Question: about exchanging limbs on figures

[aramconbrat]

I just wanted to know if any of you had an easy or foolproof method of removing limbs from the old figures and putting them in other old figures. Not the main joints like the head and the shoulders and hips... I got a figure I don't have and he is missing his arm from the elbow down. Because most wrist-down arms of the old figures are identical, I was hoping to give him an arm from one of my other beat up toys but I am afraid of stretching or tearing the limb and not being able to get it into the joint.

Any suggestions from other people who have done this...

[jestergoblin]

Are you talking about moving the hand pieces? I was kinda confused by your post.

If so, heating the limb up in boiling water for a few seconds will let them pop right off.

[aramconbrat]

Well from the elbow to the hand...

You know how the old "played with" figures often lost part of their arms... I have a storage shell Don that is missing his left arm from the elbow downwards so I am hoping to transfer the same limb from another toy!

I will definately try the hot water. I have never had much luck with putting the limbs back on. And it isn't simply the main leg or arm joints which are very straightforward

Hope this works! Sorry about the post earlier if it is indeed confusing. Guess the phrasing is off =P

[TheShowstoppa]

I have a lot of extra limbs from my older turtles and on my Rocker Leo from 91, I took an extra left forearm and added it to him. You can't do that with the other arm however, because it's a complete elbow joint, so it is different from the others. I was able to luck out with the other, however.

Basically, it came off without a hitch. If you hold it over hot steam, it might come out really easy, but don't try assembling this way... it might hurt! I would suggest that you have the other figure near by so when you get the one limb out you can put it in right away. Me... I personally just muscle it in. Didn't hurt anything, didn't do any damage!

[JaffleMan]

I use boiling water in a tin can and a pair of tweezers to remove them from the tin and to help push the stub into place. However, if the stub has a tear in it, which you should be able to see when trying to remove the wrist, i would not recommend removing it at all as it will most likely break. If it must be done, try popping it out from the opposite side of the tear.


If this is for a custom, i wouldn't worry aout breaking or stretching the stub, I usually cut the stubs off and insert a round headed screw in it's place to better fit the new figger I'm using it for. Plus they are easier to get in the hole.

Also sometimes you may find the stuc is too big for the new figure so you may want to cut it down a bit (but not too much.)

[Dragnskull]

if im not mistaken, the storage shells eries looks quite different from the plastic used for others of the turtles...

i have the storage shell don, and the plastic sems to look diff compared to others...if memory serves me