Fixing Loose Joints
(
30)
Wed 2006/02/22 22:29
Whether you are a collector of Fix Figuration, HCM Pro, MG or PG Gundams - we all share the same problem of loose joints. Some of these joints wear down over time, some come loose out of the box which is a pain in the left buttock.
I would like to share with you a technique which I recently started - but please do so at your own risk! Please dont blame me if you glue your left middle finger behind your right ear!
What you do is to get some of this - its a bottle of that white glue for wood - I guess most of us remember using this at school making useless stuff out of wood. What you need to do is to splodge the glue over the joints, put back the leg/arm or whatever and then leave it over night. When it dries, it will leave a clear white plastic film around the joints. initially, the leg/arm needs a bit of a tug to get it to move but once thats done you should find that the joints feel much more sturdy.
I have done this for Mudrock and HCM Pro Guncannon and it works a treat. This technique also works for loose armor and weapons.
I would like to share with you a technique which I recently started - but please do so at your own risk! Please dont blame me if you glue your left middle finger behind your right ear!
What you do is to get some of this - its a bottle of that white glue for wood - I guess most of us remember using this at school making useless stuff out of wood. What you need to do is to splodge the glue over the joints, put back the leg/arm or whatever and then leave it over night. When it dries, it will leave a clear white plastic film around the joints. initially, the leg/arm needs a bit of a tug to get it to move but once thats done you should find that the joints feel much more sturdy.
I have done this for Mudrock and HCM Pro Guncannon and it works a treat. This technique also works for loose armor and weapons.
A splodge on the ball joint...
And a splodge on the joint. Don't forget to put the leg back on before leaving it to dry or you'll have problems getting the leg back on.
As far as I know, this doesn't work on real body parts but you can always try it on your best friend.
You may need to repeat this process as the joints may become loose again after a while - but that really depends on how rough you are with your toys - also depends on the model too. My guncannon has endured repositioning for quite a while now and is still mean n sturdy.
As far as I know, this doesn't work on real body parts but you can always try it on your best friend.
You may need to repeat this process as the joints may become loose again after a while - but that really depends on how rough you are with your toys - also depends on the model too. My guncannon has endured repositioning for quite a while now and is still mean n sturdy.
If you are new here, you may want to keep up with more of the same via RSS or Danny's other networks. (dont show again)
Got this quite a while ago and to this day, Mudrock still looks cool. I p...(more)
Sun 02/19 02:41 comments (17)
NickC in SFU, Vancouver
Thats pretty nifty for many of the old Master Grades and some of the Fixx Figurations out there. Thanks for sharing this tip Danny =) Cheers,
(ID #35271) Posted on 2007/01/02 02:35
TIE_Defender2nd in Vancouver, Canada
I've thought about doing this technique some time ago but won't the dried glue layer just be peeled off once the joints move? maybe i should give it a try. tnx for detailed procedure btw
(ID #35273) Posted on 2007/01/02 02:35
Rich in singapore
Actually, I have another method which I used to fix back the irritating loose joints. what i do is coat thin layers of Silicon Gel onto the affected arounds....and like what Danny does... fix the parts in before they dry.. and voila... perfect joint ..there after.
(ID #35277) Posted on 2007/01/02 02:35
Garet in Boston
Nice trick Danny. Back in the ol' days (like 8th grade) I used tape on my 1/144 Gundam Wing kits all the time. This would've been better.
(ID #35278) Posted on 2007/01/02 02:35
AnRad in Spore
Another cheap but messy way is using super glue. What i do is apply a thin film of super glue on the ball, inside the socket or on any kinds joints. Make sure its not too thick (can always sand it down or apply again if still loose). Let it dry completely and SNAP! A tight fit but still rotatable that last a long time. I used it on my older kits that have worn out joints after playing it a lot of times.
