Based on numerous stripped screw cabinet hinge repairs, I’d suggest drilling out the stripped holes to 1/8” then wood glue hardwood dowels in. Trim the dowels flush, mark and drill the screw holes, then never worry about it again. 
A very odd request...
- Thread starter New_Bornalex
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My AT-IC project got an upgrade yesterday.
The knee joints are super loose, though. Anyone ever explored a method to re-tighten theirs?
Alex
The knee joints are super loose, though. Anyone ever explored a method to re-tighten theirs?
Alex
A quick search on this site brought up a lot of At-ST fixes, as well as this on for an AT-AT.
IF it is a broken cog, it can be fixed by making a mold of a "good cog" out of hot glue, and then using super glue+baking soda+ carbon (from a pencil). You don't even need to make a mold of the entire cog- just enough to hang onto the broken cog and fill the missing piece.
IF it is a broken cog, it can be fixed by making a mold of a "good cog" out of hot glue, and then using super glue+baking soda+ carbon (from a pencil). You don't even need to make a mold of the entire cog- just enough to hang onto the broken cog and fill the missing piece.
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Alex
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I searched for it but didn't find it. Can you post the pic here too? Or link me?
Alex
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He has this sort of rusted-solid Tin Woodsman expression.
I dig it.
AN
I dig it.
AN
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He has been missing his leg for over thirty years (my family went to Florida in the late ‘80s, and when we got back home it wasn’t in the tote). The leg was literally lost to the sands of time.
So anyway, I became a life-long collector and accumulated thousands of pieces, but this Threepio also was lost, misplaced into oblivion. I recently found him at my parents’ house and thought, “why not?” So I bought the scratched-up leg on eBay for $9.00. Let me tell you—when I snapped that peg into place endorphins were released on a level only figure collectors know. A decades-old task finally has been completed!
And by the way, it somehow was the only such leg available for sale on the entire site last week. They were meant for each other!
So anyway, I became a life-long collector and accumulated thousands of pieces, but this Threepio also was lost, misplaced into oblivion. I recently found him at my parents’ house and thought, “why not?” So I bought the scratched-up leg on eBay for $9.00. Let me tell you—when I snapped that peg into place endorphins were released on a level only figure collectors know. A decades-old task finally has been completed!
And by the way, it somehow was the only such leg available for sale on the entire site last week. They were meant for each other!
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Popping the final leg into place, after a few decades?
I did something kinda like that three years ago.
In the 80s, I went out of town with my Mom visiting her lawyer cousin and his family in Memphis. We stayed in a hotel, and while there the cousin's wife took us to an enormous Children's Palace toy store, the only time I've ever visited one.
One of my purchases was the Kenner Streets of Cairo playset for the Indiana Jones collection, something I'd never seen at home. I put it together at the hotel and played with it in the brown-carpeted floor next to the bed.
Well, when we were packing up to leave, I grabbed everything and put it back in the box.
Everything, that is, except... the brown table for the fruit.
I guess I simply overlooked it, camouflaged against that carpet.
I didn't realize it until we were back home in Alabama, and I was disconsolate when I realized it. I was already at the age where I'd learned to be very careful about keeping up with all pieces of my toys, so this lapse was not normal for me.
My Mom called the cousin's wife, who very kindly went back to Children's Palace, picked up a SECOND Streets of Cairo for me, and mailed it to us.
So after a very short delay, I had a complete Streets of Cairo, plus a second one that only lacked the table.
Here's a pic from 2008 that shows my two wagons and my six baskets, but only ONE table over on the left. Albeit with double the normal amount of fruit.
(Originally taken for a different thread here on RS Forums.)
But even having 1.95 of a set was a dull nagging sensation. It somehow drove home the incompleteness of the first set even more.
Twelve years later, I don't know why I hadn't thought of this sooner, but I decided to just buy a table off eBay.
Wow, I couldn't believe what prices the parts for this set commanded.
I finally had to do two Buy It Nows. One for the top of the table and a single leg, and one for three legs.
Underside of the table showing where the legs pop in.
Pop, pop, pop, pop.
And finally, after 38 years or so, my original Streets of Cairo was just as complete as my second one. My own "decades-old task [had] been completed."
