

Dave,
I got these data during my employment at the german 'Fraunhofer Gesellschaft', where I got my first engineering job, researching acrylic glass.
I didn't state, that acrylic glass is better than anorganic glass. But anorganic glass is already a UV-filter. You will get tanned skin or sunburn on your left arm much later, when you keep your side window closed. My theory is, that using acrylic display cases double the effect together with the room windows, while polysterene boxes do nothing.
Anyway, I think that it's not only UV-rays, which damage the modelcars, but also the temperatures, which occur when exposed to direct sunlight.
The effect, PeterWPro describes - yellowed decals getting white again in sunlight- is comparable with blonde hair, which also gets lighter, when exposed to sunlight long enough.
Or bleaching laundry in the sun many decades ago.

No kidding.

Best
Martin

 

The easy answer to the OP question is - YES! Keep your models out of direct sunlight.

 

I agree with the above. Direct sunlight is bad for photos, posters, cloth furniture, auto paint & upholstery, videos, yada yada. It can't possible be good for model cars either.

 

The result of temperature damnage can be seen on this modell
Steve Barnett built this one "and it aint a cheap one"

Got this one on ebay and its destined for a repaint to former glory
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That is a real bummer.


This maybe a dumb question but do you consider any light that may come through the window and then into the cabinet direct sunlight? I let some light in through the window when I'm using the room so it's not dark and I can see!

 

Sun shining directly in the showcase through the window is to much in my opinion.

My cabinets are places beside a window so there is never direct sun in the cabinet.
I keep them in a separate (extra) room in my house. (Kids are gone so I have the space )
Know some collectors that have shutters or blinds in the windows.

It sometimes amazes me that there are collectors spending 1000's on models without proper display or dustfree storage..
Preservation is important, dust can ruin them very easily.. especially in modern houses with open plan kitchen-livingroom set up.

Here in Europe the climate is pretty good, I know collectors in Asia that keep their collection in climate controlled rooms to avoid moisture and temperature changes.

 

That is good information thank you. I use shutters in my room but sometimes I open them a little for light. I do have a nice glass cabinet luckily. The position of the window and there is a overhang outside you can never see sun directly. Awhile back i decided to hang up something directly in front of the cabinet and if I need a little light in the room its's ok, then I remove at night or when I want to take a peak. I also keep a 10 dollar hygrometer temp humidity in the case you can see through the glass But lukily my climate is amesome.

 

Some light in the room is ok, but Not direct sunlight. The keyword here is "direct."

 

Direct sunlight is bad for everything.