I just received my print of the WDW RR #1 Walter E. Disney by Larry Dotson and I must say it is extremely nice!!! I ordered it through the Disney Gallery and they did an excellent job shipping it to me, not a scratch! This print will join Harlan Hiney's print of DLRR #1 and Steve Degaetano's DLRR #2 on the wall of my office. If you're a fan of the WDW RR, you need this print! Now, I know where my Christmas money will go!

Tommy,

How do you keep your prints in nice condition? Are they subject to yellowing and fading from UV radiation, or deterioration from other sources?

Well, I never thought about the prints fading. I also have a WDW RR attraction poster I purchased when my wife and I were on our honeymoon at WDW in 1997. This poster/print doesn't appear faded, maybe if I were to put it next to a new print I would see the changes. I think, and I could be wrong, the frames I have these prints in have a clear plastic that, if I remember correctly, is suppose to protect against fading. The attraction poster has been on the wall, in the same spot for 15 years. The DLRR prints have been up for less time, but still look good! My office has no windows, but the fluorescent lights could be doing a number on my prints without my realizing it. I'll have to keep check on this as I've not thought about fading issues. Thanks!

I asked, because I once visited a store which was all glass on one side. Just about all their O ga. train boxes were seriously sunfaded. Now Lionel doesn't go cheap on their boxes, but they sunfade in a relatively short time, in direct sunlight.

The cause of most fading is the ultra violet light in sunlight and not all glass blocks UV. If you purchase the UV blocking glass or plastic you should not see any fading.

Yes, I've heard that. Another thing which occurred to me is the acid content of the paper, although I gather that only applies to older paper items, and not necessarily all paper types. And since I'm on a roll, there may be a question of ink permanence. I don't know if there's anything one can do about that.

I can see one way this digression may be headed: framed high-res LED/LCD displays, and near absolute zero archiving of paper originals.

The fading you refer to is UV fading of the ink -- ink permanence isn't a separate issue.

The advise to put UV-blocking film on windows is a good one. Direct sunlight is the #1 source of UV in this context.

The #2 source is fluorescent lighting. Five approaches to address this:

1. Buy tubes with a UV-blocking wrap;
2. Install UV-blocking sleeves over normal tubes;
3. Put UV-blocking film over the plastic lens of the fluorescent fixture (assuming you have enclosed fixtures);
4. Replace the plastic lens with one that blocks UV (same assumption); or
5. Switch to either incandescent or (preferably) LED lighting.

Of these, putting UV film on the fixture lens is the least expensive and most likely to survive routine maintenance (and routine maintenance staff). LED lighting is best, but also the most expensive.

I have not been able to get UV statistics for compact fluorescents (CF bulbs). Instinct suggests they're just as bad as fluorescent tubes, but the few specs I've been able to get my hands on suggests not.

Or, you could try my way ... I laminated my DL & WDW RR posters and applied a UV-blocking lacquer over the top.

I just ordered a bunch of different prints from the "All Aboard... A Grand Circle Tour of the Trains of Disney" collection, including the Larry Dotson print. I can't wait to get it!

My wife and I get one of Larry's prints of each resort that we stay at. I've met him several times, he & his wife are very pleasant. I was very excited to see his contribution to the collection.

Prints just came in!



You guys, these are AWESOME! I don't know how often new WDWRR merchandise comes out, because I'm new to collecting this kind of stuff... but I think it would be a mistake to miss these!

The prints in the blue & gold mats were $35 each, and the Larry Dotson print (center) was $45. All are matted very well (wasn't expecting that... thought I might be getting tubes.) Here's a link to the info: http://psc.disney.go.com/eventservices/ ... llery.html

Can't wait to get these framed & hanging in my office.