tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15745927507009580352024-03-14T22:30:57.676+11:00Figure FixerA how-to of repairing broken anime and game figures (and some other figure-related posts too)!Sparkey Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01659788878499245726noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1574592750700958035.post-54215237619278256002015-11-28T18:34:00.003+11:002015-11-29T11:27:53.396+11:00Repairing One of Those Pesky Broken RAH Shoulders<span style="font-size: large;">Hello, everyone!</span><br />
<br />
It has been a looooong time since I posted here, but I assure you, my return isn't motivated by frivolity. No, ladies and gentlemen. This time I'm on a mission.<br />
An important one.<br />
<br />
Today I will be repairing none other than<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">this dismembered Plastic Torso!</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No, seriously...</td></tr>
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The torso used to be a part of Medicom RAH (actually "Real Action Heroes") Roy Mustang, but as you can see, the shoulder is broken. Roy's broken parts were graciously replaced by Medicom Toy a couple of years ago, but I'm going to be fixing the broken shoulder on the left-over torso anyway.<br />
The reason is this guy:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQTdXRN5AQqchX4h383Jqg43bBB1Vc23Zgsp8L-nE3eUtEC8bSpjbnPZg_xweEVdvbIKSfDkSolzJjJ4GgsjokIs96pFk8xKHvnZpieJCnx88BpqaiDwtEQb4g2AjTB1yCY5L8l2AtwaE/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-11-20+at+8.59.11+pm.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQTdXRN5AQqchX4h383Jqg43bBB1Vc23Zgsp8L-nE3eUtEC8bSpjbnPZg_xweEVdvbIKSfDkSolzJjJ4GgsjokIs96pFk8xKHvnZpieJCnx88BpqaiDwtEQb4g2AjTB1yCY5L8l2AtwaE/s400/Screen+Shot+2015-11-20+at+8.59.11+pm.png" width="286" /></a></div>
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Meet Medicom RAH L.</div>
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I get a lot of weird questions about a lot of weird figures, but this guy tops them all. I've had more questions about RAH L than any other figure.</div>
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To sum up, your standard RAH body has approximately one zillion Chinese-puzzle-box-like moving parts, which makes them delicate to start with, but some of the older RAHs like L go beyond mere delicateness – after a while, the plastic around their joints actually starts to crumble of its own accord.</div>
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This means that one day you're happily going about your business when suddenly your most beloved, most prized<strike>, most expensive</strike> action figure's <span style="font-size: large;">ENTIRE ARM</span> just <span style="font-size: large;">FALLS OFF.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">FOR NO REASON.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhQNQLrxQldueIUJn_AzGEvXYpg_WTCIueCMZAdSOVTNp6x9BOVKig4SkeAbqSbEzj3PbUD4ZEIVqoGeeZICv-wPnSMI7-iUDnwi3_0QjubhPyoBLV3QPT2bpIcVjAQdTdpDqmi6F1-yM/s1600/Roy%2527s+Broken+Shoulder+2+harrible.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="331" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhQNQLrxQldueIUJn_AzGEvXYpg_WTCIueCMZAdSOVTNp6x9BOVKig4SkeAbqSbEzj3PbUD4ZEIVqoGeeZICv-wPnSMI7-iUDnwi3_0QjubhPyoBLV3QPT2bpIcVjAQdTdpDqmi6F1-yM/s400/Roy%2527s+Broken+Shoulder+2+harrible.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I've said it before, and I'll say it again: *HYSTERICAL SCREAMING*</td></tr>
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This – along with accidental decapitation – </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJcFOEkPDRglQXzAvg4paTdlsE1BUQzVRpKM5DP88shELD-WujyEhkjeZoWpTHM5nIETuSXbQgtdVuzSgaJT_K9QL3e_B8SYh_miSWj-eAUURrTkOhTWRaGOtcwO-ICXra3ij7BIBGPm4/s1600/Roy%2527sBrokenNeck.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJcFOEkPDRglQXzAvg4paTdlsE1BUQzVRpKM5DP88shELD-WujyEhkjeZoWpTHM5nIETuSXbQgtdVuzSgaJT_K9QL3e_B8SYh_miSWj-eAUURrTkOhTWRaGOtcwO-ICXra3ij7BIBGPm4/s200/Roy%2527sBrokenNeck.jpg" width="175" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oopsie</td></tr>
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– is the most common RAH problem people ask me for help with. And I know my readers aren't making it up, because this is exactly what happened to my RAH Roy Mustang (after I put his head back on), and it is <span style="font-size: large;">MIGHTILY DISTRESSING.</span></div>
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<i>Don't feel ashamed for crying, ladies and gents. You're not alone.</i></blockquote>
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So, short of replacing the parts, what can we do about it?</div>
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Answering this question took a fair bit of experimentation, but – EUREKA! I finally found a satisfactory solution.</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">This is where it gets Technical...</span></div>
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The main cause of all the anguish is this thing:</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Thing, shown here next to a tiny washer.</td></tr>
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This peg used to hold the shoulder on, but now it doesn't because the cone of plastic it used to be embedded in has disintegrated.</div>
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But what's so bad about the peg itself?</div>
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At first glance, it seems rather like an innocent-enough screw, but look carefully at the shape, and you will see that it is actually an itty-bitty-super-fiddly RATCHET. The only way this ratchety little S.O.B. could have been inserted in the plastic in the first place is if the shoulder-plastic was heated until it was soft (or it could have been done with a tonne of pure, unadulterated force, which you'd think would break the plastic, but I could be wrong).</div>
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Now, I'm reverse-engineering all this, so I may be mistaken, but I'm guessing that pushing this knobbly chunk of metal through the hot plastic is probably what weakened said plastic in the first place and later went on to cause the infamous crumbling we all know and love.</div>
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So here's the question:</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">How the heck can we get the peg back in!?</span></div>
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The answer is:</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We can't.</span></div>
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The plastic which used to hold the peg in place has now crumbled away, and even if it hadn't, the temperatures required to heat PVC to a point where it's soft enough to work are not all that convenient (and now that the plastic is a few years old, a tonne of pure, unadulterated force would definitely be out of the question).</div>
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So I'm going to show you how to modify a screw to act as a replacement shoulder-peg.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>NOTE:</b> READ ALL THE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE YOU BEGIN!</span></div>
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You may want to have the broken pieces with you, so you can see what I'm talking about.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">--- EQUIPMENT YOU WILL DEFINITELY NEED ---</span></div>
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<b>1.</b> Needle-nose pliers</div>
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<b>2.</b> One (Self-Tapping) Screw (approx 2mm diameter)</div>
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<b>3.</b> A Ruler</div>
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<b>4.</b> A Hot Glue Gun <b>OR</b> Epoxy Putty</div>
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<b>5. </b>A Pin Vice</div>
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<b>8.</b> 2mm diameter Drill Bit</div>
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<b>9.</b> A Regular Size Phillips Head Screwdriver</div>
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<b>10.</b> A Small Size Phillips Head Screwdriver</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">--- EQUIPMENT YOU WILL PROBABLY NEED ---</span></div>
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<b>11.</b> Sandpaper</div>
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<b>12.</b> A Big Sewing Needle</div>
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<b>13.</b> Scissors</div>
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<b>14.</b> Forceps</div>
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<b>15.</b> A Hairdryer</div>
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<strike><span style="font-size: large;">--- EQUIPMENT FOR PEOPLE WHO LIKE "EXPERIMENTING" ---</span></strike></div>
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<strike><b>16.</b> Bandaids</strike></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Part One: Replacing The Peg</span></div>
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First of all, get the metal peg out of the shoulder. You can do this by pushing it from behind (on the ratchety end) and then wiggling it out with pliers.</div>
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It should have a small washer on it (pictured above). Keep that washer safe. You're going to need it later.</div>
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<b>NOTE: </b>There's a possibility that the shaft that contains the head of the peg will be covered by what I'm going to call a "blocker". These are put in place for aesthetic purposes, but for us tinkerers, they're just in the way.</div>
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Blockers are made from soft plastic and not usually glued in. I personally remove them by stabbing them with a big-arse sewing needle and prising them out like so:</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7iPIISb1CRWoIjcKkmVj9PKI77IIqprbLiMTCdDPIKtbxe2IGpK8r8wWOrmbxknCVse6VByZy3kdQwpGA2jH61YDdXGplFCVdiUEo343TCDMunvFPGv5AkRSPSrvPR6WC_BsK4d8xO5s/s1600/PrisingOutRAHScrewBlockerBlog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7iPIISb1CRWoIjcKkmVj9PKI77IIqprbLiMTCdDPIKtbxe2IGpK8r8wWOrmbxknCVse6VByZy3kdQwpGA2jH61YDdXGplFCVdiUEo343TCDMunvFPGv5AkRSPSrvPR6WC_BsK4d8xO5s/s400/PrisingOutRAHScrewBlockerBlog.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Note that the blocker in the photo is covering a screw, not the peg, since<br />
my dismembered torso's peg-blocker was already removed.</td></tr>
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With the blocker out of the way, you're free to remove the peg.</div>
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OK, now you've got that pesky peg out, the trick will be finding a screw which is about the same width as the original peg, but – and this is important – a few millimetres longer.</div>
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It was while pondering this that I realised I had kept a packet of small screws in my desk for the last five or six years for no reason.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM8mRg1ohIAMpNCY6BLHtBicoKytd-o0LwiG3pJqofo4OZSTZHcfEARatgQjJCja6MrApy2t6EKWVQrSLzy4hiQM2yrWqyd_5I2nPbp5ONOH5CVHOdrxmPJbbEhzhXCf1UrQKCF6O3pgs/s1600/Random+Self+Tapping+Screws+Blog+Packet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM8mRg1ohIAMpNCY6BLHtBicoKytd-o0LwiG3pJqofo4OZSTZHcfEARatgQjJCja6MrApy2t6EKWVQrSLzy4hiQM2yrWqyd_5I2nPbp5ONOH5CVHOdrxmPJbbEhzhXCf1UrQKCF6O3pgs/s400/Random+Self+Tapping+Screws+Blog+Packet.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">*GASP* Could it be!?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlw6JsgbnVfFEB4OVmMMKFZKh1Lo9KRLKFUxnnGqqy2Z-_LDoMxEbkh18r1KNWsG63Na9Wr6el9rrYIBbPFk7X8ONKDyTZaBK9bLryBWRo7os02jp-W6Hkc_Nh4IpT59eW0jPG2qtZH8M/s1600/Screwandannoyingratchetpegcomparisonblog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlw6JsgbnVfFEB4OVmMMKFZKh1Lo9KRLKFUxnnGqqy2Z-_LDoMxEbkh18r1KNWsG63Na9Wr6el9rrYIBbPFk7X8ONKDyTZaBK9bLryBWRo7os02jp-W6Hkc_Nh4IpT59eW0jPG2qtZH8M/s640/Screwandannoyingratchetpegcomparisonblog.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oh yah!</td></tr>
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Had I not been so lucky, I could have just taken the original peg to the hardware store and compared it to the screws they had for sale until I found one with the SAME SHANK WIDTH.</div>
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Don't worry about the width of the thread, it's the shank which must match the original peg.</div>
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And speaking of the shank, make sure it is AT LEAST 10mm long (11mm is better). This is not including the head. You can see in the photo that the shank of the screw I am using is about 14mm long.</div>
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Anyway, something you may have noticed about the screw in the photo above, is that it is not only longer than the peg (good), but it also has a conspicuously wider head (BAD).</div>
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The reason this is bad is because the screw-head must fit down the narrow shaft from which you have just removed the original peg. What's more, it needs to be small enough to rotate freely within the shaft.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioc_m9LEFtONeRuCRhEyvZpzKJoJRi-PTckoQVkwQ0xv5I9GrKrJpa4LnrG0R_TsPpoDUQ3-Wd7LrWOa4aKt2iP3xN_TIhT__okC2DKsGgxv8O47NolaV4dazR1vvXHhxecaqOqdln5V4/s1600/PlasticShaftForPegOrScrewBlog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioc_m9LEFtONeRuCRhEyvZpzKJoJRi-PTckoQVkwQ0xv5I9GrKrJpa4LnrG0R_TsPpoDUQ3-Wd7LrWOa4aKt2iP3xN_TIhT__okC2DKsGgxv8O47NolaV4dazR1vvXHhxecaqOqdln5V4/s400/PlasticShaftForPegOrScrewBlog.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The shaft in the shoulder part. You can see by the comparative<br />
hugeness of my thumb that it's very narrow. (If you're wondering why<br />
the edges of it look so mushy, my advice is to be careful with the pliers.)</td></tr>
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If you managed to find a tiny-headed screw which fits down the shaft, good for you.</div>
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For everyone else, there's sandpaper.</div>
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Get a piece of regular woodworking sandpaper and file down the screw head, rotating it frequently, until it's small enough to fit down the shaft. This will take a little while, but it's overall not that difficult.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj8AYXxaEIOvkfjX0QLoIimrKHnQqFt9XepBPpKLAgt_elfjLNGRGH1iPzw1lBhPRVM0Z2LAcmW6h9sdLeqPRxyMcVnoRtHISaw1YGXGnf8NY8Ry8eZ8crru2j0Pa611jABYKb7RO-hLA/s1600/SandpeperingDownAScrewHead1Blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj8AYXxaEIOvkfjX0QLoIimrKHnQqFt9XepBPpKLAgt_elfjLNGRGH1iPzw1lBhPRVM0Z2LAcmW6h9sdLeqPRxyMcVnoRtHISaw1YGXGnf8NY8Ry8eZ8crru2j0Pa611jABYKb7RO-hLA/s400/SandpeperingDownAScrewHead1Blog.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There will be some metal dust, so you might prefer<br />
to do this outside.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Luckily, the screw doesn't need to be as insanely narrow as the original peg. Here's how the modded screw looks compared to an un-modded one:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5l_Oe9bFIn6nxEfC6939r-tbfBknRdhoNk0qK1uBtqGjC3DXVPJjNsOi8flk7BRKEXf-W-2i4tgg5SJNfLPlco-N9yJv3VWQ77NPNPyHYABnkSxDG5JdmOjr5X1BP3kBVYO0_snlx1mE/s1600/ModdedScrewHeadComparisonBlog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5l_Oe9bFIn6nxEfC6939r-tbfBknRdhoNk0qK1uBtqGjC3DXVPJjNsOi8flk7BRKEXf-W-2i4tgg5SJNfLPlco-N9yJv3VWQ77NPNPyHYABnkSxDG5JdmOjr5X1BP3kBVYO0_snlx1mE/s400/ModdedScrewHeadComparisonBlog.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Now you can put the tiny washer on the screw and fit it down the shaft.</div>
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You may find, as I did, that instead of rotating freely in the shaft, the screw threads bite into the plastic in the hole at the bottom of the shaft.</div>
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<b>Instead of going around and around, in screws in and out.</b></div>
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<br /></div>
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This is a very tedious problem, but it can be fixed with some more tedious sandpapering.</div>
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The problem this time is the screw-thread.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Notice how the original peg is smooth at the top end, under the head?</div>
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Well, now we have to recreate this (roughly). Now we get the pleasure of REMOVING THE TOP 2-3MM OF THE SCREW-THREAD WITH SANDPAPER.</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>yay</i></blockquote>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
There are probably a bunch of ways of doing this, but here's how I eventually managed it:</div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>1.</b> Cut a very thin strip of sandpaper. About 3mm wide.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>2.</b> Using forceps, make a noose for the screw with the sandpaper, like so:</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinez_bl-7PXeun0NRV6V6uZA2x_Nz6CXlKh67PswdOUOi04XE9CrxQj_AvrMajU2CDwC6x7rBXfxw0Q7F0-1s4ZVqmXhF3gxDpUJ5KWgUFTIdrHj2ikx7tYQwpm7q8Gg_Jkp8XBl_0msQ/s1600/ScrewNooseForcepsBlog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinez_bl-7PXeun0NRV6V6uZA2x_Nz6CXlKh67PswdOUOi04XE9CrxQj_AvrMajU2CDwC6x7rBXfxw0Q7F0-1s4ZVqmXhF3gxDpUJ5KWgUFTIdrHj2ikx7tYQwpm7q8Gg_Jkp8XBl_0msQ/s400/ScrewNooseForcepsBlog.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Note the position and orientation of the screw-head with respect to the forceps.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
This will hold it in place while you enact step 3.<br />
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>3.</b> Pinch the sandpaper tightly against the screw-thread and, using an appropriate screwdriver, turn the screw around and around until the sandpaper looses its bite.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAhtTS80iVKq17VQbBK7ut-3kbIk-HG-VU4m5NAP8NWyiQv7as6Hy8WIAcOG8c1QnfGEydx62XWENODFSv1kimHtIwce9qQnGsI6ovua7nIqLGlFtBHPp2ATdzNyo41E_el3kdofxMgEk/s1600/ScrewNooseForcepsBlog2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="350" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAhtTS80iVKq17VQbBK7ut-3kbIk-HG-VU4m5NAP8NWyiQv7as6Hy8WIAcOG8c1QnfGEydx62XWENODFSv1kimHtIwce9qQnGsI6ovua7nIqLGlFtBHPp2ATdzNyo41E_el3kdofxMgEk/s400/ScrewNooseForcepsBlog2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pinching the noose.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>4.</b> Undo the noose, move the sandpaper along a bit so that a nice fresh, abrasive part of the paper is in contact with the thread and repeat steps <b>1 - 4</b>.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
This process will slowly grind down the top of the screw-thread until it no longer bites into the plastic. You may have to repeat it quite a few times (I know I did!), but it works.</div>
<div>
And luckily, you don't have to grind the thread down to nothing before it stops biting.</div>
<div>
Here's what my peg-replacement looked like after sandpapering:</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC_Khh0V5JFKmNqMlIZiRE_IsWvL0tvXOvNkrwYUJhWvpGhQ6Pbfb1Z98Wvf2ysmb3yz4SfASl0drqoR7xBFBR9wt8ft_Q_baJ3A931sUbPaww5M1j144DKmPrquiHTKEEbH7DL2WrUew/s1600/ScrewAndPeg1Blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC_Khh0V5JFKmNqMlIZiRE_IsWvL0tvXOvNkrwYUJhWvpGhQ6Pbfb1Z98Wvf2ysmb3yz4SfASl0drqoR7xBFBR9wt8ft_Q_baJ3A931sUbPaww5M1j144DKmPrquiHTKEEbH7DL2WrUew/s400/ScrewAndPeg1Blog.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not nearly as smooth as the peg, but it still does the job –<br />
IE It turns around and around in the shaft.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl5gU9DuubQoF93l_rOoZDEu5EsK2Qenn0Q-1FVYfwlTFWpsUMbqvLoYznS8x32cDkDAro7WalOnruif3CuGdkAybM87wq-3ToWimQMvdhqBPEo5lWZnybYFjZWO_qeyQUcOmkloIVlk4/s1600/ScrewInShaftRAHShoulderBlog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl5gU9DuubQoF93l_rOoZDEu5EsK2Qenn0Q-1FVYfwlTFWpsUMbqvLoYznS8x32cDkDAro7WalOnruif3CuGdkAybM87wq-3ToWimQMvdhqBPEo5lWZnybYFjZWO_qeyQUcOmkloIVlk4/s400/ScrewInShaftRAHShoulderBlog.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The tiresome screw in the tiresome shaft.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
Alright, so now the replacement peg fits down the shaft (with the washer in place!), and can rotate freely!</div>
<div>
We must be done, right?</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>Wrong.</b></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The next problem is the <b>length of the screw shank.</b> <i>(Sigh)</i></div>
<div>