It cost me close to $40 total after double shipping costs, a little over one dollar per year since I'd lost the first table at the Memphis hotel.
But as you say, the two auctions seemed to be "meant for each other".
Alex
I did something kinda like that three years ago.
In the 80s, I went out of town with my Mom visiting her lawyer cousin and his family in Memphis. We stayed in a hotel, and while there the cousin's wife took us to an enormous Children's Palace toy store, the only time I've ever visited one.
One of my purchases was the Kenner Streets of Cairo playset for the Indiana Jones collection, something I'd never seen at home. I put it together at the hotel and played with it in the brown-carpeted floor next to the bed.
Well, when we were packing up to leave, I grabbed everything and put it back in the box.
Everything, that is, except... the brown table for the fruit.
I guess I simply overlooked it, camouflaged against that carpet.
I didn't realize it until we were back home in Alabama, and I was disconsolate when I realized it. I was already at the age where I'd learned to be very careful about keeping up with all pieces of my toys, so this lapse was not normal for me.
My Mom called the cousin's wife, who very kindly went back to Children's Palace, picked up a SECOND Streets of Cairo for me, and mailed it to us.
So after a very short delay, I had a complete Streets of Cairo, plus a second one that only lacked the table.
Here's a pic from 2008 that shows my two wagons and my six baskets, but only ONE table over on the left. Albeit with double the normal amount of fruit.
(Originally taken for a different thread here on RS Forums.)
But even having 1.95 of a set was a dull nagging sensation. It somehow drove home the incompleteness of the first set even more.
Twelve years later, I don't know why I hadn't thought of this sooner, but I decided to just buy a table off eBay.
Wow, I couldn't believe what prices the parts for this set commanded.
I finally had to do two Buy It Nows. One for the top of the table and a single leg, and one for three legs.
Underside of the table showing where the legs pop in.
Pop, pop, pop, pop.
And finally, after 38 years or so, my original Streets of Cairo was just as complete as my second one. My own "decades-old task [had] been completed."
It cost me close to $40 total after double shipping costs, a little over one dollar per year since I'd lost the first table at the Memphis hotel.
But as you say, the two auctions seemed to be "meant for each other".
Alex
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I was prowling the SWCA this morning looking for pics of Kenner prototypes as well as my own customs to put in a different thread here on RS forums.
Clicked on this umbrella category of mine and discovered a forgotten pic of a certain kitbash replica, along with other customs from that era.
Mongo Beefhead Lives!
Alex
Clicked on this umbrella category of mine and discovered a forgotten pic of a certain kitbash replica, along with other customs from that era.
Mongo Beefhead Lives!
Alex
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It's very rare for me to buy someone else's customs, but this pair caught my eye in a "you may also like" ad on eBay.
I thought the Han in AT-ST Disguise figure was well-executed enough to put the duo in my Watch folder on eBay. (Chewie was more or less just a tagalong.)
Days later, the seller sent me a lower offer, which I counter-offered for even less, and this lowball offer was soon accepted.
The Han is made entirely from vintage parts and not the recent Retro Endor Han head. As the auction description had advertised, the AT-ST Driver body limbs are nice and tight. Plus the Imperial sigils on the shoulders are flawless, showing no signs of touchup.
Chewie, however, is completely Retro with a custom-painted bandolier.
Plus, the original AT-ST Driver head was included as an alternate option "for swapping". I haven't yet tried to pop off the Han head, though.
Alex
I thought the Han in AT-ST Disguise figure was well-executed enough to put the duo in my Watch folder on eBay. (Chewie was more or less just a tagalong.)
Days later, the seller sent me a lower offer, which I counter-offered for even less, and this lowball offer was soon accepted.
The Han is made entirely from vintage parts and not the recent Retro Endor Han head. As the auction description had advertised, the AT-ST Driver body limbs are nice and tight. Plus the Imperial sigils on the shoulders are flawless, showing no signs of touchup.
Chewie, however, is completely Retro with a custom-painted bandolier.
Plus, the original AT-ST Driver head was included as an alternate option "for swapping". I haven't yet tried to pop off the Han head, though.
Alex
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Continuing with the theme of customs from Return of the Jedi...
