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Originally Posted by Outrider
This seems to be more of a problem with the newer Joes rather than those from the 80's. The newer Joes seem to be made of a softer compound which is more thermoplastic. Another problem for almost any plastic item is that prolonged exposure to the sun will eventually degrade the plastic which will fade and crack as it breaks down due to UV rays. So for Joes, Sun=bad.  |
Yeah, you're not the only one to notice the material differences between the new figures and the older ones. The plastic Hasbro used in the 80's era figures has a harder consistency than that used in the newer ones (Funskool also has quality problems). While the softer plastic allows some easier customizing, the issues of warping and softening as well as the UV breakdown are all more prevelent.
Some suggestions I have are, DO NOT leave the figures in direct sunlight when they're not in use. The less time they have being exposed to UV and ambient heat the better. If you notice the figures softening, place them in ice or a COLD place (freezer) for a couple minutes. Just remember to reshape them before chilling them, otherwise Mom was right and they'll stay that way. Beware that if you are using them in water, that chilling them can also damage them as it can freeze any water in joints or other structural points and cause breakage. Also if the figure is flawed (already cracked or compromised) chilling it can cause issues.
Outrider also points out that the plastic will fade through exposure to sunlight, be aware that storage areas don't have to be in direct sunlight for discoloration - I stored many of my larger vehicles in an upstairs closet in a room with western exposure. While the closet was never left open, UV filtered into the space and caused a yellowing in all the white surfaces and a "tanning" in grey surfaces (when grey is yellowed it takes a tan cast).