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Advice on salvaging my Battle Beasts


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#1 DaHumorist

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Posted 06 March 2016 - 12:08 AM

I've got a nice little collection of Battle Beasts from my childhood but unfortunately a few of them are suffering from some ailments. Hoping you Battle Beast pros can give me advice on how to salvage these awesome little bastards.

 

For starters, there's these figures with broken arms. As you can see the peg has broken off in the arm-hole of these guys, but I still have what's left of the arms. As of now, I'm planning to just superglue the arms in place (at least then, they'll be aesthetically pleasing); unless you guys have a better suggestion.

Attached File  one-armed figs.JPG   99.49K   4 downloads

 

 

The Moose however is still missing his right arm completely, but I just so happen to have a spare giraffe arm that I'd love to be able to squeeze in. I've done it once before with another figure (also pictured) and it turned out pretty rad, but that was so long ago, I have no idea how.

 

The Moose's arm hole is a lot smaller than the giraffe arm peg (and I'm sure most of you know how hard it is to squeeze these in by hand). I know I've read about boiling figures to soften the rubber, but I really don't know much about it. Anybody mind walking me through that?

Attached File  moose.JPG   90.53K   6 downloads Attached File  coolcat.JPG   82.01K   7 downloads

 

 

I also have these armless dudes, and one-armed ram/yak?/whatever. No arms, unfortunately. Anyone have some spares, or other suggestions?

Attached File  armless figs.JPG   106.77K   5 downloads Attached File  ram.JPG   73.49K   7 downloads

 

 

Thanks! Any help would be greatly appreciated!


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#2 Draznar

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Posted 06 March 2016 - 03:10 AM

In regards to removing/adding arms, the heating/cooling trick will work.

Put the body in super hot water and let it sit for a short while. (30 seconds or so should do it.) I put my arms in water with a couple ice cubes to super harden the peg, that way the hard peg is going into the soft socket. (I swear I'm not trying to make this so dirty.)

I've only broken one peg with this method, and it was my first attempt. To be doubly fair though I could probably count how many arms I've removed/added on one hand, two at best. Somebody else may have a better/more efficient method.

As for removing the pegs? I have no idea. I've never tried! Perhaps super heating the figure and shoving something in like an end of a paperclip? Since the socket and the piece will be soft, you may be able to pop them right out with either minimal or no permanent damage.


Good luck!

Edited by Draznar, 06 March 2016 - 03:10 AM.

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#3 mca19

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Posted 06 March 2016 - 03:30 AM

To remove sockets I take a drill bit and twist it by hand into the center of the peg, once secured I leverage it a little with the bit and pull the broken peg out. There's other ways but that's the easiest for me

Some people add a plastic dowel and use it as a peg to allow the arms to articulate instead of super glue. In that case, I have seen them leave the broken part in to keep the peg tighter. Personally I would start a "battle beast arms needed" post. There are so many with the same issue you would be amazed. I had a bag of arms I bought off someone and gave to Ersico for customs during his tmnt series release. I don't have any left but someone may have what you need.

The arms are easy to remove. Hot water works, I just use my wife's hair dryer. A few second of heat softens the rubber and I pull the arm out. Then to reinsert it I heat the body only to leave the peg on the arm stiff and push the arm back into place on the heated body. Haven't broken one yet.

Edited by mca19, 06 March 2016 - 03:32 AM.

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#4 Exactobeast

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Posted 06 March 2016 - 04:23 AM

Drill em out and drill em in. A little bit of a heavy handed approach, but I use the smallest bit I have (1/16) to drill though the center of a stuck peg and then use leverage to pop them out. Have to be a little careful about the strain on the drill bit. Then I will super glue the peg to the new arm and insert either a small nail or plastic peg through the two for extra support.

Being that I tend to remove arms more often then most, I nip the right shoulder sockets at the start. Remove the arm and then hand twist a 3/16 drill bit to remove some of the socket hole edging. You should be able to open/loosen the hole enough that will allow for easier future removal of new arms, but still have full functional dexterity. Just don't overdue it.

Also, I am currently fantasizing about a sack of arms.
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#5 Beastformers

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Posted 06 March 2016 - 06:03 AM

Please keep in mind that in case you use warm water the watter might hurt the rubsign of the Beasts so that´s not an option I´d prefer in case the Beast still has its rub. Like mca19 suggested the hairdryer works well and is a simple tool that also doesn´t do any damage to the rub, still you have to try to avoid making the rubber of the figure to hot with the hairdryer because in that case I wouldn´t be surprised to see to much heat can also do damage to the rub. So the presence of the rub requires a little bit of extra precautions when operating ;)

 

All you have to do with warming up the figure is making the rubber a little bit more flexible in order to loosen up the armhole in order to get the peg in or out without any problems as some already stated make sure the arm itself is not warmed up because that one needs to remain sturdy! If not the peg on the arm also becomes flexible and the chances of breaking it once putting it back in the armhole are much bigger. This is also something you´ve to keep in mind once pulling it out because you´ve to do this gently with some twisting and turning rather than just use force only.

 

In order to get the left over of the peg out of the armhole I´ve always just a small screw which I screw into the center of the left over peg that´s still inside. Once it is in, don´t screw it to far because you should have a good idea on how deep you can go, you can easily use the head of the screw and the warm up method to pull out the remains in order to clear the armhole, ready for a new arm!

