The Energon Pub

How do you guys protect your toys, or the ones that you see as collector's items?

Do you just stand them on a case, or put them in a plastic case, or what?

I consider keeping my four year old away from them about as much protection as they need so a high shelf does the job

I just stand em up... works nothing happens to em

unlike GrimSqueaker, Cats be the enemy here, so unfortunately a shelf (plain ol' bookcases be they) alone doesn't work. That's where the squirt bottle comes in handy.

Otherwise, I dust em once a week, the shelves likewise. That's about all the protecting I do.

Yeah it's just that I like playing with all my toys except Protoform Prime, since he has no gimmicks and is an original design I was thinking of ways to protect him. So a high shelf sounds pretty good, but I don't have children so I'm fine for now. Any other techniques?

Display cases + no direct sunlight + some compressed air once a month = everrrything is always looking shiny.

[quote="Starscream227" Cats be the enemy here, [/quote]

cats are evil

Display cases? I'm intriuged. Where can I get my grubby fingers on one? I am in Brisbane and I don't know anywhere that might sell them.

Plastic racks, unused paint brush (for dusting by hand, individually), and keeping them out of sunlight works for me.

Raymond101 wrote:Display cases? I'm intriuged. Where can I get my grubby fingers on one? I am in Brisbane and I don't know anywhere that might sell them.

Look through order catalogues. Check with your local comic shop and ask what catalogue they use.

I keep my Masterpieces and 'special' G1 (like prime, megs, starscream etc) in a glass cabinet. it keeps the dust off them and some of the G1 are still in their boxes in the cabinet because i like the box art and it adds some nice colour to the display.

The rest go on display wherever I find space. Quite a lot of my white G1's are in my wardrobe at the moment until i find a sun free place to display them.

classics i just put up on my shelves, not too fussed about what happens to them

If I still have the boxes or cards, I keep them there. For the loose ones, I keep them in a bookshelf and cover it with a layer of acetate. I also have a cat and I don't let him anywhere near my TFs.

Helpful hint from the fiance the chemical engineer (soon to be Dr.Chemical Engineer):

Do not store your figures in plastic or ziplock baggies. After about a year, if there was any leftover treatment chemical from the finishing process on the bag, it begins to interact and degrade the TF plastic.

Now you know...

I have mine in a three different glass cases. One is a old tall cigarette case, one is a old three shelf china hutch I bought at a garage sale, and one is a smaller old cigarette case. If you check at your local grocery store, alot of the time they have these kinds of old cases collecting dust in their storage rooms. And ususally they are willing to get rid of them to make room.

Counterpunch wrote:Helpful hint from the fiance the chemical engineer (soon to be Dr.Chemical Engineer):

Do not store your figures in plastic or ziplock baggies. After about a year, if there was any leftover treatment chemical from the finishing process on the bag, it begins to interact and degrade the TF plastic.

Now you know...

No kidding CP? What does she recommend to store loose parts in then?

You could try to keep your loose parts in a small box or a drawer.

Rubbermaid totes in the basement.

Geekee1 wrote:

Counterpunch wrote:Helpful hint from the fiance the chemical engineer (soon to be Dr.Chemical Engineer):

Do not store your figures in plastic or ziplock baggies. After about a year, if there was any leftover treatment chemical from the finishing process on the bag, it begins to interact and degrade the TF plastic.

Now you know...

No kidding CP? What does she recommend to store loose parts in then?

Well, it does take time for this reaction to happen, like a year or two. A smaller plastic container is probably good, maybe a tackelbox.

I think one of the best things you can do, is let your toys 'breathe' every 6 months or so.

That way, exposure to air gets rid of any fumes and let's the case get some fresh air.

Counterpunch wrote:Helpful hint from the fiance the chemical engineer (soon to be Dr.Chemical Engineer):

Do not store your figures in plastic or ziplock baggies. After about a year, if there was any leftover treatment chemical from the finishing process on the bag, it begins to interact and degrade the TF plastic.

Now you know...

And knowing's half the battle!!!

Yeah, some guys have had that problem before now. Destroyed a Shockwave figure if I remember correctly. Can't remember whether it was the action master or what though...

Also, show your figures some love, so they don't take the long plunge off the shelf. And keep bullies like Armada Prime away from other figures smaller than him. They tend to have a scuffle and one ends up on the floor.

Seriously, my Armada Prime kicked the crap out of Energon Prime. Yes, he's biggger, but which figure was on the floor when I got home?

Raymond101 wrote:Display cases? I'm intriuged. Where can I get my grubby fingers on one? I am in Brisbane and I don't know anywhere that might sell them.

2 words for you, IKEA catalogue. Great cheap glass cases.