Help with Melted Styrofoam

[renman2735]

Dear all

I had cause a year ago to store some of my Carnegie dinos in a box full of styrofoam. Unbeknownst to me, the styrofoam actually melted, and some of my favorite dinos, the worse casualty being my saltasaurus, got stuck.

I have been able to remove huge patches, but there are still bits stuck on, especially to where the model has wrinkles/ texture.

Could anyone advise me how to remove?

Best regards,

RM2735

[ihatefeathers144]

Have you tried a brass wire brush?

[renman2735]

Dec 22, 2011 17:45:24 GMT ihatefeathers144 said:

Have you tried a brass wire brush?

Isn't that going to damage the Carnegie dinosaur? Damage the paintwork?

On another note, I just realised some of my figures have become sticky possibly due to the styrofoam melting, or simply age? Any ideas how I might get rid of the stickiness?


Thanks!

[Seijun]

My Carnegies from 1987 are a little tacky, but none of the others.

[ihatefeathers144]

I don't think so, brass is a soft metal. It should remove the styrofoam before it gouges the paint. As far as the stickiness goes, hmmmm. If the entire figure is sticky from head to tail, it just might be age & I would try a soap & water wash. If the stickiness is due to styrofoam residue, try liquid plastic cement for model kits. That stuff will dissolve styrofoam & should not attack paint or the underlying plastic. I just put a liitle bit on my wild safari Brachiosaurus & there were no ill-effects. Run a test first on a hard to see area first. DO NOT USE LACQUER THINNER! Where did you store the figures, in an attic?

[paleoferroequine]

Dec 22, 2011 17:59:00 GMT renman2735 said:

Dec 22, 2011 17:45:24 GMT ihatefeathers144 said:

Have you tried a brass wire brush?

Isn't that going to damage the Carnegie dinosaur? Damage the paintwork?

On another note, I just realised some of my figures have become sticky possibly due to the styrofoam melting, or simply age? Any ideas how I might get rid of the stickiness?


Thanks!

I assume the styrofoam was foam packing peanuts? Probably the paint on the dinos reacted with the foam. You might try rubbing alcohol, 91% (isopropyl). Test it first on the bottom of the feet to make sure it is safe. Problem is anything that takes off the foam might take off the paint. Sticky paint problem, try waterbase acrylic flat finish from a bottle. I had some Sculpey figures of mine with that problem, the enamel paint reacted with the not 100% cured clay. Clear acrylic flat brushed on sealed it. Be real careful with liquid glue, there are many types, some with MEK will dissolve paint
Your figures may have to be re painted if that doesn't work.

[renman2735]

Hey guys

Thanks for the replies! I'm seeing a ray of hope.

Dec 22, 2011 18:54:42 GMT ihatefeathers144 said:

Where did you store the figures, in an attic?

I put them in a box with peanuts, and it was in a cool place. But being as I come from Singapore, it's not surprising that the heat and humiditiy...

I had intended to mve out in four months, which unfortunately became a 15 months.

I will try your methods. Thanks again!

[KeU]

Yea, I'm from Singapore too. My old Carnegies became sticky and grew mould between the creases when I put them into storage.
I put them on a shelf now. Away from direct sunlight. A nice wash using soap and water is enough to remove the stickiness.
Can't help you with the styrofoam though.
The Carnegies and Tycos tend to get sticky easily in this weather. The Invictas, on the other hand, seem unaffected.

[zopteryx]

My Papo Spinosaurs, Safari Velociraptor, and CollectA Paraceratherium have gone sticky over the past year. Maybe the styrofoam they were shipped in had something to do with it?

[KeU]

I haven't had any Papo or CollectA figures yet. I guess they would, since they are of similar materials.

[Blade-of-the-Moon]

are you sure it's styrofoam? some packing peanuts now are made of a biodegradable corn starch..you can even eat it. they react to moisture and melt becoming sticky while wet and then when dry will harden up. you can soak them in warm water and then use soap to remove the residue.