This<b> must not exceed 11mm</b>, and, as I mentioned previously, the shank of my shiny new replacement peg is a whopping <b>14mm.</b></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Luckily, there's an elegantly simple method we can use to get that shank down to size!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgTHfvtbhAtpH5445SFdI0FJNdyQ8q2ZNC0EirztfMYnSE-mHgSgqWI_oaI4P9Woze0_5bgugj06-WxEhrIxBD72JGwk7_mP7B6dchQsyVJoycJlxSN2oqNpGS9ee_3AlMlmzXqS9Cz8U/s1600/SandpaperingTheScrewShankBlog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgTHfvtbhAtpH5445SFdI0FJNdyQ8q2ZNC0EirztfMYnSE-mHgSgqWI_oaI4P9Woze0_5bgugj06-WxEhrIxBD72JGwk7_mP7B6dchQsyVJoycJlxSN2oqNpGS9ee_3AlMlmzXqS9Cz8U/s400/SandpaperingTheScrewShankBlog.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>yay</i></blockquote>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Be sure to measure the length of the screw shank every once in a while between bouts of merciless sandpapering. When you've finished, it should be <b>no more than 11mm</b> in length, but <b>no less than 10mm.</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
That doesn't leave very much room for <strike>unchecked merciless sandpapering</strike> error.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjELXso4PsLnvc7Cu0Trvvh7GZ-qhb_DFxiNHTIbTh3tYFFwiNc7hCCYhia7y25zubpDj83mwRwpayqR3U4vxVwTIaYjey8EgPFNQ6pl1URwbKXiTJteoXYcCp38PrS9IwBUmZsBFJ-v_U/s1600/11mmReplacementPegRAHBlog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="481" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjELXso4PsLnvc7Cu0Trvvh7GZ-qhb_DFxiNHTIbTh3tYFFwiNc7hCCYhia7y25zubpDj83mwRwpayqR3U4vxVwTIaYjey8EgPFNQ6pl1URwbKXiTJteoXYcCp38PrS9IwBUmZsBFJ-v_U/s640/11mmReplacementPegRAHBlog.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Once again, I will stress that the <b>11mm</b> length refers to the <b>SHANK ONLY!</b> It does not include the head of the screw!<br />
(For the purposes of this project, I couldn't give a rat's arse how deep the screw-head is.)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
OK! Done!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The shiny new replacement peg can now <i>fit down the shaft (along with the tiny washer), rotate freely within the shaft, AND it's 11mm long!</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">AT LAST. AT LONG LAST, we are finished modifying the screw!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Now, on to ––</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Part 2: Modifying The Shoulder Joint</span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: normal;"><i>yay</i></span></blockquote>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The broken plastic shoulder joint is made up of several fiddly pieces.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
In this section, we will be dealing with what I'm going to call the <b><i>Arm Part </i></b>and the <b><i>F</i></b><i><b>iddly Plastic Washer.</b></i></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp5MkCQlqFMVXttCbZcpz8bVT1IzwcRk2MsfhuzGBSMI88z3MvUulAUzUaiMOs2YbWMOROegNYWMjyALQWd0fSpUgGuEajnrgxXCKx2u-SNGPfXnHtswxuA1e67PJPUKP5KLILXDUHTqM/s1600/RAHShoulderBrokenArmPart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="496" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp5MkCQlqFMVXttCbZcpz8bVT1IzwcRk2MsfhuzGBSMI88z3MvUulAUzUaiMOs2YbWMOROegNYWMjyALQWd0fSpUgGuEajnrgxXCKx2u-SNGPfXnHtswxuA1e67PJPUKP5KLILXDUHTqM/s640/RAHShoulderBrokenArmPart.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The arm part. This one looks particularly bad because I once tried to replace the crumbled plastic with yellow epoxy putty.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The Arm Part is probably attached to the rest of the arm in your case, and it contains the thing which is actually broken. As far as I can tell, where this ugly mushy break now sits, there once used to be a cone-shaped protrusion into which the shoulder-peg was inserted. This is, of course, now completely obliterated.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDLekcJPQ8rDF1tVEmeEMnZvji9rO_c3L80NTbGe9BEe60gjlTvlFWLF5D_QW57lHqu7U0jPGmrrDPXqrL6nbuA6ezGCutcNdsAel-HXfJ-02n1soRpRNBvflHvzAcy6FMpOwqctedXXE/s1600/fiddlyplasticwasherRAHshoulderBlog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDLekcJPQ8rDF1tVEmeEMnZvji9rO_c3L80NTbGe9BEe60gjlTvlFWLF5D_QW57lHqu7U0jPGmrrDPXqrL6nbuA6ezGCutcNdsAel-HXfJ-02n1soRpRNBvflHvzAcy6FMpOwqctedXXE/s640/fiddlyplasticwasherRAHshoulderBlog.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Fiddly Plastic Washer. Note that it is different on each side. One side is <b>concave (left)</b>, the other is <b>flat (right)</b>.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
The Fiddly Plastic Washer fits over the round depression in the Arm Part, with the <b>concave side facing down:</b></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaVz_umv51cc1aAzADBlthiotoZXamIypp6CzVeS2g202KLS0TTj1BB3FxMM_3wcBEvPjNiOCxmtKxQlO7W-DyeMZXmYSsZYpxKupVlRh98tMJYtIO3pcU6R-O46jyT74wfpbgjMUsoK8/s1600/FiddlyPlasticWasherFittedOntoArmPartRAHshoulderblog1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaVz_umv51cc1aAzADBlthiotoZXamIypp6CzVeS2g202KLS0TTj1BB3FxMM_3wcBEvPjNiOCxmtKxQlO7W-DyeMZXmYSsZYpxKupVlRh98tMJYtIO3pcU6R-O46jyT74wfpbgjMUsoK8/s400/FiddlyPlasticWasherFittedOntoArmPartRAHshoulderblog1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just like this. Note how it makes a little sort of cave.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
In this section, I'm going to be filling up the little sort of cave made between the correctly placed Fiddly Plastic Washer and the Arm Part with hot glue from a glue gun. (You could also use epoxy putty, if you like putty.)</div>
<div>
After the cave is filled, I'm going to drill a hole through the centre so that the new shoulder peg can be inserted.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>Step 1:</b></div>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div>
<b>FOR GLUE-USERS</b></div>
<div>
Fill the empty space with hot glue.</div>
<div>
This is pretty simple. Just squeeze the glue in gently until the hole is full. If you accidentally use too much glue, scrape/wipe off the excess until the surface is relatively flat (I used the big-arse sewing needle to smooth off my excess glue).</div>
<div>
When you're done, it should look more or less like this:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdBBDX1pSKJ9V9m-O0OKMtH7NOv03r2S6weWimp8scARPOI3-aIbAXVqVPxH_10uamYAoV2kchCC0kIqotLAlM-x-r0L62elivJ1SBVw7GjAk0cxrQbkAdKueparFFCyIYJkB16jZ-nVM/s1600/GlueShoulderRAHblog1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdBBDX1pSKJ9V9m-O0OKMtH7NOv03r2S6weWimp8scARPOI3-aIbAXVqVPxH_10uamYAoV2kchCC0kIqotLAlM-x-r0L62elivJ1SBVw7GjAk0cxrQbkAdKueparFFCyIYJkB16jZ-nVM/s400/GlueShoulderRAHblog1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div>
<b>FOR PUTTY-LOVERS</b></div>
<div>
If you're using epoxy putty, knead it up as per the instructions, then press it onto the broken surface of the Arm Part in a small lump.</div>
<div>
Next, push the Fiddly Plastic Washer (concave side down) firmly over the putty-lump. This will mould the putty into the desired cone-shape.</div>
<div>
Smooth off the top surface and remove any excess putty from around the edges of the washer with a craft knife or other scrapey tool of your choice.</div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i><b><br /></b></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>Step 2:</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This one's nice and relaxing: set your work aside until the glue/putty has set.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
If you used putty, read the instructions to see how long you should wait, then add a few more hours to be safe.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
If you used hot glue, then you just have to wait for it to cool down to room temperature.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
In my case, this took long enough to have tea and crumpets and purchase some new laboratory glassware online.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjvRbvAffr3rr-kfHBy2k1bkMQZOFEsJ_9XBx-ZgkYQjoj3Z0sUwUO51vypOkeGWxC_WnlH_Biy4zkSmICissaB4cQqsxvVYJwZMbpm6HAZBwc2Vb7mcPotVz59NbvhVYcslwXGwpgtbY/s1600/LabGlasswareFernsBlog1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjvRbvAffr3rr-kfHBy2k1bkMQZOFEsJ_9XBx-ZgkYQjoj3Z0sUwUO51vypOkeGWxC_WnlH_Biy4zkSmICissaB4cQqsxvVYJwZMbpm6HAZBwc2Vb7mcPotVz59NbvhVYcslwXGwpgtbY/s400/LabGlasswareFernsBlog1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I don't know what all the "popular" kids are doing with their lab glassware<br />
these days, but I like to culture primitive land plants in mine.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>Step 3:</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
In the Arm Part, there is a screw which runs perpendicular to the direction of the vague hole where the shoulder peg once was.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL4mgBSfmaGW57j7ytKvvTpsIfs1WL1u_phbXEJUR_U_1nPXdUWrx4LFrZyjK0tITwzBQWU8pYfSCQA9NjblJPIF8FbKbROb-Nt5jodWxNsLgeQMX24o935dZVWi2-QkUvYF4aNVATwq8/s1600/RemoveThisScrewRAHshoulder.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL4mgBSfmaGW57j7ytKvvTpsIfs1WL1u_phbXEJUR_U_1nPXdUWrx4LFrZyjK0tITwzBQWU8pYfSCQA9NjblJPIF8FbKbROb-Nt5jodWxNsLgeQMX24o935dZVWi2-QkUvYF4aNVATwq8/s320/RemoveThisScrewRAHshoulder.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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Before you do anything else, remove that screw.</div>
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It may be covered by a plastic blocker, but you can easily prise that out, as described earlier in this article.</div>
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Note that the screw is quite small, and you will probably need a small Phillips Head Screwdriver to remove it.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Once you remove the screw, you will be able to separate the shoulder part (which contains the break) from the rest of the arm (which in my case is dismembered).</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This will reveal a brand new narrow shaft in the broken part.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
It shall henceforth be affectionately named "The Second Narrow Shaft".</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I just love narrow shafts, don't you?</div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>Step 4:</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Using a pin vice and a drill bit the same width as the screw-shank (in my case this is 2mm), drill a hole straight down through the middle of the glue/putty filling the Fiddly Plastic Washer.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Lx1gMc5_fjEZSr7Xjnih5VdJ1dZScpM5jh56ppEI2F9HfoE-atRBKJQbpt0yBrwtXpqBRhp8myf_buJAq7Xq4YBVT54ws5jUfizLh2LhXA3JKEjCCdDyl2c1uHUiVMjQSKx-9I6F_fs/s1600/ScrewShankAndDrillBitComparison.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Lx1gMc5_fjEZSr7Xjnih5VdJ1dZScpM5jh56ppEI2F9HfoE-atRBKJQbpt0yBrwtXpqBRhp8myf_buJAq7Xq4YBVT54ws5jUfizLh2LhXA3JKEjCCdDyl2c1uHUiVMjQSKx-9I6F_fs/s400/ScrewShankAndDrillBitComparison.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The screw shank (not including the thread) and the drill bit are the same width (2mm).</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYGrG55sWnxbZtmPEuGOcq-Pxuwog9KLB6VWTRflsibFcKGKiJvIEiWzIWoOzhCaoYqydrZ06OMryq3nHmhNq0h8ESiU7nh5zyxTnMI-_Mj65MV-ULlAvU0mCE55DcesQGspgDVI5ldM8/s1600/PinViceRahShoulderBlog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYGrG55sWnxbZtmPEuGOcq-Pxuwog9KLB6VWTRflsibFcKGKiJvIEiWzIWoOzhCaoYqydrZ06OMryq3nHmhNq0h8ESiU7nh5zyxTnMI-_Mj65MV-ULlAvU0mCE55DcesQGspgDVI5ldM8/s400/PinViceRahShoulderBlog.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Friendly neighbourhood pin vice, with the 2mm bit installed.<br />
You can buy these at hobby stores, some hardware stores, and on eBay.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXniyIETQGbI3n7VVMNZzUao5vQndJJbasRVNlfmrsLvRt6Y602zFZa3JFCyGsqi0K-Hwx_uUXfPX_9NCwmB-gFGdxyyzkvEgYyQaXSYfCHnJqnFEjk8mx4YXA86Yf2leCGZDQv9K_kjU/s1600/DrillAngleRAHShoulderBlog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXniyIETQGbI3n7VVMNZzUao5vQndJJbasRVNlfmrsLvRt6Y602zFZa3JFCyGsqi0K-Hwx_uUXfPX_9NCwmB-gFGdxyyzkvEgYyQaXSYfCHnJqnFEjk8mx4YXA86Yf2leCGZDQv9K_kjU/s400/DrillAngleRAHShoulderBlog.jpg" width="385" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
The above photo is an attempt to show (more or less) the angle you should be drilling at. At the bottom of the plastic part is the glue/putty filled washer.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Please note that the screw is shown in place in this image -- this was a MISTAKE! TAKE THE SCREW OUT BEFORE DRILLING!</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbNjxW6R-L7Vv9t2Rv8JhGwhDVHkt7CYjM-uo-ww-W-EV-odN_0l5KynTdrpw9098yLjHXNdoIZdpUGsYZ_gtfiyvrawY4CX23xIBS_Db2uyjtZifCPFVRyHhtYe_LBx8RqMrs6P14ghw/s1600/Drilled+Hole+Rah+shoulderblog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbNjxW6R-L7Vv9t2Rv8JhGwhDVHkt7CYjM-uo-ww-W-EV-odN_0l5KynTdrpw9098yLjHXNdoIZdpUGsYZ_gtfiyvrawY4CX23xIBS_Db2uyjtZifCPFVRyHhtYe_LBx8RqMrs6P14ghw/s400/Drilled+Hole+Rah+shoulderblog.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
This photo (directly above) shows the hole drilled through the middle of the fiddly plastic washer. Mine is a little off-centre, but it still worked.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Once again, note that the arm is still attached in this photo. This was a mistake on my part. When you drill the hole, remove the arm first.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Drilling can be a little tedious, because the bit will most likely keep getting jammed with plastic debris. Every time this happens, just pull the bit out of the hole, clear it off and press on.</div>
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Keep going until the drill bit comes out through the wall of the "Second Narrow Shaft".</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>NOTE:</b> Drilling half-way is no good. I've been there, and I can tell you that neither hot-glue nor epoxy putty is strong enough to hold the replacement peg (or the original peg) on its own. You must drill through the plastic as well. The glue/putty is just there to add a bit of much-needed extra friction.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>AND THE SHOULDER IS DONE!</b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Part 3: Assembly</span></div>
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This is the last and thankfully easiest part of the whole saga.</div>
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<br /></div>
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First of all, make sure the tiny metal washer is fitted onto the modified screw like so:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJnm7c-3RAEuuJfYAOSIgAngs2DKyRyKoZMJDEd20b5aW03DCWFSBbaRLWJBNBk8da_zYPczdiEOHn6t0YaoqgEnwu1YRl9Wm9i9Mhmafa-ct473odoUtG-LBCzczJOstsnWiK00JXbw8/s1600/WasherAndScrewRAHShoulderBlog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJnm7c-3RAEuuJfYAOSIgAngs2DKyRyKoZMJDEd20b5aW03DCWFSBbaRLWJBNBk8da_zYPczdiEOHn6t0YaoqgEnwu1YRl9Wm9i9Mhmafa-ct473odoUtG-LBCzczJOstsnWiK00JXbw8/s320/WasherAndScrewRAHShoulderBlog.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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And then insert the screw and washer into that annoying narrow shaft I talked about so much back in Part 1.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl5gU9DuubQoF93l_rOoZDEu5EsK2Qenn0Q-1FVYfwlTFWpsUMbqvLoYznS8x32cDkDAro7WalOnruif3CuGdkAybM87wq-3ToWimQMvdhqBPEo5lWZnybYFjZWO_qeyQUcOmkloIVlk4/s1600/ScrewInShaftRAHShoulderBlog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl5gU9DuubQoF93l_rOoZDEu5EsK2Qenn0Q-1FVYfwlTFWpsUMbqvLoYznS8x32cDkDAro7WalOnruif3CuGdkAybM87wq-3ToWimQMvdhqBPEo5lWZnybYFjZWO_qeyQUcOmkloIVlk4/s320/ScrewInShaftRAHShoulderBlog.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This again.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Now get your trusty normal-sized screwdriver and screw the modified-screw-cum-replacement-shoulder-peg into the hole you just drilled, reattaching the repaired shoulder to the torso.<br />
Make it tight enough that you can work the previously-broken shoulder joint. The joint should feel reasonably firm, but not stiff. Remember, you want the figure's arm to move easily, but be firm enough that it doesn't fall down under its own weight.<br />
<br />
<b>Now some double-checking:</b><br />
Looking through the drilled hole in the wall of "The Second Narrow Shaft", you should just be able to make out the tip of the replacement peg.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf01P3aoDiOH5eeQMNgSZiYYNxrZn3oKkOL0uiY3_g4MZ2zmuwtN0W7ooTr71ADDzlUlGUXIc2ZhZW2WpeTqDLW-kp4HXnk7s6QgfCARVypbBnh82cyRNq465-l2yqaiTQ8aEv_H9dqEQ/s1600/ShaftHolePegTipRAHShoulderBlog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf01P3aoDiOH5eeQMNgSZiYYNxrZn3oKkOL0uiY3_g4MZ2zmuwtN0W7ooTr71ADDzlUlGUXIc2ZhZW2WpeTqDLW-kp4HXnk7s6QgfCARVypbBnh82cyRNq465-l2yqaiTQ8aEv_H9dqEQ/s320/ShaftHolePegTipRAHShoulderBlog.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In most cases, these parts would still be attached to the torso.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
If the peg protrudes into the shaft, take it out and sandpaper it until it doesn't.<br />
If the peg is allowed to stick out into the shaft AT ALL, then the shoulder won't work properly. If you measured carefully earlier, then you probably won't have this issue.<br />
<br />
Note that the less times you insert and remove the screw, the better, because each time you do, the joint becomes a little looser and more fragile.<br />
<br />
Once the replacement peg is safely in place, all you have to do is slot the shoulder joint back together, do up that little screw you removed earlier <i>et voila!</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">THE SHOULDER IS FINALLY REPAIRED!</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhygy0Acu4VaGpqyaTrybrKMTuu_wMo7BcVEAEJwLSlhn7UdUMH4SUSW9LYmGR3qNJzDY1Kj-6r-kgrIVyt9_SpDdCKo5qnNPF8k-gwEsEiJGzhX55DqLiAJPMdC3yCCIcxyKNmxsGJVg8/s1600/DismemberedTorsoRepairedRAHBlog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="460" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhygy0Acu4VaGpqyaTrybrKMTuu_wMo7BcVEAEJwLSlhn7UdUMH4SUSW9LYmGR3qNJzDY1Kj-6r-kgrIVyt9_SpDdCKo5qnNPF8k-gwEsEiJGzhX55DqLiAJPMdC3yCCIcxyKNmxsGJVg8/s640/DismemberedTorsoRepairedRAHBlog.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yaaaay! The dismembered torso is slightly less dismembered than before!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: center;">
At last! At along last!</blockquote>
<b>Okay, now that it's fixed, a note on maintenance:</b><br />
The replacement peg is fairly likely to come loose with time and shoulder-use. For this reason I recommend treating the shoulder extra carefully. However, if the joint does come loose, tightening the peg with a screwdriver should fix it.<br />
<br />
<b>*dusts hands*</b><br />
That was the most complicated article I have ever written!<br />
If you have any questions, feel free to ask me down in the comments section!<br />
<br />
<b>As always,</b><br />
<b>Good luck with your repairs!</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b> Cheers!</b><br />
<b> Sparkey</b><br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
</div>
Sparkey Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01659788878499245726noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1574592750700958035.post-21078936298860289382013-04-18T19:44:00.001+10:002013-04-18T19:44:13.543+10:00Safely Removing Paint Blemishes from Bare Plastic<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;">G'day, Readers!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">(Do I actually have "readers"?)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
I seem to have been writing on this blog a lot recently, but I'm not quite done yet.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">T</span>his time, I will be addressing a truly fearsome, yet common blemish: <span style="font-size: large;">THE PAINT BLEED.</span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
You know the one; Your lovely new figure is all shiny and perfect except for that single spot where the paint from one part has been, for no obvious reason, liberally applied to the part next to it as well. </blockquote>
If the erroneous colour lies on top of another painted surface then the perfect solution is just to blot over it with a dab of (you guessed it) more paint.<br />
... but what if the splodge is on a bit of unpainted plastic?<br />
<div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I</span>n figures, skin (along with occasional other parts) is usually made from unpainted plastic, sometimes with a light gradient applied to it. Painting over blemishes on these bare plastic areas doesn't really end up looking all that nice, because, let's face it, the textures just don't match up.<br />
<br />
So what do you do if you've got a figure where paint has bled onto bare plastic?<br />
<br />
<i>Surprisingly</i>, I'm going to tell you <strike>in an extremely longwinded manner</strike>.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">A</span>s in my last post, my subject today will be one of the Lucky Star Nendoroid Petits! This time, it's Tsukasa Hiiragi B!<br />
Have a look:<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3bhT1On3HqLM7vgufvaiiSj0-Jd-khDUlSx7wHZlNbSnQI88Yr1kSsvWWnzjaZhvK1HwfILKJHQNixrZ3_0m2mBpE7DMMmesxxQZ-b7GZJbhloJoiicy687vgb0qsCvayJtFmSzdL9FQ/s1600/IMG_0796+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3bhT1On3HqLM7vgufvaiiSj0-Jd-khDUlSx7wHZlNbSnQI88Yr1kSsvWWnzjaZhvK1HwfILKJHQNixrZ3_0m2mBpE7DMMmesxxQZ-b7GZJbhloJoiicy687vgb0qsCvayJtFmSzdL9FQ/s640/IMG_0796+copy.jpg" width="512" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Isn't she cute? I love all the colours in this set! ^__^</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
