Need some serious advice on salvaging kits etc after a burst pipe flooded the basement where everything was stored.

[Monty]

A good friend of mine just had this happen and I'm hoping there's some way to salvage his model stuff, which was comprised of roughly 200 kits plus assorted tools and paint. Many of the kits were unbuilt, but some (mostly semis) were on their way to being masterpieces.

Once he's done pumping out the basement, what can/should he do?

[Rodent]

Water pipe or waste pipe?

[Bills72sj]

Obviously the plastic will be fine. The instructions should be the priority. Get them separated, open,  flat and dried. Waxed paper should keep them from sticking if you choose to stack them to save on space. The decals will be a challenge to save. Get them fully dried then put each of them into a sandwich baggie and stuff them between the pages of a large heavy book. Later, when it is time to apply them, it will take much longer in warm soapy water to release from the backing, but patience will likely pay off. The boxes are probably mostly goners. Keeping them from warping may not likely be worth the effort. Save the box top artwork to at least keep it with the kit when it is reboxed. Keep circulating air around everything to help prevent mold growth. Hopefully his collection is a "I will build it" collection and not just an "Investment" collection because the water damage has killed each kit's value.

[Monty]

3 hours ago, Rodent said:

Water pipe or waste pipe?

Water pipe.

[slusher]

For the model cars you can buy plastic container to put them in when dry. I think they are made for shoes. T he truck kits will fit in large freezer bags.  I would make sure they are dry..  what instructions that are lost can be scanned from the I internet and from forum members..

[1930fordpickup]

Once dry, the kits can be bagged and placed in large boxes or plastic totes. He will have a lot to take care of before the plastic, but try and  put the kits are in the bag on piece of paper.  

 

[peteski]

If any kits were still shrink-wrapped (and water got inside, they will need to be opened and dried just like other kits.  Otherwise they will eventually get moldy from the moisture trapped inside the shrink wrap (we ran into this when we were inventorying  a large stash of kits of one of our club members who passed away).