When I was a kid, I had a Chewbacca that turned green.... but that was because he was left outside in the grass for two years. I found him and just decided he was in disguise. This was many years before Shadows of the Empire, where chewie did get a disguise. Thanks for the video. I always wondered why that happened and only certain parts. Now I know, and knowing is HALF THE BATTLE!

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

And leaving a toy outside int he elements can cause other issues like fading

For years I have read and known about this problem, but never heard a explanation of the phenomenon until now. Thanks for the information.

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

Glad to help! And assist in reposting videos online is most appreciated too

I used salon peroxide cream, wrapped figures/ship parts in cling wrap, and exposed to UV light in a plastic tub. brightened everything up! wasn't sure how it worked - just thought it was just a "bleaching" effect. Thanks for providing the science!!

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

Nice method!

@carlo2384

3 жыл бұрын

@@spectorcreative1872 retrobrite 👍

@YakBat

3 жыл бұрын

@@carlo2384 I personally do a comb of both, submerge the figures under a UV light for 24 hrs instead of waiting 3 days. On figures with red parts I really love, I mask off the section and use your method.

@carlo2384

3 жыл бұрын

@@YakBat whatever gets the job done!

The figures will yellow again over time. And three times as fast. Unless you do something more extreme like retrobrite or heavy duty peroxide under blacklite. You also can only basically do this with white figures. It fades other colors especially fleshtones.

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

I haven't had that happen, but maybe I am not doing it enough

@hercb4388

Жыл бұрын

I think it’s obvious they will yellow again over time but why three times as fast? Just curious.

@opinian1068

Жыл бұрын

@@hercb4388 because this method while immediately effective is not chemically potent enough to reverse years of oxidation. The chemical in the plastic which causes yellowing is still there.

@hercb4388

Жыл бұрын

@@opinian1068 makes sense its still a better option then just leaving it yellow I guess.

@opinian1068

Жыл бұрын

@@hercb4388 agreed!

I've read a few articles about this process over the years. I think I first heard about this technique on Facebook on a Star Wars page about five years ago. Appreciate that you covered it again on here for easy reference, Thanks!

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

Glad this could help

Thanks for this info and demo, Scott! I’ve read about this before and it’s nice to see it demonstrated in a video. It sure would be great if those who downvoted this would leave a comment explaining why.

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

At least they are watching!

I was blown away on the yellowing fix. Thank you very much.

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

Glad to provide a solution

Some of the best toy collector content on the tube right here. Constant stream of interesting videos from this channel.

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

Why thank you! And help sharing with others is most appreciated!!

Wow thanks for giving us the science of why this happens! Now it makes far more sense to me why some parts yellow more than others...the level of bromine in the different parts. Great video!

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

Science: fun for the whole family

I've known this trick for a long time but never knew exactly why it works or why yellowing happens in the first place so thank you!

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

You are most welcome!

I used this process on my MOTU vintage Faker, his chest had yellowed and it restored it to the original blue

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

Nice!!

@counthazard

3 жыл бұрын

i'm impressed that it worked! And i was going to ask if it would work to restore other coloured figures. My MOTU vintage Skeletor is having the same torso discolouration issue. Now i have to try this.

Yes, I am glad you brought up this subject. And also showed the early Stormtroopers which was one of the first toys where it seemed to really be noticed. It had happened before then, but I think Stormtroopers was when a lot of people really noticed.

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

Insane right!

@BrynSmith76

3 жыл бұрын

Some Star wars groups will crucify you for reversing the yellowing. They think it damages the plastic. Talk about scaremongering.

I find this video above and beyond helpful but very informative as well, thank you!

@spectorcreative1872

5 ай бұрын

You are most welcome! Share it if you can!

I love your videos! Truly fascinating stuff. And I’ve never seen a video before that finally explained the cursed yellowing! Thank you for making it!

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

You are most welcome! Please feel free to share with others, it helps the channel a ton

A science lesson and how-to tutorial, Scott's picking up on this KZread game. Though prolonged exposure can lead to damaging the plastic

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

I must be finally getting it!

@emerje0

3 жыл бұрын

I heard people say it can cause damage, but I've yet to see anyone actually prove it. I'd expect it from soft plastic that you may be sucking the pigments and plasticizers out of, but not hard plastic.

