The Energon Pub

News Credits: 1 · Wed Jul 28, 2010 3:47 am

I know I'm probably a little late on this and I apologize. I was just wondering if anybody had a good tip to fix ROTF Bludgeon's katana so it doesn't look like a limp noodle. It embarrases me to have him stand up to Ultra Magnus with that weapon :lol:

. Once agian I'm sure this has been asked before an I apologize.

News Credits: 2 · Wed Jul 28, 2010 5:41 am

I've heard anything from using warm water to placing his sword in a book and leaving it set, but the limp noodle effect still comes back. Unless you make a new sword out of new material, then the issue is corrected.

Wed Jul 28, 2010 6:02 am

Stockade wrote:I've heard anything from using warm water to placing his sword in a book and leaving it set, but the limp noodle effect still comes back. Unless you make a new sword out of new material, then the issue is corrected.

I agree. There just isn't much we can do about it unless we make his katana out of a different material. The rubber that it is currently made of is just that-rubber.

Wed Jul 28, 2010 7:51 am

Your quest is a hopeless one, as the sword is made from accursed Bandai-Putty. Also known as PVC, it is the cheapest, crappiest material known to man. It was heavily used by Bandai America in their Power Rangers line for many years, leading to a plethora of such problems. The only way to make it retain its shape is to keep it in a very cold room. It can also eventually become powdery, sticky, or oily over time. Or just split.

I'm also having rigidity issues with Drift and Vector Prime's swords. It's a combination of cheapness on Hasbro's part as well as the fact that American children are capable of maiming or killing themselves with say, a goose feather or a rubber band if they are left with them for a minute or two.

News Credits: 2 · Wed Jul 28, 2010 8:08 am

Cobalt Prime wrote:Your quest is a hopeless one, as the sword is made from accursed Bandai-Putty. Also known as PVC, it is the cheapest, crappiest material known to man. It was heavily used by Bandai America in their Power Rangers line for many years, leading to a plethora of such problems. The only way to make it retain its shape is to keep it in a very cold room. It can also eventually become powdery, sticky, or oily over time. Or just split.

I'm also having rigidity issues with Drift and Vector Prime's swords. It's a combination of cheapness on Hasbro's part as well as the fact that American children are capable of maiming or killing themselves with say, a goose feather or a rubber band if they are left with them for a minute or two.

It sucks. I really wish there was a third party that would fix this issue or something. Maybe I'll just have to try on my own. Shame such neat chars are hindered by such cheapness :-(

News Credits: 2 · Wed Jul 28, 2010 9:13 am

After so many tries, I finally bent the tip more straight. Then painted it silver so it looks much better than the gray. But the paint can chip easily due to the PVC material.

Wed Jul 28, 2010 1:10 pm

I outright replaced it with a dowel rod I carved into a sword. I cut the cannon barrel off the original and glued it on the end so it still functions in alt mode.

News Credits: 1 · Wed Jul 28, 2010 1:24 pm

Thanks to all the posts. I hate that this is an issue due to the cheapness of Hasbro....and the stupidity of SOME of our American children. Also I wasn't aware that Generations Drift had this issue....thatmakes me sad since he arrives for me today. :BANG_HEAD:

But I digress thanks to all who helped me out with this, it was much appreciated.

News Credits: 767 · Wed Jul 28, 2010 1:31 pm

We need someone to straighten one out and make molds from it so that it can be cast with a better material and a better colour too. I heard someone from tfw is making an upgrade set for him with a new more skull like head and weapons, maybe the weapons are better recasts of the originals?

Wed Jul 28, 2010 11:39 pm

Somehow, I read "Katana" as "bandana."
e_e

Anyhow, I don't own the figure yet, so I don't know, but I(my brother) do still have(my brother's) Vector Prime sword, which somehow got stuck slightly bent, is this a similar problem?

News Credits: 668 · Thu Jul 29, 2010 12:25 am

My Bludgeon has a problem with his sword as well. The blade is fine, but the handle is actually bent like a zig zag (due to how it was strapped into the bubble) and it's never straightened. And I bought him New Year's Eve. After so many months, you'd think it'd straighten out.

I've learned that letting your figures hold the sword as a person would (sharp side facing outward) prevents it from flopping to the side.

For example, having your figures hold their swords like this: http://www.steveslostlandoftoys.com/pho ... zord_1.jpg Big no no. The way it sits forces the blade to buckle under it's own weight.

Twist it the other way and it seems to work better. I can't explain it, but it's always work for me.

News Credits: 22 · Thu Jul 29, 2010 12:50 am

Wow, I must have been really lucky with mine...the handle is perfect and the blade is straight...it baffled me that so many people have this problem...hopefully you'll get it fixed or get a good replacement.

News Credits: 20 · Thu Jul 29, 2010 4:43 am

Cobalt Prime wrote:
I'm also having rigidity issues with Drift and Vector Prime's swords. It's a combination of cheapness on Hasbro's part as well as the fact that American children are capable of maiming or killing themselves with say, a goose feather or a rubber band if they are left with them for a minute or two.

Naw, it's just adherence to child safety laws. It sucks but you can't fault them for it. Oh, and American children ARE stupid. I mean, I was one. I just got older. Not smarter, older.

Thu Jul 29, 2010 7:08 am

A little trick that sometimes works with this sort of rubbery plastic:
Use hot water or blow dryer to heat up sword, making it more pliable.
Bend it back into it's preferred shape.
Dunk it in freezing cold ice water.

Something about the heat and cold loosening the bonds and then reforming them or plastic memory or something... I don't remember exactly why this works. But it does. Sorta.

-TheSnackist

Thu Jul 29, 2010 8:02 am

So we have male and female robots...............

Viagra maybe?

I would imagine it would cure limp sword syndrome

News Credits: 11 · Thu Jul 29, 2010 9:46 am

zenosaurus_x wrote:Somehow, I read "Katana" as "bandana."
e_e

Anyhow, I don't own the figure yet, so I don't know, but I(my brother) do still have(my brother's) Vector Prime sword, which somehow got stuck slightly bent, is this a similar problem?

Yep, same problem, but Bludgeon's sword is even floppier than Vector Prime's.

I should try the hot water/blow dryer trick on VP's, his is permanently bent, while Bludgeon's is not.

I find if you put the katana back in the sheath for a few days it straightens out...at least until you display it for another few days. Neverending cycle. I guess the only solution is to find a pose that doesn't place stress on the sword. Or yeah, just replace it. If the third-party rumor is true, I might consider it.