Micronauts - cleaning and lubricating?

[Back2denali]

Is there a safe lubricant to use on the plastic knees and elbows of Micronauts? How about cleaning agents? I'm trying to clean up a few figures I have but I'm afraid I'll do more damage than good. I appreciate any care tips.
Thanks.

[justzeg18]

I haven't had a vintage 'naut in hand in several years BUT...

I would suggest useing warm water and a lite hand when cleaning, mostly because I cant remember how brittle the old clear plastic gets over time., if you have real grime, try baby shampoo it's super gentle and non-abrassive.

as for lubricating the joints? normally with that style of 3 3/4 figures my issuse is getting the joints tight again. If you really want to de-virginize a 'naut knee, just make sure you use even preasure on both parts of the limb and go slow. work for a full bend and extension, then you should be able to pose them without extra fear.

If you start seeing any white stree lines though, stop.

Hope that helps

-Justin Z-

[palitoy]

I love the Micronauts but I've never tried to do any sort of repair, so I'm a bit useless. Ray Miller stops in once in a while and I'm sure he'll have insight.

[AcroRay]

To clean old Micronauts I take them apart completely, clean them with warm water and/or cheap window cleaner (not on the old chrome though), & polish them with some carnauba wax for model plastic that I picked up at a hobby shop once (again, not for the chrome).

Plastic figures like Time Traveler, Pharoid & the aliens are held together with a screw in the back, and screws in the inner surface of the figure's thighs. Be careful putting them back in (if they're rusty, brush them clean with a tooth brush or wire brush), because if you do it too tight you can split the old plastic getting them back in.

If the elbows and shoulders are binding at the metal rivets, then that's because the rivet is corroding inside the plastic shaft, and the corrosion material is thickening the rivet and stressing the plastic. You might see some cracking in the plastic surrounding it. Short of drilling out the rivet and replacing it (which can be done, but is a difficult affair), simply carefully and slowing moving the joint to loosen the corrosion may give you some movement back.

If the plastic parts of the figure are absolutely sandbox-filthy, I suggest taking the figure apart and bathing the parts in a cup of warn water and cheap denture-cleaner tablets. The denture cleaner lifts particles from the microscopic cavities in the old plastic. Just be careful, because it can corrode the old metal joints, and possibly also lift away old chrome. But for cleaning things like Battle Crusier, it can do wonders. Swish the parts around & then rinse in warm water. Repeat as needed.

Give it a try - don't be afraid. Since they're not glued together, you can ask around for replacement arms, leg parts or other bits that break. If a shoulder or elbow joint breaks at the plastic, you can carefully super-glue it back together if you have all the pieces. I've even been able to do it and keep the joint's mobility.

[Back2denali]

Thanks for the all good info!

[EMCE Hammer]

Hey Ray - is it safe to boil them? I've done that to help loosen joints on other types of figures. They have a little more "give" when they're warm, but I've never risked a micronaut.

[AcroRay]

Hey Ray - is it safe to boil them? I've done that to help loosen joints on other types of figures. They have a little more "give" when they're warm, but I've never risked a micronaut.

Micronauts are more rigid ABS like most classic model kits rather than the thicker stuff most North American toys of the period seem to be made of. So I wouldn't risk it, especially with Time Travelers and Pharoids. Micronaut aliens *might* take it because their plastic is a bit less brittle, but I'd test it on a more common alien like an accessory-less Membros or something.

If you decide to do it, be sure to post your results!

[justzeg18]

wow. denture cleaner is an awesomely novel thought that I would have never had, it makes great sense and sounds like it gives good results.

Thanks for that one.

[AcroRay]

Yer welcome. Just be careful how long you leave anything with metal parts in it, as it will cause some surface corrosion if you leave it in there too long. (How long depends on the metal and its age, I guess.)