Kato Unitrack and sunlight/UV

[MK]

Does anyone use Unitrack and have a window in their train room where a section of track gets hit with sunlight during a few hours of the day?  I just constructed something that sits in an area where sunlight would hit the track.  The window is a modern Anderson double pane window so I'm thinking that it would filter out most of the UV but seeing how sunlight through windows can sometimes fade furniture (I've never experienced it myself).

And before you say curtains or blinds I don't want to be fussing with them on a daily basis!  Relocation of track is not feasible.  Luckily I don't think I will have any structures, just scenary, in that area.

I would not even chance locos or rolling stock so whenever I stop running I make sure there are on a section where no sunlight can touch them.

I'm wondering if anyone has goen through such a situation and is it an issue I should worry about?  Or am I super anal retentive?   

[ednadolski]

... I make sure there are on a section where no sunlight can touch them.

OTOH, if they do fade you can call it "weathering".  Some folks undertake a lot of effort to achieve precisely that 

Just turn them around occasionally, so they come out even on both sides.

Ed

[mark.hinds]

OP, you can have window treatments applied to selected house windows.  It's the same stuff you can buy for your car.  Here's a website which rates such products (bottom of page):
https://www.skincancer.org/products/categories?c=21

I had one of the LLumar coatings applied to the inside of my car windows.  Lifetime warranty.  The only issue is you need a non-ammonia glass cleaner. 

MH

[southernman]

My little Unitrack layout is in the corner of our home office directly between two windows one on each wall.While I do have blinds, they are usually open to let in the natural light.I get morning sun through one window and evening sun through the other so the layout is exposed to sunlight for a good portion of the day and has been for over ten years.The only problem that I have had is that my wife keeps putting the curtain over the backdrop no matter how many times i tuck it behind.The sunlight on the other hand has caused no issues.

[MK]

OTOH, if they do fade you can call it "weathering".  Some folks undertake a lot of effort to achieve precisely that 

Just turn them around occasionally, so they come out even on both sides.

Ed

Ed, I'm more worried about the plastic turning brittle more than the fading.  But it looks like southernman has direct experience with this first hand and no issues.  Thanks southernman!

[MK]

OP, you can have window treatments applied to selected house windows.  It's the same stuff you can buy for your car.  Here's a website which rates such products (bottom of page):
https://www.skincancer.org/products/categories?c=21

I had one of the LLumar coatings applied to the inside of my car windows.  Lifetime warranty.  The only issue is you need a non-ammonia glass cleaner. 

MH

Mark, thanks for the heads up.  I didn't know they make them for homes.  I will check them out.

[ednadolski]

Ed, I'm more worried about the plastic turning brittle more than the fading.

The plastic should be protected from the UV by the model's layer(s) of paint.   I'd think that the heat from direct sunlight could damage painted plastic, but I doubt that much heat would build up indoors thru a window.  (Here in CO we are at ~5300 foot altitude, so the sun feels very warm.   I once left a piece of flextrack on the dashboard of my car, and the heat literally melted and warped the ties.)

I've always wondered if it would be possible to intentionally fade a model by exposing it to artificial UV light.   Just imagine, one tanning bed could do a whole N scale collection at once

Ed

[MK]

I've always wondered if it would be possible to intentionally fade a model by exposing it to artificial UV light.   Just imagine, one tanning bed could do a whole N scale collection at once

Ed

Ring, ring...

"Hello.  Yeah, I would like to make an appointment for a tanning session.  How much is it?  Oh, it's not for me, it's for my trains.  Can you set it to the highest settings?  Thanks!"

[peteski]

The plastic should be protected from the UV by the model's layer(s) of paint.   

Kato Unitrack is unpainted plastic. Well, the tops of the ties are kissed with some brown paint, but the roadbed is bare plastic.  Still, I suspect that the plastic Kato uses is UV-stabilized.  But on the other hand, some paints might not be UV-stable and can fade under exposure to sunlight.

Not disagreeing with Ed - just throwing out some additional information.

[MK]

Correct.  I think Ed's reference to the plastic being protected by paint is probably referring to the locos/rolling stock on the tracks exposed also to sunlight/UV.  I won't have that problem as I know where the exposed sections of tracks are so I don't stop them there.

[ednadolski]

I suspect that the plastic Kato uses is UV-stabilized.

Possibly, tho if unitrack is not specifically made for outdoor use (compared to say garden RR products) then it could be something that they would skip if it adds manufacturing cost to the product.

I think Ed's reference to the plastic being protected by paint is probably referring to the locos/rolling stock on the tracks exposed also to sunlight/UV.

Yes, tho as above unless the product specifically needs to resist UV effects then I tend to doubt the mfrs would take that added step+cost.

By way of contrast, exterior house paints are formulated to resist UV fading (at least the better ones) but some of the houses here in CO with the strong sun exposure can fade rather dramatically even after only a few years.  It does depend upon the specific color and properties of the paint, since fading is a chemical reaction.   (One can only  imagine what that kind of exposure can do to your eyes or skin!  )

Some fun links to more info:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UV_degradation
http://www.craftechind.com/the-top-3-plastic-additives-for-uv-stabilization/
https://www.plasticmentor.com/97/which-plastic-materials-are-uv-stable/

Ed

[mrnhn]

I have unitrack that pass by a window for ten years with no trouble! On the other hand I left my yellow 44 tonner I the window for awhile and it has faded on one side . Wendell

[MK]

Thanks for another data point about Unitrack Wendell.

[NorsemanJack]

You could wipe the exposed sections with Armorall Protectant once or twice a year.  It does wonders for plastic and vinyl here in Arizona, so I would imagine it would protect your Unitrack for life.

[Point353]

Kato Unitrack is unpainted plastic. Well, the tops of the ties are kissed with some brown paint, but the roadbed is bare plastic.

How is the multi-colored simulated ballast effect created?