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Fixing a broken neck.

Posted: 31 Mar 2014 14:39
by Thundershot
Hi folks.
Thanks to the fact that his head had broken off, I bought this :steeler: for a song @ last months N.E.C. toy fair.
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Fortunately it was a clean break & the previous owner had glued it back on using contact adhesive which, despite looking a mess, was easily removed & hadn't harmed the plastic.

As I've yet to discover a glue that'll work well with this kind of plastic, I figured the best way to reattach it would to be to by using a screw & a couple of washers.

I carefully drilled a hole in the bottom of the neck, starting off with a very fine drill bit & then using progressively larger bits (to not unduly stress & crack the plastic) until the hole was the correct size for the chosen screw.
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It was then a simple case of checking the tightness so the head wasn't wobbly yet can still freely move.
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Once the figures re assembled it's impossible to tell it's ever been broken.
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Jobs a good un! :thumbsup:

This is probably a well known repair method to experienced collectors, but it's the first time I tried it myself & have a very satisfying sense of self achievement in saving a desirable :AFLogo: figure for prosperity . :)

Cheers
T'shot.

Re: Fixing a broken neck.

Posted: 31 Mar 2014 14:48
by Double-Tap
Great job!!

Re: Fixing a broken neck.

Posted: 31 Mar 2014 17:06
by Graham_UK
Looks good! I have another answer to this problem, it still requires being accurate with a pin vice drill. If you use superglue to tack the neck piece back to the head then use a 1mm drill to drill right through the neck and about 4-5mm into the head, then get a length of carbon fibre rod (really cheap from a model shop) cut it down using a razor saw and again use superglue to fix it all together, the glue will stick like sh*t to a shovel on the carbon rod and the freshly drilled hole. It's a nice trick I learned from my Warhammer days, it's basically pinning but with a carbon rod :)

It's interesting as I've also found it hard to make an old break stick, new breaks seem to adhere much better!

Re: Fixing a broken neck.

Posted: 31 Mar 2014 20:13
by The Black Major
Brilliant idea and top job. Looks like it's never happened!

Re: Fixing a broken neck.

Posted: 31 Mar 2014 23:13
by Chopper
Exactly how I do it, though I use PC case screws as they are bang on the right size. Same technique can be used for palitoy figures.

Re: Fixing a broken neck.

Posted: 01 Apr 2014 07:10
by wolforrest
Must admit that Im too lazy and just stick a ball shaped piece of blue tack on.
Your technique is spot on though.

Re: Fixing a broken neck.

Posted: 01 Apr 2014 10:42
by Lady Jaye
Excellent fix Ed!

Re: Fixing a broken neck.

Posted: 01 Apr 2014 13:06
by SteveD
Agreed! Really nice tip!

I've found that if dremmelling these heads they tend to get more rubbery the hotter they get, so that's best avoided!

I also chuckled at the pic of him holding his head! It's the "Sleepy Hollow" variant of Steeler!!!

Re: Fixing a broken neck.

Posted: 01 Apr 2014 18:34
by Thundershot
Cheers guys :-D
Chopper wrote:Exactly how I do it
Great minds think alike ;)

Hi Graham, I've not heard of that technique before.. using carbon fibre sounds very'Six Million Dollar Man' 8)

Re: Fixing a broken neck.

Posted: 01 Apr 2014 21:45
by SteveD
Thundershot wrote: using carbon fibre sounds very'Six Million Dollar Man' 8)
We can rebuild you. We have the technology.