@gregg9672

3 жыл бұрын

@@emerje0 will it damage the figure of certain parts are painted

@emerje0

3 жыл бұрын

@@gregg9672 Shouldn't since the paint they use requires a pretty strong solvent to remove. The peroxide is just removing the yellow it isn't bleaching the plastic.

Señor @Spector. Me encanta la manera en que explica los deteriorios de los polímeros. Està usted haciendo una gran labor de difusión, de un modo sencillo es capaz de hacernos comprender la física química de los componentes de nuestras figuras. Gracias.

Hey there Scott, So I believe this process is popularly called "Retrobright" by many of us toy fans/restorers. I've actually messed around with different versions of this for years... in fact, as I type this, I have some Lego pieces from a vintage set in the Hydrogen Peroxide right now. I've been trying the 13% concentration (most over the counter stuff is more like 3%), and that often works pretty well. But I usually use UV lights due to a more consistent light source (plus, I like in Western NY, so the outdoors thing isn't that great during the winter). Other versions are to use a hair bleaching solution found at places like Sally's Beauty Supply (I have to admit, considering I'm a guy who cuts his hair to 3/8ths of an inch long, I felt very self conscious stepping into a beauty supply store) to put on larger pieces and wrap in cling wrap. But... are you sure sun exposure has nothing to do with it? I've seen multiple times where sun exposure has yellowed toys... I used to display vintage Transformers in a room with nothing to block the sun from them, and my Ultra Magnus got pretty yellowed on his right (the side facing the window). Also, I've have lego space ships with white parts stored in the attic, again, with nothing to protect from the sun. And... I can see it yellowed more where the pricks were exposed, while I see a lighter white where there were bricks mounted on top for years. Anyway, I'll admit I've been apprehensive about trying to Retrobright painted toy parts, and I never really did use the lower concentration of over the counter hydrogen peroxide... I think I may experiment with that as well. I am hoping to start up a channel of my own sooner or later, and one video I'd do is sharing my results with de-yellowing plastic.

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

Of that is a great term!

As a chemist I always get a kick out of how other people talk about chemistry! I love the videos!

@gerrysabron

3 жыл бұрын

how much more us, who work in the health-medical field, deal with everyone acting like a doctor...

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

Well I certainly am not one. I just play one on KZread

This is a very nice instructional video. I did see a Facebook ad with this spray that supposedly reverses the yellowing process on action figures. I wasn't willing to pay to try it out, plus I don't really have any figures that have yellowed. However, if that ever happens I'll be sure to try this little trick.

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

And easy to do

And now I know, and knowing is half the battle..

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

The other half is lasers

@ShinyToyRobots

3 жыл бұрын

@@spectorcreative1872 Red and blue lasers.

@gerainthorton8980

3 жыл бұрын

In this case the other half is sun light and hydrogen peroxide.

Best video yet! Thanks!! I got a snowtrooper just begging for this to be done.

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

Let me know how it goes!

I knew there was a reason why you're the "Toy Guru". Good to see more subs popping up . keep up the dork knowledge.

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

So much more to come!

Even though I figured the whole yellowing effect was a consequence of "oxidization", I liked this vid because it provided a solution to the issue. This kinda reminds me of the old re-runs of Mr. Wizard I used to watch as a kid. Most informative.

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

Get me out of here Mr Wizard!

@MoCa1979Jr

3 жыл бұрын

@@spectorcreative1872 😆

This is awesome!! Now to restore many of my figures!! I thought that applying a clear coat this would be avoided but I make it worse. Many Many thanks for this info!!

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

This is the way to go!

I knew how to fix it. But THANK YOU for explaining why it happens.

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

Always glad to add some insight

Now here are some useful tips! There's a reason he has the title of Guru I see. 👍 Thanks Scott!

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

Making this up as I go

Great video Scott! Gonna try this out this week to bring some life back to my stormtroopers and clones

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

Good luck!!! Hope it goes great

Fascinating video!!! Thanks for the info!

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

You are most welcome. Simpson figure will remain yellow of course

Very cool and great explanation sir thank you!

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

Glad you liked, any help Sharing with others is appreciated!

Awesome video, thanks Scott!

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

Hope it helps

Hi Scott, very informative video, thanks for this. I'll be cleaning my stormtrooper figures using your procedure.

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

Hope they come out shiny

Excellent video, thank you for sharing. Now we need the science of why some plastics get slightly sticky over time, and an effective way to resolve that. I have a handful of vintage Star Wars figures that are suffering from this phenomenon.

