TIPS FOR SENDING FIGURES:
In other words, don't send anything that is not necessary to the repair.
Thank you for you cooperation in these matters.
Tips: Don't twist that body!!!!
Twisting the body in order to make it tighter, was a method used by more unscrupulous dealers to give their figures a more crisp mint appearance. This however did more damage to the figure. Twisting the body on the classic GI Joe body applied stress to the thigh rivets which would cause them to bend, this in turn would compress the upper portion of the thigh and cause it to crack. When a talker body is twisted pressure is applied directly to a plastic retaining pin inside the torso that holds the elastic. When to much pressure is applied to this pin it will break causing the torso to separate from the pelvis assembly.
The only solution to a loose body is to restring it, that is to replace the worn elastic with new elastic. One very common mistake that is made when stringing a figure is to pull the elastic up through torso through the neck and attach the head. This method has the similar effect as twisting the body, it puts pressure on the thigh rivets. The proper way to string a figure is through the thigh balls and reattach the elastic to the thigh rivets. It is a good idea to ask the person doing the stringing what method they use so no further damage can be done to the figure.
FAQ: What can be done about stress cracks?
Short of replacing the part, there is nothing permanent that can be done to repair a crack. Sure, there are services that offer crack repair but, this is a misleading concept in order to attract customers. Any repair to a crack can only be temporary and will not last especially if it is in a high stress area, such as, a knee, forearm or thigh pin hole. At The Medic we do not offer a crack repair service.
At The Medic we have a rule of thumb, "if it still functions don't replace it". There are situations which require a part to be replaced. There are two options available to the customer , the first is to replace the part with original, keep in mind that replacing with original can be costly , also, this should be done at The Medic's shop in order to achieve the closest color match to the part, but , keep in mind with the early Joes the plastic is more fragile and replacement parts may have small insignificant cracks. The next option is to replace with reproduction parts. At The Medic we use parts from Cotswold Elite Brigade® figures. This option is fairly inexpensive and a good solution when retaining value of the figure is not a consideration.
Kit Installation:
Kits offered by The Medic (Muscle Body Repair Kit and Talker Shoulder Repair Kit) come with step by step illustrated guides. These kits were designed for the more adventuresome collector that wishes to do their own repairs. Installation of all kits are available at The Medic for an additional fee. The featured operation right now in the Operating Room is the installation of the Muscle Body Upper Torso Kit. Go there to see it. It will move here when a new operation is featured.