The 25+ year old image of this same custom posted on 'ToysRGus'.
Alex
The 25+ year old image of this same custom posted on 'ToysRGus'.
Alex
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I'm totally spoiling the ending of a planned Toyaholic topic, but I got tired of waiting to do the unboxing.
Alex
Alex
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Alex
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I bought a batch of beater figures off of eBay not too long ago.
I only wanted it for the Luke head.
You see, my first Bespin Luke from the 80s had these relaxed friendly eyebrows, but most of the ones I see for sale only have angular angry eyebrows.
This guy's hair is a bit more worn than I'd have liked, but the plan was to pop him on one of my other Bespin Luke bodies that still has an intact neck post.
Only one problem...
There's a bunch of superglue residue on the bottom of the head.
UPDATE: While I initially posted this to ask for advice on solvents, I've since realized the crusty old glue would flake right off.
There doesn't seem to have been any that went up inside the hollow head, either. No doubt because they just used a thin layer to attach the head back to the body.
Now to search through my various Bespin Lukes for the perfect figure with an intact neck post, and I'll have a good representation of my original back in the collection.
Alex
I only wanted it for the Luke head.
You see, my first Bespin Luke from the 80s had these relaxed friendly eyebrows, but most of the ones I see for sale only have angular angry eyebrows.
This guy's hair is a bit more worn than I'd have liked, but the plan was to pop him on one of my other Bespin Luke bodies that still has an intact neck post.
Only one problem...
There's a bunch of superglue residue on the bottom of the head.
UPDATE: While I initially posted this to ask for advice on solvents, I've since realized the crusty old glue would flake right off.
There doesn't seem to have been any that went up inside the hollow head, either. No doubt because they just used a thin layer to attach the head back to the body.
Now to search through my various Bespin Lukes for the perfect figure with an intact neck post, and I'll have a good representation of my original back in the collection.
Alex
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I think this body had a similar amount of paint wear to match this new head.
Plus, its original brown-hair head was already removed for a custom of Dagobah Luke in the 'beater' shirt.
He actually looks remarkably like that first one I owned as a kid, before the paint wear got worse and the eyebrows disappeared entirely.
It was later used as custom fodder, so somewhat ironically it no longer exists.
In essence, I'm un-customizing it by marrying these parts.
Alex
Plus, its original brown-hair head was already removed for a custom of Dagobah Luke in the 'beater' shirt.
He actually looks remarkably like that first one I owned as a kid, before the paint wear got worse and the eyebrows disappeared entirely.
It was later used as custom fodder, so somewhat ironically it no longer exists.
In essence, I'm un-customizing it by marrying these parts.
Alex
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Last year I did this video about my "very first Star Wars playset"...
I never expected there would be a followup, but when I spotted this beauty on a high shelf at Renaissance Antiques while shopping with my oldest son, I knew it was getting a companion piece.
It needs a few minor repairs, and the mirror in the center is removable. I may take it completely out for easier photography.
I wonder if I should stain it darker to match the similar piece of my grandmother's, or just leave it as is.
Alex
I never expected there would be a followup, but when I spotted this beauty on a high shelf at Renaissance Antiques while shopping with my oldest son, I knew it was getting a companion piece.
It needs a few minor repairs, and the mirror in the center is removable. I may take it completely out for easier photography.
I wonder if I should stain it darker to match the similar piece of my grandmother's, or just leave it as is.
Alex
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I photographed it with some vintage figures today. The tag from Renaissance said it was from the 40s, so here it is with toys from the 70s.
With mirror:
And without:
That rusty wire between Vader and Ben is the way you would hang it on a wall. Usually obscured by the mirror.
Alex
With mirror:
And without:
That rusty wire between Vader and Ben is the way you would hang it on a wall. Usually obscured by the mirror.
Alex
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That’s so old school. Today, I have detailed custom playsets with all kinds of features. But sometimes I forget what it used to be like when anything from anywhere might serve my imagination as some kind of backdrop. I could spend hours putting figures on some stairs.
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And speaking of ways to display the original 12 figures, here's my current cover photo on FB.
Some weeks ago, I'd finally bought a decent replica of the backdrop to replace my original.
