HELP!. mysterious white spots appearing on metal figures.

[mcelhas]

In the last couple of weeks, several long-finished metal figures from Andrea and pegaso have begun to show spatters of white dots appearing on extremities.

The figures were all bought in the 90's, and completed by 2001 ad. They are: Andrea Centurion Bust, Andrea mounted Gothic Knight, Pegaso German Knight(1513 ad).

When painting and assembling the figures, all plate armour, helmets, weapons, horse furniture, were burnished to a high sheen, then shaded and sealed with a mixture of gloss and matt varnish, white spirit, tinted with blue/black enamels to impart an in- scale 'polished steel' or iron finish.

Yesterday, as I was taking the figures off the shelf for their routine dusting, I noticed what looked like tarnishing on the Phalerae(large disc-shaped military decorations) worn by the Centurion. Closer inspection revealed what looked like paint spatter from a malfunctioning airbrush - a spread of small white dots all across the surface of the discs. Then I saw the same 'spatter' on the cheekpieces, both inside and out, and the beginnings of same on the peak of the helmet.

The Gothic mounted knight showed the same thing, again on extremities, this time on the left shoulder guard, the top of the face armour of the horse, and the hilt of the sword. The Pegaso knight showed the very beginnings of the same thing.

The white dots were removeable by cotton buds(q-tips), white spirit, and cocktail sticks(toothpicks). All parts are now clear, but I'm watching the figures closely to see if the white dots reappear on cleaned parts.

Inspection of older figures, Almond and Border from the 80's, finished the same way, showed no sign of the white dots.

My fear is that this is coming out of the metal itself, in which case these figures are doomed. Best case scenario is that its the lacquer finish deteriorating. I've seen 'lead poisoning' on figures, and it didnt look like this.

The last of the figures was completed in 2001, the oldest was finished in 1996. I don't want to lose them, they're among the best figures ever released, each one a long labour of love(anyone who has done the Andrea mounted gothic knight will know what I mean).

Has anyone else encountered this problem?.

Shane McElhatton,
Dublin.

 

[vergilius]

I haven't had this expierence yet (thank god) but I once read on HZ-forum that someone had a similar problem. I think his problem was the temperature in his room (very cold) on which certain metal figurines reacted on.
Reading your story I'ld say you 've a different problem. I would find it strange if the metal would be reacting after so many years. Mu guess is that the lacquer is the evil doer.

 

[Blind Pew]

Hello mate, if it's not the dreaded lead disease, which it shouldn't be, it may a case of something being spilt on them perhaps? I'm clutching at straws mate. I hope your problem has resolved itself.

 

[Roc]

I have the Andrea mounted knight, which I painted inthe late 90's, I've never had a problem like that.
My advice, for what it's worth is to clean up those areas with alcohol, the best you can and spray paint a coat of Testors Dull coat finish over the entire figure, to seal it.

Good luck and hope ythis works for you.

Cheers
Roc

 

[mcelhas]

Hello, Vergilius, hello Blind Pew...

It can't be a spillage, the dots appeared on specific parts, and not on the surrounding areas. Plus they were all over the inside of the cheek pieces, where no spillage could have reached them. The flesh areas right up against the cheek pieces were unaffected.

As for temperature changes, they've been at 'room temperature' since they were completed, without any ill-effects until now.

The figures are now, to use a hospital analogy, 'under observation'. All the dots have been cleared off the affected areas, if and when they appear on other areas, I'll just clear them off. If they reappear on the cleared areas, then I'm going to worry.

Having seen a fellow club member junk a Euro-Mil winner because of lead poisoning, I'm going to do anything I can to save these figures.

Shane,
Dublin.

 

[vergilius]

Would be a shame of those lovely pieces !
Keep us updated !If there's a virus we have to put you and your figurines under quarantine