Answers.Body: <p>I once talked with a Lego Builder at the Florida park. He told me they use a glue that actually melts the Lego blocks together. With that in mind, I searched and found <a href="https://www.facebook.com/notes/official-legoland-windsor/your-questions-answered-by-legoland-model-maker-nev-smith-part-2/497439006912" rel="nofollow">this article (on Facebook)</a>. It says Lego Park Model Makers</p>
  
  <blockquote>
    <p>use a solvent based plastic weld. It heats the bricks up so the edges bind together. Obviously it has to be very strong to withstand weather conditions.</p>
  </blockquote>
  
  <p>A quick search on that found <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=solvent+based+plastic+weld&amp;oq=solvent+based+plastic+weld&amp;aqs=chrome..69i57&amp;sourceid=chrome&amp;es_sm=122&amp;ie=UTF-8#q=solvent+based+plastic+weld&amp;tbm=shop" rel="nofollow">this from Google shopping</a>.</p>
  
  <p>The article also talks about color fading and model life time (about 5 to 7 years), after which the model can either be rebuilt or cleaned:</p>
  
  <blockquote>
    <p>We clean them using a shot blasting technique. They are sprayed with a fine salt spray, which takes a very thin layer off the bricks, and then they are lacquered with a UV coating. This gives them another 3 years or so.</p>
  </blockquote>
  
  <p>I hope the project goes well.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2014-08-22T13:47:35.070Z
Answers.Text: good link, I've seen more info on how the LEGO parks glue their models, [here](http://bricks.stackexchange.com/questions/1037/what-glue-should-i-use-for-permanent-lego-construction/1038#1038) but this one mentioned they spray models with a clear UV coating, and gave some outside display lifetime estimates (5-7 years) also mentions salt water shot blast refurbishment method.  Thanks
Answers.UserDisplayName: Josh King
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2014-08-22T13:10:17.353Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2014-10-18T06:43:11.933Z
Answers.LastEditDate: 2014-10-18T06:43:11.933Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: TheAmazingGeno
Body: <p>I am thinking of using LEGO to make some outside yard art, (large minifig scale castle) and wondered what I should do to prepare them for being outside in variable weather conditions (in the Seattle area).</p>
  
  <p>I am aware that Legoland glues their displays, but have not found any other details on their technique.</p>
  
  <p>Discoloring in the sun is not a big concern of mine, other than I will probably avoid too many white elements which tend to discolor more noticeably.</p>
  
  <p>As it's ABS plastic I imagine water wouldn't be a problem, and I should just be able to wash them down if they get dirty.  What about snow/ice freezing temperatures?</p>
  
  <p>Does anyone have any experience with outdoor displays?</p>
  
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2014-08-25T15:07:53.380Z
Comments.Text: Check out another post here: http://bricks.stackexchange.com/questions/1037/what-glue-should-i-use-for-permanent-lego-construction/1038#1038  that asks a specific question about glue.
Comments.UserDisplayName: Nathan
Tags: <building><durability>
Title: Preparations for outside display
UserDisplayName: Josh King
ThreadText: # Preparations for outside display
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2014-08-21)
  
  I am thinking of using LEGO to make some outside yard art, (large minifig scale castle) and wondered what I should do to prepare them for being outside in variable weather conditions (in the Seattle area).
  
  I am aware that Legoland glues their displays, but have not found any other details on their technique.
  
  Discoloring in the sun is not a big concern of mine, other than I will probably avoid too many white elements which tend to discolor more noticeably.
  
  As it's ABS plastic I imagine water wouldn't be a problem, and I should just be able to wash them down if they get dirty. What about snow/ice freezing temperatures?
  
  Does anyone have any experience with outdoor displays?
  
  **Tags:** building, durability
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_1**: Check out another post here: http://bricks.stackexchange.com/questions/1037/what-glue-should-i-use-for-permanent-lego-construction/1038#1038  that asks a specific question about glue.  
  
  ---
  
  ## 1 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_2 on 2014-08-22. Score: 5
  
  I once talked with a Lego Builder at the Florida park. He told me they use a glue that actually melts the Lego blocks together. With that in mind, I searched and found [this article (on Facebook)](https://www.facebook.com/notes/official-legoland-windsor/your-questions-answered-by-legoland-model-maker-nev-smith-part-2/497439006912). It says Lego Park Model Makers
  
  > use a solvent based plastic weld. It heats the bricks up so the edges bind together. Obviously it has to be very strong to withstand weather conditions.
  
  A quick search on that found [this from Google shopping](https://www.google.com/search?q=solvent+based+plastic+weld&oq=solvent+based+plastic+weld&aqs=chrome..69i57&sourceid=chrome&es_sm=122&ie=UTF-8#q=solvent+based+plastic+weld&tbm=shop).
  
  The article also talks about color fading and model life time (about 5 to 7 years), after which the model can either be rebuilt or cleaned:
  
  > We clean them using a shot blasting technique. They are sprayed with a fine salt spray, which takes a very thin layer off the bricks, and then they are lacquered with a UV coating. This gives them another 3 years or so.
  
  I hope the project goes well.
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_0**: good link, I've seen more info on how the LEGO parks glue their models, [here](http://bricks.stackexchange.com/questions/1037/what-glue-should-i-use-for-permanent-lego-construction/1038#1038) but this one mentioned they spray models with a clear UV coating, and gave some outside display lifetime estimates (5-7 years) also mentions salt water shot blast refurbishment method.  Thanks  
  
  ---
  
  