Dubai is hard on anything made of paint, resin, glue and clear plastic. A collector model asks for very little in return: shade, steady conditions and as little handling as possible. This is the advice we give at the House. Where a maker supplies its own care instructions, follow those first.
Keep it out of direct sunlight
Light is the main risk. Ultraviolet light fades paint and printed markings, and over time it can yellow clear and white parts. Museum conservators advise keeping plastics away from sunlight and ultraviolet light altogether, and the same holds for a model.
- No windowsills, and no shelf that catches the afternoon sun.
- Never leave a model in a parked car.
- An interior wall is the best place for a cabinet.
- If the room gets strong daylight, use blinds or a UV-filtering film on the glass.
- Light a display with LEDs and keep hot lamps away from it.
Keep heat and humidity steady
Resin, glue, decals and tyres all react to heat. In a hot room or a closed car, a resin body can distort, and small glued parts such as mirrors and wipers can work loose.
Swings do as much harm as peaks. Materials swell and shrink as temperature and humidity change, and repeated cycles are what crack paint and lift decals. An air-conditioned room held at a steady setting is ideal. Three habits help:
- Keep models out of the direct airflow of an air conditioner, where conditions change each time the unit cycles.
- If you travel in summer, leave the cooling on a moderate setting. Do not switch it off for weeks.
- In humid months a closed case steadies the air around the model. Conservation guidance for plastics is to stay below 65 per cent relative humidity.
This matters most for resin, which most modern supercar models at 1:18 are made of, including pieces such as the Porsche 911 GT3 RS by IVY. Metal models such as those by CMC are tougher, but their paint, leather and rubber parts need the same care.
Dust: do less
Dust is abrasive, and wiping it off is how most fine scratches happen. A case keeps most of it away. For a model on an open shelf:
- Use a soft, clean brush or a hand air blower, and work gently.
- Brush away from mirrors, aerials and wipers, never across them. These are the parts that break.
- For a mark on the paint, use a clean microfibre cloth, barely damp with water, and no pressure.
- Never use household cleaner, polish, solvent or wax on a model.
Matt finishes and bare metal show every mark, so take most care with them. The 911 GT3 RS in matt black and CMC's 250 GTO in bare metal are two examples.
Display cases
A case does three jobs. It keeps dust off, it stops accidental knocks and it reduces handling. Clean an acrylic cover with a damp microfibre cloth only, because glass cleaners that contain ammonia can cloud it.
A case is not a sunshade. Unless it is sold as UV-filtering, it will not protect a model from sunlight, and a closed case in the sun gets hot inside.
Handling
- Lift a model by its base whenever it has one.
- If you have to hold the model itself, support it from below with both hands. Never lift it by a mirror, a wing or a wheel.
- Use clean, dry hands or soft gloves. Skin oils mark matt paint and bare metal.
- Many models are screwed to their base from underneath. Do not pull one off its base.
- Open doors and bonnets gently, and follow the maker's instructions for how they open.
Keep the box and the paperwork
The original box is the safest way to move or store a model, because it was made to hold that one piece. Keep the certificate, the booklet and any tools with it. Store boxes in a cooled room, not in a garage or a storeroom without air conditioning.
A short checklist
- Shade, always.
- A cool, steady room.
- A case, or a soft brush used lightly.
- Hands on the base, not the model.
- Box and papers kept together.
If you are unsure about a particular piece, ask us. The models, and the way we display them, can be seen at the House in Al Quoz 3, Dubai, open 10am to 10pm every day and 4pm to 10pm on Fridays.