Kit storage question for you Phoenix guys

[Modelbuilder Mark]

Exhaust fan ? 110 degrees inside is the same as 110 degrees outside.

Yep, a fan keeping it 110 inside same as outside still much better than 110 outside plus the extra heat on the inside from the heat buildup. Attics for example can regularly go above 140-150 and even sometimes as hot as 170

See, in the garage/enclosed carport, you will have at least one, sometimes more, un-insulated walls being beaten down on by the sun. So, quite often, then temperature in the garage is hotter than the ambient air outside. This is one of the reasons many of the new homes here in the valley are build with two vents already in the garage, one low and one toward the ceiling right above it. This also cuts down on vapor issues from gas cans, car exhaust etc.

[my80malibu]

Yep, a fan keeping it 110 inside same as outside still much better than 110 outside plus the extra heat on the inside from the heat buildup. Attics for example can regularly go above 140-150 and even sometimes as hot as 170

See, in the garage/enclosed carport, you will have at least one, sometimes more, un-insulated walls being beaten down on by the sun. So, quite often, then temperature in the garage is hotter than the ambient air outside. This is one of the reasons many of the new homes here in the valley are build with two vents already in the garage, one low and one toward the ceiling right above it. This also cuts down on vapor issues from gas cans, car exhaust etc.

Now with Roof Rats becoming an issue I have seen Attic Gables and vents being closed off in nieghborhoods.My previous house had an Attic fan, they get a lot of use, the temp was set at 120 it would run very constant, and burn out every two years.

[robertw]

Lot of my kits are stored in an uninsulated wood storage shed, down to -40C in winter, up to +35C in summer. Have not noticed any problems. I agree with what some have said remove decals and make sure tires are separately bagged or removed (just to be safe)

rob

[charlie8575]

All this talk of Phoenix and my suddenly becoming VERY tired of winter got me looking at houses there. Definitely some good deals. I would, however, retain some kind of property or occupancy rights here for the summer. That heat is simply too much for me...dry or not.

Charlie Larkin

[Greg Myers]

bring your own drinks

Edited April 2, 2014 by Greg Myers

[Danno]

And, there you have it folks!

Rare picture of Greg and I enjoying the most recent Cruise on Central!

[Mike Kucaba]

Looks like you put on some weight

[Danno]

Looks like you put on some weight

Yeah, but I'm a little high in calcium!

[charlie8575]

bring your own drinks

And there you have my point made....TOO dry! Too wet, I feel lousy, too dry, I feel lousy.

Conversely, 70-80 degrees with low humidity is almost perfect for me.

As long as Phoenix has a decent hobby shop (seems to,) one or two active lodges (Masons) and some kind of live music scene, I could very happily live there 4-6 months out of the year.

Charlie Larkin

[jbwelda]

at a minimum keep air circulation going like with a fan on low during the hot months. from what I understand that might be a majority of months and those dust monster things...

if you have a real significant investment there you might look for some climate controlled storage. I know I would.

jb

[jbwelda]

now correct me if I am wrong but I am under the impression that the heat in Phoenix is not necessarily dry heat. aren't there huge thunderheads that appear and drench the place during periods of at least high 90s, causing flash floods and making the humidity go through the roof? and then it dries out and a day later its back to its normal balmy 117?

and Lord help you if you look even slightly Hispanic?

jb

[Modelbuilder Mark]

now correct me if I am wrong but I am under the impression that the heat in Phoenix is not necessarily dry heat. aren't there huge thunderheads that appear and drench the place during periods of at least high 90s, causing flash floods and making the humidity go through the roof? and then it dries out and a day later its back to its normal balmy 117?

and Lord help you if you look even slightly Hispanic?

jb

Trust me, it's dry. We do have what is called a monsoon season, but to be honest it is nothing to me what the name would imply or what I expected when I moved here. It is what most of us from the Midwest would call a typical spring weekend storm, except the Midwest does not have the sometimes massive dust storms that come just before. The problem is, with all the concrete, and all the sand, when it does rain, there is not a lot of places for the rain to go all at once when it does fall. I have been driving through the desert on the way to Vegas, and there is no rain where I am at, but a few miles away in the mountains it is raining, and WHAM, you are in flash flooding and the rain has not even reached you yet. Interesting to say the least.

The last time I checked, our average rain fall here in the Phoenix area was only around 8 inches for the year. As of March 1st, we had gone on a 70-day streak without any precipitation in the Phoenix area, and then it was reported here as a "drencing" at just under an inch. In contrast, the avg US rainfall is 41 inches, and then there is Hawaii at something over 200 inches per year. Now, the super heat everyone talks about, really only lasts IMO about 4-5 months. Today, for example, it was just in the low 70s, and has been VERY very nice most of the winter.

As of the Hispanic looks, they are a major percentage of the population. I am sure there are those that have had problems, but as a whole, I would say it is by no means what the news outside the state might paint it to be.

