White ABS Armor... A Question about Yellowing...

jvasilatos

jvasilatos

Sr Member
I wonder if anyone can give me some guidance here.

I have a GF stormtrooper suit I acquired about 6 years ago. I had the armor boxed in storage, but kept the helmet out for display.

I've since moved and gotten my armor out of storage in preparation for a move and being able to display more of my collection. The armor is as white as the day I got it, but the helmet is showing signs of discoloration with some heavy yellowing around the neck where the black rubber trim wraps around.

As it's a GF original, I'm bummed that it shows signs of aging that are not apparent on the armor.

On the positive side, the armor looks great and I pre-ordered an MR trooper helmet in fiberglass that will match the armor when I display it. Or if I wanted to I could get an SDS hero helmet in ABS and substitute it to go with the suit for display also.

But for purposes of protecting the armor, is there anything I need to know about environment and room temperatures to prevent it from going the way of the helmet by yellowing? Is it possible that environmental factors affected the helmet which was on display in a livingroom that wouldn't effect the armor all boxed up in storage? The helmet wasn't near any sunlight either so I don't think that was a factor.

Thanks for any advice anyone has.

JV
 
jvasilatos said:
I wonder if anyone can give me some guidance here.

I have a GF stormtrooper suit I acquired about 6 years ago. I had the armor boxed in storage, but kept the helmet out for display.

I've since moved and gotten my armor out of storage in preparation for a move and being able to display more of my collection. The armor is as white as the day I got it, but the helmet is showing signs of discoloration with some heavy yellowing around the neck where the black rubber trim wraps around.

As it's a GF original, I'm bummed that it shows signs of aging that are not apparent on the armor.

On the positive side, the armor looks great and I pre-ordered an MR trooper helmet in fiberglass that will match the armor when I display it. Or if I wanted to I could get an SDS hero helmet in ABS and substitute it to go with the suit for display also.

But for purposes of protecting the armor, is there anything I need to know about environment and room temperatures to prevent it from going the way of the helmet by yellowing? Is it possible that environmental factors affected the helmet which was on display in a livingroom that wouldn't effect the armor all boxed up in storage? The helmet wasn't near any sunlight either so I don't think that was a factor.

Thanks for any advice anyone has.

JV
Click to expand...

Believe the yellowing is caused by the sun light> I know there is an ABS "sun block" or something of that nature out there but dont know how effective it is.
 
Tim Allen said:
Believe the yellowing is caused by the sun light> I know there is an ABS "sun block" or something of that nature out there but dont know how effective it is.
Click to expand...

You don't need sunlight, it's just a chemical reaction. Plastic products yellow by nature, action figure packaging does it all the time.
And ABS sunblock is a term for armor :)
 
JV the plastic is still getting UV rays bouncing around the room. Likely your helmet and armor were pulled from the same plastics.....it's just the effects of the particles in the air.........what you breathe out and the light that does get into the room. All those things weren't a factor in the closed carton.

Dave
 
Also, if your home utilizes gas heat as opposed to electric based heat is a major factor as well.
 
Why did helm and not armor yellow?

It may be me but if the yellowing is caused by sunlight,
your helmet was on display right, in room where sun could hit it.

You also state that the armor was boxed in storage right?
In box not sun?

Could be the reason.
 
Pretty much why having ABS armor or helmets doesn't make sense to me unless you're after perfect authenticity(hero materials). If it yellows and you don't want a sandy, you need to paint it. Kinda goes against the point of using a shiny white material :confused
 
Not an expert on ABS, so I have a question to add to this discussion:

Is the yellowing all the way thru the plastic, or is it a surface thing you can simply polish to improve?

I know when I vaccuform, the outside of the plastic (styrene) sometimes gets sort of brown from the heat - all I have to do is sand it lightly to get a white surface again .

Rick
 
rickrickrick said:
Not an expert on ABS, so I have a question to add to this discussion:

Is the yellowing all the way thru the plastic, or is it a surface thing you can simply polish to improve?

I know when I vaccuform, the outside of the plastic (styrene) sometimes gets sort of brown from the heat - all I have to do is sand it lightly to get a white surface again .

Rick
Click to expand...
Holy crap, how hot do you heat the stuff?:eek
 
Try using a Mr Clean Magic Eraser, then just use some ABS polish to bring the glossy shine back.
If the yellowing is only located around the base of the helmet It's probably a reaction between the ABS and the neck trim.
If all else fails pick up some gloss white krylon plasticoat and paint the whole kit.
Best of luck and take your time!
 
Because only the background helmets (what most people call stunt) were painted. Everything else is not.
 
I have owned a set of GF and AFX for YEARS and Years..

First of all if you are going to display the helmet remember
that EVERY time you cook in the house you are throwing
grease and smoke and a ton of other things into the air.

The armor is about 8 or 9+? years old now and still no fading.
It is kept in a box and away from sun and cooking fumes.

I think I was the first to call is ABS sunblock and it's funny seing
that term still being used.



.
 
GINO said:
Because only the background helmets (what most people call stunt) were painted. Everything else is not.
Click to expand...


Perfect for me. :)

Mine's a stunt and I'm getting some armor from AP. Gonna paint it white to match the helmet.

-Joe
 
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