Dr.Mego/new Trek knee pin removal?

[knightone]

Thanks for the input guys. I sat down with a Captain Kirk figure and pulled on the legs and, sure enough, everything came apart without breaking or warping. These bodies are fantastic!

Now, putting them back together. I guess I just pop them back. Any tips or tricks? Do I need to heat them up to make this easier? Do I hammer the knee pins back?

Thanks again, everyone, for your time and patience!

[boss]

I've taken apart and re-assembled literally hundreds of Docs figures without a single problem.

I wanna party with this guy.

just kidding. great info.

[Dave Mc]

Okay, faulty data alert on me! I don't use many DM bodies. The one I have on hand has knee pins that look like standard mego knee pins but are definately DM make. This is the body I used for my comparision.

After Chris' last response, I checked again. Yep, it's a standard looking knee pin. Hmm... So I went and pulled some clothes off a few customs I had made that used a DM body. They have knee pins just like the EMCE pins. No "female" side with a hole. I checked the three that I could find.

So, evidently the body I used for my original comparision with the new EMCE body has had knee replacement surgery using DM repro knee pins.

So, Chris is right, the EMCE pins that come on the body are just like the DM pins that come ON the body, but NOT like Doc's replacement pins that are clones of original Mego.

Lesson learned. Check more than one example before coming to a conclusion.

[shellhead]

O.K. Lets try again, the loose TWO-PIECE replacement knee pins Doc makes are made virtually identical to original Mego Pins. the knee and elbow pins found on docs complete replica bodies are, as I described earlier, ONE-PIECE. Every figure doc has had produced in China ,including the Trek figures, all have the one piece pin system. I've taken apart and re-assembled literally hundreds of Docs figures without a single problem. If you want to, you can put a two-piece replacement pin back in the figure when you re-assemble it to make more Mego like, but you will also introduce the possibility breakage at the joint,(just like real Megos).
Most of all don't be afraid pull on Docs figs when you take 'em apart, theyare built super tuff with customizers in mind!

Best, Chris

[Dave Mc]

So the pins on the new Trek figures are different from the ones Doc has? Hmm...looks like I have some experimenting to do then to see if I can remove the knee pins.

Thanks for all the advice and info, guys. Much appreciated.

They LOOK totally different in that BOTH sides have the same solid flat head that the male side of the pin joint has. They may work the same, I'm not sure, but you can't actually look at the other side of the joint and see the pin through a hole like you can original mego, CTVT, DM/7th Street Toys bodies.

[knightone]

Doc Mego knee pins and the new DM/EMCE knee pins are totally different.

So the pins on the new Trek figures are different from the ones Doc has? Hmm...looks like I have some experimenting to do then to see if I can remove the knee pins.

Thanks for all the advice and info, guys. Much appreciated.

[Dave Mc]

It appears that they would.

[megocrazy]

I'm not sure how they can be removed or even if they can be. Does anyone have any tips? Thanks. :D[/QUOTE]

Try soaking the legs in hot water for a while and then popping the knee joint apart. The hot water softens the plastic. If not Doc's replacement knee pins are not expensive and are a direct replacement if they should break. You can see the pins on Doc's site.

After reading Dave's post. Didn't realize the new figs had different knee pins. Will Docs replacement pins fit the EMCE figs?

[Dave Mc]

Docs knee pins are one piece and are easily removed by heating the leg slightly and prying apart. The Doc has demonstrated this several hundred times at toy shows to show how durable his bodies are, and he doesnt heat them at shows,they're just that tough! The reason this is possible is the plastic Docs figs are made of is very flexible so it won't crack.You may need pliers to pull the pin out of the part of the leg that it remains in.

Best of luck with your project,

Chris

Doc Mego knee pins and the new DM/EMCE knee pins are totally different.

[Captain]

I had a similar issue when I made my Andorian security officer custom. Ended up using Docs black superhero boots. They look allright....Personally, I often wonder why Mego decided to not go this route versus casting new legs? Most likely, it was a dollars and cents decision...ChiPs boots look ok, but are kind of clumsy without some kind of sock. Dr. Zauis boots look the best of all, but I hate to use them for this....I have too many dr. Z's in search of footwear as it is.

On my Dr. M'Benga custom, I did drill out the center of the pins on Docs legs , attached classic Mego Trek boots from the old parts bin, and replaced them with Docs Mego knee pins. Worked ok, but I wish I knew they could be just pulled apart before I did it!!....Live and learn.

[Meule]

These pins are different Thomas. There is no "female" side to the pin with a hole. Both have the flat head on each side. I don't know if they come apart or not. There doesn't appear an easy way to do it without breaking it.

Really? Didn't know that, I use original Mego bodies for my customs
__________________________________________

Docs knee pins are one piece and are easily removed by heating the leg slightly and prying apart. The Doc has demonstrated this several hundred times at toy shows to show how durable his bodies are, and he doesnt heat them at shows,they're just that tough! The reason this is possible is the plastic Docs figs are made of is very flexible so it won't crack.You may need pliers to pull the pin out of the part of the leg that it remains in.

Best of luck with your project,

Chris

But apparantly there is a way to remove the pins.
Good to know, thanks for the info

[knightone]

Very cool! Thank you very much for the tip.

I'm assuming the pin is reuseable after it is removed?

[shellhead]

Docs knee pins are one piece and are easily removed by heating the leg slightly and prying apart. The Doc has demonstrated this several hundred times at toy shows to show how durable his bodies are, and he doesnt heat them at shows,they're just that tough! The reason this is possible is the plastic Docs figs are made of is very flexible so it won't crack.You may need pliers to pull the pin out of the part of the leg that it remains in.

Best of luck with your project,

Chris

[Hulk]

I wonder if replacement pins will work? If so, it may just be a matter of breaking the pin without breaking the knee sockets, assuming you have a supply of replacements. I might have to try some orthopaedic surgery soon.

[Dave Mc]

If you are making these characters in Star Fleet uniforms, why not just use the trek leg body? That way they match the other characters in Star Fleet uniforms.