The Energon Pub

Mon Sep 28, 2015 12:45 pm

I'd be well worried about sanding too much/unevenly...

News Credits: 12 · Wed Oct 07, 2015 8:58 pm

Can anyone recommend any products to protect the paint on a figure? My Silverbolt's (Takara version) elbow paint is rubbing off where it rubs against the tab during transformation, and I want to make sure it doesn't get worse. It's yellow paint on black plastic, so it's noticeable.

Sat Mar 26, 2016 6:11 pm

Just got Generations Roadbuster, and the ratchet in his left shoulder is extremely loose. Anyone know how to fix it?

News Credits: 33 · Mon Apr 04, 2016 7:31 pm

Kyleor wrote:It's hard to drill a hole in the same spot for both sides but it makes a strong joint.

A dot of paint where you are going to be drilling on one side, then taking the other opposing part and pressing together to "stamp" the dot on the other side solves this problem easily

Fri Apr 08, 2016 1:19 pm

Hi All,

First time poster. I have a Generation 1 Repugnus figure that's missing the screw holding in his left arm. Any suggestions for replacements other than buying poor condition figure on eBay and stripping it for parts? I'd love to be able to find a replacement screw online or at hardware store.

Thanks!

Sat Apr 09, 2016 8:55 am

minneapolis_guy wrote:Hi All,

First time poster. I have a Generation 1 Repugnus figure that's missing the screw holding in his left arm. Any suggestions for replacements other than buying poor condition figure on eBay and stripping it for parts? I'd love to be able to find a replacement screw online or at hardware store.

Thanks!

You could always super glue his arm together; doing so usually doesn't impede movement.

If you want a screw, see if you have a less liked figure with a similarly sized screw, and canibalize it from them. Perhaps there's a hobby/model shop near you that might sell screws that small? I've never seen them sold anywhere.

News Credits: 60 · Sun May 08, 2016 11:32 pm

Always heard it, always planned to get it but always forget once I'm at your handy dandy hardware store.

Recently Maz's article on flawed beauties made mention of "it"

"It" as in floor polish. I'm using what is called Pledge "Wipe and Shine" by J & J.

I used a syringe(2cc) to apply the chemical in tight spaces (i.e. UW ratchet joints etc). Just make sure you don't expel the liquid too much and get rid of the runny excess.

Mind you, I used them not to protect the chrome parts (supposedly it too can be used for that purpose). Just to tighten the loose parts.

I'll do a little practice run on the chrome protection later.

Success rates

1. MP Hotrodimus' ankles no more flopping

2. UW Menasor ratchet joints of the connector parts. Backwards lean improved 97% but it still can't fix the design flaw of the center of gravity issue

3. G1 Landcross reissue. His legs don't flop anymore

4. G1 Superion's thighs minimized the floppiness by 20% . Neck joints tightened when used as legs

5. United Straxxus kind of disappointing. Thighs still flops.

6. Encore Bruticus unification weapons all are tightly joined together

7. G1 Menasor limb connectors. All of the car's neck joints, especially when you use Breakdown and Deadend as legs don't flop forward anymore.

News Credits: 295 · Tue May 24, 2016 5:18 pm

Ideas on custom weapons for TFP Ratchet? I bought him second hand when I didn't know much about TF toys and he did not come with his weapons. I want to make something that will look nice maybe out of painted wood or plastic.

Also he is missing his left forearm panel on the inside of his arm, I'd like to replace that with something. I was thinking craft foam perhaps?

I have never customized a figure before, so I'd like some ideas of how to proceed.

Thanks!

News Credits: 41 · Wed May 25, 2016 1:37 pm

Hey WreckerJack, you may get more response on these questions over in the Customizations Forums.
This thread is more about the repair and restoral of toys, than the customizing. Over there is where all the awesome customizers and DIYers hang out. It's a fun place.
Good luck and happy custom making! ;)^

Thu Jun 02, 2016 5:40 pm

Here are some tips for G2 Slingshot:

First, avoid using him as an arm for Superion. The connector sockets in Silverbolt's shoulders are on extremely tight ratchet joints, meaning it takes extra force to turn them.. not a good idea with poor Slingshot.

Second, very carefully disassemble him (use a soldering iron to push out the pins in his wings). Then, gently sand or file down the surfaces that experience friction during transformation and posing. The reduced joint friction combined with gentle handling should allow you to play with him without breakage. It has with mine.

Third, glue a bit of matchstick or sprue into the hollow in the back of his neck/connector peg to reinforce it.

It's worked for me.

News Credits: 295 · Wed Jun 08, 2016 5:48 am

Did a little "operation" on my TFP Ratchet finally. (my very first fix up)

Here is when I started- he was missing a panel on his arm as you can see. I simply traced the other one, made a mirror image of it on paper and then taped it to a Styrofoam plate and cut it out. With some trial and error I was able to cut notches into so it stayed in place.

