How much of a problem is color fading?

My HO friends leave engines and cars on their layouts for years.  I live in CA where most layouts are built in garages that have windows that let in sunlight.  I have not noticed any fading in car colors and I have never heard an owner complain that his or her cars were fading.

The only real fading that I have seen is in G gauge equipment that is left outside 24/7 for 3 plus years.  G gauge equipment that is put away after running it has maintained its paint colors.  I have heard about fading for O gauge cars that left on a self in direct sunlight for several years but I have never seen this happen myself.  

I have been running some O gauge equipment outside on and off for two years.  So far, there has been no fading that I can see.  I put the equipment away when I am not running it.

I don't think it is a problem as long as equipment is not left in direct sunlight for long periods of time.  

I would think that only direct sunlight would have an issue with fading colors.

romiller

Strong direct light, sunlight in particular, fades everything. I have a 3464 that is yellow on one side and orange on the other and a 3484 that is almost tan on one side and brown on the other. They were in a hobby shop display case across from a window, not even in the window itself. I have also heard of certain lights like flouresents doing the same thing.

Had the 1980s Lionel icing station on a basement layout for about 8 years. The one with the all orange house on top. Serious color fade from the fluorescent lighting including color shadows where the ice cubes sat when not in use.

The only thing that faded on my layout over 7 years was some of the scenery, and that was due to dust accumulation. 

We have discussed this issue from time to time over the years and the general opinion  seams to be that light will cause fading, sun light being the worst.

I have never had any rolling stock fade that I could tell but I have had boxs fade in less then a year when left in the sunlight. So when people tell me their horror stories like those above I have no problem believing  them.

I guess having a basement layout has it's advantages.

Yes, direct sunlight over prolonged periods and "regular" fluorescent lighting has been know to produce fading, especially on plastics.  It's best to simply avoid direct exposure to sunlight where possible and to use forms of lighting other than fluorescent.

Most Large Scale equipment (LGB, Aristo, USA Trains, Piko, etc.) designed for garden railway use is made with special materials and paints intended to reduce the effects of UV in outdoor conditions.

The Marx Toy & Train Museum once bought a blue boxcar from me that had faded on one side, but had a darker patch where the door must have been left open for a long, long, time.  They wanted it to show as an example of how not to display a car.