The Energon Pub

Remember the Quickslinger repaint of Ransack in the club issue a few years back? I undertook that project and really enjoyed it.

Now I would like to start my own repainting projects and decided to do a repaint using the classic seekers as a base. Started to take the figure apart to sand...

BUT I CAN"T GET THE LITTLE METAL RODS OUT. I have bent allen wrenches trying to push them out. Help a newbie out. How do you get these rods out?

Hey there heimerman,

Those pins can be pretty tricky at times, I've only ever managed to get one out once!!

Theres a couple of methods but the two most popular that I keep reading about are..

One end of the pin will have a diamond pattern on it.. which creates grip. Get a pin or nail (with a flat end instead of a point) the size of the pin your trying to remove.. place it on the end of the pin your removing that does not have the diamond pattern on it. Very carefully but with a little force, start tapping the pin with a hammer. Just be careful you dont miss and put your nail or pin through the plastic!

Eventually the pin will start to budge and itll come out enough to grip with a pair of needlenose pliers. Use a twisting motion to remove the pin fully.

Use the same method to replace the pin back into the figure, again taking care not to damage the figure or the plastic.

Theres only one drawback with this method and its that sometimes its not obvious which end of the pin to start hammering.. try one end and if your having no joy, try the opposite side/end.. find which end has more give in it and you'll soon have it out

The other method I've read about is using a soldering iron to heat the pin up, making the plastic around it supple and soft. Though this is a more popular choice for removing pins that hold wheels in (the ones with the flat heads)

I have my Classics Starscream infront of me and can see the the pins you want to remove. The first option is probably your best..

Have you given thought to painting it without removing the pins? I'm only thinking it could save you alot of work!!

Let us know how you get on heimerman!!

Pins are awful. I've had success twice. (on the same figure, two different pins) Never could get it to work right for me. Pin extraction is a real pain.

I work around them, With some characters its already complicated enough when they're just unscrewed for me.

for method one as suggested by zero-kaiser the plastic is not always strong enough. you might end up breaking something or damage the plastic around the pin. the technique works fine but you have to pick your battles.

heating up might permanently damage the toy if you go to far so try that out on an already messed up toy. there are some good tutorials out there. i believe to have seen one on youtube.

both methods work great. but I don't think they are always the good way to go to get a good repaint. You can also start painting or air brushing the hard to get to part first and work your way up.

good luck with the pins.

I have a block of pine I use.

Basically, I examine the piece, and try to figure out which end has the "rough" tip. I place that side of the piece down on the block.

I then use a hammer and a finishing nail (VERY carefully) to knock the pin out, until the rough edge is visible, at least 1/8 inch.

I then grip that rough edge with a pair of pliers, and pull until the pin is out.


Putting the pins back in is a bt simpler - simply slide the pin until the rough edge is starting to go in, then take a pair of pliers, pad one side, and squeeze it back in - the unpadded side goes on the pin itself, the padded side on the plastic opposite.