The Energon Pub

News Credits: 3 · Fri Jan 25, 2008 11:47 am

Does anyone have any tips for removing permanent marker
from my toys?
I won the Con clones off ebay, heck I wasn't even really trying to win it. Anyway I didn't notice in the pictures that they had been modded with marker. It doesn't look bad, but I want it off.
I've been using Fantastik to clean up the dirt and it took
a little off but it seems to have a stopping point.
Any suggestions?

DSC00867.JPG

How about paint thinner?

News Credits: 1 · Sat Jan 26, 2008 10:12 pm

DISCHARGE wrote:Does anyone have any tips for removing permanent marker
from my toys?
I won the Con clones off ebay, heck I wasn't even really trying to win it. Anyway I didn't notice in the pictures that they had been modded with marker. It doesn't look bad, but I want it off.
I've been using Fantastik to clean up the dirt and it took
a little off but it seems to have a stopping point.
Any suggestions?
DSC00867.JPG

Yes. Lava Soap and water. This stuff removes many types of paint from fingers and even plastics. I can't customize anything without it. It also serves as a handy brush cleaner. My best magic marker story involves me removing marker from the all-white head of my paintless, plastic-wheeled Ultra Magnus cab. Back in the 5th grade, I attempted to create a Decepticon version of Prime called Airbrake. A decade or two later, and keeping him the way the was suddenly started making sense.

News Credits: 1 · Sat Jan 26, 2008 10:21 pm

I just recently solved my own problem involving the Screen Battles "First Encounter" Barricade. Because a (better-looking) Frenzy figurine is included, Hasbro decided to prevent the buyer from having (access to) two of the same character in the box. The Frenzy included with this Barricade was remolded in black (with no paint apps), then prevented from coming outside of the car. Wanna find out how to let him out?

Click on my earlier post: http://www.seibertron.com/energonpub/vi ... 66#p615166
If I get any of the earlier Frenzys, I think I'll call this one Rumble.

-- Cybertronian.

P.S.: Try to keep the "restrictor plate" once you remove it, for collector's purposes.

Sun Jan 27, 2008 11:27 am

Hip-Hoptimus Rime wrote:
Darkclyde wrote:For a month now, my matrix of leadership won't light up anymore. I have change the batteries with new ones but only with the same result, it still won't light up.

Did it happen all of a sudden, or was it after you played with him or tranformed him? My only thought is that the box that holds the matrix is not lined up correctly with the blue button. Try moving that box around a bit to see if it re-aligns. I hope this helps, good luck.

Yes, i have played couple of times. I have tried that, but it seems the problem is not because of the line-up between the blue trigger with the button on the matrix's box. I even try to push the small button on the matrix's box and again nothing happened. However, thank you for your help. I'm still trying to figure this out and any other suggestions highly appreciated.

News Credits: 3 · Tue Jan 29, 2008 3:10 pm

Cybertronian wrote:
DISCHARGE wrote:Does anyone have any tips for removing permanent marker
from my toys?
I won the Con clones off ebay, heck I wasn't even really trying to win it. Anyway I didn't notice in the pictures that they had been modded with marker. It doesn't look bad, but I want it off.
I've been using Fantastik to clean up the dirt and it took
a little off but it seems to have a stopping point.
Any suggestions?
DSC00867.JPG

Yes. Lava Soap and water. This stuff removes many types of paint from fingers and even plastics. I can't customize anything without it. It also serves as a handy brush cleaner. My best magic marker story involves me removing marker from the all-white head of my paintless, plastic-wheeled Ultra Magnus cab. Back in the 5th grade, I attempted to create a Decepticon version of Prime called Airbrake. A decade or two later, and keeping him the way the was suddenly started making sense.

You sir, are
AWESOME!
That totally works. Thank you so much.

*edit:
So, the Lava soap was taking a while so I decided to gamble
I got one of those Mr Clean Magic Erasers. That thing did
what the soap does only faster. You should try it.