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

This might become a series, more to come

@CaptainStarlight

3 жыл бұрын

@@spectorcreative1872 Please do a video on this one, Scott. I've read it has something to do with the plasticiser leaching out of the PVC. But paint also gets sticky over time so there's that too. I've been using Goo Gone to get rid of some of the stickiness, with decent to mixed results.

@counthazard

3 жыл бұрын

i remember reading somewhere that it was the interactions between two different types of plastics; in this case the plastic used to make the figures and the plastic used in for the action figure cases. i've started keeping my figures in sealed bags within the cases, but they're also plastic so that has me worried too. :)

@CaptainStarlight

3 жыл бұрын

@@counthazard Yeah, if you're going to store them in bags, get some polypropylene comic bags. Those are meant to be acid-free and ideal for archival. That should stop the figure reacting to the bag, but they do also just get sticky when left on a shelf as well. 🤷‍♂️ Some of my older MOTU Classics have a bit of tackiness to them. Washing them with dish soap and warm water occasionally seems to get it off and may be the key to preventing the sticky buildup you see on vintage childhood figures. But if you have a lot of figures, it'll keep you busy. I'm fairly certain there's nothing you can do to stop the eventual degradation of the plastic. Like us, it ages and doesn't last forever. The best you can do is treat them well while you have them. 🙂

@CaptainStarlight

3 жыл бұрын

@@counthazard Actually, there was a video I watched a while ago where a guy was using automotive dashboard restorer to re-plasticise older figures once he'd washed the gunk off. I have no idea of the long-term results, though.

What you showed in this excellent video is an example of interventive conservation, which means repairing a damage. The best choice, however, is preventive conservation, that is preventing the damage from happening. Keep your toys in a dry, airtight environment, preferably far from heat and light. Storing them in ziplock mylar bags and keeping them in a fridge is ideal. The trade-off is that you'll seldom see your toys

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

Yeah that is the issue. Toys are meant to be seen!

Now this is useful! Great video as always

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

Glad it has helped! Share away if you can

Great video, thank you for the tips!!

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

Glad to help!

Great work! One question: must you remove any metal parts -like screws and metal hinges- before submerging the pieces in the liquid? Will the peroxide damage or rust the metal?

Awesome! I’ve got Joe figures - Ace & Storm Shadow that I have to try this on.

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

They deserve a brightening!

Nice! Thank you for the hint! 😉👏👏👏

Very good explanation, thank you :)

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

Glad it helped

I was excited when I saw this in my feed. Many have the solution, no one explains the why. Works on yellow Skeletors, blue and gray legos also. Love to see a team up episode with Toy Poloi. Now why do blue lego plates and silver battle armor on vintage He-Man get brittle? Future episode?

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

Anytime!

Very helpful tip. I wonder is this affects the quality of the face paints? Im planing on using it on my vintage dolls.

Scott saving toy lives 3 days at a time 😎👍

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

At least three

I know a Neighboor that did this regularly putting them outside on his back porch. Someone came by one day and stole his figures, mason jars and all.

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

Okay, that is so wrong

@sliderx1897

3 жыл бұрын

U did it

@darthwizzywizard

3 жыл бұрын

@@sliderx1897 no I would not do that.

Thank you! 😎👍

@spectorcreative1872

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching!!

Great video

I've used salon grade peroxide gel and a UV light box to restore several G1 Jetfire Figures to bright white. One figure was discolored beyond yellow to a 'peach-orange'. For that one the full process took 144 hours as an experiment to see 'how bad' discoloration can be, and still be restored. 72 hours usually works for the moderate yellowing.

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

Nice, I’ll need to try that

@chiiapets

Жыл бұрын

do you reccomend using that on pvc figures?

Hey Scott! This was most helpful. Much like many others, I thought this was due to UV light exposure. Are you familiar at all with two other phenomena I've encountered? 1) Certain plastics (usually the more 'flexible' or 'rubber-like' items, such as boots) end up with a very sticky, oily substance on them. I have no idea what it is how how to clean it off! 2) Some of my dolls *AHEM ACTION COLLECTIBLES* with 'pleather' sort of plastic end up with the pleather material breaking apart and crumbling away. This particularly worries me with some of my more modern items as they are more expensive- I'm afraid this will happen to them down the line. As always, great stuff on your channel! Oh- I also recently watched "The Power of Grayskull" and when you came on I was like "Hey! Its that guy! Cool!" Great job!