If you can't see any paint bleeds, that's probably because I <span style="text-align: center;">took the picture after I had already fixed it</span>... but if I had taken the picture before fixing the bleed you probably wouldn't have seen it anyway.</div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">L</span>uckily, none of my figures are suffering from any major bleeds or smudges at the moment, but I still wanted to write about this method, so I will be doing it on an <i>itty bitty teeny weeny </i>little bleed which I noticed on Tsukasa's hand.</div>
<div>
Here it is:</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2srdZgTPgajm5uQAQX-IftEKEC13yeeDgJgsSVt8yBb8hv5WsILXkAJZmnZnTIMydtLyemFDE465rLTp0GlQrx2rCH46zb5DOJWFcM2mZGC8BOqb1oJxPTz5OIDs4Mg8VFAsTXaZfDXY/s1600/IMG_0767+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2srdZgTPgajm5uQAQX-IftEKEC13yeeDgJgsSVt8yBb8hv5WsILXkAJZmnZnTIMydtLyemFDE465rLTp0GlQrx2rCH46zb5DOJWFcM2mZGC8BOqb1oJxPTz5OIDs4Mg8VFAsTXaZfDXY/s400/IMG_0767+copy.jpg" width="301" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The orange paint from the chocolate pastry thing she's<br />
about to chow down on has bled onto her hand slightly.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
This is an <i>infinitesimal</i> bleed.<br />
<div>
It's about 1mm across – barely visible – and I usually wouldn't have bothered to fix something this small, but <strike>I wanted to write this vexatious post</strike> it was surprisingly eye-catching...<br />
<div>
This method is just as applicable to larger blemishes, however.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">So...</span> The tools for this job: </div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRp_PIuutsIBh288lL3-buUJHJKVE7a-VYUHo39o4_7emzhh4VpGWiq3HOzeaB70bEZU7TxZDNdjU7CEPAljTMHdWkGdmCtdg1mcnXoS-H8K9DSnc6snkws7QWy9PBUrskrDDJG8w80Nc/s1600/IMG_0792+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRp_PIuutsIBh288lL3-buUJHJKVE7a-VYUHo39o4_7emzhh4VpGWiq3HOzeaB70bEZU7TxZDNdjU7CEPAljTMHdWkGdmCtdg1mcnXoS-H8K9DSnc6snkws7QWy9PBUrskrDDJG8w80Nc/s400/IMG_0792+copy.jpg" width="292" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From left to right: A big needle, a regular needle,<br />
super fine sandpaper. (It is so fine)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Yup. Pretty sophisticated machinery, this. Not like, some stuff I found lying around in my house or anything...</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">I </span>mentioned in a previous post that you should not use regular sandpaper on figures and I stand by it. Regular sandpaper will make your figures look like they've been <b>attacked by a platoon of small, angry porcupines</b>, and, in many cases, this is not desirable.</div>
<div>
"Super fine" or "polishing" sandpaper is usually safe. You could also use very fine files or other dooverlackeys which serve the same purpose, if that's how you roll. I myself have several miscellaneous sanding tools in my collection. You can usually buy them at hobby stores.</div>
<div>
The sandpaper I will be using in this job is a sort of rough sponge which was given to me by a friend who collects ball jointed dolls <span style="font-size: x-small;">(that's right, kiddo. When you get too far into this sort of hobby that's the kind of creepy, wacked-out thing you do... swapping sandpaper squares like hippie freaks...)</span>. I included it in the picture so you can get an idea of just how "fine" it really is. As you can see, it barely looks rough at all... YES. IT'S THAT FINE. (So very very fine.)</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8q876GsH4npEVTurf-3TK6iK9VDGZfr2M_bGqZd6ZzXMvcBhHmwzoO5FO3ybciCdXl8axC2m-l8h8WMGp82RI5PKKqvZesqqWsgzDdsogBi_wCcoTd7xEWoeflQdB-EFWBHZza_v3YNg/s1600/IMG_0784.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8q876GsH4npEVTurf-3TK6iK9VDGZfr2M_bGqZd6ZzXMvcBhHmwzoO5FO3ybciCdXl8axC2m-l8h8WMGp82RI5PKKqvZesqqWsgzDdsogBi_wCcoTd7xEWoeflQdB-EFWBHZza_v3YNg/s400/IMG_0784.jpg" width="275" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It even says "super fine" on the back!<br />
(Just in case you'd forgotten that it's fine...)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Anyway,</span></div>
<div>
I used the two needles to remove most of the excess paint.</div>
<div>
It would have been better if I could've used the large needle by itself because, as needles go, it's fairly blunt and doesn't scratch figures very easily. Sadly, it just wasn't breaking up the paint, so I swapped to the smaller needle to scratch up the surface of the blemish (taking care not to go though the paint to the figure underneath). I then chipped off the bulk of the scratched paint with the large needle.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
At this point, I would usually show a blurry picture of my purple hands, but I think in this case it would be more constructive to actually explain to you how to use the needle;</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: large;">1.</span> Hold it as you would hold a pencil (or a scalpel, if you fancy yourself as the surgeon-y type). You'll have maximum control this way.<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">2.</span> Always start gently, applying minimal pressure, making very light scratches. Gradually increase the pressure until the paint starts breaking up. You don't need to go any harder than this. If you plough in at full speed, you'll probably just scratch your figure.<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">3.</span> Be patient! Proceed slowly and carefully. It takes a bit of zen to remove paint cleanly.<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">4. </span>If it's just not working, try a different sized needle.</blockquote>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">T</span>his may be a good time to mention that the reason I am painstakingly using a needle to remove the paint instead of just sanding the whole lot off is because I want to make a nice sharp edge where Tsukasa's hand meets the pastry (I assume it's a pastry).<br />
If I had a splodge in the middle of her face, away from other painted parts, I would probably get it off with sandpaper alone (much faster and easier), but it's hard to make clean edges that way.</div>
<div>
If you have a large bleed, you may want to try removing the paint around the edge with a needle and then gently sanding the rest off with fine sandpaper.</div>
<div>
In my case, though, the area is so small that the whole <i>thing</i> is edge.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Here's what it looks like after the needle treatment (that sounds so scary – I just noticed):</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj84te0buTpQh8WVpyG2ntOYyEhPonA1KGc8cN91rB49255L6SAaeQjAGu6K47yTbZlJuhWWWRNWqwDWFzD66VN8h001D-Ej-vZLuc1WuQAMWtekm2rw1hBmd3WNnuT8fO3F8Gl7F1bWdQ/s1600/IMG_0776+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj84te0buTpQh8WVpyG2ntOYyEhPonA1KGc8cN91rB49255L6SAaeQjAGu6K47yTbZlJuhWWWRNWqwDWFzD66VN8h001D-Ej-vZLuc1WuQAMWtekm2rw1hBmd3WNnuT8fO3F8Gl7F1bWdQ/s400/IMG_0776+copy.jpg" width="357" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Most of the erroneous paint has been removed.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
You can probably see that there's still a little bit of paint left.</div>
<div>
Most of this can be sanded off.</div>
<div>
Although the super fine sandpaper won't scratch the plastic, I still use it gently and with caution. I don't want to grind away actual plastic from Tsukasa's hand, and I also don't want to remove any of the paint from other parts of the figure (sandpaper is a gun at removing paint).</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
After sanding, the former blemish looks like this:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0P40bLlWuhxKdOWsWkdtJhvWjJth-tPDjzmMTYAPrCeCBAjhOtjTo8V85lLpv4lfwHIBdU4gmwO4BiRprbOLg-HMdGi4ujIaZcN1xIKXePNp7xfvjwMozXom65ke_ZRwBkdDx5xXO5ok/s1600/IMG_0789+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0P40bLlWuhxKdOWsWkdtJhvWjJth-tPDjzmMTYAPrCeCBAjhOtjTo8V85lLpv4lfwHIBdU4gmwO4BiRprbOLg-HMdGi4ujIaZcN1xIKXePNp7xfvjwMozXom65ke_ZRwBkdDx5xXO5ok/s400/IMG_0789+copy.jpg" width="390" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In the picture it doesn't look much better than before sanding, but<br />
in person it's a noticeable improvement.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
And... we're done!</div>
<div>
Now Tsukasa is free to enjoy her pastry (or whatever it is) in peace!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivYmE8_VDhyVqk6woxkRRsuD-vN81AOj2Bv6TdXJ-QAV07Y3r6VCNPSOlHU23SlnkgPBL1BdgmMScF7H1rDg6-qBFAhGoVeN27x98O1ysVgMcqQGFxY3zCtH3_Wlxbg3bFgItTX6cIdIg/s1600/IMG_0801.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivYmE8_VDhyVqk6woxkRRsuD-vN81AOj2Bv6TdXJ-QAV07Y3r6VCNPSOlHU23SlnkgPBL1BdgmMScF7H1rDg6-qBFAhGoVeN27x98O1ysVgMcqQGFxY3zCtH3_Wlxbg3bFgItTX6cIdIg/s640/IMG_0801.jpg" width="508" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Om nom nom!</td></tr>
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<div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Afterthoughts;</span><br />
I use needles for this sort of job, but really you could use any small, sharp object. Triangular-bladed craft knives, pins, thumb tacks <strike>and extremely sharp cactus spines</strike> are all suitable candidates.<br />
Just remember, you're trying to remove the paint without damaging the plastic underneath, so be gentle.<br />
<b><br /></b></div>
<div>
<b>Well, that's all from me for the moment!</b></div>
<div>
<b>As per usual, if you have any questions, feel free to ask! I usually reply within a day or so.</b></div>
<div>
<b>Good luck with your repairs!</b></div>
<div>
<b> Cheers!<br /> Sparkey</b></div>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
Sparkey Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01659788878499245726noreply@blogger.com68tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1574592750700958035.post-90105268606817602462013-04-12T23:15:00.000+10:002013-04-12T23:15:00.594+10:00Using Heat to Fix Warped Parts<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">Hello, everybody!</span><br />
Now for another of my erratically timed and possibly helpful posts...<br />
<br />
Today I will be looking at a problem exhibited by Nendoroid Petit Izumi Konata:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjl1uUGXbosRjjdgOXQKgWLoadb4mE6KNXFeb35LWGCvEEVFVeUZsXI2E-ABco9UEGBlz4q8ordT0OrgvDf5sJgpEokQDF3Q18iM3d4gQ_QeC8C8JL2lTrSkvmbyzY_dL2freWcKAyZQM/s1600/nendoroidpetitkonataizumifloppyahoge1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjl1uUGXbosRjjdgOXQKgWLoadb4mE6KNXFeb35LWGCvEEVFVeUZsXI2E-ABco9UEGBlz4q8ordT0OrgvDf5sJgpEokQDF3Q18iM3d4gQ_QeC8C8JL2lTrSkvmbyzY_dL2freWcKAyZQM/s640/nendoroidpetitkonataizumifloppyahoge1.jpg" width="484" /></a></div>
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She's super cute!!!! ^__^ (I just got her.)</div>
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There's one little thing which bugs me, though... her ahoge (the bit of hair on top of her head) looks a bit too floppy.</div>
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The picture on the box has it sticking up a bit more, but on my figure it's flopped down so it's touching her head. Have a goosey:</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCyB-6bRhHKD4jySClXrWItmJWraihEqwmQCiYxHjiuISkFXWjJuL7g8GwhU87rlDT-iPzEzV2P3JtFKNUlb4UG_kRgGWmumrudPy3FaaSFgOnEQStfDr7I2fxbdlRACkFbwcYNqHvk8Q/s1600/IMG_0705+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="435" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCyB-6bRhHKD4jySClXrWItmJWraihEqwmQCiYxHjiuISkFXWjJuL7g8GwhU87rlDT-iPzEzV2P3JtFKNUlb4UG_kRgGWmumrudPy3FaaSFgOnEQStfDr7I2fxbdlRACkFbwcYNqHvk8Q/s640/IMG_0705+copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The picture on the box – It's so cute!!!! ^__^ (Yeah, the novelty hasn't worn off yet...)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisoVJi7PuQUQ-YjUIuHQN9tLYpXbs09cyve82qJzc4n83CGjURhx9NP6zXUQG_-9PETPHAhGN9WklLAkgz0tyfyBp-8SZ9s_7XMdAFP6Q-bBg3aqTcpu3LJBONDayoNvwYHztwfdeRRgM/s1600/IMG_0702+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisoVJi7PuQUQ-YjUIuHQN9tLYpXbs09cyve82qJzc4n83CGjURhx9NP6zXUQG_-9PETPHAhGN9WklLAkgz0tyfyBp-8SZ9s_7XMdAFP6Q-bBg3aqTcpu3LJBONDayoNvwYHztwfdeRRgM/s640/IMG_0702+copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hmmm. It kind of lacks impact. (But her face is so cute!!! ^__^ )</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">This is a really common problem, and sometimes it's much more serious.</span></div>
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Slight warping of parts is really common on new figures, even from the best of manufacturers. A lot of the time, the warping is unnoticeable, but sometimes it messes up the visual impact of the figure (as in this case) or, worse, it causes parts to be incapable of fitting together. I have this problem sometimes, particularly with Figma accessories – they're so small that even a couple of millimetres of bending means they just don't fit together at all! (Oh no!)</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">A</span>nother common issue (this one shows up most with Nendoroid Petit stands in my experience) is when a peg or ball joint is just too big for the hole it's meant to fit into!</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Y</span>et another issue is when parts are so stiff that you're afraid they might break when trying to put them together. For example, if a Figma's changeable hands are very hard to swap.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Luckily these problems can all be fixed with one simple method!</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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(Now for the unnecessary explanation, in case you're interested... if not, skip to the next section...) </div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Nendoroids, Figmas and most other figures (and most toys in general) are primarily made from PVC, which is a thermoplastic – that just means it melts when you heat it up. If you heat PVC up to about 120ºC, it turns into a nasty burny liquid <strike>which sticks onto your skin and burns the shit out of you</strike>. It is this <strike>sticky lava of death</strike> hot liquid which is injected into moulds to make figures and toys.</blockquote>
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I <i>won't</i> be melting Konata's ahoge until it becomes a liquid today (very messy), but I <i>will</i> be heating it.</div>
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PVC becomes soft and pliable long before it melts... so I'm going to warm up the plastic and reshape the ahoge so that it looks more like the pic on the box.</div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<b>This method is great for reshaping slightly bent parts or pieces that don't fit together properly!</b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">You do it like this:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">1.</span> Heat up the part a little bit with a WARM hairdryer. Remember, we don't want to melt our figures (unless you want to make them into some kind of halloween-themed diorama) so don't make it super hot. The part should feel nice and warm to touch.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwUwuu06YX0AZAtyfzWdvj-2Hy2ucmrikgBWg2Vw0rSAP9V5MT_sgdNmUqlOlFfOo7jeYVtLO54gsTpDx_4u9MDHt4ACEmhURbC4wN6KxE-D3BOAW9_IP96nWtvygRgn_7Opg0CQOLX_Q/s1600/IMG_0707+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwUwuu06YX0AZAtyfzWdvj-2Hy2ucmrikgBWg2Vw0rSAP9V5MT_sgdNmUqlOlFfOo7jeYVtLO54gsTpDx_4u9MDHt4ACEmhURbC4wN6KxE-D3BOAW9_IP96nWtvygRgn_7Opg0CQOLX_Q/s640/IMG_0707+copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Keep your hand in the air stream from the hairdryer when heating figures.<br />
When you feel like the dryer is making your hand a bit too warm, switch it off.</td></tr>
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You'd be amazed how fast little figure parts can heat up. I only need to use the hairdryer for a few seconds.</div>
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If you don't have a hairdryer, you can put the part in a basin of warm water for a couple of minutes.</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: large;">Swapping Figma hands / I</span><span style="font-size: large;">nserting a peg which is a little too large for its socket:</span><br />
In these cases, gently heat the arm/socket but not the hand/peg itself. Do this by the method described above. Then just push the peg into the socket as normal. It should be much easier when the plastic is warm.<br />
<b>HYBRID LOVERS TAKE HEED! </b>This method changes the shape of the socket (permanently in most cases) to fit the peg you are pushing into it. If you are hybridising parts from different figures by this method, be aware that the original peg that the socket was designed for may be loose afterwards.</blockquote>
Now, back to reshaping warped parts...<br />
<div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">2. </span>While the plastic is warm, bend it into the position/shape you want.</div>
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How hard this is will depend on what the part is. For Konata's super cute ahoge (So cute!!! ^__^ ), I could do it with gentle pressure of my thumb and forefinger, but for bigger parts you may need to use both hands. It depends a lot on the exact plastic used and the size of the part.</div>
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In general, I only do this with fairly small parts.</div>
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<b>Remember to be careful! </b>Don't force parts! If the plastic won't bend, then it may need to be heated more.</div>
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If it's uncomfortably hot to touch and it still won't bend (you shouldn't even make it that hot in the first place), chances are the part is too big or is not made of thermoplastic. In this case, you should stop before you damage your figure!</div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">3. </span>Hold the reshaped part in the new position until the plastic cools down again. If you're feeling impatient, you can run the part under cold water to cool it down faster, but PVC cools down fairly quickly by itself.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIOJiihm4CrM_msZvxEdka0beGbgYKzkiqDtIWYDcJsJ-1xjhFb60uB9fAms7wA4gYvJ2xn75i5nKCjSUF5XKyu5AmwW7qzZ6OsR-ise5HrXisr1x1It-bdf7bR3ji-g1NnFe9gBxuRwU/s1600/IMG_0710+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="372" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIOJiihm4CrM_msZvxEdka0beGbgYKzkiqDtIWYDcJsJ-1xjhFb60uB9fAms7wA4gYvJ2xn75i5nKCjSUF5XKyu5AmwW7qzZ6OsR-ise5HrXisr1x1It-bdf7bR3ji-g1NnFe9gBxuRwU/s640/IMG_0710+copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Why do my hands always look purple in photographs??? >:@</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">4. </span>....... just kidding. There is no step four.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The Ahoge is Fixed!</span></div>
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</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2OHNJ_VVcL0scegiEp-ce-Z7o-oGPboHx90rp8tbtU8pzZOLv8a0SUIB_QdGdyD1KWFGHHaee7Mdy8Geol7CgaHpH031nvZwz-2sEp4K-gfWQ_6Z12zjgCJc17SYOF0QaxiORi514nAw/s1600/IMG_0732+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2OHNJ_VVcL0scegiEp-ce-Z7o-oGPboHx90rp8tbtU8pzZOLv8a0SUIB_QdGdyD1KWFGHHaee7Mdy8Geol7CgaHpH031nvZwz-2sEp4K-gfWQ_6Z12zjgCJc17SYOF0QaxiORi514nAw/s640/IMG_0732+copy.jpg" width="490" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So cuuuuuuutteeeee!!!!!! ^__^</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Just note: </span>Sometimes parts like this bend back a little bit after cooling. If this happens, you may want to repeat the process of heating and reshaping 2–3 times, allowing the plastic to cool in between.</div>
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Though of course, sometimes near enough's good enough.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Anyway...</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">This is a broad method and the principles can be applied to many different problems!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
When I bought my Figma Nanoha, the wing things on her feet (sorry, I haven't actually seen the anime, so I don't know the names of any of the things... or if the things even <i>have</i> names), didn't fit on at all. A little heat applied to the attachment parts and a bit of bending, however, and <b><i>Nanoha flies again!</i></b></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH-kyh9A9dv8fWG1af31zgPXe7nwMSpaCxMfvRprP_5j7bpOw9uBRPzgryRP59JwC1QfxR6_nk_bpAD0rH866-8LYZ-07iISJKimkkXv0HHXfcoQueBZovORESlR5uvVs3VVNeRDHIDvM/s1600/Figma+Nanoha+Flies1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH-kyh9A9dv8fWG1af31zgPXe7nwMSpaCxMfvRprP_5j7bpOw9uBRPzgryRP59JwC1QfxR6_nk_bpAD0rH866-8LYZ-07iISJKimkkXv0HHXfcoQueBZovORESlR5uvVs3VVNeRDHIDvM/s640/Figma+Nanoha+Flies1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The background is a calendar of "Scenic New Zealand" which I bought cheap in March one year.<br />
Cheap old calendars make great (and cheap! Did I mention cheap?) backdrops for figure photos.<br />
... by the way, when I took the photo, Nanoha was hanging from a Figma stand which I blu-tacked<br />
