On the Bench

Kit Storage in a Damp Attic - 2006

     In 2006 we had a baby. The new baby room had been the combined 'Office', 'Study' and Hobby Room. This space had previously stored my Model Aircraft and unbuilt Kits collection. We had run out of space so we decided to move house too. Until we moved house, this collection had to move. We had hoped to have moved house before the baby arrived so we first tidied the collection away on a temporary basis to make the house look tidier and more desirable to a buyer.

     Living in a cold and damp northern European climate, careful thought was given to how to redistribute the collection. These things are always best stored in a dry environment at a constant temperature. Cycling temperatures weakens plastics and speeds up the natural decay process. Rapidly changing temperature (in a damp environment) also leads to dew formation. The water in the air condenses when it moves from warmth to cold. This can create water damage. All told the average North European attic space is a difficult challenge for Model & kit Storage that many in drier/warmer climates may not appreciate.

     In the end the Model collection ended up occupying half of a wardrobe. This was a dry space kept at room temperature. However, there was no way the Kit collection would all fit in there (picture - right).

     So we had to look at using the attic. I live in a modern house only 15 years old. It has water tanks in the roof space which means that it is prone to moisture. Although insulated from the underside, to prevent heat escaping from the living space, it has no insulation underneath the roof tiles. Hence the underside of the roof is the same temperature as the outside. The formation of dew is a big problem. The water tanks store hot water. Although well insulated this does lead to warm, wet, air circulating. If it is cold outside this moisture condenses on the inside of the roof and form dew drops. These fall onto everything inside the attic causing damage. The first thing we did was to cover everything in plastic sheeting. We now also run a dehumidifier for two days a week to strip the moisture out of the air.

     Several years ago we had plastic cladding fixed to the outside of the house eaves. This protects the wood but reduced (if not eliminated) the natural airflow through the roof space. Hence the moisture is not blown away. A longer term solution would be to drill holes for the installation of special ventilators which are available from DIY stores. However this requires access to the house eaves from the outside. Hence you need a very tall ladder. This would need to be rented. As we planned to move house it did not seem that this would be a good cost effective exercise. You can also install a fan that will force air through the attic space but this is probably even more expensive.

     Another solution would be to insulate the underside of the roof itself. This could be done with silver-foil-backed rigid panels that could be purchased from DIY stores. Another option is a machine-blown foam material but this would require professionals to come in and do it for you. Either option should cut down on the condensation, dew-drops and the 'internal rain' that results. Once again - we deferred the permanent solution/investment on the basis that we were not going to be living in the house for much longer. However, after a year we still had not sold the house. So we faced another winter of trouble. The plastic sheeting had protected the kits but they had become cold and damp. Something had to be done.

     So, I removed all of the Model Kits from the attic and stored them around the house to dry out and warm up. After a few weeks I started to invest in the largest Plastic Storage Boxes I could find. These should be crates that can be sealed to keep out moisture AND liquid water. However, their primary role is to prevent the kit boxes from getting crushed. We have a local shop called "Wilkinsons" that sell such boxes. These are big enough to store all the kits with the exception of just two: the 1/48th scale Revell B-1B and Monogram B-29.

     I also invested in some large rolls of clear tape, to seal the boxes, plus several other useful items:

• Lots of cheap Rice

• "Bounce" tumble drier fresheners

• One enormous roll of bubble wrap

• 'PolyBag' self-seal clear plastic bags in three sizes (medium, large and very large)

     Once dry each kit is packed inside an individual self-seal PolyBag. Add half a sheet of Bounce to deodorise the cardboard and paper content (it stops that decayed paper smell). Add a handful of rice. This acts as a desiccant, ie, it soaks up moisture. Remove as much air as possible and seal the bag.

     Then line each plastic crate with the bubble wrap. This prevents damage during handling but also acts as thermal insulation. We want to prevent the extreme temperature cycling that can damage the plastic and create dew. Now pack the polybagged kits inside the bubble wrap lined crate. Add lots of rice to the bottom of the crate too.

     Now put the lid on the crate. Ensure the bubble wrap is folded over top of the kits so they are protected from all sides. Ensure there is no empty space so the boxes don't move in handling. I had to tip the crates on end to get them through the loft-hatch so this was important. You can now seal up the crates although I only put enough tape on in order to stop the lid from falling off. I actually designed the system so that I can access each kit without having to unwrap everything. This is the strength in individually sealing each kit in its own PolyBag.

     Incidentally, I used a very similar method to protect all my modelling reference books and magazines. These differ only in respect that they do not need protecting from being crushed. They are also much heavier than kits so they end up in much smaller boxes - otherwise you can't lift them into the attic. I often just used the small photo-copier paper boxes that most Business's throw away.

     Job done.