As I detailed in a past Toyaholic video for my YouTube channel, my display stand arrived on a rainy day in 1978, and being a longer package than would allow the mailbox door to shut, the corners got soggy.
To strengthen those weakened corners, my eight-year-old self had the 'bright' idea to use Star Wars stickers. One from bubble gum cards, one from Frankenberry cereal, as I recall.
Comparison of original (uppermost) to replica.
I also ordered a replica sticker from the same seller, as well as a couple of other items.
I commented on my FB post that I couldn't yet bring myself to peel off the old sticker.
So I decided to give it the Scarlett O'Hara treatment and worry about it on another day.
That day is today.
Well, actually it arrived many days ago, but today was my first chance to open this new arrival from eBay. (I've spared you my reaction to the packing peanuts.)
Wow, now that's a sight I've not seen since 1978.
But lest you wonder how much a totally pristine base cost me in today's market, let me explain.
The front has never had a sticker applied, it's true.
The same can't be said for the back.
The original owner put the sticker on the wrong side!
So now the big question is... since I've got the replica sticker ready to go, do I even bother removing the original sticker on the back, since it won't be seen on the shelf?
Alex
P.S.
I also recently finally got all the Black Series figures for that version of the display backdrop artwork.
I got the Black Series stand with Vader for a ridiculously low Wal-Mart clearance (ten bucks!) back in 2017.
Somehow or another, I had managed to piece together everyone at clearance-y prices on various releases, except never had Han! So he was the twelfth and final one purchased specifically to make this photo!
AN
Some weeks ago, I'd finally bought a decent replica of the backdrop to replace my original.
As I detailed in a past Toyaholic video for my YouTube channel, my display stand arrived on a rainy day in 1978, and being a longer package than would allow the mailbox door to shut, the corners got soggy.
To strengthen those weakened corners, my eight-year-old self had the 'bright' idea to use Star Wars stickers. One from bubble gum cards, one from Frankenberry cereal, as I recall.
Comparison of original (uppermost) to replica.
I also ordered a replica sticker from the same seller, as well as a couple of other items.
I commented on my FB post that I couldn't yet bring myself to peel off the old sticker.
So I decided to give it the Scarlett O'Hara treatment and worry about it on another day.
That day is today.
Well, actually it arrived many days ago, but today was my first chance to open this new arrival from eBay. (I've spared you my reaction to the packing peanuts.)
Wow, now that's a sight I've not seen since 1978.
But lest you wonder how much a totally pristine base cost me in today's market, let me explain.
The front has never had a sticker applied, it's true.
The same can't be said for the back.
The original owner put the sticker on the wrong side!
So now the big question is... since I've got the replica sticker ready to go, do I even bother removing the original sticker on the back, since it won't be seen on the shelf?
Alex
P.S.
I also recently finally got all the Black Series figures for that version of the display backdrop artwork.
I got the Black Series stand with Vader for a ridiculously low Wal-Mart clearance (ten bucks!) back in 2017.
Somehow or another, I had managed to piece together everyone at clearance-y prices on various releases, except never had Han! So he was the twelfth and final one purchased specifically to make this photo!
AN
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I forgot the weird part.
Since posting this pic as my FB cover pic...
... I have been contacted by a FB friend who was wondering if I could recreate this 75% similar photo from the Kenner card back for a hi-res poster project he's been working on.
He said he'd tried to locate the original image in higher resolution, even asked the Kenner photographer, but learned that the original slide was destroyed in a flood.
So that just struck me as odd... my backdrop was damaged by water the day it arrived, yet the real photo was also damaged by water!
And now my reproduction might turn out to be the best possible option for him to replicate the original?
That's just... bizarre.
Alex
P.S. It was only when I made this post and put the two pics up with each other that I noticed the prototype (lowermost) says Tusken Raider while the production piece (uppermost) says Sand People. I communicated this to Andy and he's going to make a custom graphic for the photo recreation.
Since posting this pic as my FB cover pic...
... I have been contacted by a FB friend who was wondering if I could recreate this 75% similar photo from the Kenner card back for a hi-res poster project he's been working on.
