10 replies to this topic

[plasticfiend]

Hey guys,

 

Kind of an odd question.  I had a Dragonman Toy Biz figure that I was going to sell on Ebay, and although it was in the package, because of the weight of the figure the bubble had started separate from the rest of the card backing.  Well I decided eff it and just went ahead and opened it the rest of the way up.  I figured that it still might sell relatively easily.  

 

However, I notice that the from of the figure feels a little weird in texture.  Almost oily... the back plastic does NOT feel this way.  Only the front.  Is it something to do with the age of the figure?  (it's Toy Biz FF figure from the cartoon in the early 90's).  I mean it's 20 years old - but I've never seen this before.  Also, should I wipe it down with something before I sell it?  I don't want an unhappy customer thinking I'm selling them a funky toy.  

 

There's no discoloration (which can happen w/ age sometimes) or anything.  Just wanted to get you guys take on it...

 

Thanks in advance!

 

PF

[Grencats]

Old plastic figures can sometimes get oily. The Transformers G1 Monstructor & Dinoking Pretender Monster Shells get like that.

 

Also the oily figures can also get mildew spots especailly if you wash them. Original My Little Pony's for example can have mildew spots that spread to others. I prefer to keep them away from other figures.

 

Usually if your figure is like this then all of the releases will be, and collectors will be familiar that it is common. I would still disclose it in a listing though.

[plasticfiend]

Thank you for the help!!

PF

[dixiebull]

Yep, I get oily vintage star wars all the time. I also have recently gotten an army ant figure with the same mildew spotting inside the plastic exactly as was mentioned. There is absolutely no wiping that off once it is there. 

[plasticfiend]

Yep, I get oily vintage star wars all the time. I also have recently gotten an army ant figure with the same mildew spotting inside the plastic exactly as was mentioned. There is absolutely no wiping that off once it is there.

So should I wipe it off before the mildew kicks in?

PF

[Grencats]

As it is just a toy biz figure, I would give it a shot. I would maybe hold off on an all out wash if the figure was worth a few hundred dollars though.

[Wibble]

The aliens and robots from the 80's Britain's space men sets get REALLY oily, to the point where the paint starts sloughing off (I just binned mine as they were just gross).

[plasticfiend]

Thanks guys!!!  Ya'll ROCK!

 

PF

[bachamn]

This has been discussed a lot on the boards in a few different threads, but to my understanding this is a storage issue. Either the plastic needing to breathe and being stored in air-tight conditions for too long, or being subjected to humid conditions. The material leeches chemicals and gets sticky like this.

 

Always irks me when I come across it; happened to the head on my Inhumanoids Metlar. Was crushed when I got him out of storage, but for sure mentioned it when I ended up selling him on eBay. 

[plasticfiend]

This has been discussed a lot on the boards in a few different threads, but to my understanding this is a storage issue. Either the plastic needing to breathe and being stored in air-tight conditions for too long, or being subjected to humid conditions. The material leeches chemicals and gets sticky like this.
 
Always irks me when I come across it; happened to the head on my Inhumanoids Metlar. Was crushed when I got him out of storage, but for sure mentioned it when I ended up selling him on eBay.

Thanks Bach, I will be sure and mention it. When you had it happen with your Inhumanoids fig was it sealed in the package still?

PF

[bachamn]

nope, that one I suspect had something to do with humidity. I managed to keep boxes of most of my childhood toys in-tow since I moved out back in the day, but a few (like my inhumanoids) were lost in my mom's not-so-dry basement in boxes until a few years ago. Luckily Metlar was the only one that seemed to have that issue; his head was made of a different rubber material than they used anywhere else in the line that I know of. Im sure it had something to do with the multiple big spikes he has coming off of his face

Edited by bachamn, 01 September 2015 - 11:34 AM.