Foam and Die Cast Rubber Tire --- Warning!

Classic Toy Trains Forum
1

I have two die cast UPS trucks and a die cast tractor trailer that I have had on my layout for several years, but I moved them this summer to another location on the layout that was not complete. I was surprised today to find that the tires had “melted” into the foam. Other die cast sitting right beside them had not melted into the foam. [?][?][?][?][?][?][?][?][?][?][?][?][?][?][?][?][?][?]

No real damage, but I will be cleaning the tires and I guess I better get some paint on that bare spot in the layout.

2

Sure there wasn’t any grits residue on the tires from when that N.C. boxcar came and visited you?

3

Buckeye,

If you have any vehicles on flatcars, keep an eye on them. Some plastic flatcars don’t get along well with tires either.

4

Yep, I have had that happen with a number of diecast / rubber tired vehicles on pink foam.

5

Same thing happened with an erector set. The tires melted into the styrofoam.

6

Thanks for the warning. It would be interesting to find out what the cause is. Also, why some react and some don’t. I suppose it comes down to the particular rubber used. Wonder if it is specific to one particular manufacturer?

Dennis

7

Yes, thanks for the heads-up, Buckeye. As Jim mentioned, flatcars (and thus I suppose any rolling stock) are also endangered by the tires–never would have thought they would attack foam. Wish they would use real rubber for the tires, like they used to…