He said he'd tried to locate the original image in higher resolution, even asked the Kenner photographer, but learned that the original slide was destroyed in a flood.
So that just struck me as odd... my backdrop was damaged by water the day it arrived, yet the real photo was also damaged by water!
And now my reproduction might turn out to be the best possible option for him to replicate the original?
That's just... bizarre.
Alex
P.S. It was only when I made this post and put the two pics up with each other that I noticed the prototype (lowermost) says Tusken Raider while the production piece (uppermost) says Sand People. I communicated this to Andy and he's going to make a custom graphic for the photo recreation.
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This promises to be a lot of fiddly Dremeling, but I'm considering taking these two pieces...
... and doing the old Switcheroo-42 to them.
Digital mockup:
I always wanted to put the real R2 figure head on the X-wing toy, but it only just now occurred to me to make something with the yield parts too.
Which means it will be extremely tricky to get the cuts just perfect so that neither part is destroyed.
Anyone tried this before? Got any sage advice or warnings?
Alex
... and doing the old Switcheroo-42 to them.
Digital mockup:
I always wanted to put the real R2 figure head on the X-wing toy, but it only just now occurred to me to make something with the yield parts too.
Which means it will be extremely tricky to get the cuts just perfect so that neither part is destroyed.
Anyone tried this before? Got any sage advice or warnings?
Alex
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Today on social media, I saw some pics that are allegedly of a 'monkey in a mask' which was an understandably abandoned concept for how to create the character of Yoda for the Empire Strikes Back.
This triggered a memory from the first night I saw the Empire Strikes Back in May of 1980.
As we discussed the film on our drive home, my mother asked me what that monkey-like alien was on the swamp planet. I didn't remember a monkey. She insisted there had been a creature that she said resembled a *green* monkey climbing on a 'bridge' in one scene on Dagobah.
[EDIT: I brought this up to my Mom tonight, who is now 80 years old and has a far better memory for details than I do. She said she'd fallen asleep before the movie was over, something she never ever did, and went to bed that night with a fever of 102.]
As a child of ten, I was intrigued enough by the concept to sculpt a plasticine green monkey for inclusion with my Kenner Star Wars figures. I wonder whatever happened to that little guy?
But it would be at least a dozen years before I finally saw what she was describing.
All the cable and VHS viewings of ESB were the cropped 'Pan & Scan' formatting, you see. To fit a 16x9 film onto the old-style CRT TV screens, which were 4x3, they had to choose where to re-center the shot and lose a quarter of the theatrical picture.
And the green monkey on the bridge was apparently in the 1/4 that they deemed unnecessary.
Except, it never had been a monkey.
Nor was it climbing a bridge.
It was actually yet another Dagobah lizard.
Screengrab from Disney+:
Brightness adjusted:
Zoomed in:
When it begins to climb vertically, I guess it struck her as more mammalian than reptilian.
And that segment of ribs/vertebrae does sorta resemble a set of steps horizontally on the ground and a vertical set of banisters, with the gnarled wood behind them suggesting an upward-sloping rail.
I could definitely see a first-time viewer, especially one fighting a fever, recalling the image later and picturing that as a bridge.
I don't have any pics of my vintage Dagobah to hand at the moment, but when I took it out of its box last November to shoot a Toyaholic video, I did mention the many plastic lizards that I have bought to go with it over the years.
And there's also a large plastic rib cage in my collection. It was part of a Pride Rock playset for the Lion King initially.
Image found online:
I copied a custom Star Wars playset that my penpal David West Reynolds had made around this time, spray-painting the Pride Rock set sandtone to be a Tatooine environment. The bones had to be removed, of course, but some of them migrated over to Endor where the Kenner Ewoks used them for clubs etc.
The rib cage originally went to Endor too, but one day I realized it needed to be on Dagobah, to go with my Mom's nonesuch 'green monkey'.
And now people are saying they very nearly DID put a monkey-- possibly in a green mask-- onto the Dagobah set.
My Mom: "Vindication!"
Alex
This triggered a memory from the first night I saw the Empire Strikes Back in May of 1980.
As we discussed the film on our drive home, my mother asked me what that monkey-like alien was on the swamp planet. I didn't remember a monkey. She insisted there had been a creature that she said resembled a *green* monkey climbing on a 'bridge' in one scene on Dagobah.