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

I have a video on sticky plastic coming soon too

Thanks Scott! 🤘😎

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

Glad you liked! Share if you can

Great to have it explained scientifically. Always found it annoying how some white figures turn yellow yet some don't.

You are a mad genius!

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

Well mad at least

Amazing!

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

Makes the head spin

Very cool!

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

Well thank y’a! Tell your friends

Interresting, haven't known that, thanks

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

Glad I can assist!

5:43 I have that same R2 in that exact "custom yellow" variant ;) Ty for the whitening tip.

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

It will work!

nice tip! Thanks

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

Good luck with it!

Great tip!

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

Glad it was! Feel free to share with others, it helps the channel a ton

@jaylaw2777

3 жыл бұрын

@@spectorcreative1872 will do!

Great to know as an empire collector!

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

Glad it was useful

I've done this...it WORKS!!..

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

Crazy right!

Thanks, Toy Guru! Great video, as always. I definitely want to try this on some of my old Transformers. Am I right in thinking that this would kill the stickers?

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

Yes. Stickers are not a good thing to get wet

Ive been doing it for years!.I just did 5 figures last Saturday and right now I’m putting my Battlestar Galactica Vintage Vipers in the sun..The only tips I could tell someone is watch any flesh parts on a figure like the hands or head(if u can’t take it off).Once in a while it can fade out the color.Same thing happened with my R2.That took off a bit of the chrome.I usually get great results in about 2 bright sunny days.

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

Awesome! Thanks for the added tip detail!!!

Another great video. Thank You. I’m wondering, it was my understanding that the Stay Puft sold through Matty turned yellow because of of how the paint reacted with the foam material. But why did some yellow more than others? Some seemed to have survived the yellowing almost entirely while others really turned. Was the paint changed at any point during production?

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

This was a whole other issue due to the foam. I'll look at doing a video on it

I've done this on vintage computer plastics as well, but never had them in an air tight container and they usually turn out fine.

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

Well it certainly isn’t universal

I’ve heard using peroxides to do this can make the plastics brittle, especially in the case of older figures. Does this seem to be the case?

Cool

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

Indeed

Great vid . Does this also apply to figures that turn dark brown ? I have a giant rocksteady that’s turned dark or brown . Thanks .

I know this video is a few years old but I found if you use food grade 12-percent peroxide and an UV light, it takes less than 6 hours to whiten a heavily yellowed stormtrooper. Two points of caution to note - one is that a tiny hole needs to be placed in the mason jar lid because it will over pressurize and blow the lid off after about an hour. Second, constant monitoring of the figure is needed because if left too long, the limbs will take on a red hue. Not sure why.

My Storm Shadow thanks you.

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

Tell him I have enemies he can take out

Gonna paint my scout trooper anyway, but might as well try to un-yellow/restore to defaults before I paint. Attempting hydro peroxide now.

Wowwww!

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

Truly

Thank you so very much. I started to paint over those yellowed parts but was never entirely happy with the results. Your hint will help me give new live to lots of figures in my collection. Does it only work on hard plastic or on more rubbery material also? Speaking of rubbery material: is there a way of protecting these materials ( for example the soft torsos of recent mcfarlane figures or tunic parts on star wars black series figures) from becoming stiff and brittle or, even better, a way to reverse the effect?

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

That is a little less possible. You can fix faded colors but not broken parts or brittle parts

@overload81

3 жыл бұрын

@@spectorcreative1872 that's a bummer. I have an old ninja spawn with a rubber mask wich has become so stiff you can only remove it with boiling water and hope it won't rip. But anyway thanks for your reply and keep up the good work!

OMG THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

Glad to! Share away if you can

Will this process have any affect on the paint? I have a few collectible WWF Hasbro figures from the early 90’s which are yellowing and I’m considering trying this but I’m worried about it affecting the painted graphics and lettering on their outfits coming off.

I also follow up with dashboard cleaner/protectant

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

Oh cool, I will try that

I sooooo know what I am doing tomorrow. Gonna whiten up some toys :)

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

Good luck!

It doesn't need to me submerged. I've been doing this for years with amazing results by just using off gassing of the H2O2. I've de yellowed a USS Flag, a couple of Millennium Falcons, dozens of troopers and some multi colored G.I. Joes. I think submerging might be a better way to more completely restore the structure of the plastic, but the gas method still achieves the aesthetic result.