to the top of my desk, but I photoshopped it out. You can tell I had fun today, can't you?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b>Anyway, that brings this post to a close!</b></div>
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<b>Happy Repairing!</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>Best of luck!</b></div>
<b> Cheers!</b><br />
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<b> Sparkey</b></div>
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<br /></div>
<br /></div>
Sparkey Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01659788878499245726noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1574592750700958035.post-19591558955949457912013-04-12T22:38:00.001+10:002013-04-12T23:00:38.418+10:00Misc. Figma Care – If a Figure Seems Disappointing<span style="font-size: large;">To my long un-updated blog,</span><br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>This will be a landmark post, ladies and gentlemen!</b></div>
<div>
That's right.</div>
<div>
I am finally writing an article in which my subject will be <b>A FIGMA!</b> :O</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Today I will be sprucing up Figma Araragi Koyomi, because he's a bit unappealing, and has been ever since I bought him.</div>
<div>
Here he is:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_31pRnYghHJJIwx3n3YPpww2od-CmjZQiAhDshZiD0jZc_WEpgiYne5lClouFI_81VYJ-YrpFXfxWIzPLzrSXOg08EzpF8RYhqcluPquIpm_KQxKlYMYurO69hcC9weUjgEbED_oj5ug/s1600/IMG_0443.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_31pRnYghHJJIwx3n3YPpww2od-CmjZQiAhDshZiD0jZc_WEpgiYne5lClouFI_81VYJ-YrpFXfxWIzPLzrSXOg08EzpF8RYhqcluPquIpm_KQxKlYMYurO69hcC9weUjgEbED_oj5ug/s640/IMG_0443.jpg" width="534" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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Okay, so there are a couple of things you might notice right away.</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>Araragi had three main problems and because of them I had never really liked him, but it's really not his fault and all he ever needed was a bit of TLC.</i></blockquote>
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Since I fixed these minor issues I've started to really like him! He's actually really cool!</div>
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So... <span style="font-size: large;">The Actual Problems:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">1. </span>His paintwork is really dull and unappealing.</div>
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It looked cool on the prototype, but my figure looks kind of flat (it's a bit hard to tell from the picture, but he was really boring compared to my other Figmas).</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">2. </span>He has a smear of ugly glue on the front of his shirt. :(</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">3. </span>There's a <i>slight</i> chance that you've picked up on this already, but his arm keeps falling off.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The Actual Solutions To The Actual Problems:</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">1. The Dull Paintwork.</span></div>
<div>
Many Figmas seem to suffer from a phenomenon I'm going to call "Factory Dust". It's not very noticeable, but they have it straight out of the box and it really dulls the paint, especially dark colours.</div>
<div>
I think it's probably caused by a coating of fine dust or powder, but luckily, it's still easy to get rid of.</div>
<div>
<b>Just rinse the figure under running water. No soap required.</b></div>
<div>
That's it. No tricks (apart from keeping the plug in so that small parts don't go down the drain if they accidentally fall off). Plain, cold, running water straight from the tap. </div>
<div>
<b>It works on Nendoroids too, and doubtless many other types of figures which just don't seem as bright as they should. </b></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">If your new figure looks a little dull, try giving it a cold bath!</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">(Somehow it took me about nine months to think of this...)</span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Araragi's colouring came up really nicely after cleaning. It's actually really surprising how much better he looks. I didn't realise he had that much "Factory Dust" on him!</div>
<div>
.... I have no idea what the stuff actually is, though... I'm guessing it's something to do with the packaging process, but I will probably never know.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEkAalNaAd1MGpcik3hcTGPZbzfqPMZnSWu4qqdKarFBo-lQPDbXfdy0lAKyTcYohcMB5_PppCTmBXZb9e3yulCBk7YerX-9MwvHluYUrHy6B95Bf3vMv-5ugaGx_154APTFOVq8WzDk4/s1600/Nendoroids+in+The+Pool.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="411" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEkAalNaAd1MGpcik3hcTGPZbzfqPMZnSWu4qqdKarFBo-lQPDbXfdy0lAKyTcYohcMB5_PppCTmBXZb9e3yulCBk7YerX-9MwvHluYUrHy6B95Bf3vMv-5ugaGx_154APTFOVq8WzDk4/s640/Nendoroids+in+The+Pool.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An effective yet impractical method of washing figures.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
OK, next!</div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">2. The Ugly Smear of Glue.</span></div>
<div>
First up, a photo:</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLupr869c23FJvAZnXL_wwg704iV0XfmcnkdGc3co6XBZjl-GcLDujN_WpNMUbkVjbIgjXBePdee6MBSgQIfj97hSEaLESsvJ3PRrUvZdXgz1JDxrCqlVlaVVFd7SEfOto1MjSD3-Q4y4/s1600/IMG_0444+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLupr869c23FJvAZnXL_wwg704iV0XfmcnkdGc3co6XBZjl-GcLDujN_WpNMUbkVjbIgjXBePdee6MBSgQIfj97hSEaLESsvJ3PRrUvZdXgz1JDxrCqlVlaVVFd7SEfOto1MjSD3-Q4y4/s400/IMG_0444+copy.jpg" width="330" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">When I got Araragi, there was more glue on his<br />
shirt than shown here – I only remembered to take<br />
a picture half way through removing it.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
Damn! So ugly!</div>
<div>
Like so many of its smudgy conspecifics, this blemish is small but super visible and super annoying! (... it may even be super <i>glue</i>........... heh.)</div>
<div>
I don't know how many figures come out of their shiny new boxes with horrible glue smears on them, but I figured I'd write this up in case anybody else is having this kind of problem.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">T</span>o remove the ugly smear, I used a really big sewing needle to chip away at the glue:<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAVh3R7NOwmQEMKL05cQ9ZqxULHtbZnMHyDSi5F4bHBDj-Vsn4pXdKqb41APbNQFQ29dJjnVI-Lg8k8r_hceBP050fAkKPX5yiXSBVnMfXA3dtXAoxszljw8JNNBFD6zqkTQHviYySKzQ/s1600/IMG_0452+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAVh3R7NOwmQEMKL05cQ9ZqxULHtbZnMHyDSi5F4bHBDj-Vsn4pXdKqb41APbNQFQ29dJjnVI-Lg8k8r_hceBP050fAkKPX5yiXSBVnMfXA3dtXAoxszljw8JNNBFD6zqkTQHviYySKzQ/s400/IMG_0452+copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An embroidery needle? It's fairly sharp but it's huge – nearly 10cm (4") long!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjoywdYkLN_uL6asAKXkg1gYWBtmoHOgkEwvpvDAPOjPGR1N9tsCkf8DRuRLRIFNiJoYtnmCX3_qHrA2xAnCHIhvYjq277i9iUPhEgWtUAxnsRAPKKGszeY8p4H8gLuLp-87xW5bNQW64/s1600/IMG_0456+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjoywdYkLN_uL6asAKXkg1gYWBtmoHOgkEwvpvDAPOjPGR1N9tsCkf8DRuRLRIFNiJoYtnmCX3_qHrA2xAnCHIhvYjq277i9iUPhEgWtUAxnsRAPKKGszeY8p4H8gLuLp-87xW5bNQW64/s640/IMG_0456+copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Very gently chip away at the glue, taking care not to damage the plastic underneath. In my case the glue was on one of the "flexible material" (AKA rubbery) parts of the Figma which meant it came off quite smoothly.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I say the glue came off smoothly, but there were still a few little bits left over which wouldn't come off with the needle.</div>
<div>
Because I am a very obsessional person, I carefully filed these off with a fine grade emery board type file. It's meant for making PVC jewellery and I think it's officially a "polishing" file.</div>
<div>
Seriously, some of these files are so fine that you can file the surface off paint without scraping through to whatever's underneath. It's fishsticking amazing!</div>
<div>
I highly recommend getting some because they're also great for removing paint smudges (and they're cheap. I got a pack of three for ≈$6.00).</div>
<div>
~ yeah, you know I didn't really mean "fishsticking".</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiteFlnpjwPgWm_gceMu3HUVySiKewXpxsCVZUMKmggTCpPV8NwjaoOnWJ7ZizObi7YkCcb5w6pxE7wiF6_2iddg5riPiEq9-hQaQOkZ2DAVaZnR4c7BaiczviHFL3nCLfn8XIp_a_F1k4/s1600/IMG_0462+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiteFlnpjwPgWm_gceMu3HUVySiKewXpxsCVZUMKmggTCpPV8NwjaoOnWJ7ZizObi7YkCcb5w6pxE7wiF6_2iddg5riPiEq9-hQaQOkZ2DAVaZnR4c7BaiczviHFL3nCLfn8XIp_a_F1k4/s640/IMG_0462+copy.jpg" width="473" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An equally good alternative to a file would be fine grade polishing paper (like sandpaper but<br />
super fine. Regular sandpaper isn't much good for figures because it leaves noticeable scratches).<br />
On a side note, Araragi's colouring has heaps more impact now that he's clean!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
Right. The glue is all fixed! On to the next problem...</div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">3. His arm keeps falling off.</span></div>
<div>
Yes... um... it <i>does</i> keep falling off.</div>
<div>
Ever since I got him, it's been fairly loose. It stays on okay most of the time, but when I try to pose him it pops off with very little provocation. The socket in his shoulder just seems a bit too shallow.</div>
<div>
<b>To be honest, I haven't managed to fix it yet.</b> I tried a few things and none of them worked, but if I manage to repair this loose joint, I'll write a post about it.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
For now, Araragi's arm will have to stay loose, but he still looks WAY better than he did when I got him!</div>
<div>
... and his arm isn't too bad anyway...</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
... at least, Mayoi doesn't think so.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGZuS0r4ljTKLe20nFlqJCYpv4wxzDo3yd7LFEcYlYn8VR2EJrgViB35guGAMW91A1RmZhDmm5MriSSYOOkZc5aczqI2LqvgfRT_s-YbVbfyzae8wkAEAKLyEhXOZObQ3lvcL79ZnRulQ/s1600/Araragi'sArmisGoodEnoughforMayoi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGZuS0r4ljTKLe20nFlqJCYpv4wxzDo3yd7LFEcYlYn8VR2EJrgViB35guGAMW91A1RmZhDmm5MriSSYOOkZc5aczqI2LqvgfRT_s-YbVbfyzae8wkAEAKLyEhXOZObQ3lvcL79ZnRulQ/s640/Araragi'sArmisGoodEnoughforMayoi.jpg" width="536" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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^___^</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Anyway, I hope this post was at least a little bit helpful, even if I didn't end up fixing Araragi's arm!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>As always, best of luck with your figures!</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>Cheers!</b></div>
<b>Sparkey</b><br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
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<div>
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Sparkey Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01659788878499245726noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1574592750700958035.post-53045727620977903962012-11-29T17:04:00.000+11:002012-11-29T21:48:05.050+11:00Writing to the Manufacturer: The ins and outs.<span style="font-size: large;">Yo. </span><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Wait... does anybody even say that anymore?)</span><br />
<br />
<b>Toy collecting readers,</b><br />
Sometimes a break is so horrible, so ugly, so mushy, so fiddly, that it is pretty much impossible to repair without acquiring... a <i>new part!</i><br />
In the following paragraphs I will be talking about the most pathetically pathetic figure repair method:<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Writing to the manufacturer! :D</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIRQcGNu3_jEo_IHgDULmS76ZQnRk0a0vSMqVN7_C_W0MBEsevfiVKkm1AwFsKunvJrQIrJDYOc72X131jMHtOC5JMqbEVsfiE5AkICwwSBWjQLfzMbKoNnCkeRLBW7m5K1Z452F7C1rU/s1600/stupid+email2.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="128" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIRQcGNu3_jEo_IHgDULmS76ZQnRk0a0vSMqVN7_C_W0MBEsevfiVKkm1AwFsKunvJrQIrJDYOc72X131jMHtOC5JMqbEVsfiE5AkICwwSBWjQLfzMbKoNnCkeRLBW7m5K1Z452F7C1rU/s400/stupid+email2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
I've resorted to this twice and both times it ended well. I got new parts and my toys were repaired in the best possible way.<br />
It is a little awkward and sometimes expensive, but it's also *Arny voice* <b>The Ultimate</b> repair method.<br />
<br />
I shall relate my experiences with two Japanese figure companies (most of my figures are Japanese), so you can get a feel for what to expect.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
By the way, most contact email addresses can be found buried deep in the bowels of the manufacturer's website. If the website is not in English or anything else you understand, try using Google's built-in translator function to make it easier to find your way around. This can be accessed by searching the page's address on Google.</blockquote>
<span style="font-size: large;">Episode 1: KAITO's Ice-cream</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Writing to GSC.</i></span><br />
<i>International contact: </i>support@goodsmile.jp<br />
<br />
<b>Goodsmile Company</b> is one of the high end figure manufacturers/distributors. They make Nendoroids and lovely scale figures, plus they seem to do a lot of work in tandem with other companies, such as Max Factory (the Figma company) and Phat!... they also have Amaaaaazing customer service. Seriously, they are the nicest company EVER.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">So, this is the story...</span><br />
It was Christmas eve last year and I was mucking around with <b>Nendoroid KAITO</b>.<br />
You've probably seen him before. He's the popular ice-cream loving big brother of Hatsune Miku.<br />
I had posed him with his ice-cream in his hand, but I wanted to put a plain hand on instead, so I went to take the ice-cream out of the hand part, but OH! It was stuck.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"Ha ha," thinks stupid me, "I'll just twist it out."</blockquote>
BUT, it was a hot day (in Australia, December is the first month of summer) and some interesting things had happened to the plastic... instead of twisting out of the hand part, it twisted OFF!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIeV_Lz2FzNYy0l82vm6grn2QVaiUVzyTpWesh09WkX5EHdn397tEo26a751egc0WhCHlzvmEWB_WXgInLqFXg3mrQ7kiot2-lyooLnyU7u3EABzPT205sUvsW9jJyauAvs3yNBeUQ4hw/s1600/Sad+KAITO+with+broken+icecream1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIeV_Lz2FzNYy0l82vm6grn2QVaiUVzyTpWesh09WkX5EHdn397tEo26a751egc0WhCHlzvmEWB_WXgInLqFXg3mrQ7kiot2-lyooLnyU7u3EABzPT205sUvsW9jJyauAvs3yNBeUQ4hw/s640/Sad+KAITO+with+broken+icecream1.jpg" width="497" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The ice-cream stick is stuck in the hand and the top is broken off!<br />
KAITO is understandably upset. (By the way, this face is from Nendoroid Ika Musume.)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Here's a closeup:<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyS_OIxmvcKTNDTmn8m5j4vMxUM5OgwMhQJxKcl_8WeOPPhQJfg2HbMwuEbO646uDbJAxXvbBi9Bo7xinBykqiNpGOvn6lztYlSlzNa7gwUUGwDHjAQBDFTfIjWAQiYo_qLFhjU6MotxU/s1600/KAITO's+broken+icecream1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyS_OIxmvcKTNDTmn8m5j4vMxUM5OgwMhQJxKcl_8WeOPPhQJfg2HbMwuEbO646uDbJAxXvbBi9Bo7xinBykqiNpGOvn6lztYlSlzNa7gwUUGwDHjAQBDFTfIjWAQiYo_qLFhjU6MotxU/s400/KAITO's+broken+icecream1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">*hysterical screaming*</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
It's mushy, it's ugly, it's visible and no matter what I do, that stick just isn't coming out. It seems to be somehow fused to the hand! D:<br />
<div>
Because the plastic is warped and the paint is torn and broken, even if I glued the ice-cream back on, that fracture would be disgustingly obvious and oh-so-ugly.<br />
<div>
... So I spent the next few weeks feeling sad about it, but after that I got up the courage to email GSC and beg them for help.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I mentioned before that they are the nicest company ever?<br />
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">THEY ARE THE NICEST COMPANY EVER!</span></div>
<div>
They apologised to me for the trouble KAITO had caused (I would have thought it was <i>me</i> causing <i>them</i> trouble!) and, after I showed them a photo of the broken part, they sent me a replacement hand and ice-cream for free. </div>
<div>
Wow!<br />
Does it get any better?</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJOzJVRn9JXVffLReWpgulgkEF11QKsqNtB-CZn3rqJ-vi6lVfvEXPB-2W1HwaYZLfFMEmFOo2YeMJzrt1ucITwQ6lpHiKx6Ml7xMecFkTea2z-MZJlNL4-IF52-N4gMY-Bk7BffyZfgg/s1600/Happy+Fixed+KAITO1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="468" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJOzJVRn9JXVffLReWpgulgkEF11QKsqNtB-CZn3rqJ-vi6lVfvEXPB-2W1HwaYZLfFMEmFOo2YeMJzrt1ucITwQ6lpHiKx6Ml7xMecFkTea2z-MZJlNL4-IF52-N4gMY-Bk7BffyZfgg/s640/Happy+Fixed+KAITO1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They are not only nice, but they have the friendliest looking letters...!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
I was quite lucky with this, though.</div>
<div>
When I broke my KAITO, a new version had just been released; KAITO Cheerful ver. which comes with exactly the same ice-cream parts.</div>
<div>
GSC say that they generally only stock spare parts for about a year after the figure (whatever that may be) is released, so if your figure is a few years old, you might not be so lucky.</div>
<div>
Still, I suppose it's worth a try. The worst they can say is "Sorry we don't have any".</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Episode 2: RAH Roy Mustang</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Contacting Medicom Toy.</i></span></div>
<div>
<i>International contact: </i>overseas@medicomtoy.co.jp</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Yes. You heard, er, <i>read</i> right.</div>
<div>
RAH Roy Mustang broke <i>again</i>. *facepalm* And this time it was really bad.</div>
<div>
I was posing his arm when suddenly his shoulder felt <i>loose.</i></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"Oh crap," I thought.</blockquote>
<div>
Oh crap indeed. Roy's left arm had broken off at the shoulder. Due to age and stress, the plastic had crumbled and the metal peg which holds the shoulder joint together had pulled out completely. Worse, there wasn't anywhere to put it back into because the plastic had broken into tiny crumbs.</div>
<div>
Look:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhQNQLrxQldueIUJn_AzGEvXYpg_WTCIueCMZAdSOVTNp6x9BOVKig4SkeAbqSbEzj3PbUD4ZEIVqoGeeZICv-wPnSMI7-iUDnwi3_0QjubhPyoBLV3QPT2bpIcVjAQdTdpDqmi6F1-yM/s1600/Roy%2527s+Broken+Shoulder+2+harrible.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhQNQLrxQldueIUJn_AzGEvXYpg_WTCIueCMZAdSOVTNp6x9BOVKig4SkeAbqSbEzj3PbUD4ZEIVqoGeeZICv-wPnSMI7-iUDnwi3_0QjubhPyoBLV3QPT2bpIcVjAQdTdpDqmi6F1-yM/s200/Roy%2527s+Broken+Shoulder+2+harrible.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhQNQLrxQldueIUJn_AzGEvXYpg_WTCIueCMZAdSOVTNp6x9BOVKig4SkeAbqSbEzj3PbUD4ZEIVqoGeeZICv-wPnSMI7-iUDnwi3_0QjubhPyoBLV3QPT2bpIcVjAQdTdpDqmi6F1-yM/s1600/Roy%2527s+Broken+Shoulder+2+harrible.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhQNQLrxQldueIUJn_AzGEvXYpg_WTCIueCMZAdSOVTNp6x9BOVKig4SkeAbqSbEzj3PbUD4ZEIVqoGeeZICv-wPnSMI7-iUDnwi3_0QjubhPyoBLV3QPT2bpIcVjAQdTdpDqmi6F1-yM/s400/Roy%2527s+Broken+Shoulder+2+harrible.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhQNQLrxQldueIUJn_AzGEvXYpg_WTCIueCMZAdSOVTNp6x9BOVKig4SkeAbqSbEzj3PbUD4ZEIVqoGeeZICv-wPnSMI7-iUDnwi3_0QjubhPyoBLV3QPT2bpIcVjAQdTdpDqmi6F1-yM/s1600/Roy's+Broken+Shoulder+2+harrible.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="528" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhQNQLrxQldueIUJn_AzGEvXYpg_WTCIueCMZAdSOVTNp6x9BOVKig4SkeAbqSbEzj3PbUD4ZEIVqoGeeZICv-wPnSMI7-iUDnwi3_0QjubhPyoBLV3QPT2bpIcVjAQdTdpDqmi6F1-yM/s640/Roy's+Broken+Shoulder+2+harrible.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">*more hysterical screaming*</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
After several unsuccessful attempts at fixing it (including hot glue, epoxy putty and a method which somehow ended up with Roy's shoulder still broken and two small holes accidentally drilled in my desk)...</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI8GmPzwqK8D6AkdJrObGCXdrcgI9riW35Qxc_F5qSQKlXQSzjSYx5SU7chyphenhyphenPL5Yzwaoo_gE16tUcxdZmiwWxmBopfa-RZGzULrwHmTT5D26z381rQge1LRuz6Ja10hDKNriQ6K9b2vcM/s1600/Roy's+Busted+Shoulder+Cross.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI8GmPzwqK8D6AkdJrObGCXdrcgI9riW35Qxc_F5qSQKlXQSzjSYx5SU7chyphenhyphenPL5Yzwaoo_gE16tUcxdZmiwWxmBopfa-RZGzULrwHmTT5D26z381rQge1LRuz6Ja10hDKNriQ6K9b2vcM/s640/Roy's+Busted+Shoulder+Cross.jpg" width="444" /></a></div>
<div>
... I ratted out that international email address and called for help.</div>
<div>
