The Energon Pub

News Credits: 1 · Sun Jan 24, 2010 12:02 am

Hey guys, I'm attempting to repaint Cybertron mode Prime from Animated. I disassembled him for easier painting with no trouble at all, until I got to the pin in the chest/cab joint, as circled in the attached image below.

I tried hammering it, but it won't budge. This pin seems to be connected permanently. Has anyone else been able to remove it? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

prime.jpg

News Credits: 1 · Sun Feb 07, 2010 11:16 pm

Any ideas?

News Credits: 668 · Sun Feb 07, 2010 11:33 pm

For the really troublesome pins, you need a small soldering iron. Place the tip directly on the pin itself, not the plastic (NEVER the plastic!), and give it a good 3-5 seconds of warming up, the pin should pop right out with one good whack from a hammer.

Tue Feb 16, 2010 4:41 pm

You need to support all sections around the pin area carefully and I mean careful. Get a small screw driver or pin removal tool from hardware store, must be strong, and gently start tapping away. I prefer this over heating up, as i dont plan for the pin area to expand.Don't need it.
I can post a step by step clip if needed.
Slow is always better than fast.
Enjoy and good luck.
Donny
AKA PrimeRage

Sat Jul 23, 2011 12:52 am

You must be careful, if the pin is long,there is a side where it comes in, for they are not symmetric, think of a wood nail, it --almost-- has no head, but it does. The side of the head is the most exterior of both ends. Put it in the fridge for some hours, metal and plastic have different expansion coefficients, it will make it --slightly-- easier to push it form the other side with a thin screwdiver and a hammer.
If the pin is short (think of a thumb thack), there is no way to take them out, for they have ribs that go inside the plastic, and are inserted hot and melt the plastic, attaching it to the ribs (I know this from a defective deluxe Ratchet, the bolt was not aligned correctly and one arm was loose).