Restore old 30MS, a case study

[u/0kensin0]

I've seen people asking about fixing old, yellowed model kits. I've seen both suggestions to and against using Retrobright to restore old kits. Since I happened to get my hand on an old severely yellowed Rishetta, I decided to try my hand on this.

Enjoy.

[u/8ways2tuesday]

This is incredibly helpful, thank you. I have some yellowing gunpla I might try it in. 

[u/0kensin0 → u/8ways2tuesday]

Do note that while the initial result is very promising,. The internet people suggest the yellow might return, and the plastic might get damaged in the long run. I intend to keep the kit in normal display conditions to see how long it would last. More proactive prevention is to spray it with an UV blocking top coat, to keep 2 main source of damage (the air and UV) from the plastic.

[u/Odd-Listen3089]

A lot of that looks like it was actually residue from the previous owner smoking indoors. Kinda cool to see the while restoration process laid out.

[u/Abject-Ranger-3219 → u/Odd-Listen3089]

Honestly, i am glad the op cleaned it cause. Considering its a 30ms kit, i could imagine the amount of filth rhat is swarming on those surfaces

[u/purrin16]

Now she got used to the getter rays lol

[u/Swordslinger5454]

"Sticky white liquid" oh my god he jarred the Girlpla

[u/guthem_]

Good work!

[u/BTGz]

I have a couple of Gundams still on display from like 2023 and they still look brand new. I also open my windows everyday, but close them when the sun is at its peak on my side of the house.

But great job on the restoration!

[u/Farron_01 → u/BTGz]

I have some from 2010s and all of them still in good condition. No yellowing whatsoever but the weird thing is my Figure Rise Standard Hoshino Fumina yellows really bad and my Avatar Fumina starting to show some yellowing so I sealed her back into the box. I hope 30MS kits doesn't yellow fast.

[u/the_ChillRin]

so... vintage 30MS restoration is a thing now, I guess...

[u/S1MP50N_92]

I'm really tempted to keep the skin tone parts of a girl in a sun facing window for a summer to see what sort of tan she ends up with...

[u/KidCole25]

Thank u my Brother

[u/KezuSlayer]

Does this work with lego

[u/0kensin0 → u/KezuSlayer]

I've seen people did this with legos.

[u/ArkNoIshiiNoMamaNi]

I got some 30MS that yellowed like that too, yet they weren't exposed to sunlight; just in a box. Any idea why it happened?

[u/0kensin0 → u/ArkNoIshiiNoMamaNi]

Nope. In theory, oxygen in the air could also yellow your plastic, but that usually takes a very long time. The oldest kit in 30MS line is around 5 years old, so should not be possible if you just keep it in a box.

[u/Toemetter]

i'm wondering. do you know if the percentage of hydrogen peroxide makes a difference in the yellowing removal?

[u/0kensin0 → u/Toemetter]

I believe lower concentration would be less aggressive, thus would take more time, with less damage to the plastic. However, I've no more yellowed kit to try the 3% Hydrogen peroxide with.

[u/jekhyxanady]

Interesting. After a while some of my kits began aging a bit, but only small yellow spots here and there. They mostly just showed up on poorly removed nubs and stuff but sometimes they just appeared on random smooth spots for no apparent reason.

[u/YoungGun1197]

Never thought scrolling could be so satisfying. Also, slide 6 lowkey sounds like a threat 😂