Edited April 4, 2014 by Modelbuilder Mark

[Russell C]

Trust me, it's dry. ......

x 2. From living here as long as I have, the dust storms that folks elsewhere in the country go ga-ga over lately never have been anything out of the ordinary ever since the landscape from here to Tucson got churned up from agriculture, roads, and residential living. Drop a giant cold air downburst from a thunderstorm and dust flies, big deal. Folks around here are annoyed by the dust but ignore it otherwise, while out-of-towners turn the photos & videos into viral sensations as though such dust had never been seen before. Blame the interweb for that. 'Through the roof' humidity would be the 80-90% stuff back east which I really dislike, but it never really gets that bad here even during the rainy time.

As for the 'looking Hispanic' thing, I'd have to say that's an overhyped item elsewhere, none of my Hispanic friends or co-workers ever brought it up in any way.

[my80malibu]

I wouldn't say the Hispanic thing was an over hype.It was occurring too frequently but has somewhat stopped and is being taken seriously. Jerry Sheridan,& Joe Arpihoe. Were before the judge to explain there actions/inactions.

As for the heat. Lord help you if you move here during the summer. That tends to be the hardest to acclimate to.September is probably better.

For the dust storm's stay inside the is the best thing to do,there is fungus and mold spores in that dust that can give you Valley fever.

[Greg Myers]

Falling cactus can be a real problem too. Maybe it's best you all stay where you are. especially the big ones.

[Greg Myers]

Another nice thing about Arizona is the bugs are really big so you can see 'em. Not like the pesky fly, nats and mosquitoes you have in other parts of the country. of course we do have other large critters too so maybe best to stay right where you're at.

Edited April 4, 2014 by Greg Myers

[Bill J]

You forgot to include the coyote's that run through my neighborhood. At one Fry's market the coyote pack was taking grocery bags out of people's hands in the parking lot.

[Danno]

But traffic can be crazy, and you have to be alert for pedestrian crossings everywhere . . .

[Maindrian Pace]

...and those aren't just regular pedestrians.

-MJS

[jbwelda]

I am actually planning on visiting flagstaff in may. I understand it is much nicer there at elevation.

the couple of families I know in phoenix are Hispanic. they own a place down on a lake that straddles the border and cant hardly visit there...THEIR OWN LAND...without having to deal with a bunch of self-styled federales not to mention the real ones. but they just laugh and deal wid it. its probably not nearly the trouble I have had on the other side, but there they wanted your money.

back to the subject, ahem, one thing I would do that is reflected in another thread here currently is be selective about how you store the kits. some boxes are inherently crummy, some boxes are over filled, so try to alleviate those problems. especially make sure the bodies are up on top and being crushed by whatever could be stacked on them...that's a sure way to get warpage especially if heat is applied. those crummy pizza box style boxes I would try to pack together into larger boxes or at least try not to get a bunch of weight on them. put the solid stuff on the bottom and the light stuff on the top, that sort of thing.

and one thing I would definitely do is go to your storage on the first fairly hot day like mid 90s and check inside to see how hot it is getting...if its boiling in there I would do something sooner than later.

good luck in aridzona, its beautiful country around there.

jb

[Sport Suburban]

I'm surprised that no one has offered to store them for you! Dan could easily hide 75 more kits in his house!

[Danno]

I'm surprised that no one has offered to store them for you! Dan could easily hide 75 more kits in his house!

Good point! We can find some foster-storers, Russ!

But I think I only have room for about 63 more, Raoul. Some of the newer ones have been coming in bigger boxes!

Edited April 5, 2014 by Danno

[blunc]

beware the wandering saguaro cactus whose prickly arms give permanent embrace and his cousin the "jumping cholla" whose needles are barbed and have to be pulled with pliers.

but seriously...if you can find room inside the house it will be better for your plastic friends, CD's left inside cars in Arizona warp especially if left in direct sunlight in a totally closed car (and you really need to close/lock your car when it's out of your sight).

Some call Arizona "The valley of the sun", sometimes I call it "The surface of the sun".

Keep in mind that I have lived here for close to 50 years, been through about five "100 year floods" and record temps that are usually only bested by Death Valley. Not too many on this board were out driving their car on the day when it hit 128deg F...but I was...in a car without air conditioning...

I'm not entirely sure it didn't affect me.

[Mike Kucaba]

I have had my kits stored here since 2008 in a rented storage place. It's 10 x15 and most all kits that I have had the occasion to open have been okay. The resin has even survived well. I do move as much as possible away from the OH door in the hotter months. One thing I have found is that storing the flat boxes on their long sides on a shelf helps alleviate any crushing. Another thing to consider when discussing warping when opening a sealed kit is was it the heat or was it warped from the company.

[Greg Myers]

So Russ, the answer is a simple . don't worry about it. Inside, outside,fans, hot, dry heat, bugs and all just keep em outta the sun. I've stored in the garage and in the attic with no ill effects save for the pesky silverfish. Bag the tires and the decals.