Need suggestions on repairing TinMan

[beartex2000]

I recentlyfound a TinMan from the Wizard of Oz series that is in need of a leg repair. However,his Chestplate is pressed together,(or glued) in such a way to make it impossible to take off the gray body suit to get to the leg. I'm afraid trying to pry it open will just break the chestplate. Any ideas..or is it a lost cause?

[ABMAC]

You may be able to get him out, but you'll never get him back in. Crack him open.

[Dave Mc]

What part of the leg needs to be fixed? What style body is it?

I've managed to work around the armor before. It's real tricky though. If it's a t2 I use a piece of coat hanger wire. Folded in half. You can manage to unsnap the suit and work it over the shoulder. Pull the arm out and remove it from the hook. Do the opposite arm as well. Once the arms are off, you can work the suit off through the armor using the blunt end of your folded hanger to push it through. Make the leg repair, just make sure the arm hooks are hooked onto the hole where the arm goes so you can grab them when it's time to reattach the arms. Then put the suit back on, using the blunt end of the hanger to push it back up and through. Put the arms in the suit before reattaching them, and rehook the arms.

It works, but it takes patience.

[Hulk]

You might consider a seam ripper, repairing the leg, and then resewing, but the seam repair will likely be somewhat obvious.

[Meule]

My advice: buy a new Tin Man and crack this one open and use him for spare parts

[beartex2000]

All good suggestions. It is a type 2 body with a broken knee. I shouldn't loose too much sleep over him I only paid $6.00 for him. Thanks guys!

[Dave Mc]

Sometimes it's not the price paid, but the challenge of restoration.

[ozcollector1992]

If you really want to keep it as mint as possible i would try Dave's idea. I did it the same way as him before. it takes time and patience but it is possible

Sean