(ID #35279) Posted on 2007/01/02 02:35
adrian in toronto
lol..white out isnt bad either...even tho it makes it white you wont see it n e ways
(ID #35281) Posted on 2007/01/02 02:35
Cane in Bay Area, CA USA
Excellent guide. Just the thing I need to fix my GFF Crossbone. That clunky thing can't hold the darn lance ~_~
(ID #35282) Posted on 2007/01/02 02:35
Chopper Dave in Medford, Oregon
Actually I have a technique I used for strenghthening joints for Lego Mecha...(stop laughing)...thats right, I build lego Mecha, so sue me. Anywho to strenghthen a joint get regular plastic wrap, (celophane
(ID #35288) Posted on 2007/01/02 02:35
Megaman X Maverick Hunter in United States
Actually I have the mudrock you are working on there but I havent had much of a problem with it as of late. I do have alot of problems with my GFF0017a zeta plus. It fully transforms and cost me 60 bucks. Its expensive but worth every penny. The joints on the legs are loose and fall off all the time which I find very annoying. Ill be sure to keep this in mind if I ever decide to resolve an issue like this.
(ID #35295) Posted on 2007/01/02 02:35
Bigwaaagh in Bakel, the Netherlands
Nice tip, I'll try that soon on my MG RX-79[G] Gundam. It's leg-joints are getting wobbly lately...
(ID #35310) Posted on 2007/01/02 02:35
Ngee Khiong in Kuching, Malaysia
I had a few problems of loose joints on my models before. My MG Gouf and 1-100 scale Tallgeese 3 just won't do the standing pose because the leg joints are too weak. What I did was to modify polycaps from some left over runners which are slightly smaller and exchange them with the original polycaps used in those two models. They fit very tightly on the waist joint. It works, although restraining the movements of the upper legs quite a bit. My real problem is MG Zeta (ver 1996). After I played with the transformation several times, the locking mechanism of the legs to the waist doesn't work anymore. If I don't glued the joints, Zeta's buttock would split everytime it tries to stand... ...
(ID #35315) Posted on 2007/01/02 02:35
gmbluedestiny in canada
uh, i used superglue to fix the looseness of the wing gundam zero custom mg, and i accidentally pushed in the right wing joint in too much, now i cant move the wing. is there a way to remove the superglue so i can move the wing again?
(ID #35442) Posted on 2007/01/02 02:35
james in philippines
thanks! the tips here are all usefull. i've always had problems with fix figurations especially with the advance series or something like that. bought Aegis gundam after posing it, parts fall off..
(ID #37055) Posted on 2007/01/02 02:35
NickC in SFU, Vancouver
Thats pretty nifty for many of the old Master Grades and some of the Fixx Figurations out there. Thanks for sharing this tip Danny =) Cheers,
(ID #77275) Posted on 1999/11/30 15:24
TIE_Defender2nd in Vancouver, Canada
I've thought about doing this technique some time ago but won't the dried glue layer just be peeled off once the joints move? maybe i should give it a try. tnx for detailed procedure btw
(ID #77277) Posted on 1999/11/30 15:24
Rich in singapore
Actually, I have another method which I used to fix back the irritating loose joints. what i do is coat thin layers of Silicon Gel onto the affected arounds....and like what Danny does... fix the parts in before they dry.. and voila... perfect joint ..there after.
(ID #77281) Posted on 1999/11/30 15:24
Garet in Boston
Nice trick Danny. Back in the ol' days (like 8th grade) I used tape on my 1/144 Gundam Wing kits all the time. This would've been better.
(ID #77282) Posted on 1999/11/30 15:24
AnRad in Spore
Another cheap but messy way is using super glue. What i do is apply a thin film of super glue on the ball, inside the socket or on any kinds joints. Make sure its not too thick (can always sand it down or apply again if still loose). Let it dry completely and SNAP! A tight fit but still rotatable that last a long time. I used it on my older kits that have worn out joints after playing it a lot of times.
(ID #77283) Posted on 1999/11/30 15:24
adrian in toronto
lol..white out isnt bad either...even tho it makes it white you wont see it n e ways
(ID #77285) Posted on 1999/11/30 15:24
Cane in Bay Area, CA USA
Excellent guide. Just the thing I need to fix my GFF Crossbone. That clunky thing can't hold the darn lance ~_~
(ID #77286) Posted on 1999/11/30 15:24
Chopper Dave in Medford, Oregon
Actually I have a technique I used for strenghthening joints for Lego Mecha...(stop laughing)...thats right, I build lego Mecha, so sue me. Anywho to strenghthen a joint get regular plastic wrap, (celophane
(ID #77292) Posted on 1999/11/30 15:24
Megaman X Maverick Hunter in United States
Actually I have the mudrock you are working on there but I havent had much of a problem with it as of late. I do have alot of problems with my GFF0017a zeta plus. It fully transforms and cost me 60 bucks. Its expensive but worth every penny. The joints on the legs are loose and fall off all the time which I find very annoying. Ill be sure to keep this in mind if I ever decide to resolve an issue like this.
