I read this article in the Eisenbahn Kurier from oktober 2006.

The carriages comes from the shopwindow in the modeltrainshop which is proteced though a sunshade.
Carriages from Fleischmann, Brawa and Marklin survived undamaged the hot summer. The Piko carriages transformed in something new.

While very dramatic, this sort of thing can happen to all plastics when exposed to high levels of light and heat. I have had numerous Piko coaches (including the one shown)for many years now and not had anything happen. On the other hand, I have some Märklin cars (mostly older 2-axle flat cars) that have slightly deformed (and always been stored in coolish dark basements) and then there was also the old Ram TEE that had issues. I have seen images of an attic layout where the c-track expanded in the heat and buckled so that it lifted off the layout for a long length. The point is that one needs to be careful where one stores things. Layouts in attics under the roof are not always a good idea. Sometimes we don't have a choice where we keep things. Heat/UV light and plastics don't go together so well. The light can also bleach out colors. So, if you want the proper bleached out shade of DB Orient Red put your trains in the sun. ;)

p.

The real issue is the BIG difference between these "junk pieces" and other companies' products, which apparently survived w/o problems under the SAME conditions.

Brawa is not made in China...!

All vehicles from Brawa are producing in Germany...!

Goofy

Are you sure that 100% made in Germany?

My old original ICE (The first one M. made of the Experimental train, with two motorized units, has gone quite yellowish instead of clear white. It has been exposed to "some" sunlight through a window.
Apart from this deteoriation of the plastic, it also has other tecnical problems.
Not at all a good product.
-But very expensive, oh yes it was... <sigh>

[:0][:0][:0] What a mess, these car bodies! It's a joke, isn't it ?

There are different kinds of problems that may occur with plastic, but there are also injection mold plastic materials that are durable, and insensitive to sun and (reasonable) heat. Used in any automobile.

Definitely no question of german or american or chinese production. Also the chinese injection mold manufacturers have a polymer data book and know how to make high quality plastic products.

But this is simply...incredible.

Hans Martin

That`s way Piko vehicles are so cheap to bying,not the same quality like as the Marklin "stuff"...!

Piko,go home...!!! [xx(]

Goofy

David: Why not give Sheila a little try before. About two hours should do ... [}:)]

Peter: David is right. In summertime my train room gets about 55 C before I switch on A/C.
No trouble whatsoever to my C-track or other M stuff [^]

Im off to Devon to save on the heating bills.
Keep us up to date with the loft layout Peter. Its good to see anopther UK member although at the wrong end of the country !!

David

Have a safe travel.

Sorry Steven if I mislead you. No more holidays until next summer Im afraid.

David