(Of course, it was easy to get his arm to stick back on, but the thing about action figures is that they have actual moving parts, so I wasn't happy with my attempts. At best the arm could be moved, but would slowly fall back down under its own weight.)</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>Medicom were similar in their approach to GSC.</b> They asked for photos and then offered to help me.</div>
<div>
They said that installing the new parts was difficult, and that, if I sent Roy to them, they would repair him and install the new parts for me for free!</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Woot!</blockquote>
<div>
One catch, though. I had to pay the postage.</div>
<div>
Well, seriously, that's more than fair. Roy has been discontinued for years and they still offered to fix him for me free of charge.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I did what they told me, they did what they promised, and it was all extremely cool!</div>
<div>
They replaced a bunch of Roy's parts, including the broken shoulder, some parts they thought were <i>at risk of breaking in the future</i> and Roy's previously broken and glued neck.</div>
<div>
How awesome is Medicom Toy? I am seriously impressed with the amount of responsibility they take for their figures.</div>
<div>
I also asked them to send back the old broken parts so that I could experiment on them, and they obliged.</div>
<div>
True, they did forget to include the stand when they sent him back, but after I emailed them, they sent me a new stand for free, so I'm happy.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The only, ONLY beef I have with the whole thing was that they sent Roy back to me via FedEx which cost me JP¥5500 (which at the time was the same as US$70). <i>AHHHH! MY PRECIOUS MONEY! What's wrong with EMS? EMS is great! I love EMS! (and money!)</i></div>
<div>
But Roy is, like, the best figure ever so I'm okay with the costs.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Here's a shot of Roy now </span>(and KAITO)<span style="font-size: large;">...</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwuCAmiIeuAG4dMHF4HjxszJhA10UCyaewVAlGQK_ulJsdDqlXptiqCSApL5nl__Juj2xr9Ashi69pPZHp6tYmCmcF4o6WhkkS3M-YCKSR0z5WZu1o_aBM49dFusVRvmRpiOvLmVAuO-4/s1600/Roy+and+KAITO+fixed1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwuCAmiIeuAG4dMHF4HjxszJhA10UCyaewVAlGQK_ulJsdDqlXptiqCSApL5nl__Juj2xr9Ashi69pPZHp6tYmCmcF4o6WhkkS3M-YCKSR0z5WZu1o_aBM49dFusVRvmRpiOvLmVAuO-4/s640/Roy+and+KAITO+fixed1.jpg" width="370" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Roy demonstrates that his left arm is now fixed.<br />
KAITO is on an ice-cream induced high.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I have only tried this with two companies, but doubtless there are other toy companies out there who would be just as good. It's always worth sending an email, even if they do end up saying no.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
That's not to say you should heckle them about every little thing that goes wrong, though. I would always advocate doing your best to fix the problem by yourself first!</div>
<div>
It's guaranteed to be cheap and it's pretty satisfying too! ;D</div>
<div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Just note:</span></div>
<div>
When I contacted both of these companies, I wasn't all like,</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>you a**wipe My damn figure broke an sh*t you suk fix it or you totaly gon to hell yellow moneky a**hols,,1</i></blockquote>
<div>
<div>
... OK, so it's unlikely that a person with grammar <i>liek dis</i> would know an ugly 1940's style racist slur, but I've seen everything else in that 'sentence' repeated over and over by a lot of people who make themselves look like idiots.</div>
<div>
I'm guessing that most toy collectors aren't like that (come on, we're a good breed), but I'm often surprised by people's lack of tact~~</div>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div>
<b>Rule No.1 of wanting someone to help you with something: Don't be an arse.</b></div>
<div>
In fact, be as respectful as possible. Nobody has any obligation to help any of us. They just do it because they're awesome! :D</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I sent both messages asking for advice on how I could fix the figure myself, because I wasn't really expecting the kind of service I got.</div>
<div>
With KAITO, I asked how I could remove the ice-cream from the hand or if I could <i>purchase</i> a replacement. With Roy, I wanted to know whether parts from a Medicom RAH Naked2 figure could be used to replace the broken shoulder.</div>
<div>
I also began both emails by complimenting the figures of the respective companies and saying how beautiful they are, how much I love collecting them and expressing my dismay that I was unable to repair them myself. This is of course, <strike>an effective suck up</strike> the truth.</div>
<div>
No, really. It is the truth and it doesn't hurt to say the nice things you think about people ^__^</div>
<div>
<br />
Honestly, I don't know if this really makes a difference at the end of the day, but it certainly can't hurt. At one point I actually had a bit of a conversation with the chatty GSC staff member, and if I had sent an email with a negative tone to start with, it would have been a much less pleasant experience.<br />
<br />
<b>Well, I guess that's my stock of information on this topic exhausted, so as always, Good Luck!</b><br />
<b>Cheers!</b><br />
<b>Sparkey.</b></div>
</div>
</div>
Sparkey Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01659788878499245726noreply@blogger.com51tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1574592750700958035.post-57327333698803477842012-11-24T01:58:00.001+11:002012-11-28T19:09:30.188+11:00Small Paint Touch-ups ~made INVISIBLE!<span style="font-size: large;">Hello!</span><br />
<br />
So, today I will be popping in briefly to my poor neglected blog to talk about minor paint touch-ups.<br />
<br />
It happens so often...<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
You have a lovely shiny new figure. It's pristine and beautiful right out of its box... then, in an instant, lost in your excitement, your hand slips; that momentary, involuntary movement which sends your new treasure flying. For a few moments, your heart is in your mouth as the figure falls to the floor (or worse, onto the sharp edge of one of those Apple ergonomic keyboards)... <i>Thunk. </i>The sound rings coldly in your ears.<br />
<blockquote>
Next is the horrible sinking sensation as you realise that beautiful new shiny paint is chipped. The chip is small, but horribly obvious. You know the shining white fleck of raw plastic will catch your eye every time you look at your figure <span style="font-size: large;">and the regret will live on inside you forever! You must do something!</span><br />
<blockquote>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">BUT WHAT?</span><span style="font-size: large;"> (<i>DUN DUN DUNNNNN!)</i></span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
</blockquote>
Well, you have two fairly obvious options. You could put the chipped figure on the shelf and feel sad, or, you could paint over the blemish and be happy.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Today I will be explaining the unthreatening task of covering up the all-too-common paint chip.</span><br />
<br />
Meet Chogokin Aegis, who is beautiful:<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyGCoib-Z2IIDm0zX_uG-aqIWMtpdVrlNNXLKbgDcaVVWGjyf1XREPtyurpwcb2nID9uAArV6seIFco_Ckap-JlUlGlkWn22wtmPjlIv3b_51OQYSKaT0ryU3VSzuxYGmMA9NtmHuM80c/s1600/ChogokinAegisStands1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyGCoib-Z2IIDm0zX_uG-aqIWMtpdVrlNNXLKbgDcaVVWGjyf1XREPtyurpwcb2nID9uAArV6seIFco_Ckap-JlUlGlkWn22wtmPjlIv3b_51OQYSKaT0ryU3VSzuxYGmMA9NtmHuM80c/s640/ChogokinAegisStands1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some people claim that Chogokin Aegis has trouble standing on her own but they are obviously just naysayers who lack creativity. She can stand just fine! ... you only need to adjust her center of gravity forward a little...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
So anyway, Aegis had a relatively small blemish on the bow around her neck. I think she came out of the box with it.<br />
Here it is, in all its shining glory:<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7CaTJ4OQDH6zC7WTfrEfaG4m58asaFzloEgcgI6JIOAd-t4rL9F5Jy324XIkof2xZ8tIjLQVGd2cazvc1qZbE0ohPcgRDatXWKxOytTV9pNzr4IzMIZmZ4Dbt9VMP0w5RBoPsAZKWLtI/s1600/Aregis+Blemish1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7CaTJ4OQDH6zC7WTfrEfaG4m58asaFzloEgcgI6JIOAd-t4rL9F5Jy324XIkof2xZ8tIjLQVGd2cazvc1qZbE0ohPcgRDatXWKxOytTV9pNzr4IzMIZmZ4Dbt9VMP0w5RBoPsAZKWLtI/s400/Aregis+Blemish1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Okay, so it's not THAT bad, but it's annoying. (Besides, I like painting.)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;">So... tools.</span><br />
I will be using the following things:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
A tiny paintbrush.<br />
Paint.</blockquote>
I know it's a lot to remember, but try to stay focussed.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Now... </span>This is the <strike>part where I explain with unnecessary detail</strike> tricky part.<br />
<b>It's time to choose the right colour.</b><br />
The paint I use for this kind of thing is good old cheap and readily available acrylic. It doesn't matter what grade. Student or artist both seem to be fine.<br />
If you want to do touch-ups, I suggest keeping a good range of colours so that mixing the right shade is easy.<br />
<br />
<b>Now, I need red.</b> You'd think red is red, right? No. Wrong.<br />
You see, paint manufacturers are not normal people, and to them "red" is anything which even kind of vaguely resembles what we, in the real world, would term "red". (Like "indian red"? Not even close. Sorry guys. It's brown no matter which way you look at it.)<br />
I, personally, have three shades of "red" on hand for just this reason. Usually, at least one of them matches or can be mixed to a colour which will match:<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGEjEQGz5ZdUyBDWeC-EA09yNgKAY0w05W482O6anPgyKO_qP9baZPXxVnE8B05JuEdyYxt2YvOA-Y84hw0RzreTTpBEHK-lBUrb8X2Vi3ahDAU7z6Unc24DIELFXi1RQiXJkORPL8PFM/s1600/Reds+Paint+tubes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGEjEQGz5ZdUyBDWeC-EA09yNgKAY0w05W482O6anPgyKO_qP9baZPXxVnE8B05JuEdyYxt2YvOA-Y84hw0RzreTTpBEHK-lBUrb8X2Vi3ahDAU7z6Unc24DIELFXi1RQiXJkORPL8PFM/s640/Reds+Paint+tubes.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>From left to right (note that label colours are often wildly inaccurate and names vary a lot):</b> <br />
<b>"Cool Red"</b>: this is a pinkish colour similar to the magenta used in CMYK printing and is good for making purple but not orange. When added to yellow it makes a colour I like to call "poo", but purples made with this shade have a lovely depth and clarity. Added to a spot of white it makes "hot pink".<br />
<b>"Warm Red / Brilliant Red"</b>: This is a bright, slightly orangey colour and cannot be used to make purple, but it does a very nice orange.<br />
<b>"Red"</b>: Miraculously, this artist's paint is actually a good medium red which can be mixed to purple or orange, though it doesn't make as good a purple as "cool red". I searched for many years to find this colour.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Unfortunately "cool red" and "warm red" seem to be the most common in shops, but if you keep both of them in stock you should be able to manage. Who knows? Maybe mixing them together will make a proper red (though for some reason I never felt like trying that...)<br />
<br />
<i>Please note that no other primary colours are this stupid.</i><br />
<br />
So, to choose the right shade I opened the tubes and compared the colour of the <b>actual paint inside</b> with Aegis' ribbon and luckily the "red" on the right was very close, so I didn't have to mix colours.<br />
<br />
Mixing colours really isn't that big of a deal if you have to do it. Just keep fiddling around with small amounts of paint until it's right.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">On to the actual painting:</span><br />
It's a very small area which I'm painting. Just get a tiny bit of paint on the end of your brush and gently paint over the blemish.<br />
If the paint is a bit lumpy, wipe your brush and use it to smooth over the freshly painted surface (before it dries!) until it's nice and even, removing excess paint if necessary.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbzPRcBl25Q5UMxkBfc7130EaYqY9598fjLa-PY3CVOtnKMm8ZSXfiYPY2ZEDiV-6eNlE73x0gWfPXx80rFh7HUbXsRDuIy5pAnFbCCpv8rIAEyc5BFrp1Sxr0sVOuOpUNKWJKr5VOaZE/s1600/Little+Red+Paint1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbzPRcBl25Q5UMxkBfc7130EaYqY9598fjLa-PY3CVOtnKMm8ZSXfiYPY2ZEDiV-6eNlE73x0gWfPXx80rFh7HUbXsRDuIy5pAnFbCCpv8rIAEyc5BFrp1Sxr0sVOuOpUNKWJKr5VOaZE/s400/Little+Red+Paint1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You don't need much. I dipped my brush once for this job.<br />
This picture shows approximately how much paint I used.<br />
(And how tiny the brush is!)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
If the area to be painted was a bit larger, I might consider<b> thinning</b> the paint with a bit of ethanol or metholated spirits to make it spread more evenly (no, vodka probably isn't good enough). I wouldn't recommend thinning with water because it tends to stop the paint from sticking to the plastic.<br />
When thinning, just add a teeny drop of ethanol/metho to your palate (which in my case is the lid of an old ice-cream tub – classy!) and thin the paint little by little, as you go – invariably some sections will want thicker paint than others.<br />
<br />
<b>Sometimes, the colour isn't as much of an exact match as you expected it to be! \(O.O)/</b><br />
If this happens, don't panic. (o.o)<br />
The human brain seems to be trained to notice sharp edges, so, using a very thin layer of paint, make a gradient <i>(see below)</i> over the edge of the touchup. This will make it extremely hard to notice the colour difference. Sometimes you have to paint quite far to make it work, but that's no problem.<br />
<br />
If you <i>really</i> stuffed it up, then quickly wash your brush and then use the wet (but not dripping) brush to loosen the paint (this must be done before it dries), then dab off the mushy paint with a tissue.<br />
I have done this plenty of times and I've never wrecked a figure.<br />
<br />
If worst comes to worst, you can just paint over your touch-up once it's dry. (I end up doing that pretty often, actually...)<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">And... We're done!</span><br />
I always write a lot, but once you actually get down to it, the job only takes about 40 seconds.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc0UTacZhxJXPpCiu31VlF-Jcn9AgrRZMWxAwvgpV0ENlAUDgUMI7fIteyXjWf5qGyXLt5sT7VPNDPw3SfUWoP3wSySUWqHTRummH4xyZR1wYsN_Fb6FGwGdoJ1eSthqooegGhFMsOR1w/s1600/Aegis'+Bow+Fixed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc0UTacZhxJXPpCiu31VlF-Jcn9AgrRZMWxAwvgpV0ENlAUDgUMI7fIteyXjWf5qGyXLt5sT7VPNDPw3SfUWoP3wSySUWqHTRummH4xyZR1wYsN_Fb6FGwGdoJ1eSthqooegGhFMsOR1w/s400/Aegis'+Bow+Fixed.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Aegis' Fixed Ribbon!</b><br />
The "red" paint didn't quite match the original colour, so I made a gradient.<br />
Can you see it? It even extends onto the left side of the bow at the top.<br />
(I can't see it.)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">More info on gradients:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Introducing </i>Real Action Heroes Baoh Renewal ver!</span><br />
Doesn't he have a pretty face?<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyo3RFsy4EmgG7a3LxG6C9bi4pxz_btd380em7EYtK_v9fDHwA33Amnnqz5IESsIocTQEYwiKf4rGZjFczspazf02_PQ1wpePcHyUpJ2HP9u9XExCw4Ng5jDFigC7AJoXFnGNmeDMTPCA/s1600/Baoh+Portraits+Paint.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="441" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyo3RFsy4EmgG7a3LxG6C9bi4pxz_btd380em7EYtK_v9fDHwA33Amnnqz5IESsIocTQEYwiKf4rGZjFczspazf02_PQ1wpePcHyUpJ2HP9u9XExCw4Ng5jDFigC7AJoXFnGNmeDMTPCA/s640/Baoh+Portraits+Paint.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These are not before and after shots. Unfortunately I forgot to take a before shot >__<<br />
These pictures just show how he looks in different light. <b>Left:</b> Under a horrible desk lamp. <b>Right:</b> With a flash.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Can you see where I painted? It's more obvious in the picture on the left.<br />
When I got Baoh, he had a little bit of a mark on his nose and I also didn't fancy how dark the lines/cracks around his mouth were.<br />
That's totally personal taste, so I suppose you can consider this a mod and not a touch-up, but I thought those lines looked a bit messy and not true to the manga, so I PAINTED OVER THEM!<br />
Naughty me. He was a collectable. Still, I love disgusting 1980's manga so I doubt I'll ever part with him.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
I made a colour I like to call <i>Baoh Blue</i> by mixing the cool red from earlier with a colour called "cobalt".</blockquote>
I have included Baoh in this post because he shows a visible example of a home-made gradient.<br />
You can see in the image on the left that there is a slight discrepancy between the colour of the middle of Baoh's face and the colour between the black lines on his cheeks.<br />
This is because I couldn't get the colour exactly right (and I like the variety anyway) and I also couldn't extend my invisible blendy magic gradient as far as I would have liked without painting out details... but the point is, do you see how <b>the new colour gets thinner and thinner until it's hard to see it? There's no "edge".</b><br />
<b>This is achieved by using less and less paint the further out you go.</b><br />
That's what you have to try and do if you want your touch-ups to be relatively invisible.<br />
Try it on a scrap of plastic like an ice-cream tub lid. It's not as hard as you think!<br />
<br />
<b>Happy Painting!</b><br />
<b>Cheers!</b><br />
<b>Sparkey</b><br />
<br />Sparkey Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01659788878499245726noreply@blogger.com55tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1574592750700958035.post-55876002461633664342012-08-07T22:27:00.001+10:002012-08-07T22:27:02.605+10:00Generic Action Figure Repairs - Two Methods to Fix Most Breaks!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Greetings!</span></div>
So I've been looking at my stats recently, and I am getting a lot of refers from people looking for info on fixing broken Figmas.<br />
I haven't actually managed to break any of my Figmas yet, but they're not so different in the way they work to a lot of other figures, so here I will be explaining two methods of repairing figures which are applicable to almost all PVC toys (including Figmas!) and can probably fix <b>over 90% of breaks!</b><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">O</span>K, first up, I'll explain the difference between a low stress area and a high stress area:<br />
<br />
<i>Low stress areas are not put under much pressure. They're usually not moving parts and if they are, then they're only moved minimally.</i><br />
<i>If you want to fix one of these, read Method No.1.</i><br />
<br />
<i>High stress areas are the things which break most often. They're things like shoulders, knees, necks, elbows, hips, etc, which have quite a lot of stress put on them when the figure is being played with.</i><br />
<i>If you want to fix one of these, read Method No.2.</i><br />
<b><br /></b>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Method No.1 – Supa Glue</b></span><br />
<i>For low stress repairs.</i><br />
<i>This is a really good (and DUH obvious) method for visible areas which are not part of a moving joint. It would be great for non-posable scale figures, snapped accessories (like swords or firearms) or other small things.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
The example figure I will be repairing is Nendoroid Millhiore F. Biscotti!<br />
Isn't she pretty?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmSCINKeUYlM6PKQ0x-A1TTt19SAobFD9r8GqzrgecLi7xtNcz9By3hdDvvkWDvxfsC9HtEMA9LHlMj7ke8JSrGSsC71PMflHmFeEaKZN7_l-zcol45XW_evpxfMXr3jxUM7tNZZnNcds/s1600/Millhiore+is+pretty1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmSCINKeUYlM6PKQ0x-A1TTt19SAobFD9r8GqzrgecLi7xtNcz9By3hdDvvkWDvxfsC9HtEMA9LHlMj7ke8JSrGSsC71PMflHmFeEaKZN7_l-zcol45XW_evpxfMXr3jxUM7tNZZnNcds/s400/Millhiore+is+pretty1.jpg" width="396" /></a></div>
<br />
Unfortunately, just after I got her, she fell of her horse... er... bird... er... <i>mount </i>and her ahoge broke where it attaches to her head!<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>Ahoge means "foolish hair" in Japanese, and, if you didn't know already, that's the silly bit of hair sticking out at the top of her head.</i></blockquote>
In Nendoroids, large ahoge like this are actually posable! You can rotate it from side to side so it can point in any direction (I love Nendoroids)!<br />
I would not recommend trying to fix anything which will be put under higher stress than this ahoge with glue alone. I'm careful when I'm posing it now, but it's been a few months and it hasn't broken yet.<br />