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

Nice, I’ll have to try that

Great video, thanks for posting. My Nikto figure from childhood went yellow on his chest and under his belt..the outfit is originally like an aqua or light blueish color. Can this be reversed back to it's original color also?

@spectorcreative1872

2 жыл бұрын

It can but you may risk fadding the other colors. It works best on all white figs like Stormtroopers

neat.

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

Indeed

This can work if a toy has yellow plastic of other color plastic? Like if a toy that its blue plastic and got yellowed, This can work with it?

Wow! Will this work on clear figures with yellowing?

Great video! I was wondering if there is any method of extracting the color of the figure in order to become transparent? Do you have any idea?

@spectorcreative1872

Жыл бұрын

Transparent toys are made of transparent plastic. You can scratch off paint but unless at the core it is cast in transparent plastic you may be out of luck

Awesome vid!. Got one question, what about actions figures that got some colored details like for example clone troopers, would it be safe to put those in too or will it make the color fade? thanks

As someone who is currently studying chemistry, you made several mistakes on the details. But I also dabble in almost every type of science, so I probably do the same thing all the time. For future reference, the Lewis Structure is actually a system of drawing out the bonds within a molecule. Any chemical can have a Lewis structure.

@gerrysabron

3 жыл бұрын

can you give your own tip how do we reverse the yellowing of figures

@chrisingram5777

3 жыл бұрын

@@gerrysabron yeah!

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

Well I am clearly not a chemist by trade and I appreciate any correct info

Noice…thanks for this!

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

Glad I can help!

What would I do for a yellowing vehicle like a Snowspeeder?

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

Get a really big jar

GUYS - you owe it to yourself to go through the comments - some great suggestions and links to other videos

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

Couldn’t agree more!

@sda9650

3 жыл бұрын

👍

Does it effect any other color like will it fade dark colors

Minor quibbles. UV light does not cause the yellowing. But it can accelerate it, if left in strong sunlight. This is why the Bromine solutions are generally stored in those brown glass bottles or newer chemically resistant opaque plastic ones. Untreated ABS doesn’t explode. (Most plastics stopped doing that in the 19th century) But as it ages it can become more susceptible to fire. And when it does ignite it burns incredibly hot. Untreated ABS generally needs an ignition source around 400 degrees f. So burning wood or a common match. Not all ABS actually requires the bromine retardant. And the requirements varied from country or region, mostly rolling out worldwide from the mid 60’s to mid 70’s. This is why classic import toys from Japan or Germany don’t seem to yellow compared to their American counterparts. The old Shogun Warriors toy line demonstrates this well. The rules for the flame retardant at least originally were it was required for any plastics used for children’s toys, used to house or in contact with electronics, and used in soft goods particularly children’s clothing and bedding. These days pretty much any consumer grade retail item, that isn’t a made in China bootleg, will have the bromine.

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

Well that is awesome! I am so not a professional chemist and I appreciate the added info. You know your stuff!

For clone trooper figures with colors eg captain Rex figure can it get rid of the paint like the blue etc

Science!

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

It’s the new religion

Does this affect paint that's not white?

I have a old gi-firefly, would it work on the grey? And if so would I need to cover up his black camo splotches? This would be first time doing it so I don't know much about it.

@spectorcreative1872

2 жыл бұрын

No, it should just remove the yellow

@Jellybean2994

2 жыл бұрын

@@spectorcreative1872 ok thanks

I love your video. So it gets oxidised over time huh. Will adding oxygen absorbers and silicon gel in my display cabinet helps slowing down the process?

Would you like to discuss and explain “shining” plastic used in some action figures? Like the one used by Super 7 in their MOTU toys. I heard that the plastic that they used was corrupted or very low quality.

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

As you said it is a lower quality of plastic

Would it work for transformers specifically Kingdom Tigertron

Could keep an action figure in a plastic zip lock bag potentially keep it from yellowing by cutting down the amount of air it’s exposed to?

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

But then you can’t display it!

Hello! can i ask a question? is it easily flammable if i just put in on top of my house' celling for 3-5 days? thankyou!

Hi. I have sone beyblade launcher grips that ve turned pale yellow from white. Are you sure this won’t melt the plastic or damage it ?

How long does this fix last though? I used a similar method to restore a Super Nintendo, but a year later it was just as yellow as ever.

One of life’s greatest mysteries…..

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

That and clowns

Can I used this method for my early to mid 2000 Barbie dolls?