Proper Action figure storage...

[TurtleWA]

Originally Posted by DonnieLaForge

How I roll:

I use ziplock bags from the store. Quart sized bags fit most 6-7" scale figures. Gallon for the larger and snack-size for the smaller items (3.25", Hot Wheels, etc).

I use a metal paper punch and I stack up 8 bags at a time, or fold 4 in half, and punch a total of 6-8 holes down each side of the larger bags (3-4 on the snack). This makes the punch work better as it won't work at all on just one unfolded bag -- too thin and slick.

For accessories so small or thin they would fall through the holes, I put them in an un-punched snack bag and stick inside with the fig. Larger accessories I just put right with the fig.

Some plastics are ok without breathing for a year or two but in the long run it's surely bad for *all* of them if they can't. One thing that is very bad to seal off is any translucent DST minimates, they become tacky. Also, some figs/access will have rubbery material involved. If that can't breath it's usually the first thing to go bad -- it can become brittle, or, oily, from my experience.

Next is what type of tubs you store them in. I have both open-air tubs that act as drawers (these ones here, which stack up nice in the closet for a giant storage solution) and I also have some flat horizontal stacking tubs with loosely attaching lids. I would never put them in any snap-tight, air-tight type of tub+lid.

And finally is *how* you put them in the tubs. If you lay them all in there and pile them on top of each other, most likely they will press down on each other and end up blocking most/all of the airway holes you punched, defeating the purpose. Instead, I try and stand them upright, loosely packed together, and if the tub is tall enough, stand another layer upright on top of that layer as it fills up.

Sometimes I take an entire wave of figures and put them, bagged, inside another larger (1-2 gallon) hole-punched ziplock. When they are in there snug it can help to make sure there's an air path for all.

I just opened up a 2005 NECA Dr. Finklestein the other day (wow, old as this thread!). Correct me if I'm wrong but the NECA blister packaging doesn't seem to breath in any way. It's why we get that NECA smell. His arm joints disintegrated on first attempted movement. I'm blaming being unable to breathe for so long since the bubble didn't show UV damage. They gotta breathe!

As you say "They gotta breathe!"

Makes me wonder about all the MISB AFA graded stuff. Lots of money and who actually knows what's inside? Plus the stuff is only getting older.
Sad for the preservation factor of these great items that it is sometimes a mystery. Because who really knows how well it's being stored.

[DonnieLaForge]

Originally Posted by TurtleWA

As you say "They gotta breathe!"

Makes me wonder about all the MISB AFA graded stuff. Lots of money and who actually knows what's inside? Plus the stuff is only getting older.
Sad for the preservation factor of these great items that it is sometimes a mystery. Because who really knows how well it's being stored.

I've never owned or even handled an acrylic-encased graded toy. Is the acrylic airtight?

If I ever spent hundreds on a single graded toy, well, the toy would never be coming out anyway so I suppose it doesn't matter.

But I would agree, it's Schrödinger's Toy at that point -- you don't know if it's dead or alive until you open the box! So don't do it! Which then makes one wonder (especially when it comes to graded stuff without window packaging like the large TMNT vehicles or the ooze)...why did I pay hundreds so I could look at a box inside of another acrylic box... Which is why I'm an opener! (It's ok, I did an amateur repair job on Dr. Finklestein involving a drill and some wire to thread his arms back together through the torso.)

In related news, I just picked up a still-sealed vintage TMNT Movie III Evil Warhorse with Royal Guard so I could give the purplish horse to the new Samurai Donnie. The Royal Guard figure inside has over the years somehow gotten some yellowish gunk on just one small area of his head. It doesn't look like UV damage to me, because nothing else is faded, damaged, or yellowed including the blister. I will be opening it up soon so I will see if it wipes off. What could it be? Who knows...maybe gunk from the fingerprint of the guy who pressed it in there? Bacterial colonies left their mark on all that residual bio-matter? Or sticky crap that yellowed on its own with age? I will find out!

[inaheap]

It always seems a little sad to me when I see unopened figures growing mold. I have to say I have not seen TMNT from any time like that. I have seen it on a number of old Playmates Star Trek figures though.

[DonnieLaForge]

Originally Posted by inaheap

It always seems a little sad to me when I see unopened figures growing mold. I have to say I have not seen TMNT from any time like that. I have seen it on a number of old Playmates Star Trek figures though.

There's something weird going on with the exclusive Leo figure's face in most of the Walmart exclusive 2014 movie assault van sets I have seen pics of online. My own has it, too. Maybe not mold but kinda an off color green going on. I will get around to opening it someday... didn't buy it for the figure anyway and leo heads are a dime a dozen...

[Guile]

Originally Posted by DonnieLaForge

There's something weird going on with the exclusive Leo figure's face in most of the Walmart exclusive 2014 movie assault van sets I have seen pics of online. My own has it, too. Maybe not mold but kinda an off color green going on. I will get around to opening it someday... didn't buy it for the figure anyway and leo heads are a dime a dozen...

If possible could you post a picture? I'm curious now.