[EDIT: I brought this up to my Mom tonight, who is now 80 years old and has a far better memory for details than I do. She said she'd fallen asleep before the movie was over, something she never ever did, and went to bed that night with a fever of 102.]
As a child of ten, I was intrigued enough by the concept to sculpt a plasticine green monkey for inclusion with my Kenner Star Wars figures. I wonder whatever happened to that little guy?
But it would be at least a dozen years before I finally saw what she was describing.
All the cable and VHS viewings of ESB were the cropped 'Pan & Scan' formatting, you see. To fit a 16x9 film onto the old-style CRT TV screens, which were 4x3, they had to choose where to re-center the shot and lose a quarter of the theatrical picture.
And the green monkey on the bridge was apparently in the 1/4 that they deemed unnecessary.
Except, it never had been a monkey.
Nor was it climbing a bridge.
It was actually yet another Dagobah lizard.
Screengrab from Disney+:
Brightness adjusted:
Zoomed in:
When it begins to climb vertically, I guess it struck her as more mammalian than reptilian.
And that segment of ribs/vertebrae does sorta resemble a set of steps horizontally on the ground and a vertical set of banisters, with the gnarled wood behind them suggesting an upward-sloping rail.
I could definitely see a first-time viewer, especially one fighting a fever, recalling the image later and picturing that as a bridge.
I don't have any pics of my vintage Dagobah to hand at the moment, but when I took it out of its box last November to shoot a Toyaholic video, I did mention the many plastic lizards that I have bought to go with it over the years.
And there's also a large plastic rib cage in my collection. It was part of a Pride Rock playset for the Lion King initially.
Image found online:
I copied a custom Star Wars playset that my penpal David West Reynolds had made around this time, spray-painting the Pride Rock set sandtone to be a Tatooine environment. The bones had to be removed, of course, but some of them migrated over to Endor where the Kenner Ewoks used them for clubs etc.
The rib cage originally went to Endor too, but one day I realized it needed to be on Dagobah, to go with my Mom's nonesuch 'green monkey'.
And now people are saying they very nearly DID put a monkey-- possibly in a green mask-- onto the Dagobah set.
My Mom: "Vindication!"
Alex
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New acquisition from eBay.
A stripped C-3PO from the Micro Collection.
The auction was an auto-recommended Buy It Now and I thought a silver protocol droid was appealing since we do see them in the first two films.
I still haven't put away all my MC figurines from shooting a multi-part video in Mississippi last year for my Toyaholic series. I need to move them all from the one big rifle case I bought for transport back into something more compact.
Alex
A stripped C-3PO from the Micro Collection.
The auction was an auto-recommended Buy It Now and I thought a silver protocol droid was appealing since we do see them in the first two films.
I still haven't put away all my MC figurines from shooting a multi-part video in Mississippi last year for my Toyaholic series. I need to move them all from the one big rifle case I bought for transport back into something more compact.
Alex
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Sometimes you just have to hold out for the perfect fit for a custom project.
For instance...
Many years ago I bought this conversation piece from eBay.
Note the unpainted TIE Pilot arm.
As neat as this alleged factory error was, I also realized how easy it would be to fake it. And from there it was a short leap to "I'd kinda like to see one with both arms from a TIE Pilot."
Coincidentally, there was another TIE Pilot custom project that I worked on last year while staying in Mississippi.
I'd always thought the vintage TFP was too stout, and wanted to see one with skinnier limbs. These beaters were perfect.
Limb swap, coat of paint, voila.
But as with any custom using two donor figures, there's always the yield.
In this case, perfectly good TIE limbs!
So it's taken over a year of watching daily hits on an eBay saved search, but I finally found the one Imperial Commander who I will feel no qualms about popping off his arms to customize.
Here he is:
I probably overpaid, but when I saw the Buy It Now, I knew he was the one.
So, any recommendations for the best solvent to use on the TIE arms to remove the remaining gray gloves paint?
I've experimented with a few over the years, but I'm always looking for a better middle ground between scrubbing forever with something mild, or going too strong and either discoloring or melting the plastic.
