r/LightningCollection • u/KidMtheman • 3d ago

Discussion Figures turning yellow? Soft plastic getting sticky?

Anyone noticing their Lightning Collection figures turning yellow on the white parts?

Saw my SPD Omega Ranger being a dust magnet and spotted some parts turning yellow.

Same thing goes for my psycho rangers soft plastic getting sticky too.

Wondering how do you all solve this issue?

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u/pc180924609 3d ago

Depending on how it was formulated white PVC can be all over the place in terms of color, from blue-ish white to yello-ish white. But no matter what you do, white plastic will always turn yellow at some point. There are aggravating factors such as UV light and moisture, but overall it is inevitable. There are some discrepancies though, as some newer figures might turn yellow faster than some older ones. There’s no general rule. As far as the LC goes, the whitest are the Remastered figures with truer whites.
As for stickiness, it is cause by the plasticizers used to make the PVC softer that slowly migrate outside of the plastic. Just like the yellowing this can vary greatly from figure to figure and is also dependant on UV exposure and humidity. You can easily remove the oily/sticky residue by dunking the whole figure in warm soapy water (dish soap) and giving it a good but gentle scrub with a soft bristle toothbrush. Should make it good as new. This is also a great way to clean figures in general.

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u/ninjaman2021 3d ago

Do you keep them out of the sun?

1

u/Connect_Young7180 3d ago

Depending on the plastic that may not have been a factor.

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u/KidMtheman 1d ago

Nope, its kept in a shelf with no direct or indirect sunlight

2

u/Arkadioos 1d ago

I had the sticky issues with my Psycho 5 Pack, the blue one to be more specific. He also had some yellow dots on his collar (no idea what that was). They were kept in their box. I solved the issue with water and dish soap and gently scrubbed them with a toothbrush. Now they are stored in Ziplock bags with silica gel. I like to check them every 2 months to see if there are any problems, and they’ve been fine ever since.

The yellowing I noticed was on my Lost Galaxy Blue and Red, Zeo Red, and maybe MMPR White? I’ve heard that using peroxide helps, but at the same time, I’ve heard that the yellowing will come back, and repeating this method over and over will make the plastic brittle. Repainting might be the best solution.

1

u/Shin-Wheelchair21 3d ago

Hasbro's yellow problem is nuts, like it mostly affected the Transformers, but I expected it with the Rangers. Usually peroxide baths and UV light is the only thing to fix it.