models in the cold

Polystyrene plastic will contract in the cold and expand in heat like most things.  The issue is that it will eventually begin to lose it's elasticity and could break if flexed repeatedly.  The other problem is that already assembled models are more likely to crack if flexed, since the glue and other parts may not contract or expand at the same rate.  Also cold makes it very brittle and if you need to keep them in the cold, make sure they are securely packed in such a way that they will not have any weight put on them.  If I were you, I would consider a small space heater to keep the room in the upper 60s at least.  Just to play it safe.

Rosa

I have a number of plastic model kits I have already built and I wonder if I can safely store them in cold conditions without the seams cracking or something else bad happening.  I live in Western Canada where it can get to -30C sometimes (-22F) or on rare occasions as low as -40C (same as -40F).  I'm not putting my models outside, but in a little room at the back of the house which is separated from the kitchen by a wall and a closed weatherproofed door.   This little room at the back is unheated (and it may be uninsulated) so it gets pretty cold.  Will my models (mostly small scale armour, but some other stuff too) fall apart or something?

Agree with above...only problem with plastic in extreme cold is that it gets very brittle and can break/crack easily when handling...but in most cases normal handling will do nothing.  Kit should be fine when it warms to the indoors.  With decals moisture and sunlight are their worst enemies.

What a gyp!

i was all ready for a pictorial of "Snow Bunny Co-Eds" showing off the latest in winter lingerie.

I would not store the decals with the kits. You run a serious risk of degrading them from moisture. Cold invites condensation and frost with temperature fluctuation. I would get an old photo album, and store them in the pages with a notation as to what kit they're from. Better safe than sorry.

-40 thats cold makes me feel better about living in OHIO .GO BUCKS . Ron

No problem, I lived in Alberta for most of my life and stored vintage unassembled kits in the unheated garage with no issues. (-40 for weeks each winter)

If white glue has been used in scenic details and is uncured the water content will freeze and expand. (7% per volume) I had a plastic base separate from a marble one because of uncured white glue. It was no problem as it was planned to remove the plastic to add to a larger scene at a later date hence the white glue and not CA being used. 

Just remember everything becomes brittle so if you retrieve a cold kit do so carefully and allow to heat up at room temperature for several hours before handling.

This is where you will see the difference in a model assembled with CA vs one with liquild cement...

Shouldn't be a problem. A friend of mine stores his collection in boxes in an unheated garage. About the only damage they receive is the taut antenna lines snapping off from contracting. I too store models in an unheated garage, but it is an enclosed area that doesn't get as cold as the main bay...cold but not as.

As long as the models don't see quick extreme changes in temp, they should be fine.

...maybe...

Hmmmmm, I'm not positive, but I think the cold would likely cause the plastic to shrink & expand with the temperature changes. No big deal for unassembled parts, but it could do damage to parts that are already assembled. And the frost could play havoc with your decals/finishing. I'd keep them warm if at all possible.

Good luck, I'm with you on the space constraints!