 

There´s various methods and solutions so there´s probably much more options other collectors out here use but the most important for all of them I´d say is to do it with care and the more you´ve done it the simpler it gets. I´ve even switched the arms of a Stone Cobra ones because they were on the other way around and that´s not a figure you´d risk breaking an arm so I was quite confident and experienced with the methods I´ve been using, luckily ;)


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#6 plasticfiend

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Posted 06 March 2016 - 07:23 AM

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#7 Exactobeast

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Posted 06 March 2016 - 07:32 AM

Man! I was just working a drill bit 15 minutes ago.
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#8 steverotters

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Posted 06 March 2016 - 05:48 PM

Use a hair dryer, you won't have to worry about the rub signs coming off in water.  Also, you won't need to be heating the whole fig. 

 

You can use a pin, a needle, the back to a pinback/badge instead of a drill bit, once the broken pieces are hot. 

 

You can repair the broken arms with simple screws or pieces from other figures. 

 

This site might help.


Edited by steverotters, 06 March 2016 - 05:50 PM.

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#9 DaHumorist

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Posted 06 March 2016 - 08:25 PM

Thanks for the advice everyone. The hair dryer trick worked well for fitting that giraffe arm into the moose. Haven't tried anything else just yet, but I'll keep you all posted.


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#10 retroactive80z

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Posted 13 March 2016 - 08:50 AM

Cool and good luck with your collection.
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#11 GreenMountainBeastformers

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Posted 13 March 2016 - 12:45 PM

A lot of good suggestions here on removing arm peg-stumps.  I have been digging them out with an exacto knife of a needle tool.  Usually if you can get your implement between the stump and the wall of the socket, you can sort of spear it and lever it out.  Sometimes I have to whittle it down first, but by the time it's small enough to twist around in the socket you can get something under it etc.  As to replacing your arms, I have a full collection of 76 Battle Beasts which I will color match to each beast you need arms for, and cast you replacement arms for $5 a pair, unpainted.  These will be in hard resin and they insert quite easily into original rubber Battle Beasts.  :) Good luck.


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#12 WhiteLeo

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Posted 16 March 2016 - 11:12 AM

All I do is pop the peg out of the arm that is in the hole. Then super glue it back onto the arm. Plain and simple like that. :)


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#13 DaHumorist

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Posted 17 March 2016 - 11:28 PM

Quick update: Using the heating trick and a safety pin, I managed to get those stubs out of the rhino, chameleon, moose, and turtle.

 

 

A lot of good suggestions here on removing arm peg-stumps.  I have been digging them out with an exacto knife of a needle tool.  Usually if you can get your implement between the stump and the wall of the socket, you can sort of spear it and lever it out.  Sometimes I have to whittle it down first, but by the time it's small enough to twist around in the socket you can get something under it etc.  As to replacing your arms, I have a full collection of 76 Battle Beasts which I will color match to each beast you need arms for, and cast you replacement arms for $5 a pair, unpainted.  These will be in hard resin and they insert quite easily into original rubber Battle Beasts.   :) Good luck.

 

I may very well take you up on that offer. Let me first see what I can do with the arms I have (and see if anyone has some arms to spare), and I'll let you know.

 

 

All I do is pop the peg out of the arm that is in the hole. Then super glue it back onto the arm. Plain and simple like that. :)

 

Is it really as easy as that? Does the arm joint get a little wonky after that?


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#14 WhiteLeo

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Posted 19 March 2016 - 10:06 AM

I use micro screwdrivers to pop it out. I haven't noticed any difference in it after the two have been joined again. If you want to you can put it in hot water to help soften the plastic but it is pretty easy for me to get them out. I also used to a lot of customizing so I got used to doing it too. You just can be ruff with them.


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#15 DaHumorist

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Posted 18 May 2016 - 09:57 PM

UPDATE!

 

I bought a pair of plain black arms from GreenMountainBeastformers, my awesome girlfriend skillfully painted them up (with a little extra flair), popped on the freebie sticker (thanks again, GMB!), and BAM! Better than new!

Attached File  13254511_10100985596154516_6468306527653405741_n.jpg   107.44K   2 downloads

 

I'll def be picking up a few more arms and salvaging the rest of these wonderful little bastards soon.


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#16 GreenMountainBeastformers

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Posted 19 May 2016 - 09:35 AM

Thanks for the endorsement Greg.  We here at GMB appreciate the grace you showed us and look forward to doing business with you again.  Hats off to your lady for her fine paint job.

 

Beast wishes, David


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#17 susha

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Posted 19 May 2016 - 01:42 PM

Here's what I have done, free of cost and salvaging the original arm. I'll try and post a pic later if i can.

Anyways,

 

- remove the bit from inside the chest, that you cannot salvage. Your going to need a pin or a nail, but something u can break, so i use normal pins with the coloured ball heads, I can snap the pin at whichever length I wan't with tweezers. Depending on the figure (if your lucky) the head of the pin might fit perfectly in the lodging, In which case, place the pin inside, cut it at a hight that it wont penetrate the shoulder/arm beyond its width. At this point you should have a needle sticking out of the arm is usually lodged in the chest. Just push the arm into the needle trying to center it as much as possible. Now the arm should work normally moving up and down. 

 

- If however the head of the pin is smaller than the space inside the battlebeast your going to have to find an alternative, something that can fit inside the chest without moving and strong enough to hold the pin. I use cernit but anything that fits the description will also do.


Edited by susha, 19 May 2016 - 02:06 PM.

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