I didn't take any pictures of it when it was broken because it was before I started this blog, but here's a shot of how it looks now:<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhripIhZrj-RL86_7Q0QcSn1OGIHlIALISWYoNBg9tWf6t7UmtRX-FpQNfm16OwDgT2uTy6FqyVvOHzXQskh416YtjTbpiXVo19qkbcaGMV9998hxnjRzjiwGs-Yrm6ISA4vceM0Z7Laow/s1600/Millhiore's+Broken+Ahoge+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="381" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhripIhZrj-RL86_7Q0QcSn1OGIHlIALISWYoNBg9tWf6t7UmtRX-FpQNfm16OwDgT2uTy6FqyVvOHzXQskh416YtjTbpiXVo19qkbcaGMV9998hxnjRzjiwGs-Yrm6ISA4vceM0Z7Laow/s400/Millhiore's+Broken+Ahoge+small.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You can see the break just above where it attaches to her head.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;">A</span>nyway, after freaking out and practically crying (she is nothing without her ahoge! NOTHING, I tell you!) I glued it back on with supa glue.<br />
<div>
This is very easy.</div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">J</span>ust put glue on the broken surface and then push the two parts together until the glue grabs. This usually takes about 30 seconds or so.</div>
<div>
If it doesn't grab the first time, it probably means you used too much or too little glue. Don't be discouraged if you have to try this a few times with different amounts of glue... oh yeah, and don't get the glue on your skin because <i>it sticks to people </i>:O</div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Note:</span> Supa glue only works on really clean fractures, so if the plastic around your break is a little mushy, you might want to try a different adhesive. For info on choosing the right one for the job, have a look at my <b><a href="http://figurefixer.blogspot.com.au/p/more-about-adhesives-glue.html" target="_blank">glue info page</a>.</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div>
As you can see, the supa glue worked a treat on Princess Biscotti. Her ahoge is even still posable!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLpfoDo5iFcZsjoa5kn7ZaMfEbrSNfVfE_2wsGpho4eai-0eWxdEexDUoAClHP7DhFTxKhRzYpNrDrJsXBqnkLiCyDIU1_QRDxXzBBhoqwWOZV7E0xEXVQA0p3Rvi6GQb3JpsrPgXhNhg/s1600/Millhiore'sAhogeStopmotionlayers2lowres.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLpfoDo5iFcZsjoa5kn7ZaMfEbrSNfVfE_2wsGpho4eai-0eWxdEexDUoAClHP7DhFTxKhRzYpNrDrJsXBqnkLiCyDIU1_QRDxXzBBhoqwWOZV7E0xEXVQA0p3Rvi6GQb3JpsrPgXhNhg/s400/Millhiore'sAhogeStopmotionlayers2lowres.gif" width="393" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look at that ahoge go!<br />
(This looks way better when you're listening to fast music)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqxXwL97PnwFIYUqhqRwRy8vMtxZa4Si5k8xnt2kLIo-cwdRdocX2LfzQMNhkB2uQuu5AprzD1CXOUi3g4b0BuKYxUGdZ8RFgDZUyEjTCLAYwc4oFr-_EOfAI-7gymogSR3Ru9vXZlOgA/s1600/FigmaMarisa%2527sfixedcup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqxXwL97PnwFIYUqhqRwRy8vMtxZa4Si5k8xnt2kLIo-cwdRdocX2LfzQMNhkB2uQuu5AprzD1CXOUi3g4b0BuKYxUGdZ8RFgDZUyEjTCLAYwc4oFr-_EOfAI-7gymogSR3Ru9vXZlOgA/s400/FigmaMarisa%2527sfixedcup.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another example of where this method is really useful:<br />
Figma Marisa's cup had come unstuck from her hand and needed to be re-glued.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br />
And that's <span style="font-size: large;">M</span>ethod <span style="font-size: large;">N</span>o.<span style="font-size: large;">1</span>.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Method No.2 – Drilling & Pinning</b></span></div>
<div>
<i>This is my personal favourite method for fixing high stress fractures: <b>t</b></i><i><b>his includes action figure joints! YES, THAT MEANS FIGMAS!</b></i></div>
<div>
<i>The equipment required is not necessarily the kind of stuff that everybody has lying in their desk drawers, but if you're a figure collector, these tools are an invaluable resource and well worth the small amount of money you will pay for them.</i></div>
<div>
<i>All of these things are easily obtainable from hardware stores, hobby shops and online!</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
This is the method I used to fix RAH Roy Mustang's broken head, which you can read about <a href="http://figurefixer.blogspot.com.au/2012/06/repairing-broken-rah-joint-roy-mustang.html" target="_blank">here</a>!</div>
<div>
For now, however, the figure I will be demonstrating on is Pure neemo Kanata Sorami!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrA7inddAh60RFnxNgVwtdqj9nuNOQ7iuzVyVu93lZQO0OcOJcbkf2J-jJq96EMSFNZLbAbdabOBSzKPUVwTsXiK32-iubEGShVenqOAgLQBzYil-x8iT0LNSa4rV6nlRhAWP-1D8Wnrc/s1600/KanataSoramihelloeveryone1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrA7inddAh60RFnxNgVwtdqj9nuNOQ7iuzVyVu93lZQO0OcOJcbkf2J-jJq96EMSFNZLbAbdabOBSzKPUVwTsXiK32-iubEGShVenqOAgLQBzYil-x8iT0LNSa4rV6nlRhAWP-1D8Wnrc/s400/KanataSoramihelloeveryone1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Poor Kanata. Her knee joint popped out and so I took off her boots and trousers to fix it, but in doing so, I broke her foot off! *facepalm*</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Even though she can still stand with the foot off (I just jam her leg into her boot) I wanted to fix it, because she's just not the same with an amputation.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Here's the busted foot and the ankle it's busted off:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8sA5QAMWID3JpTDnduXfVQKigHVS92BDRfiAOha_mLSOgK9Y1ivL9sYsaHiE_HWidhecDPjrMNenxyrHS5lXYWBG4T0_tgaN6GXCbpX4j0bd-c_1wmaCj11Qdk08a9HZiOBnjXzGEYbE/s1600/Kanata's+Busted+Foot1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8sA5QAMWID3JpTDnduXfVQKigHVS92BDRfiAOha_mLSOgK9Y1ivL9sYsaHiE_HWidhecDPjrMNenxyrHS5lXYWBG4T0_tgaN6GXCbpX4j0bd-c_1wmaCj11Qdk08a9HZiOBnjXzGEYbE/s400/Kanata's+Busted+Foot1.jpg" width="331" /></a></div>
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The foot snapped off at the ankle joint.</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b><i>Pure neemo ankles are extremely similar to Nendoroid and Figma joints!</i></b></blockquote>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">S</span>omething like this is way too small and gets put under way too much strain to be fixable with glue alone, so I'm going to drill a hole in each side of the joint and insert a bit of wire before gluing.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Here is Kanata with the tools I will be using:</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1fdT0uhu11Xwju3YKVjpuchW9kp6NVyu2msrbPe-oBBdZ8VHNMMMyDVGejw9vykSR4x_mWQX0JS9gIbEHAm5M2sHJseTBmlpNYRJgsFOGr4gPUQrFV5Aqn_TWaWlmGdeAyP1qLUqA2Uk/s1600/KanataSoramiandTools.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1fdT0uhu11Xwju3YKVjpuchW9kp6NVyu2msrbPe-oBBdZ8VHNMMMyDVGejw9vykSR4x_mWQX0JS9gIbEHAm5M2sHJseTBmlpNYRJgsFOGr4gPUQrFV5Aqn_TWaWlmGdeAyP1qLUqA2Uk/s640/KanataSoramiandTools.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Anticlockwise from top:</b> 1.25mm wire, pin vice with drill bits, a suitable adhesive for mending PVC,<br />
wire cutters, pliers, a 1/6 scale designer Bauhaus chair for Kanata to sit in while I work (optional).</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">T</span>o start, drill a small hole into the <i>fractured surface</i> on each of the ankle and the foot. The holes should be roughly 3-4 millimetres deep (for my empirical friends, that's about 1/8") and the drill bit you use should be the same width as your wire, or as close as possible. My closest drill bit is 1.3mm and that works fine with the 1.25mm wire.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX5Mfrzadj3Ifll0OD-pR5kPbO6pVpFiqXrvrot4qZHDBDlfxbTw_kOrYAm32QbeWWBUetS4Axi03GUoI2Pro55P4x5PXg8dFskZcRkZHYJwyfIU_yHzbbndZriKS8h569dxkVRbf5NRw/s1600/using+a+pin+vice.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX5Mfrzadj3Ifll0OD-pR5kPbO6pVpFiqXrvrot4qZHDBDlfxbTw_kOrYAm32QbeWWBUetS4Axi03GUoI2Pro55P4x5PXg8dFskZcRkZHYJwyfIU_yHzbbndZriKS8h569dxkVRbf5NRw/s400/using+a+pin+vice.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me using a pin vice, in case you were wondering what it does exactly. It's<br />
basically just a little handle for a drill bit.<br />
(My hands aren't usually purple – I have eczema and it's cold.)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM5C6HtXmuCSGvOOmZzt_3DMWR4XxqhXqGo5kBKGMPa178C1ZAqMM_XviT4-kScFyxnerUlKpcxMfAtLscF_6XeogUZjMQbFyE6tCN0wJ_GjPC3oxMKRuYZ1_5tzxzGNsCsq28crzba10/s1600/IMG_7164+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM5C6HtXmuCSGvOOmZzt_3DMWR4XxqhXqGo5kBKGMPa178C1ZAqMM_XviT4-kScFyxnerUlKpcxMfAtLscF_6XeogUZjMQbFyE6tCN0wJ_GjPC3oxMKRuYZ1_5tzxzGNsCsq28crzba10/s400/IMG_7164+copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The foot, after drilling.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;">N</span>otice, in the above picture, that there is a centreline in the joint. This is not a mould line. It is the juncture of two separate pieces of plastic. It is the movement of the two pieces against each other which makes the joint functional.<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">A</span>lso notice how the hole I drilled does not go directly through the centreline, but instead to one side of it, through the original broken surface.<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">I</span>f you glue a wire through more than one of these pieces of plastic then the joint will be frozen and will not move anymore!</b><br />
It's exactly the same deal with Nendoroid and Figma joints.<br />
In fact, here's an old Nendoroid joint which has been taken apart, so you can get an idea of how it works:<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzGOR02nkRp5W1umuM3MJUJturCADqORNokkFFaT6py_qon7HCVIyrGMmwbfToS-HsfJnAdnFlLd-buQjQLlyfe4AI8HoLIp5CqnIbQm4ssUgRpAmZSUDhfDDb8idysLFqQKxr8tM2a9o/s1600/IMG_7183+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzGOR02nkRp5W1umuM3MJUJturCADqORNokkFFaT6py_qon7HCVIyrGMmwbfToS-HsfJnAdnFlLd-buQjQLlyfe4AI8HoLIp5CqnIbQm4ssUgRpAmZSUDhfDDb8idysLFqQKxr8tM2a9o/s400/IMG_7183+copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The hole in one piece fits over the central peg in the other. This allows<br />
the two pieces to rotate around each other – simple, but very effective!<br />
Many joints are constructed this way.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Here is the ankle after drilling:<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuP7aCPMK3UerNKQ0pBhnU-Kr0AXGvXU6k9f_PPF8n2S-l-xZ-CNbguApIYT-fH1ji3WP23RdQDx1TKMZ1h6KrbyKwMyjHbiP-S1fPiLxY7Ae57w_T8lDrLEhPQnwUntlcm69-aSulHV0/s1600/IMG_7217+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="326" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuP7aCPMK3UerNKQ0pBhnU-Kr0AXGvXU6k9f_PPF8n2S-l-xZ-CNbguApIYT-fH1ji3WP23RdQDx1TKMZ1h6KrbyKwMyjHbiP-S1fPiLxY7Ae57w_T8lDrLEhPQnwUntlcm69-aSulHV0/s400/IMG_7217+copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If the end of the peg is really mushy after drilling, just neaten it up a bit<br />
with pliers and a craft knife/wire cutters so that the joint will fit<br />
together nicely when gluing... this picture was taken after neatening.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Notice how the hole is slightly to one side in the above photograph. This is to correspond with the fact that the hole in the foot is also off-centre. If you can't get this quite right, it's no big deal, but it's better this way.<br />
... Actually, to be honest, I was hoping to pull the peg out of the leg part before drilling to make it less awkward to get to, but the pliers didn't grip properly and I just ended up mashing the peg :/<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">O</span>f course, this method is not limited to this kind of joint. You can use it to fix all sorts of things, like this fracture, in the straight shaft attaching RAH Roy Mustang's neck to his body:<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJcFOEkPDRglQXzAvg4paTdlsE1BUQzVRpKM5DP88shELD-WujyEhkjeZoWpTHM5nIETuSXbQgtdVuzSgaJT_K9QL3e_B8SYh_miSWj-eAUURrTkOhTWRaGOtcwO-ICXra3ij7BIBGPm4/s1600/Roy%2527sBrokenNeck.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJcFOEkPDRglQXzAvg4paTdlsE1BUQzVRpKM5DP88shELD-WujyEhkjeZoWpTHM5nIETuSXbQgtdVuzSgaJT_K9QL3e_B8SYh_miSWj-eAUURrTkOhTWRaGOtcwO-ICXra3ij7BIBGPm4/s320/Roy%2527sBrokenNeck.jpg" width="281" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was successfully fixed by drilling and pinning<br />
and Roy has since been posed many times over.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;">Anyway...</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">N</span>ow that the holes have been drilled, it's time to cut a piece of wire to fit them.<br />
The length of the wire should be equal to the combined depths of the drilled holes.<br />
For example, if I drilled a hole 3mm deep in the ankle and 4mm deep in the foot, then the wire will have to be 7mm long so the whole joint fits together nice and snugly.<br />
It is advisable to cut your wire to the right length before gluing anything. Believe me, it's just easier that way.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">O</span>nce you've cut your wire, glue it into one part of the drilled joint and let it set for a few hours.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXHU63DjyDU2ceOKGGvw157WR-1DbnHTt7o6sqCTVulyHnCs9OQmAP5oJBeUUaXsMyhBhquJR_YtC2XiExrfjsQhODPbeSVmHGRyYTfITaJGQiXUqVKKPThUkPBVBlZxm3TzLAPbuzEVo/s1600/IMG_7179+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXHU63DjyDU2ceOKGGvw157WR-1DbnHTt7o6sqCTVulyHnCs9OQmAP5oJBeUUaXsMyhBhquJR_YtC2XiExrfjsQhODPbeSVmHGRyYTfITaJGQiXUqVKKPThUkPBVBlZxm3TzLAPbuzEVo/s400/IMG_7179+copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kanata's foot with the wire glued in. The bent wire in the foreground<br />
was used to spread the glue.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Now that the glue is at least partially set, apply more glue and glue the whole joint together... with glue (I really love glue, don't you?).<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRWpAKEzOgawC3MP2_X0FrkgLAdTaIRtlwxN-5f8sIiqFabEjQydGBhIXbiD81ntpv3Yu921ytCaBRoAV5C2spLUTU1d1OWfcpE6Hqy9x65gJ1BazVS6UC7PXZA8oBcGMNlUiNQ-qQS4I/s1600/IMG_7230+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRWpAKEzOgawC3MP2_X0FrkgLAdTaIRtlwxN-5f8sIiqFabEjQydGBhIXbiD81ntpv3Yu921ytCaBRoAV5C2spLUTU1d1OWfcpE6Hqy9x65gJ1BazVS6UC7PXZA8oBcGMNlUiNQ-qQS4I/s400/IMG_7230+copy.jpg" width="338" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is how the joint looks now that it has been put back<br />
together – it looks a bit messy close up, but from a normal<br />
distance you don't notice it much.<br />
It's certainly better than having no foot!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg9TP9WrcYXR6j7S3bgj4OQZftzpfkLil_7CItgAsdVQ6ODqpgps5rsMZGeOiv7iWRDo3jc5BQxWr8CBjASefCNAma9Xxi0ZpCXWE75pSm1xZEWdur1GejACtgfbIb0k1nTYil5H376rQ/s1600/figmachieand+kanata'sbrokenfoot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg9TP9WrcYXR6j7S3bgj4OQZftzpfkLil_7CItgAsdVQ6ODqpgps5rsMZGeOiv7iWRDo3jc5BQxWr8CBjASefCNAma9Xxi0ZpCXWE75pSm1xZEWdur1GejACtgfbIb0k1nTYil5H376rQ/s400/figmachieand+kanata'sbrokenfoot.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Figma Chie has come to look at Kanata's foot while the glue is drying.<br />
She makes a pertinent (if dry) observation.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;">N</span>ow wait for the glue to dry. I don't know how long this will take. It depends on the type of glue, the temperature, atmospheric conditions, alignment of the planets, etc...<br />
Make an educated guess based on the instructions on the packet and add a few hours. That's my advice.<br />
...<br />
...<br />
...<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">O</span>K, so the glue is now set and... did it work?<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSZYFDFse2urP-GKraSoC2-7ILPLwPO1ksYnym7xI-IEcrH9R29eWA-NpmKY29UnF_v4Q_7EPbPm3K8_nJSLCDPYRtm93hDTQrPkLd5XxHOAucjTBaGv9pFXqdUYM3DE1zVdKOD971MvA/s1600/kanatasfootfixed.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSZYFDFse2urP-GKraSoC2-7ILPLwPO1ksYnym7xI-IEcrH9R29eWA-NpmKY29UnF_v4Q_7EPbPm3K8_nJSLCDPYRtm93hDTQrPkLd5XxHOAucjTBaGv9pFXqdUYM3DE1zVdKOD971MvA/s1600/kanatasfootfixed.gif" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heh. Sorry about the lighting... I think a cloud must have come across<br />when I shot some of the frames...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Yep.</div>
<div>
<br />
And that's <span style="font-size: large;">M</span>ethod <span style="font-size: large;">N</span>o.<span style="font-size: large;">2</span>.<br />
<br />
<b>Well, that's all from me!</b><br />
<b>I hope this helps some of you guys with your Figma-related problems!</b><br />
<b>Cheers! Sparkey.</b><br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>Sparkey Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01659788878499245726noreply@blogger.com81tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1574592750700958035.post-90197579636776471372012-08-04T13:53:00.001+10:002012-08-04T20:11:01.864+10:00Fixing the Central Torso Joint of a 12 Inch action Figure<span style="font-size: large;">Hello, all!</span><br />
Gees, it's been ages since I posted here!<br />
But that is for the simple reason that I have miraculously <i>not broken</i> any of my figures for that entire time (not even Roy)!<br />
... until a couple of weeks ago...<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I</span> was playing around with RAH Captain Harlock (the more recent version, not the super old one) when suddenly something went "crack". It's the kind of sound you never want to hear any kind of action figure making, let alone your pricey discontinued 12-incher.<br />
Captain Harlock is now fixed, but I spent, like, an hour getting him into a really cool pose (you know how it is) so for the duration of this blog, I will be using a different model.<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">M</span>eet <i>RAH Ginko</i>.<br />
He looks a bit apathetic, but he's actually a really helpful chap, and today he's kindly agreed to be an example RAH body for us.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf2IG957G11TMZbNBFYMSvCE-9QTSQVJee_aVCVxv74yk-ZIJwpY0STmnBj4v-eW5WxBikfZp2cv0y4Ogc-5fAVQw7PObA4Ksa7QkOALQB3YpStDkF-UCZ-UmvVefmxc4eXIljRC_oZII/s1600/RAHGinkoHello1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf2IG957G11TMZbNBFYMSvCE-9QTSQVJee_aVCVxv74yk-ZIJwpY0STmnBj4v-eW5WxBikfZp2cv0y4Ogc-5fAVQw7PObA4Ksa7QkOALQB3YpStDkF-UCZ-UmvVefmxc4eXIljRC_oZII/s400/RAHGinkoHello1.jpg" width="265" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">A</span>lthough the captain didn't seem visibly broken at first, as I continued trying to pose him, the joint in the middle of his torso became mysteriously limp, meaning he was unable to stand straight and, on further inspection, his entire top half could now be removed from his legs (which really isn't normal).<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-d8Z85qWMm3YursO4zZUrAc83sn_lL7Tc9Pax5dl-zGJVE95CrPyTe82rJm06RiHGCOId_PoRV1VLMcItftcck-ACjmz9Fu7nAL8wSfeNUM1sOK9HH2kxxIZIzMKDZZ6IUbyjtUcdotg/s1600/GinmkoShowsTorsoJoint1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-d8Z85qWMm3YursO4zZUrAc83sn_lL7Tc9Pax5dl-zGJVE95CrPyTe82rJm06RiHGCOId_PoRV1VLMcItftcck-ACjmz9Fu7nAL8wSfeNUM1sOK9HH2kxxIZIzMKDZZ6IUbyjtUcdotg/s320/GinmkoShowsTorsoJoint1.jpg" width="226" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The problem joint, circled in blue.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRzVMylueGaJNNCnDqjsQQiwn0519McHKiRdcEXty3oWemi8bO6liIUfzPy3W691sv_Jo3r_1etxETMEww1mpz6lKhNMxKcDOVtBks7mK8TcVllNhYqCK3pcPEFJVFey7diBTR8SvtQNQ/s1600/RAHGinkoStright1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRzVMylueGaJNNCnDqjsQQiwn0519McHKiRdcEXty3oWemi8bO6liIUfzPy3W691sv_Jo3r_1etxETMEww1mpz6lKhNMxKcDOVtBks7mK8TcVllNhYqCK3pcPEFJVFey7diBTR8SvtQNQ/s320/RAHGinkoStright1.jpg" width="215" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A normal, upright pose.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC190jrFOkgnpBhyphenhyphenIMFUVorCXJohu2S7grlZSzK4N3D4jlNH3XkMiwoa4UTn4cNGI7ZW9p9j6cEMSEbu4C5UlUZb-71QubsSE5Qk7Kt9x2ASsXC-RsBf-80TDqUy8GDYlUuwbdGdr_RX0/s1600/RAHGinkoSlouched1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC190jrFOkgnpBhyphenhyphenIMFUVorCXJohu2S7grlZSzK4N3D4jlNH3XkMiwoa4UTn4cNGI7ZW9p9j6cEMSEbu4C5UlUZb-71QubsSE5Qk7Kt9x2ASsXC-RsBf-80TDqUy8GDYlUuwbdGdr_RX0/s320/RAHGinkoSlouched1.jpg" width="215" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">When broken, Captain Harlock could<br />
only <span style="background-color: white;">slump forward </span><span style="background-color: white;">like this.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQW_PsDy5K8bjoRDXgNWVB__8H4TMpXJ_XueFUrr6lIEqU4NelvXb8Xhsr46_XITMaIVNkZfu-7HYmxHIs60xbcQDAsCjnuEqILl4qrPrVd7c092DpFeHTNILlwOD_0APP_30Scn1mmDI/s1600/BrokenHarlock1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQW_PsDy5K8bjoRDXgNWVB__8H4TMpXJ_XueFUrr6lIEqU4NelvXb8Xhsr46_XITMaIVNkZfu-7HYmxHIs60xbcQDAsCjnuEqILl4qrPrVd7c092DpFeHTNILlwOD_0APP_30Scn1mmDI/s320/BrokenHarlock1.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the few photos I took during the<br />
captain's operation.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">O</span>uch.<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">N</span>ow, RAHs are complicated things, and I have to admit that what<i> actually</i> broke is still a mystery to me. I couldn't see any obvious breaks, and if anything fell out without me noticing, it must have been practically microscopic, because I searched all around the floor afterwards and I couldn't find anything.<br />