(ID #77299) Posted on 1999/11/30 15:24
Bigwaaagh in Bakel, the Netherlands
Nice tip, I'll try that soon on my MG RX-79[G] Gundam. It's leg-joints are getting wobbly lately...
(ID #77314) Posted on 1999/11/30 15:24
Ngee Khiong in Kuching, Malaysia
I had a few problems of loose joints on my models before. My MG Gouf and 1-100 scale Tallgeese 3 just won't do the standing pose because the leg joints are too weak. What I did was to modify polycaps from some left over runners which are slightly smaller and exchange them with the original polycaps used in those two models. They fit very tightly on the waist joint. It works, although restraining the movements of the upper legs quite a bit. My real problem is MG Zeta (ver 1996). After I played with the transformation several times, the locking mechanism of the legs to the waist doesn't work anymore. If I don't glued the joints, Zeta's buttock would split everytime it tries to stand... ...
(ID #77319) Posted on 1999/11/30 15:24
gmbluedestiny in canada
uh, i used superglue to fix the looseness of the wing gundam zero custom mg, and i accidentally pushed in the right wing joint in too much, now i cant move the wing. is there a way to remove the superglue so i can move the wing again?
(ID #77446) Posted on 1999/11/30 15:24
james in philippines
thanks! the tips here are all usefull. i've always had problems with fix figurations especially with the advance series or something like that. bought Aegis gundam after posing it, parts fall off..
(ID #79059) Posted on 1999/11/30 15:24
Will this tip work for the armored core series released by kotobukiya????or is it limited to bandai products only?
(ID #291820) Posted on 2008/09/05 18:17
I would assume it would. Nothing else to do but to try it.
(ID #439529) Posted on 2009/01/08 06:03
Watch out and don't use a bad glue that melts with some heat (unless you like gooey gundam stuck to your desk and shelves :3 ).
(ID #439255) Posted on 2009/01/08 00:29
Wow, is this post really 10 years old? Nice technique, have to remember to use it because my gunpla usually have loose joints.
(ID #439323) Posted on 2009/01/08 01:46
does this technique works on figma too?
(ID #439326) Posted on 2009/01/08 01:48
Isn't this an old post? Good tips anyway, works with Gunpla and all.
(ID #439350) Posted on 2009/01/08 02:04
anime/cosplay events organizer
I didn't knew that wood glue can fix loose joints. Nice tip Danny! (^o^)b
(ID #439371) Posted on 2009/01/08 02:26
Student
Will try this on my fix figuration Shin Musha Gundam and Keroro Gunso KA-006s. Those FF models are way too fragile.
(ID #439372) Posted on 2009/01/08 02:28
Close-protection officer/Martial artist
I'm having trouble getting my knee back into socket after trying this, was I better off not sawing my leg off? O.o
(ID #439424) Posted on 2009/01/08 03:43
Are you starting to do gunpla posts again danny? Or this just a recap, feel like a read this before.
(ID #439454) Posted on 2009/01/08 04:10
Thanks for the advice, I will try it out.
(ID #439460) Posted on 2009/01/08 04:14
I can't wait to try this out on my Alt Eisen's hip joints! Thanks!
(ID #439494) Posted on 2009/01/08 05:02
Great idea, will definitely try it out if i can get my hands on the white wood glue.
(ID #439496) Posted on 2009/01/08 05:04
Never though of that, Ima try it when my Gundams become grandpas
(ID #439564) Posted on 2009/01/08 06:36
Yeah, it works quite well, but sometimes it needs a bit more, super glue works great for pegs and ball/socket joints that don't involve poly caps, if you know what you are doing.
(ID #439610) Posted on 2009/01/08 07:35
I don't think my friends would trust me with glue and their body.
(ID #439664) Posted on 2009/01/08 08:33
cool tip, I -was- using rubber cement, the wood glue sounds better. btw.... Does anyone know where spare poly joints can be obtained (especially for the SD gundams) ?
(ID #440869) Posted on 2009/01/09 07:29
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