Alex
For instance...
Many years ago I bought this conversation piece from eBay.
Note the unpainted TIE Pilot arm.
As neat as this alleged factory error was, I also realized how easy it would be to fake it. And from there it was a short leap to "I'd kinda like to see one with both arms from a TIE Pilot."
Coincidentally, there was another TIE Pilot custom project that I worked on last year while staying in Mississippi.
I'd always thought the vintage TFP was too stout, and wanted to see one with skinnier limbs. These beaters were perfect.
Limb swap, coat of paint, voila.
But as with any custom using two donor figures, there's always the yield.
In this case, perfectly good TIE limbs!
So it's taken over a year of watching daily hits on an eBay saved search, but I finally found the one Imperial Commander who I will feel no qualms about popping off his arms to customize.
Here he is:
I probably overpaid, but when I saw the Buy It Now, I knew he was the one.
So, any recommendations for the best solvent to use on the TIE arms to remove the remaining gray gloves paint?
I've experimented with a few over the years, but I'm always looking for a better middle ground between scrubbing forever with something mild, or going too strong and either discoloring or melting the plastic.
Alex
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Simple Green or Power Purple industrial strength cleaners can work without real scrubbing.
The most effective is acetone, but that has to be used sparingly and with some skill. I've removed details from the plastic by using too much and rubbing too hard.
You should post both of these in the vintage custom thread too! We were just discussing the concept of cannibalizing figures. The Tie Pilot looks great!
The most effective is acetone, but that has to be used sparingly and with some skill. I've removed details from the plastic by using too much and rubbing too hard.
You should post both of these in the vintage custom thread too! We were just discussing the concept of cannibalizing figures. The Tie Pilot looks great!
Winsor-Newton brush cleaner from Hobby Lobby/Michael's/Joann's et al is far and away the best solvent I've found for removing paint from plastic. It's as strong as Goof-Off but much safer for the plastic. If you give it a try you won't be disappointed. Just be sure to give the parts a scrub with Simple Green or similar when you're finished.
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I just realized, I never took a comparison pic of that custom TIE Fighter Pilot next to the Kenner version to illustrate the differences in the resulting dimensions.
He definitely looks more slender, plus also taller.
But if you compare the custom to the new fodder figure, he's still not fully up to the average Star Wars height.
Alex
He definitely looks more slender, plus also taller.
But if you compare the custom to the new fodder figure, he's still not fully up to the average Star Wars height.
Alex
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I never really liked the bulkiness of the tie pilot, either. I had to create a version using a POTF2 head and a vintage AT-ST driver. I thought it looked much better within the original line.
Your version does the trick I think. Without the stout limbs, the torso looks less bulky.
Your version does the trick I think. Without the stout limbs, the torso looks less bulky.
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I like that recipe too!
Dangit... more AT-ST Drivers to buy.
Alex
Dangit... more AT-ST Drivers to buy.
Alex
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I went to Hobby Lobby to try some of that Winsor-Newton brush cleaner, but they didn't have it. All they had was a Mona Lisa brush cleaner, so I'm gonna give that a try.
Also, for anyone that watched my Toyaholic videos last year, while I was still at Hobby Lobby tonight I got a call from John Givens (seen in the Blue Snaggletooth three-parter) letting me know that the oft-mentioned John Davis (previous owner of my A-wing Fighter and a few other vintage pieces) has been hospitalized.
Any positive energy you guys could send his way, I'd appreciate it.
As John G. said, "We've known this man thirty years."
Alex
Also, for anyone that watched my Toyaholic videos last year, while I was still at Hobby Lobby tonight I got a call from John Givens (seen in the Blue Snaggletooth three-parter) letting me know that the oft-mentioned John Davis (previous owner of my A-wing Fighter and a few other vintage pieces) has been hospitalized.
Any positive energy you guys could send his way, I'd appreciate it.
As John G. said, "We've known this man thirty years."
Alex
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Haven't tried the Mona Lisa stuff but will be eager to hear about the results. 
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Mona Lisa results were all but nonexistent. It took off the tiny amount of white Imperial sigil paint remaining on the shoulders, but I couldn't see any difference on the gloves.
Alex
Alex
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