Old Citadel Miniature Fatigue? Help!

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tiannastarfall

New member
Hi new member here, just got back into this hobby after a long break - started in the 80s. So I dug out all my old citadel miniatures (most of which are now oop) and was horrified to discover some of them have suffered from some kind of metal fatigue. Some have started to crumble, painted ones seem to have survived better.

Has anyone else encountered this? Any advice on how to fix them up or prevent it from happening to the others?

Here is a picture of a bad case that I have quickly turned into a statue:

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dave3555

New member
Looks like or sounds like your figures could be suffering from lead rot. This is caused over time by damp conditions.

Basically Lead Rot is lead rusting, and its primary cause is moisture in combination with lack of air circulation.

Dave
 
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tiannastarfall

New member
Thanks for that, they were stored in a loft which probably has extremes of temperature which might cause localised damp I guess. :(

I presume the new metal figures that are lead free will not suffer such a fate?

I guess I will just have to make the best of the ones I can rescue and ensure a damp-free storage in future.
 
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vincegamer

Active member
The other thing for new figs of course is to prime them as soon as you get them. They don\'t have to be painted right away, but get a protective layer on them to keep the moisture off.
 
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finn17

New member
The dreaded lead rot..

http://www.coolminiornot.com/forums/viewthread.php?tid=1098

http://www.coolminiornot.com/forums/viewthread.php?tid=1902

http://www.dt.navy.mil/cnsm/lead_01.html
 
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tiannastarfall

New member
Well having been given a name for the condition I did a web search and came up with that article that was mentioned in the other thread (thanks for the links to older threads too).

It doesnt really explain the best way to treat/salvage figures. Also it mentioned that enamel paint and polyurethane varnish was not good - all my old minis are painted with it, this was back when acrylics where a new idea and nobody I knew used them.

I am going to try and thoroughly remove the affected areas on the minis and re-prime with a modern acrylic primer, not forgetting to turn the figure upside down and do the underside of the base. Also I am going to invest in some new storage - throw out the wooden box they were in! Hopefully this will prevent them from getting worse - any other suggestions?

As for my collection, luckily it is only a small percentage that are ruined as badly as the figure above. Its still heartbreaking though as the very first figure that I bought is suffering and that was primed and painted (humbrol enamel though). I might put up a before and after pic of a few of them later on.

I wonder if I could get compensation from GW/citadel/ral partha - I spent a fortune on my collection over the years!
 
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Drake Farstrider

New member
Originally posted by tiannastarfall

I wonder if I could get compensation from GW/citadel/ral partha - I spent a fortune on my collection over the years!
Click to expand...

I would say not a chance. Ral Partha is know more and GW is... well GW. :D
 
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