Report your zinc-rot affected models please!

Faucett Peru · 11-20-2010, 01:43 PM

Reading the thread of "Amirbatna" about zinc-rot in the general squawk talk section, remembered me, that I have a model which I suspected of having zinc rot because its wings were abnormally bent up without any other issues.

It is Bigbird Singapore Airlines B747-312 9V-SKN, wings ID 3694

So I looked at it again and indeed it is affected. Now it also got lots of cracks especially at the wings.

So I cross-checked all my other BigBird 747s and found a second one affected, showing the same issues. It is

Bigbird British Airways B747-436 G-BNLS "Wunala Dreaming" Worldtails ID:3699

I am pretty sad about this

I thought we should collect information about affected models, so all of you can crosscheck if your own models are affected or not. If you find another one with this issues, please report it, so I can check if I have the model too and if it is affected or not.
Thanks!

____________

In an older thread I found that "pwceg" reported zinc-rot on Bigbird ANA 747-481D JA8963 Super Marine cs ID3693.
I have this model too and so far it is showing no signs of zinc-rot.

B747-enthusiast · 11-20-2010, 03:13 PM

I have the following Bigbird 747s:

SAA B 747-444 DB 2853
BA B 747-136 DB 3728
El Al B 747-258 FSCD DB 10643
Air Canada B-747-433 SCD DB 13157

I have just meticulously checked them and found no trace of zinc-rot. You scared me, Carlos, you really did. Olaf

LOT 737-300 · 11-20-2010, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by B747-enthusiast

I have the following Bigbird 747s:

SAA B 747-444 DB 2853
BA B 747-136 DB 3728
El Al B 747-258 FSCD DB 10643
Air Canada B-747-433 SCD DB 13157

I have just meticulously checked them and found no trace of zinc-rot. You scared me, Carlos, you really did. Olaf

As frequently said, if it was produced between late 2002 and early 2003, the Zinc Rot should be more evident in these than others. Apparently it has to do with badly formulated Zamak that factory (which at the time made BB400, Aeroclassics and SMA over at 1:400, and I think only made Big Bird in 1:500), if it's affected, nothing can be done to reverse it. I have also heard and that not every model was affected, but many were.

I think a list in general squawk talk that covers all the scales would be great! I know that over at the Buzz they have a very good one that covers 1:400.

B747-enthusiast · 11-21-2010, 02:53 AM

Out of my models, the BA and SAA were produced within the mentioned period 2002-2003 (I do not know if early or late), fortunately without zinc-rot.

Kris Air · 11-21-2010, 04:30 AM

You guys are freaking me out! I have some Aeroclassics which have a chance of zinc rot!! The only plane that is falling apart is my DW United 777 which I do not know if it is zinc rot or not.

Antesyd · 11-21-2010, 04:53 AM

Can you provide us with some pics?

//Antesyd

Kris Air · 11-21-2010, 04:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Antesyd

Can you provide us with some pics?

//Antesyd

I think it is zinc but I do not know!

Look under the tail! In real life it is much worse!!

Cygnum · 11-21-2010, 05:55 AM

Maybe it's a good idea to share pictures of the planes with zinc rot, so other users can compare the pictures with their own planes, to determine whether their own planes also hace zinc rot.

vince1159 · 11-21-2010, 06:24 AM

Great idea,it would be interesting to see just how extreme some cases can be....

Faucett Peru · 11-21-2010, 09:58 AM

I just took some pictures:

1) SIA

2) BA:

B747-enthusiast · 11-21-2010, 10:49 AM

I did not realize it was so bad.

LOT 737-300 · 11-21-2010, 11:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kris Air

I think it is zinc but I do not know!

Look under the tail! In real life it is much worse!!

Is it just that region that is affected? Also, is there any bubbling along that fuselage? I don't know, as DWs are not known to be that chronic for the Zinc Pest (note I'll use different different terms for this), it could be that for whatever reasons, the paint started to crack and the model itself should be fine. Diagnosing Zinc Rot with a DW is much harder than it is for most other models because of the plastic wings. I imagine that environmental issues could have caused it (not too much an expert on paint cracking, you may want to search the forum for other examples).

Also, I'm interested, which Aeroclassics models are you referring to? I think I could help put ya to ease if you need to know.

For those worried about Zinc Pest, when it comes to the wings, see if the model is trying to imitate a 787 with the wings being curved up (or down) much more than they should be. A "test" someone recommended to see if it is for sure the pest is to pick up the model by the wingtip. If the model wing breaks off easily, it's the pest, if it is fine, then something likely just bent the wing out of shape.

Quote:

Maybe it's a good idea to share pictures of the planes with zinc rot, so other users can compare the pictures with their own planes, to determine whether their own planes also hace zinc rot.

Here are some 1:400s with it, from a thread on DAC linking specific posts where the models have gotten it very badly:
http://www.diecastaircraftforum.com/...tml#post623837
http://www.diecastaircraftforum.com/...tml#post623838
http://www.diecastaircraftforum.com/...tml#post624691
http://www.diecastaircraftforum.com/...tml#post624955
Here is one that finally crumbled apart:
http://www.diecastaircraftforum.com/...tml#post817663

Swisshansa10 · 11-21-2010, 01:08 PM

My DW Philippine Airlines A330-200 is badly affected by Zinc Rot. It has started bubbling etc.

Kris Air · 11-21-2010, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LOT 737-300

Is it just that region that is affected? Also, is there any bubbling along that fuselage? I don't know, as DWs are not known to be that chronic for the Zinc Pest (note I'll use different different terms for this), it could be that for whatever reasons, the paint started to crack and the model itself should be fine. Diagnosing Zinc Rot with a DW is much harder than it is for most other models because of the plastic wings. I imagine that environmental issues could have caused it (not too much an expert on paint cracking, you may want to search the forum for other examples).

Also, I'm interested, which Aeroclassics models are you referring to? I think I could help put ya to ease if you need to know.

For those worried about Zinc Pest, when it comes to the wings, see if the model is trying to imitate a 787 with the wings being curved up (or down) much more than they should be. A "test" someone recommended to see if it is for sure the pest is to pick up the model by the wingtip. If the model wing breaks off easily, it's the pest, if it is fine, then something likely just bent the wing out of shape.

Yes there is the bubbles right under horizontal stabilizer. Also the aeroclassics I am talking about are all of Reeves,Markair 737-200, and Alaska Airlines 727-200 90s

LOT 737-300 · 11-21-2010, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kris Air

Yes there is the bubbles right under horizontal stabilizer. Also the aeroclassics I am talking about are all of Reeves,Markair 737-200, and Alaska Airlines 727-200 90s

From my quick observations of the database, you should be fine, the Markair 732 was made in 2006, and the Alsaska 727 also was made outside that period. As for the Reeve Aleutian Airways the 727s might provide some concern looking at the year, this may require digging in the forums to find more info, such as what month they were announced, I'd say anything after March, maybe April 2003 should be safe, and before maybe July 2002. Everything before that should be safe then (this is my rule of thumb, if I had a better idea, I'd adjust it to something more closer to the mark.)

As for the the DW, keep an eye on that one, it sounds like an indicator of the Zinc Pest, it isn't too common with models made outside this era and factory, but there are isolated cases of specific models (and by that, I mean a model or two from a batch) (such as your DW) where it was made outside the era and that factory and it does show up. Hopefully at best this is just a paint defect and not the Zinc Pest.