News Credits: 9 · Wed Feb 13, 2008 5:33 pm

Crap double post sry :BANG_HEAD:

Sun Feb 17, 2008 3:43 pm

Ok, ive looked through here, and i couldnt see any other asks on this point. Is there a way to fix G1 Blasters tape deck so i dont have to take him apart just to open him once. Members in the ODB say he can be fixed, they just dont know how.

News Credits: 1 · Mon Feb 18, 2008 8:55 pm

Pottermus_Prime wrote:Ok, ive looked through here, and i couldnt see any other asks on this point. Is there a way to fix G1 Blasters tape deck so i dont have to take him apart just to open him once. Members in the ODB say he can be fixed, they just dont know how.

A while back I had this problem when I first got him used. Apparently, when converting Blaster to a TF, they removed a great number of his originally working parts, including a feature that allowed him to play FM radio when a special cassette-shaped module was installed. The Transformer version of his eject button works, but yes, his back must be unscrewed then reassembled to get it motivated. Think of it as being like a dislocated leg or arm. With some effort, you can get said limb to move (albeit not without pain). If the re-issue corrected this problem, I don't know and would love to find out.

-- Cybertronian :BOT:

P.S.: This problem could also be solved if someone owning Blaster's MicroChange version allowed someone to reproduce the original buttons (despite the copies not having the marblized sheen of the original).

News Credits: 9 · Tue Feb 19, 2008 10:49 pm

okay so a little while back I bought a classic Camaro movie bumblebee I use him for display only and mainly keep him in car mode but he has the "slant-nose" syndrome does anyone know how to fix this to where hes stills transformable but the nose is straight? this is bugging me because he looks like crap

News Credits: 3 · Wed Feb 20, 2008 10:18 pm

Orion_Prime48 wrote:okay so a little while back I bought a classic Camaro movie bumblebee I use him for display only and mainly keep him in car mode but he has the "slant-nose" syndrome does anyone know how to fix this to where hes stills transformable but the nose is straight? this is bugging me because he looks like crap

I think I know what you mean. I just keep slight pressure on the front end . At the same time I squeeze the sides until it stays
"non-slanted".

News Credits: 14 · Thu Feb 21, 2008 1:42 pm

Couldn't find anything about this, o I'll ask.

My Cybertron Optimus Prime. Original Release. (Blue and red).
Has suddenly developed limp hip syndrome.

But only on one direction of the hip joint.

When transformed in truck mode, if you hold the cab, and let go of the rear portion/legs, they'll flop down.

While in robot mode this makes him bend over forward or backwards to easily.

However the side ratchet is still stiff,and tight. Any way to fix the join. Tried tightening the screw, but its already as tight as it will go.

Any ideas on how to remedy the floppiness?

News Credits: 1 · Thu Feb 21, 2008 11:31 pm

Overcracker wrote:
My Cybertron Optimus Prime -- Original Release (Blue and red) -- has suddenly developed limp hip syndrome, but only on one direction of the hip joint.
When transformed in truck mode, if you hold the cab, and let go of the rear portion/legs, they'll flop down.
While in robot mode this makes him bend over forward or backwards to easily.
However the side ratchet is still stiff,and tight. Any way to fix the joint. Tried tightening the screw, but its already as tight as it will go.

Any ideas on how to remedy the floppiness?

Woah. Duuuude. Woooah.
I had this same problem 22 years ago when I got my first 2 Optimus Primes (or is that Optimi; '84 and '85 versions respectively, used of course). In the case of the original, the hip joints are ratcheted. One two many quick transformations and you'd wear down the plastic teeth on either his chromed thighs, the red truck undercarriage, or both. Since it's one of two parts that cannot be removed/replaced with a screwdriver, you either had to a.) generously stuff Kleenex(tm) inside of the hinged area (his butt), or b.) buy another Optimus (new or used) that didn't have worn out thigh/truck cab teeth.

As for the Cybertron version, I think the forward/reverse teeth on your thigh joints have worn down. I've had this happen to other figures, usually from the 1st Generation. The drums inside the thighs will wear down on the holes on the sides of Prime's groin, unless properly lubricated. Hobby or sewing machine oil sometimes helps to prevent this. Vegetable oil, painted on the lining with a Q-tip is an excellent substitute.
The horizontal articulation appears to be ratcheted, like original Jetfire's shoulders. I will close by saying don't tighten the screws too much. TF and G.I. Joe screwheads strip too easily, leaving you with something difficult to unscrew again unless you use the next biggest size driver (usually #1 Phillips, which usually has a shaft too big to drive into the hole).

