Alright i'm new here as I just recently started collecting HOT and SIDE figures.
I am freaking out a little bit because I have seen in my Alice and my Superman (CR) that the neck area where the rubber is most visible, there are small red dots? is this normal to imitate the blood vessels and skin texture or is this a rubber issue?
Also, I am not new to collecting expensive figures, so instead of you guys be thinking on stuff that I am like wtf when I first read the first foru pages (anti UV, concrete, nuclear bunker? glass of water etc etc etc) This are my tips.
1. remove all batteries from HT figures.
2. BUY DAMPRID. this is by far the best anti moisture method. not those crappy little bags that comes with the figures. you buy 1 damprid refill bag and like 4 small containers. you fill them up and put one in or under each window. it will absorb all the moisture that comes in and eventually the white stuff (damprid) will turn in to water crystals or in other words it absorbs the water from the air and disolves, then you just refill. it works wonders.
why in the windows? it is always good for a little air and moisture to enter the room, to prevent dryness, specially with rubber which cracks if too dry.
3. and this is golden for all those who are worried about the rubber cracking or drying etc. get Vaseline. I think that is the same name in English? it is like a well like Vicks vaporub but it is pretty much like fat lol. when you buy a refrigerator, the cold of the freezer and heat tend to dry or deteriorate the rubber, so technicians usually apply a small amount of vaseline and rub it to keep the rubber moistured and healthy. Apply a tiny bit on dry areas and on the articulation areas. this should pretty much help a lot to preserve the rubber.
4. Keep them in their detolfs or other cabinets to prevent any type of anything to touch them. Dust is NOT know to damage things, in fact you can have a die cast figure (metal) and leave it in a place free of moisture but full of dust and in ten years the dust has NOT eaten the metal nor the paint. contrary to popular myth, your figures will not sacrifice paint because of dust on it. moisture however can damage.
5. The sun is a friendly foe. it can harm the paint but certain materials benefit from uv rays. it is always good to have at least a little bit of sunlight in the room to avoid too cold temperatures or any damages that could occur from total avoidance of light in the figures, their clothing, materials etc.
I keep my figures in their detolf with LED lights (no heat) and I minimize the damage that could occur from moisture (specially in FL which is super humid) with damprids.
here and then I let some sun touch the detolf when there is only clarity outside but not direct sun rays lol.
anyways please answer my question and this was my little piece of advice.
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