question on preventing plastic "yellowing"

[oldschool]

Is there a way of preventing the yellowing of the plastic on figures? I have a number of macross valkyries at the moment and I'm hoping there's a way to prevent them from yellowing with time like my old 80's bandai valk and other old toys.... Would spraying clearcoat on them help? If I do that, would the decals be affected?

[Gane]

Yellowing on white plastic is unavoidable... although you can minimize this by removing them from direct sunlight and keep dust away from them. Avoid spraying anything i.e. insect spray or perfume near it as the chemicals will react to plastic in the molecular level.

Applying clear coat is not a 100% guarantee but it will lengthen the amount of time you can enjoy the whiteness of the material. Just make sure to get either a Tamiya, Gunze Sangyo or any modeling clear coats because they are designed not to yellow when dry. When you use these brands, chances are your decals will be safe and should be free of warping.

I hope this helps...

[qb]

A few tips I came across the net regarding yellowed plastics though have advised that there are 2 household products that you can use:

1. Bleach - very effective in removing surface only yellowing of plastics. Depending on what type of plastic, you can either immerse it in a bleach solution (bleach+water) or apply it using a piece of cloth. Some scrubbing might be needed in order to remove the yellow marks fully.

2. Baking soda - some articles have advised that baking soda is also effective in removing yellowing from plastics. Again, you mix the baking soda with water to make a solution. you can also just apply the baking soda to a damp cloth and wipe across the plastic. The good thing about baking soda is it is safer to use for sensitive plastics. again, minor scrubbing might be needed to fully remove the yellowed parts so it helps to have an old toothbrush or similar brushing tool at hand.

[oldschool]

Thanks for the tips! Been thinking about this for a long time and I actually considered having my VFs painted by a friend who customizes gundams. Though it'd most probably add another hole to my wallet! I also came across a technique using hydrogen peroxide although some have mixed feelings about it... Thanks again!