Still, based on a theory I developed after several blunders, I managed to fix the cap'n.<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">S</span>o, the first thing I did after I broke Harlock was take him apart to see if that would shed any light on the matter.<br />
<b>First thing's first, the screws needed to come out.</b><br />
RAH screws are nicely hidden under little round bits of plastic, but these can (usually) be easily removed with a pointy thing like a very small screwdriver or a knife.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh25tGAUXkGhhEYTntOSE0aIin6M4zNHZsR_-ex28ew4mFvO2miuQfDNj7YuFumvJ8rRvI0Wwon5jlcebAxVHwgefjDF04ruZcP9E5U7Cxlab-3Y-6n7WvuetirpN2yy3eL-XW1og-ZwIA/s1600/RAHbackscrews1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh25tGAUXkGhhEYTntOSE0aIin6M4zNHZsR_-ex28ew4mFvO2miuQfDNj7YuFumvJ8rRvI0Wwon5jlcebAxVHwgefjDF04ruZcP9E5U7Cxlab-3Y-6n7WvuetirpN2yy3eL-XW1og-ZwIA/s320/RAHbackscrews1.jpg" width="315" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Observe the five covered screws in Ginko's back.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I decided to undo the upper torso part first, since that was where I thought the break had occurred, but after fiddling around with several confusing pieces I realised that, in fact, it was the lower torso which had broken (the tipoff was when I realised that the body was no longer connected at the waist).<br />
I then went to unscrew the screws in the lower torso, but Medicom has for no apparent reason filled the screw-heads in with some sort of paste which is extremely hard and resistant to several very good solvents, so I couldn't take apart the lower torso and had to peer in the hole at the bottom of it instead.<br />
What I saw was a... spring.<br />
<b><i>A spring?</i></b><br />
It seems to be part of a suspension system which gives RAHs their solid feeling whilst also having that awesomely flexible mid-torso joint... I think.<br />
To explain better, here is a diagram of what roughly I <i>think</i> is inside the lower torso of a RAH body, based on what I could see:<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqLL2cHQbpZ5AZo96kRzKleFhXqhBxoYkU90uNWD9X0k4l97Moq93F1-cFSacgGZJPlHWoSXQMEqHQQk5YdACM-fo_X2SYZS5WOJHdTdai8nAbAJl9y0c4nwzpe8r0GKhh6wEk5b7Pryk/s1600/RAHinternaldiagrammaybenotsure.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqLL2cHQbpZ5AZo96kRzKleFhXqhBxoYkU90uNWD9X0k4l97Moq93F1-cFSacgGZJPlHWoSXQMEqHQQk5YdACM-fo_X2SYZS5WOJHdTdai8nAbAJl9y0c4nwzpe8r0GKhh6wEk5b7Pryk/s400/RAHinternaldiagrammaybenotsure.jpg" width="261" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The yellow thing at the top is part of the mid-torso joint.<br />
It runs along tracks in the upper-torso part, allowing the torso to bend<br />
back and forth. The yellow thing is held down by the spring (green),<br />
which is, in turn, held down by the central peg attached to the legs (black).<br />
The red thing can move up and down in the central shaft (blue). When the spring<br />
is not held down, the red thing can move more freely, the yellow thing becomes<br />
lax, and the torso becomes loose and slumps forward.<br />
I hope you could follow that... it's hurting my brain trying to think back.<br />
The grey blob is where I couldn't see. Sorry for the crappy drawing.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;">T</span>he spring seems to regulate the stiffness of the central torso joint.<br />
The tension on the spring, in turn, is regulated by the vertical position of the <u>sticky-outy bit</u> on the central peg (black) within the spring coils.<br />
<b>When the tension on the spring is wrong, the figure slumps.</b><br />
I think it is the <i>theoretically existent</i> <u>sticky-outy bit</u> which broke off, because there was no such thing visible by the time I took Captain Harlock apart and such a thing would be needed to make sense of the mechanism I could see inside the lower torso.<br />
It would also have to be extremely small, which could explain why I couldn't find anything which could have broken.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-xRyoNewfjQiB4jzS1fTWDEAW5z9RFX_JKZ1r9ZYCIo8GpS9ZWWEec1oXpivOI5Aop0BMn0bxol8aUBu3wKwxXs97iIbZAh7RJ3CJocTHBq_lR_52EhTcxf01tV9av-_3mwHyIbRWLs0/s1600/broken+central+peg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-xRyoNewfjQiB4jzS1fTWDEAW5z9RFX_JKZ1r9ZYCIo8GpS9ZWWEec1oXpivOI5Aop0BMn0bxol8aUBu3wKwxXs97iIbZAh7RJ3CJocTHBq_lR_52EhTcxf01tV9av-_3mwHyIbRWLs0/s320/broken+central+peg.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A closeup of the broken peg (and the top of the captain's trousers);<br />
if you look carefully, there's a smudgy area on the front of the peg<br />
where something could have broken off.<br />
Click on the image to enlarge it.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;">So to fix it:</span> I drilled a hole into the central peg on the smudge and pushed a tiny itty bitty short piece of wire into the hole, making a new <u>sticky-outy bit</u>.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQSwVBGQVj5ZGmxm5OsecYB3dIaCiGmd7HtT7IXeJKRxJmryCKd4Mi-eWwD_n_eCPdAuLhxpM9ncSjfLkml86mjzxkGx3r0V-eWHJga7w2JNTxPJ2pITOYsECT56LyXJAhESWgu4rwSZc/s1600/pinviceimage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQSwVBGQVj5ZGmxm5OsecYB3dIaCiGmd7HtT7IXeJKRxJmryCKd4Mi-eWwD_n_eCPdAuLhxpM9ncSjfLkml86mjzxkGx3r0V-eWHJga7w2JNTxPJ2pITOYsECT56LyXJAhESWgu4rwSZc/s320/pinviceimage.jpg" width="251" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I drilled the hole using a pin vice, which<br />
I finally got around to buying.<br />
Use a drill bit the same width as your wire,<br />
or as close as possible.<br />
The wire I use has a 1.25mm diameter.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;">I</span> then put the torso on backwards (you have to put it on backwards because that's the only place there's a gap for the sticky-outy thing to fit through) and turned it around fully several times as if I was screwing on the lid of a jar. Something made a satisfying noise and suddenly, miraculously, Captain Harlock was back to normal.<br />
I didn't even glue the bit of wire in, because I was just testing a theory, but once fixed, he didn't want to come apart again, so I just left him that way. (That's why there are no photos of the fixed part or the underneath of the torso.)<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">A</span>nyway, so yeah. Captain Harlock is fixed and I hope that made some kind of sense and wasn't too confusing. Even I am still a little confused.<br />
<b><span style="color: #990000;">If you have the same problem as I had and something here doesn't make sense, please feel free to email me for clarification: <a href="mailto:sparkeydavis@yahoo.com">sparkeydavis@yahoo.com</a></span></b><br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">w</span>ell! My post is at an end!</b><br />
<b>As always, good luck with your repairs!</b><br />
<b>Cheers! Sparkey</b><br />
<br />Sparkey Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01659788878499245726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1574592750700958035.post-2599100762480684542012-06-06T22:04:00.000+10:002012-06-06T22:11:24.065+10:00Painting Over Blemishes on Doll Clothes<span style="font-size: large;"> Hello, all!</span><br />
I don't know if any of you guys have ever bought a second-hand figure, but, is it just me, or was the previous owner always an idiot? ... more on that in a minute...<br />
<br />
<b>Today I will be discussing how to cover up blemishes on doll clothes using acrylic paint.</b><br />
It may sound weird that I am suggesting that you paint your dolls' real fabric clothing, but, with a little tact, it works amazingly well.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">B</span>ack to my beef from earlier... Pretty much all of my "used" figures had some kind of stupid problem when they arrived. The stupidest was RAH Edward Elric, whose previous owner had thought it was a good idea to wash his clothes with ordinary washing powder. I mean, I would never want to wash those clothes EVER (the edges of his coat have wire in them!) but with washing powder? No! No! Wrong!<br />
The results are that his black shirt, with its lovely white edging, has bled and the lovely white edging is now a sort of off-burgundy, at its worst around the collar:<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZt9ZAHJ8zaWzhaX6uMsx2kN4rQKxbn88a_WOUykai9JyaZGe5VaTmrXArK5TchvH1mI7BlNeWeFxpqb9jbUH_YVROm-HQyNattrVsZ_FBo8fQMU_lDzkU71Jwb2l2HVE3RFCyarDOMq8/s1600/Edward+Elric's+Shirt1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZt9ZAHJ8zaWzhaX6uMsx2kN4rQKxbn88a_WOUykai9JyaZGe5VaTmrXArK5TchvH1mI7BlNeWeFxpqb9jbUH_YVROm-HQyNattrVsZ_FBo8fQMU_lDzkU71Jwb2l2HVE3RFCyarDOMq8/s400/Edward+Elric's+Shirt1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One side of the collar is stained a dark colour.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Here's a closeup, in case you didn't see it the first time:<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0UgpnO0d87bH-cgPHIA1gHzQXeu6z5l_1E350Spl2wuhJ0tnWqpYFrkpKGjnBDP0vzWdEe6aFh_-wPqZ7P58J7mrMpirtd8cekfIoUUyjLMO0gP8lTJmJBPft3C1VHShsuNZa6mNVqrA/s1600/Edward+Elric's+Collar1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0UgpnO0d87bH-cgPHIA1gHzQXeu6z5l_1E350Spl2wuhJ0tnWqpYFrkpKGjnBDP0vzWdEe6aFh_-wPqZ7P58J7mrMpirtd8cekfIoUUyjLMO0gP8lTJmJBPft3C1VHShsuNZa6mNVqrA/s320/Edward+Elric's+Collar1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oh, the horror...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The reason that only one side looks awful in these pictures is because I have, in fact, already painted over the other side some time earlier. As you can see, the paint makes a really big difference.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">A</span>ll in all, this is a pretty simple process, but there are a couple of things to keep in mind...<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li> I wouldn't recommend this for every doll-garment. It's only going to work if the fabric is fairly thick, because acrylic paint is strong stuff and it will not blend in with dainty weaves.</li>
<li> Don't try this on any kind of stretchy fabric, since the paint will crack when the fabric stretches.</li>
<li> The colour of the fabric could have an impact on whether or not this is a success. Black or white will be the easiest to paint over since you won't have to mix the paint yourself. With any other colour, some mixing will almost certainly be required (unless you're lucky enough to have paint the exact shade of chartreuse as your botched garment). If you do find yourself mixing paint, just be aware that acrylic usually dries a slightly different tone to how it is when wet.</li>
<li> Acrylic paint is waterproof once it's dry. If you make a mistake, wash it off as soon as possible. Plain water should do this fine. If you're worried that you won't be able to paint the area you're working on without accidentally getting paint in places where you shouldn't, put some masking tape along the edge so that if you make a mistake, it's not the end of the world.</li>
<li> Let's face it: this is not going to work for large areas. Small blemishes only.</li>
<li> If you're not sure about whether the paint will work or not, dab a tiny bit of paint on the inside of a hem or somewhere you can't see to test it out before you start working.</li>
</ul>
<b>OK, now to start.</b><br />
This is really fine work, so I'm going to use a really tiny brush.<br />
<div>
Since my paint is a brighter white than Edward's shirt, I'll water it down a little bit before applying. This means that the paint will a) soak into the material a little, maintaining the texture of the fabric better, and b) not be so bright.</div>
<div>
To dilute the paint, I just put a little paint on a bit of paper, get some water on my brush and mix the paint/water together on the paper. The paint should be nice and runny.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO1WPFengrxmQuAUJ2zGht-gibOwOajcztF1lKWza1e48WiNuc0nG9PzaQSfzKxkZ2dw5yd_q17_-nxiNDvYdeSuBUhhAGeMlxh4Z0cAiE4XPN_B7wJex54X9dlpXjFQcNwaQrTRtuGXQ/s1600/Paint+for+Edward+Elric's+Shirt1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO1WPFengrxmQuAUJ2zGht-gibOwOajcztF1lKWza1e48WiNuc0nG9PzaQSfzKxkZ2dw5yd_q17_-nxiNDvYdeSuBUhhAGeMlxh4Z0cAiE4XPN_B7wJex54X9dlpXjFQcNwaQrTRtuGXQ/s400/Paint+for+Edward+Elric's+Shirt1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sorry the mixed paint is hard to see – white paint on white paper...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Now I just get a little bit of the diluted paint on my brush and carefully apply it all over the blemish. If you want to fade the edges out so the painted area isn't so obvious, make a gradient by diluting the paint more and more as you go.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>... Done!</b></div>
<div>
<b> </b>This job is simple once you actually start doing it.</div>
<div>
Here's the finished product:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKJs1ADMHv-qt11lAwp1x_Dhh-Qofj5Jrb7AWCpWsC6bsvuW6q1CZqgmQKuxUbA8YoAqihq262f-sbHCU-RVgKN1KHtAd5WiV7LjGCkd16WpCu4nvG_cuIue8oFhN3qpFoPJBBa2w2dv8/s1600/Edward+Elric's+Shirt2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKJs1ADMHv-qt11lAwp1x_Dhh-Qofj5Jrb7AWCpWsC6bsvuW6q1CZqgmQKuxUbA8YoAqihq262f-sbHCU-RVgKN1KHtAd5WiV7LjGCkd16WpCu4nvG_cuIue8oFhN3qpFoPJBBa2w2dv8/s400/Edward+Elric's+Shirt2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div>
<div>
... and another closeup of the collar:</div>
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiuRCmKjedWQaBmDWHLPMQNwqMS4SCYgFqhfxqc8COV9W8qFDxmPlg5ChOhu0rzCd8-4HCG_vP3ZBvGdxLJ7HqLceQOInMeo0o_vi3HE_MuDEPhHpc62EU7-58VFwqJnqanV6LyjxWXH0/s1600/Edward+Elric's+Collar2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiuRCmKjedWQaBmDWHLPMQNwqMS4SCYgFqhfxqc8COV9W8qFDxmPlg5ChOhu0rzCd8-4HCG_vP3ZBvGdxLJ7HqLceQOInMeo0o_vi3HE_MuDEPhHpc62EU7-58VFwqJnqanV6LyjxWXH0/s320/Edward+Elric's+Collar2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's not perfect, but it's a huge improvement.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
For something like this collar, where the area was small, the fabric was thick and the colour was white, the paint has done a really good job of covering up the dye.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b> Hmmm, this post seems to have come to an end already!<br /> Good luck with your repairs!<br /> Cheers! Sparkey.</b><br />
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
Sparkey Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01659788878499245726noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1574592750700958035.post-23859694558025656422012-06-05T15:29:00.000+10:002012-06-05T15:48:10.991+10:00A Few Notes on Yesterday's Post...<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> Hello, all!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Turns out, that glue I used on Roy's neck takes a bit longer to set than I thought. I was posing him last night when I suddenly felt this sort of wobbly sensation on his neck, but a minute later it was gone and his neck was back to </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"slightly spongy".</i><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i> </i>The joint sort of half-broke and then re-set itself...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i> </i><b>The glue still isn't dry, even after 48 hours >__<</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Back in the cupboard you go, Roy. See you in a few days.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> How frustrating!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLgjs-anheF3rgS-pYG2GScOjCz-_QFjVbpwOvhex_EUWNJnq1tGC6W1OYIq4c5qQE246SENyh-tZkUbLsPacMM0QckMGlNRXAlyBvhplki9vQjyvsyLl91isjzPEzgUTJkCrOpPE6-FA/s1600/butIwanttoplaywithitnowblog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLgjs-anheF3rgS-pYG2GScOjCz-_QFjVbpwOvhex_EUWNJnq1tGC6W1OYIq4c5qQE246SENyh-tZkUbLsPacMM0QckMGlNRXAlyBvhplki9vQjyvsyLl91isjzPEzgUTJkCrOpPE6-FA/s320/butIwanttoplaywithitnowblog.jpg" width="312" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Still, considering that I could pose and re-pose Roy's neck a bunch of times even when the glue wasn't set, it just shows that drilling and pinning is a good method... and that this glue is weird. It's one of those flammable, poisonous-vapour producing ones which dries to this slightly weird, springy stuff...</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <i><span style="font-size: large;">Official Apology to Barbie....</span></i></span></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> I was contacted last night by Barbie, via the "<i>Diversity Barbies Guild</i>", regarding the depiction of Barbies in yesterday's post.</span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeIcZd5wMoEMmGiGe2NrsN6e3oyqSAmZjqgy6bLq0dJr7hgxd0KCS2CP35saeU7QdgGa623oEElCtPrYLdtR1iTvPdRTC_UI1aXlv19qn83qU8WlzdfAS5L1vEy9TJRIboa2XTUVFRQXU/s1600/DiversityBarbiesGuild1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeIcZd5wMoEMmGiGe2NrsN6e3oyqSAmZjqgy6bLq0dJr7hgxd0KCS2CP35saeU7QdgGa623oEElCtPrYLdtR1iTvPdRTC_UI1aXlv19qn83qU8WlzdfAS5L1vEy9TJRIboa2XTUVFRQXU/s320/DiversityBarbiesGuild1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Members of the Diversity Barbies Guild</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Barbie wishes me to issue the following statement on her behalf:</span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Barbies are not just a bunch of skanky, airheaded, fashion-obsessed ninnies. This outdated stereotype is inappropriate when you consider the wide selection of Barbies available in the present day. In the 21st century, Barbie dolls are professionals like doctors, vets, beauticians, fashion designers, mermaids and more</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. It was mean to take pictures of Barbie during a private moment – she can't be blamed for her actions because "Roy is so pretty. He is so fine."</span></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: italic;">Barbie is not only a distinguished fashion idol, she is also a young and talented member of the </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Shark Tamers Society</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: italic;">.</span> </blockquote>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKRcwJMv2mSnvtnjo48MeOTUy_K8yS4VUYOC0ZGN2ehAeG1Ks-CnsOb_2AIqCDmtnd4c-mAP0yIPa_yRDoxMVNpqevGgxNTsEahNEtXiDYHuHr3tyy-luiyFO8xsHbpxkehWsUv_KstYQ/s1600/BarbietheSharkTamer1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="393" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKRcwJMv2mSnvtnjo48MeOTUy_K8yS4VUYOC0ZGN2ehAeG1Ks-CnsOb_2AIqCDmtnd4c-mAP0yIPa_yRDoxMVNpqevGgxNTsEahNEtXiDYHuHr3tyy-luiyFO8xsHbpxkehWsUv_KstYQ/s640/BarbietheSharkTamer1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Barbie at the Shark Tamers Society picnic in 2009.</td></tr>
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<b>Well, that's all from me today... +__+</b></div>
