SMDM arm skin....rip it off or let it be?

[nazgul]

So I have this Steve Austin figure I'm trying to restore a bit. He still has some of the arm skin but it's dry rotted and kinda messed up. I was curious what everyones opinion was.....do I leave it be or rip it off?

Here's a pic:

[MIB41]

Personally I would take it off. You can buy replacement skins on Ebay that look just like it. Here's an example...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/6-six-million-dollar-man-bionic-REPLACMENT-SKIN-FOR-ARM-/271192540492?pt=US_Action_Figures&hash=item3f2455c54c

[cjefferys]

If it looks that bad, I would just rip it off. Go for it!

[B-Lister]

When it's that shredded, it doesn't enhance the value, or the aesthetic appeal in any way. Get rid of it and get a replica.

Latex can be very damaging to paper so be careful with the stickered areas.

There's sadly no time tested way to preserve rubber in toys. My LOTR cave troll dry rotted just like the rest, and I diligently treated the rubber with armor all.

[ctc]

Hmmmm....

I think that's gonna fall off on it's own. As for replacements; I'd go with something like spandex. It'll play the same, last longer and it's easier to replace.

Don C.

[HardyGirl]

I'd rip it off. I took off my Bionic Woman skin when it dried out and cracked.

[MightyMegs]

I have a couple Steves that had dry-rotted skin... which actually started bonding itself permenantly to the plastic arm. Take it off.

[Werewolf]

I which actually started bonding itself permenantly to the plastic arm. Take it off.

Had a Bionic Woman where that happened. Took forever to chip it all off. What a mess.

[nazgul]

Cool, thanks for the replies....it's coming off tonight. I don't think I'll get a repro though....Even as a kid, that fake skin on his arm always kinda grossed me out a bit...I remember tearing it off off the 2 Steve Austins I had in some epic imaginary scenario

[captact]

"Take it off,...take it all of...."...and get a custom made skin!

[torgospizza]

Had a Bionic Woman where that happened. Took forever to chip it all off. What a mess.

I've had a couple SMDM figures where it came off easily, but I did have one that was like you describe, Werewolf. It was almost like dried paint or wood putty or something. I wasn't sure it would ever come off.

[Mr. Hollywood]

Rip it off, then let the figure be.

[nazgul]

It has been ripped off....Most of it came off easily, but as some said, some of it was a bit tougher. Steve is resting comfortably in his bionic transport....should be on his feet in no time....

[astro-greg]

I know this is an old thread, but I recently acquired my first Bionic Man ever and a set of the critical mission arms. I went the silicon lubrication route, as the skin hadn't begun to crack, and now have three fully working arm skins.

I found this looking for info on removing rubber as the original arm suffered a similar fate to yours. That's for posting this!

[DaBillmann]

Yeah, the roll up skin always kinda disturbed me anyway. I removed it from mine almost the moment I got him.