-- Cybertronian.

News Credits: 14 · Tue Feb 26, 2008 6:00 pm

Thanx. S would you suggest I take it apart and try to stuff something in there?

Tue Feb 26, 2008 10:26 pm

On my deluxe bumblebee

that button on the hood for the automorph wont go up. i got it off ebay brand new but i wanted to know if this was a common problem or if i should tell the seller to send me a new one.

since the button stays down, whenever i try to transform it, the hood stays folded and wont stay locked in the car mode.

any help is greatly appreciated!!

News Credits: 14 · Wed Feb 27, 2008 2:09 pm

mynameisnitsuj wrote:On my deluxe bumblebee

that button on the hood for the automorph wont go up. i got it off ebay brand new but i wanted to know if this was a common problem or if i should tell the seller to send me a new one.

since the button stays down, whenever i try to transform it, the hood stays folded and wont stay locked in the car mode.

any help is greatly appreciated!!

There's a known defect with the 74 Bumblebee. Back when they first came out this board was plagued with threads dealing with how to fix it, how to not suffer the problem, even how to avoid it by checking the toy in the package before buying it. Now I can't find a thread about this here, but I did find one in tfw2005 boards. maybe it will help you:
http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/showthread.php?t=136343

Wed Feb 27, 2008 6:31 pm

thanks alot, Overcracker

Much appreciated!

News Credits: 14 · Wed Feb 27, 2008 6:37 pm

mynameisnitsuj wrote:thanks alot, Overcracker

Much appreciated!

You are most welcome.

Thu Feb 28, 2008 2:06 pm

How do you send Pics?
I need to send a Picture of my Busted Omega Lock

News Credits: 14 · Fri Feb 29, 2008 9:52 pm

Uber Galvatron wrote:How do you send Pics?
I need to send a Picture of my Busted Omega Lock

Send to who?

If you mean add a pic to your post, there's a tab under the post text box that reads: "Upload attachment" use that, or upload your image to a picture service such as photobucket or imageshack, and then just paste a link into your post.

News Credits: 1 · Sun Mar 02, 2008 1:21 am

Pottermus_Prime wrote:Ok, ive looked through here, and i couldnt see any other asks on this point. Is there a way to fix G1 Blasters tape deck so i dont have to take him apart just to open him once. Members in the ODB say he can be fixed, they just dont know how.

The trick is once you fix him just be gentle on the eject button,if you push to hard it will just screw up again.Its an easy fix if your even slightly handy with tools and have a little common sense.

News Credits: 1 · Sun Mar 02, 2008 4:54 pm

No sure if this is in the right section or not, my apologies if it is'nt, but does anyone know if there are any blasters/pistols from previous/current transformers that will fit in the hands of a Classics Deluxe Bumblebee, pictures would be helpful if possible, thanks in advance.

News Credits: 14 · Sun Mar 02, 2008 10:34 pm

I believe Classics Bumblebee has standard peg hols in his fists, which measn pretty much any weapon from R.I.D/A/E/C should fit him.

I guess for specifics, you could try Energon Hot Shot's Energon Gun:

Or R.I.D Optimus Prime's Blaster.

News Credits: 1 · Mon Mar 03, 2008 8:50 am

Thank for the advice, but have managed to use one of my 2000AD figures pistols, here's the result.

Sweet

Wed Mar 05, 2008 1:16 pm

Thanks Overcracker!
Here's my Omega Lock.

robots in disguise 011.jpg

and here's what it should be like

r_primus084.jpg

News Credits: 14 · Wed Mar 05, 2008 1:46 pm

Just seems the little handles are mis-assembled. Was it like this out of the box?

I'm not sure since I don't have My Omega lock in front of me right now, but I guess you could unscrew it and rotate the black handles.