I will take a better pic later, but here he is all patched up! At first glance you can't tell which arm is which! I am really proud of this ;)^

Next I will try to make him his swords but that will go in the customs area as this was clearly a repair job.

Sat Jun 11, 2016 6:54 pm

Got a secondhand G1 Sixshot in the mail yesterday. Bending his knees for transformation to tank mode resulted in something breaking in both legs. As it turned out, it was the U-sprung locking tabs that hold the knees in either position:

I tried gluing them back together but that didn't hold up. So instead I constructed channels to hold tabs operated by metal coil springs:

And here's a spring and a tab installed. I cut the actual tab sections off from the original parts and used them, sinc they were already the right size:

And now, Sixshot is once nore able stand steady like the brick he is:

Has anyone else ever had this breakage happen?

News Credits: 12 · Wed Aug 24, 2016 9:54 am

I just received the Platinum Predaking Amazon exclusive set. The connection for the right arm of Predaking is not good. It's very loose, and will simply fall out due to gravity at certain angles. I noticed from a quick Google search that this issue is fairly common (though I believe the left arm is more prevalent). What I didn't see was any easy fixes. Are there any?

News Credits: 7 · Sat Sep 24, 2016 8:55 am

So my C.W. Ultra Magnus had a VERY VERY tight head joint... So tight, that after transforming him into truck mode, I daren't pull his head out again, for fear of snapping the neck joint...
Anyone else with this problem, and hopefully a fix? :???:

News Credits: 90 · Sun Oct 09, 2016 3:10 pm

Posed the question here, but I'll probably be better off getting an answer in this thread.

I picked up an RotF Voyager Starscream from a seller on Amazon (it was shipped from China actually) and the wings are very loose and come off at the spot where they fold down on his back very easily. I don't think this could be fixed, but am open to tips. The problem is that Starscream's missiles that fit into his launchers will not peg into the spot under his wings when I switch him to jet mode. Is this a common problem with the toy? Anything I can do to rectify it or doctor a solution so they peg into the areas underneath the wings?

Thanks.

News Credits: 295 · Sat Jan 07, 2017 7:56 pm

Pyra Magna had a successful knee operation today.

Instead of risking stripping the screws and dealing with unpinning I decided to use a pair of snippers that were able to fit down into the joint. Then I taped a thumbnail sized square of sandpaper to a pencil because my fingers are to chubby. Finished the job and smoothing it out and now she can stand without fear of stress marks.

These are what I am referring to when I say snippers. I got them for model airplanes ages ago but they work perfect for removing burrs or cutting plastic.

Mon Jan 23, 2017 6:37 pm

Hey guys, just registered to seibertron because ozformers ihas got me waiting for months to let me use my account.

My mp 22 ultra magnus's thighs have Lost their knee ratchets. How do I fix this? I don't want to have a rag doll as my first mp! :-(

Help would be appresciated. Until then, ultra Magnus can't hold a pose with all the weight he holds.

News Credits: 41 · Tue Jan 24, 2017 3:26 pm

Hi Godbombing. Welcome to Seibertron!

One of our users made a quick pictorial on fixing this very problem in the MP-22 thread.

http://www.seibertron.com/energonpub/transformers-masterpiece-mp-22-ultra-magnus-discussion-t99677s950.php#p1849750

there may be a little more info if you scroll back too.

Good luck! ;)^

Fri Feb 10, 2017 1:19 am

Does anyone else have an issue with Titan Returns Hot Rod's hip joints being really loose? He can't stand up under his own weight and I'm not sure how to fix it. Any suggestions?

News Credits: 241 · Fri Feb 10, 2017 1:39 am

That seems to be a common issue with him, and some other figures for that matters. Since they're on ball-and-socket joints, nothing clear nail polish or anything else that leaves a clear film can't solve. Be careful popping them off tho.

Fri Feb 10, 2017 2:21 am

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:That seems to be a common issue with him, and some other figures for that matters. Since they're on ball-and-socket joints, nothing clear nail polish or anything else that leaves a clear film can't solve. Be careful popping them off tho.

Cheers bud. I'll give that a crack. :-)

News Credits: 241 · Fri Feb 10, 2017 3:18 am

Please don't say "crack" :oops:

Sat Feb 11, 2017 6:09 am

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:Please don't say "crack"

Ha ha ha! Sorry, Australian expression. I'll give that a go.

News Credits: 226 · Sat Feb 11, 2017 7:10 am

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:Please don't say "crack"

Fair suck of the sauce bottle mate, there's nothin' flamin' offensive about having a crack at things!

Sat Feb 11, 2017 7:30 am

Burn wrote:
JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:Please don't say "crack"

Fair suck of the sauce bottle mate, there's nothin' flamin' offensive about having a crack at things!

I'm wondering if I should go full Alf Stewart and pull out a couple of "stone the flamin' crows!".

Just had another question, is there any way to stiffen up the joint on TR Scourge's wrist? Mine's really loose and floppy. Any suggestions? Thanks!