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<b> Cheers! Sparkey.</b></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Sparkey Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01659788878499245726noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1574592750700958035.post-58227586912383379462012-06-04T21:34:00.000+10:002012-06-04T21:34:19.514+10:00Repairing a broken RAH joint (Roy Mustang: The Saga)<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i> <span style="font-size: large;">I</span>t<span style="font-size: large;"> </span>was about two weeks ago, and I had a larger amount of money in my account than usual. I had also just arrived home after nearly being creamed by a car when trying to cross the road, so I was in a weakened state... this is when I saw RAH Roy Mustang (from Fullmetal Alchemist) for sale on eBay at an extremely good price. The listing said "Good condition".</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i> Needless to say, that glut of cash was soon used up...</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">A</span>bout a week later, my nice big parcel arrived in the mail from Japan. When I opened it, Roy looked as if he was, indeed, in very good condition. His outfit is smart and clean, his sculpting is perfect...</i><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i> ... </i><b>but</b> when I removed Roy from the box, there was a nasty surprise waiting for me. There's one thing about Roy which is </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">not</i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> in good condition. See if you can tell what it is:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJMGt8k_6ISAuVinNblg7O0bEn9gS5hSQZWdz2raEs7bf4b4o7PHg46Y2YNktaGsO-amTXW-qOasSJHjBl6c5cZSHC3rgqWstEYe4G4FRVcMadOWYzDWheJfZEB2w1xxXaefUxhMQkQn4/s1600/TheproblemwithRAHRoy.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJMGt8k_6ISAuVinNblg7O0bEn9gS5hSQZWdz2raEs7bf4b4o7PHg46Y2YNktaGsO-amTXW-qOasSJHjBl6c5cZSHC3rgqWstEYe4G4FRVcMadOWYzDWheJfZEB2w1xxXaefUxhMQkQn4/s640/TheproblemwithRAHRoy.jpg" width="440" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Of course, this is very subtle. Only a nitpicker like me would notice a little thing like this.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Totally not something you should mention in an eBay listing.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Needless to say, I </span><strike style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">hit the roof</strike><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> maintained my cool.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> After</span><strike style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> making threats involving PayPal and fire</strike><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> a short conversation with the seller, I negotiated a partial refund</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Anyway, now to fix Roy.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Roy is from Medicom Toys' "Real Action Heroes" series (pretty tacky sounding name, but they're nice figures) and they're notoriously pretty touchy. I hear a lot of people asking how to fix them when they invariably have accidents, which is actually what made me decide to start this blog.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Before I begin, here's a picture of the break (incidentally, the very picture I sent the seller). As you can see, the neck has snapped off at the base:</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJcFOEkPDRglQXzAvg4paTdlsE1BUQzVRpKM5DP88shELD-WujyEhkjeZoWpTHM5nIETuSXbQgtdVuzSgaJT_K9QL3e_B8SYh_miSWj-eAUURrTkOhTWRaGOtcwO-ICXra3ij7BIBGPm4/s1600/Roy'sBrokenNeck.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJcFOEkPDRglQXzAvg4paTdlsE1BUQzVRpKM5DP88shELD-WujyEhkjeZoWpTHM5nIETuSXbQgtdVuzSgaJT_K9QL3e_B8SYh_miSWj-eAUURrTkOhTWRaGOtcwO-ICXra3ij7BIBGPm4/s400/Roy'sBrokenNeck.jpg" width="350" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When I received Roy, his stand had not been opened<br />and he had some slight damage to the front of his hair.<br />I'm guessing he fell off a shelf and busted his neck.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> The break wasn't super clean, but it was fairly good, so I first tried to fix it with Supa Glue. That didn't work, and since Supa Glue is the only adhesive I know capable of holding something as small as this together properly, I knew I would have to drill and pin the joint.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <b> Drilling and pinning is one of the more difficult figure repairs, but if you're up to it, it usually has pretty solid results.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Here are the tools I used (excluding glue):</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjeVPpjl3gBklzQrzCdPpXBmoBiGKZMIwlU_TKqH_6X4OWtZPNNOTVObmfGj8MRUpaCEurhlDJPGtsuxImFmAcsKFq6HRmFXIjqp92XfD0ETCY8GaHyPw3CBsF0RmpJJr2y5ZJ_-rj6I4/s1600/ToolsforfixingRoy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="368" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjeVPpjl3gBklzQrzCdPpXBmoBiGKZMIwlU_TKqH_6X4OWtZPNNOTVObmfGj8MRUpaCEurhlDJPGtsuxImFmAcsKFq6HRmFXIjqp92XfD0ETCY8GaHyPw3CBsF0RmpJJr2y5ZJ_-rj6I4/s640/ToolsforfixingRoy.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">From left: Pliers, wire cutters, a tiny screwdriver, 1.25mm diameter wire.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> To drill the joint, you could use a variety of tools. I use a tiny screwdriver but this is dodgy, so I recommend using a pin vice (a little thing which holds a drill bit) and a drill bit the same diameter as your wire.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> For something like this, wire with a diameter between 1 and 1.5 mm is probably best, since it's a pretty small joint.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Anyway, I used the screwdriver to drill a hole into each half of the broken joint. Each side should be drilled a few millimetres deep.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyT9ixuJo041PZWeM57tUsJPGExriuFsZ5NxkMASGzrqPHBTVIMcDi8WYLgTcJijv5HZ0Nkq4UMECTzEN3H1npleW6YBr3gNKcCb09tRhTer2W90t92ppxD_9CDxEEQumWXedHY7-IsL8/s1600/IMG_6261+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyT9ixuJo041PZWeM57tUsJPGExriuFsZ5NxkMASGzrqPHBTVIMcDi8WYLgTcJijv5HZ0Nkq4UMECTzEN3H1npleW6YBr3gNKcCb09tRhTer2W90t92ppxD_9CDxEEQumWXedHY7-IsL8/s640/IMG_6261+copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The neck joint, after drilling. (Yeah, RAH figures are really designed to have clothes on...)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> When drilling, it is tempting to push really hard to make it drill faster, but don't. Even though the joint is already broken, when doing something like this, any pressure you apply runs the risk of breaking other joints too, or even cracking the plastic around the break.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To make the plastic easier to work with, I warm the neck joint over the heater. PVC is a thermoplastic, meaning it becomes soft when heated. Warming it is advantageous for two reasons:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> 1. It's easier to drill because it's softer,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> 2. It's less brittle and less likely to snap under the pressure of the drilling.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> You don't want to heat the plastic so much that it looses its shape, so just use a warm hairdryer or a gentle heater for this (at about 100ºC, PVC actually melts into a liquid).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <span style="font-size: large;">OK, now for the pinning.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> The first thing is to cut a bit of wire just long enough that it fills in the holes you drilled when you fit the joint back together (IE, the length of wire should be equal to the combined lengths of the drilled holes). You might need to fiddle around with this to get the length right.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Here's a picture of my bit of wire and Roy's head to give an idea of scale:</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSrb96mLY07pU_Gw9GU-EvHTgEXuU68ifG3bOza7iJkgTdauxaiiEaYBbpARPLy3o1YR7RvYUjli23OijoeBlxgFy-O1aLjhmdvAGkcDPqjAzoGH7AB13n-zAYLdcD5spNcn1QnN8Bz9o/s1600/IMG_6289+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSrb96mLY07pU_Gw9GU-EvHTgEXuU68ifG3bOza7iJkgTdauxaiiEaYBbpARPLy3o1YR7RvYUjli23OijoeBlxgFy-O1aLjhmdvAGkcDPqjAzoGH7AB13n-zAYLdcD5spNcn1QnN8Bz9o/s400/IMG_6289+copy.jpg" width="395" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The wire ended up about 1cm long.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> I probably should have drilled the holes a bit deeper, but the dodgy screwdriver was hard to work with, and the friction/heat of my particular drilling technique was actually enough to start warping the plastic. If this happens, just use a pair of pliers and gently push the joint back into shape before it cools.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> The next thing to do is glue the wire into the joint.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> To find the right adhesive for this, I spent a couple of days mucking around with different types of glue (testing them on old broken Nendoroid joints to see if they worked). After a few duds, I finally came up with something which seemed to do a good job. Since it was hard finding the right glue for this job, I ended up writing a whole article on the subject so that everybody else can learn from my </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">failures</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">: <a href="http://figurefixer.blogspot.com.au/p/more-about-adhesives-glue.html" target="_blank">http://figurefixer.blogspot.com.au/p/more-about-adhesives-glue.html</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I glued the wire into one side of the joint and waited until it was dry before I glued the other side (it's just less difficult that way).</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq2hndw06OrGsFI0lKPF6NWj_ffqAXtR6h03x3FwcHQSrspALRjr3HA0z8SfQ6euvGRv7LN9mv995QlqmsSeCVB1Y0rN2_vLC5YOEaAffbfSSxvsGL6OdD1_BbAgGcM3Wpf7SGalgn3RE/s1600/IMG_6312+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq2hndw06OrGsFI0lKPF6NWj_ffqAXtR6h03x3FwcHQSrspALRjr3HA0z8SfQ6euvGRv7LN9mv995QlqmsSeCVB1Y0rN2_vLC5YOEaAffbfSSxvsGL6OdD1_BbAgGcM3Wpf7SGalgn3RE/s640/IMG_6312+copy.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You can see the wire sticking out of the base of Roy's neck.<br />In the foreground is a small bit of wire – I used it to spread the glue all the way<br />to the bottom of the hole I drilled.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> After that was done, all that was left to do was glue Roy's head back on and wait.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> ... and wait...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> ... and wait...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> ... and wait...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Finally this morning, Roy's new neck joint was ready to test!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> I had my doubts about the glue, but it actually worked really well. It's a little spongier than (I assume) it would have been originally, but all the joints still work and Roy can move his neck and head as much as (I think) he ever could.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxwgG7fx-DyThRogg8D_qR_8AHaUF-kDDXji_BJ4V_Zfk48BDavbD1muvxe9VbJ7FYybt4SBrjDtJBPpLtcGn_Hm1EjVbZx8joyJ5DR4dZiVta_0U3bQHU1L_Hsq40R4ONGsvHqrS5U2M/s1600/RoyisFixedandwithBarbie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Medicom Roy Mustang and Barbie get along well." border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxwgG7fx-DyThRogg8D_qR_8AHaUF-kDDXji_BJ4V_Zfk48BDavbD1muvxe9VbJ7FYybt4SBrjDtJBPpLtcGn_Hm1EjVbZx8joyJ5DR4dZiVta_0U3bQHU1L_Hsq40R4ONGsvHqrS5U2M/s640/RoyisFixedandwithBarbie.jpg" title="" width="386" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Roy is back to normal.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <i>My work here is done! *dramatic pose on top of mountain*</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <b>Good luck with your repairs, everyone!<br /> Cheers! Sparkey.</b></span>Sparkey Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01659788878499245726noreply@blogger.com32tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1574592750700958035.post-86826578997222165612012-06-03T19:15:00.000+10:002012-06-03T21:18:58.045+10:00When Good Glue Goes Bad (Woooooo)<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Glue doesn't last forever.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Once figures are a couple of years old, it's quite common for glued joints to come undone for no apparent reason.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Luckily, fixing these un-glued joins is probably the simplest repair job your figures will ever need – in fact, you probably don't need to be told how to do this, but I'll write it down anyway.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Today, I will be fixing Nendoroid Miku, whose neck joint has broken apart.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Nendoroid neck joints are made of several pieces. There's the obvious peg and the not-so-obvious cylindrical insert which connects the peg to the head.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0w5cxqc1FCTM9UZRyAVacMswjeEKn6u3Hyq05trfVZZjTkNN8jWBkqod9nBtjK73Ys6vWFpnrPrlfabGsn308jmup22u2oQePtTtEiyGCSY0lsduSXSqyFRk0jcydH-QaaIIE4znEgpg/s1600/MikusBrokenNeckJoint.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0w5cxqc1FCTM9UZRyAVacMswjeEKn6u3Hyq05trfVZZjTkNN8jWBkqod9nBtjK73Ys6vWFpnrPrlfabGsn308jmup22u2oQePtTtEiyGCSY0lsduSXSqyFRk0jcydH-QaaIIE4znEgpg/s400/MikusBrokenNeckJoint.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The cylindrical insert in Miku's neck joint has come out.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> This is pretty easy to fix. The break is clean and close-fitting (and no plastic has been fractured! Yay!), so all I have to do is apply a little Supa Glue and put it back in.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi26biGXdXQ8y8PxaBVkgOpoPSoThJykAHhMKeYw3mdPCidx567G9pkeqnWtqWm7e4PozFvCuLrU3XwA5TIqgxyERvu9cYomzzozgZPnm8Nx0DnsnAlfbc2-KhsYxVb9-w5XQf6OIE0nyQ/s1600/IMG_6396+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi26biGXdXQ8y8PxaBVkgOpoPSoThJykAHhMKeYw3mdPCidx567G9pkeqnWtqWm7e4PozFvCuLrU3XwA5TIqgxyERvu9cYomzzozgZPnm8Nx0DnsnAlfbc2-KhsYxVb9-w5XQf6OIE0nyQ/s400/IMG_6396+copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Apply an even coat of Supa Glue (sparingly) all over the unstuck surface.<br />There is no need to remove the peg from the cylinder, since it is not in the<br />way and even makes a useful handle! Don't get any glue on the peg.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxP68ll6NxVdx-CxtKlvjO86dSdZmhFYaPBEDC9DetKw_jdtI-9lC2zQxs5AZnu49S1qAREBg5PPSPpzZpf3JitGoUozMQb91cqF1RK54AQ3-Vx-bRoqBTZrg8GTosYgFQTiUQ96MPx8Y/s1600/IMG_6395+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxP68ll6NxVdx-CxtKlvjO86dSdZmhFYaPBEDC9DetKw_jdtI-9lC2zQxs5AZnu49S1qAREBg5PPSPpzZpf3JitGoUozMQb91cqF1RK54AQ3-Vx-bRoqBTZrg8GTosYgFQTiUQ96MPx8Y/s400/IMG_6395+copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now just push the unstuck joint back together, being careful to line it<br />up properly first. This hardly even needs a picture...</span></td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Fixed!</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgcIT8cpclligtAUWAtUFpIVh9RQJEHzKeciNYfLnLBConJnxMor22yaQtfnFr4DBpKcrpbvnOIheD9XFYt9-Q0gQMm6isijga3SBDtJ_6slgW6ilBP_6DTWEF7hiKn5pDWwxsdZoMw9c/s1600/MikuFixedThatwasquick1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgcIT8cpclligtAUWAtUFpIVh9RQJEHzKeciNYfLnLBConJnxMor22yaQtfnFr4DBpKcrpbvnOIheD9XFYt9-Q0gQMm6isijga3SBDtJ_6slgW6ilBP_6DTWEF7hiKn5pDWwxsdZoMw9c/s400/MikuFixedThatwasquick1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">... No need to look so shocked, Miku. I said this would be simple.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> As you can see, the repair is now complete. All that's left to do is put Miku's head in a safe place while the glue dries. According to the packet, this should be in about 24 hours.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> See you tomorrow, Miku!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqxXwL97PnwFIYUqhqRwRy8vMtxZa4Si5k8xnt2kLIo-cwdRdocX2LfzQMNhkB2uQuu5AprzD1CXOUi3g4b0BuKYxUGdZ8RFgDZUyEjTCLAYwc4oFr-_EOfAI-7gymogSR3Ru9vXZlOgA/s1600/FigmaMarisa'sfixedcup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqxXwL97PnwFIYUqhqRwRy8vMtxZa4Si5k8xnt2kLIo-cwdRdocX2LfzQMNhkB2uQuu5AprzD1CXOUi3g4b0BuKYxUGdZ8RFgDZUyEjTCLAYwc4oFr-_EOfAI-7gymogSR3Ru9vXZlOgA/s400/FigmaMarisa'sfixedcup.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Supa Glue works even on really tiny areas. I bought Figma Marisa<br />secondhand and the cup had become detached from her hand. A tiny<br />bit of glue was all it needed.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <b>More about Supa Glue:</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Supa Glue is great stuff. It will form really strong bonds with only the most tiny contact area... it will even stick skin together. Plastic surgeons use it instead of stitches sometimes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> ... oh, speaking of which, don't spill it on yourself... and if you do spill it on yourself, then whatever you do, don't touch it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Instead, run it under water straight away.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> It won't form a bond until two surfaces push together (which is why it can only fix breaks which are close-fitting), so if you don't touch it before you wash it off, it'll be fine.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> However, if you put your finger on a glue spot on your arm, an instantaneous, super-strong bond will form between your arm and your finger...</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsGWimlQVhF9Xydf5Urz-6owd146bFLG9PFAKR1is88BeQpiinRORvwT9lwAGTZP8kTA7_qf01KzR55EXGwAzjX-2TEQvAKKNp1httD7n-CtLQkoXmm0gl7aDg7WDlDWAftWez9zG-hpI/s1600/NevergetSupaGlueOnYou.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsGWimlQVhF9Xydf5Urz-6owd146bFLG9PFAKR1is88BeQpiinRORvwT9lwAGTZP8kTA7_qf01KzR55EXGwAzjX-2TEQvAKKNp1httD7n-CtLQkoXmm0gl7aDg7WDlDWAftWez9zG-hpI/s320/NevergetSupaGlueOnYou.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Another thing to know about Supa Glue is that </span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">it can dissolve paint</b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. Well, some kinds of paint, anyway. If you're working with or near a painted figure part, keep this in mind, as it would be a shame to accidentally ruin your figure's paintwork when doing a simple repair like this. If you must put glue on a painted area, try dabbing it on a non-visible area first to see what effect it has.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> If you want more information on glue, such as choosing the right glue for a particular repair, please see my page on adhesives, <a href="http://figurefixer.blogspot.com.au/p/more-about-adhesives-glue.html">here</a>!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <b>Thanks for reading! I hope this has been of help to you!</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b> Good luck with your repairs!</b></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cheers! Sparkey.</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>UPDATE on RAH ROY MUSTANG'S BROKEN NECK!</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>The results of my repairs are... inconclusive, because I am still waiting for the glue to dry.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Stay posted to find out what I did to help Roy and whether it actually worked...</i></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmhG0h2HzO7xBb2eP5802L3LliS-PMVBmS_lDL1FenKDx07wU9vBeAOch2nCGXnsb-d_tilMToWVE48Gg1d9_DFezS4sSD1GN0hOBwxxe-XugU4ZqGwxT3xiKVwt8kdpf68rLQyvZYdZg/s1600/RoyHoldingHisHeadOn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmhG0h2HzO7xBb2eP5802L3LliS-PMVBmS_lDL1FenKDx07wU9vBeAOch2nCGXnsb-d_tilMToWVE48Gg1d9_DFezS4sSD1GN0hOBwxxe-XugU4ZqGwxT3xiKVwt8kdpf68rLQyvZYdZg/s320/RoyHoldingHisHeadOn.jpg" width="220" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Get on with it!<br />My arms are really tired!"</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Any questions? Just leave a comment and I'll get back to you as soon as I can!</i></span></div>Sparkey Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01659788878499245726noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1574592750700958035.post-73741832007857456052012-06-02T19:37:00.000+10:002012-06-03T19:15:17.859+10:00Hello, Everyone!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wow! First post in a new blog! I hope I'm popular!</span></i></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">First up, I guess I'll explain what I'm doing here...</span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As it mentions in my profile, I am an enthusiastic collector of Japanese figures of many shapes and sizes, but, fun as they may be, sadly these little PVC delights are also highly fragile and any figure collector will have had their fair share of breaks. </span></blockquote>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLikM0a7bGWtdEgTBmEVG0rBStTlGIbcFmZCWtrwi7zeTL00qTppdOERoTDL3bS6BvFpwu0hTKnc3Hk7-EiW7nLtH7QCrkbsbDZDRZtxju5P5opkXaX47gPP6c9mURojzmHUNmUYaKikM/s1600/L+and+Araragi1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLikM0a7bGWtdEgTBmEVG0rBStTlGIbcFmZCWtrwi7zeTL00qTppdOERoTDL3bS6BvFpwu0hTKnc3Hk7-EiW7nLtH7QCrkbsbDZDRZtxju5P5opkXaX47gPP6c9mURojzmHUNmUYaKikM/s400/L+and+Araragi1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Every Nendoroid collector knows this feeling -__-</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Since I'm pretty handy with a tiny screwdriver and I've had a life-long love-affair with adhesives and paint, when I do have a broken figure, you can bet it's not going to be too long before it's fixed and back on my desk, as beautiful as ever. Not everybody has my experience though, and sometimes when your favourite figure is busted, you just want to cry and shove it in the cupboard.</span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Do not give up on your broken figures! There is almost always a way!</span></i></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> In this blog I will be trying to help out my fellow collectors by sharing any knowledge of figure repairs and touchups that I have (and maybe writing a couple of reviews while I'm at it – everyone love reviews, right?).</span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Right now I'm working hard on reattaching Medicom RAH Roy Mustang's broken head (snapped off at the base of the neck).</span></blockquote>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmhG0h2HzO7xBb2eP5802L3LliS-PMVBmS_lDL1FenKDx07wU9vBeAOch2nCGXnsb-d_tilMToWVE48Gg1d9_DFezS4sSD1GN0hOBwxxe-XugU4ZqGwxT3xiKVwt8kdpf68rLQyvZYdZg/s1600/RoyHoldingHisHeadOn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmhG0h2HzO7xBb2eP5802L3LliS-PMVBmS_lDL1FenKDx07wU9vBeAOch2nCGXnsb-d_tilMToWVE48Gg1d9_DFezS4sSD1GN0hOBwxxe-XugU4ZqGwxT3xiKVwt8kdpf68rLQyvZYdZg/s320/RoyHoldingHisHeadOn.jpg" width="220" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Hurry up and fix me! My arms are getting tired!"</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Stay posted to see how he turns out!</span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Cheers! Sparkey.</b></span></blockquote>
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</div>Sparkey Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01659788878499245726noreply@blogger.com2