{"id":715,"date":"2013-04-24T13:08:33","date_gmt":"2013-04-24T13:08:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/amablog.modelaircraft.org\/amamuseum\/?p=715"},"modified":"2013-04-25T13:57:07","modified_gmt":"2013-04-25T13:57:07","slug":"preservation-week-day-3-preserving-model-airplanes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/amablog.modelaircraft.org\/amamuseum\/2013\/04\/24\/preservation-week-day-3-preserving-model-airplanes\/","title":{"rendered":"Preservation Week Day 3: Preserving Model Airplanes"},"content":{"rendered":"

This is the third post in a week-long series celebrating National Preservation Week.\u00a0 NMAM blog posts in this series will discuss how to preserve your own modeling history.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Preserving model airplanes can be tricky.\u00a0 The materials involved in building a model deteriorate at different rates and methods.\u00a0 They can be large and unwieldy.\u00a0 However, more than anything, the models themselves are what define the modeling experience.\u00a0 Here\u2019s some advice on keeping them around at their best.<\/p>\n

Start with:<\/strong>
\n1.\u00a0 Keep them in an environment that is as stable as possible.\u00a0 Balsa wood and doped tissue react to sudden changes in the temperature and relative humidity.\u00a0 Reactions include brittle wood and peeled covering.\u00a0 Storing them in a place that has stable temperature will lower the chances of this happening.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"This<\/a>
This leather wheel shows damage caused by a changing environment. Source: National Model Aviation Museum, 1997.13.01.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

2.\u00a0 Keep them up and off the ground where\u2019s there\u2019s less of a risk of damage from people and pests.\u00a0 It should be common sense, but make sure the shelf is tall and wide enough to maneuver the model easily and\/or make sure all the hooks and fasteners are secure.
\n3.\u00a0 Keep them away from light.\u00a0 Be careful not to store the model across from a window, or directly under a light.\u00a0 Be even more careful that whatever light it gets, it does so evenly, so any fade is consistent.
\n4.\u00a0 Handle with care.\u00a0 Models become brittle with age.\u00a0 Handle them carefully, being sure to place your hands under the more robust spots, and to watch your surroundings for anything that can get in your way.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Former<\/a>
Former Collections Intern Cameron carefully carries the fuselage of a model airplane. Source: National Model Aviation Museum.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

5.\u00a0 Watch what comes into contact with the model.\u00a0 Don\u2019t store the model long-term in bubble-wrap or any type of foam.\u00a0 Don\u2019t put any new adhesive (from post-it notes to labels to tape of all kinds) on any of the surfaces.\u00a0 All of these substances will chemically degrade and hurt the model in the process.
\n6.\u00a0 If the model needs to be cleaned, vacuum it as a first resort.\u00a0 Use the hose attachment on your vacuum and a soft brush.\u00a0 Move the hose over the model\u2019s surface, but without touching it.\u00a0 Use the brush to loosen stubborn dirt, brushing the dirt into the vacuum\u2019s hose so it doesn\u2019t re-circulate back into the air.
\n7.\u00a0 Write it down.\u00a0 Tie (not tape!) a sheet of paper to the model that clearly says what it is and when it was built, as well as any other information you feel is relevant.<\/p>\n

Go a bit further:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>
A toy helicopter wrapped in acid-free tissue and fully supported.
Source: National Model Aviation Museum, donated by George Twine, 2009.07.01.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

1.\u00a0 Wrap the model in clean, unbleached muslin<\/a> purchased from a fabric store.\u00a0 This protects the model from light, dust and moisture.
\n2.\u00a0 Let it be true to itself.\u00a0 All the previous repairs that are visible and the yellowing decals are what gives the model its character.\u00a0 They show off the model\u2019s age and history.\u00a0 Replacing the covering, or repairing cracks, might make the model look brand new, but it takes away from its own authenticity.<\/p>\n

\"Models<\/a>
Models are stored at the museum hung from the ceiling and wrapped in acid-free tissue. Information about the model is displayed on a hanging tag.
Source: National Model Aviation Museum, collections storage.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Sometime this summer, I\u2019ll get a step-by-step guide together on how we wrap and store model airplanes.\u00a0 If you want to know, stay tuned to the museum\u2019s blog!
\nIf you want more advice on preserving your model airplanes, feel free to ask your questions to the museum\u2019s blog<\/a>, Facebook page<\/a>, or by emailing staff directly at mariav@modelaircraft.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"Preservation<\/a>Sponsored by the ALA\u2019s Association\u00a0for Library Collections and Technical Services and partner organizations, Preservation Week will inspire actions to preserve personal, family and community collections of all kinds, as well as library, museum and archive collections. It will raise awareness of the role libraries and other cultural institutions can play in providing ongoing preservation information. More information can be found at: www.ala.org\/preservationweek<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This is the third post in a week-long series celebrating National Preservation Week.\u00a0 NMAM blog posts in this series will discuss how to preserve your own modeling history.\u00a0 Preserving model airplanes can be tricky.\u00a0 The materials involved in building a model deteriorate at different rates and methods.\u00a0 They can be […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"wds_primary_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[47,92],"tags":[94,50,93],"class_list":["post-715","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-museum","category-preservation-week","tag-artifact-care","tag-museum-2","tag-preservation-week-2"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/amablog.modelaircraft.org\/amamuseum\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/715","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/amablog.modelaircraft.org\/amamuseum\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/amablog.modelaircraft.org\/amamuseum\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/amablog.modelaircraft.org\/amamuseum\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/amablog.modelaircraft.org\/amamuseum\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=715"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/amablog.modelaircraft.org\/amamuseum\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/715\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":783,"href":"https:\/\/amablog.modelaircraft.org\/amamuseum\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/715\/revisions\/783"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/amablog.modelaircraft.org\/amamuseum\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=715"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/amablog.modelaircraft.org\/amamuseum\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=715"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/amablog.modelaircraft.org\/amamuseum\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=715"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}