Guys, this is an important message to everyone who has Cavalier and possibly ADR resin kits of Australian cars in their collection. I know there are Aussie modellers on here but it could also affect international modellers especially since Loren Bussowitz (sorry if I got that wrong) did an article on these models in Scale Auto.
This past weekend some friends and I were discussing and comparing the Australian models we had in our collections. When three of us checked our models, we found that the moulded rubber tyres in the kits had decomposed in a dramatic and potentially destructive manner.
In the mild cases, the tyres have either gone very sticky or distorted as if by heat. In the worst cases, at least five so far, the tyres have melted into a sticky black soup that sticks to every thing it contacts.
We are talking about the Cavalier L34 Torana, A9X Torana, HT (was a there an HG?) Monaro and EK Holden. It would be fair to say that probably all Cavalier tyres are at risk, ie XC Cobra, Mad Max Falcon Commodore and EK ute but I don’t have these to check.
I have put the metal wheels and rubber tyres from the first release HT in a separate box which I can’t find so I don’t know how they are fairing.
I have opened my ADR FJ Holden and while there is no degradation of any sort in this kit, the tyres, to my eye, seem to be made with the same material so I am removing them from the kit rather than take a chance..
My A9X Torana was loosely assembled and resting on its side in the box in the plastic bag as delivered. The tyres had completely melted off the rims and then run down the chassis pan and into the bottom of the plastic bag, like thick black paint. It covered the entire side of the car inside and out as well as parts of the interior tub and vacformed glass. The decals have been damaged and probably won’t be saveable.
Using my finger and a paper towel it has taken me about an hour to get the muck off the Torana. There does not appear to be any damage to the plastic but it is extremely hard to remove from fine detail. For some reason the muck does not stain your fingers. Try to remove it in as big a blob as possible – the residue is very tenacious. Don’t go anywhere near furniture or clothing or you may have a divorce on your hands!!!!!
My friend is far worse off than me. His tyres were still in with all the fine trim details such as door handles, lights and grilles so it is doubtful where he will be able to get them free. One of his dashboards and several of his wheels have been dissolved by the rubber and are beyond repair or gone altogether!!
Judging by the various stages of decomposition in my kits this seems to be happening RIGHT NOW!!! The older kits seem to be worst affected but this is probably a ticking time bomb for the new ones.
At this stage I have no idea of how this affects paint or how it affects completed models. If anyone else has more info it would be beneficial to post here.
Please note that I am in no way condemning Cavalier (now out of business) or possibly ADR. This would appear to be some freaky chemical problem that has taken a long time to happen – I’m thinking five to ten years. If you or your friends have these models in your stash you need to check them NOW!!!!!!
Good luck,
Alan
Source: http://cs.scaleautomag.com/SCACS/forums/thread/975155.aspx
Michael Bleekemolen Alex Blignaut Trevor Blokdyk Mark Blundell
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