Batman '66 Problems?

[knight errant00]

Just got my Batman '66 Batman and Robin as a late Father's Day present -- awesome pieces to the seven year old me that always wanted the old Mego ones to look like this.

But when I unwrapped them, Robin's hands were bouncing around by his feet in the package, and Batman's bat belt emblem was pushed up against the bubble and rubbed off. Are these typical problem? I've put off opening them . . if Robin's hands pop pop on easily, I can do that. But should I reach out to FTC on Batman? Or would any replacement be likely to have the same problem?

Thanls for any thoughts.

[thunderbolt]

My Robin had a popped off hand, and they pop right back on. The belt is another matter and I would contact FTC for a replacement.

[The Bat]

My Batman's arm came completely off...it was stung so tightly that the pin just pulled right through shoulder joint , so now it's unusable. When I took the other arm off I could barely pull it out far enough to unhook it. Now I know why these new FTC bodies are doing the "pee-pee dance." The Doc Mego bodies suffered from this same problem...being strung so tightly that it would crack the torso and suck the arms inside. Not a problem with Doc's swivel bicep bodies though.

[Gorn Captain]

Why could they make functioning action figures decades back...but not now?

[thunderbolt]

The bodies on my 66 figures are fine.

[madmarva]

My 66 bodies are the best ones I've ever received on FTC or CTVT figures. No problems at all. But I understand your frustration. I've not gotten any of the other figures, but am awaiting shipment of Batman Series 3 and Teen Titans Series 1. I hope I get a good set of figures with them.

[megoscott]

The bodies on mine are okay. I have a Robin with a very loose knee. Switching to TypeS when I get my order in. The gloves always fall off and the Batman belt is barely big enough and seems at risk for being ripped. These are delicate figures. And with weak ankles they are lousy to pose.

My son loves them, but they are his first "display only" figures--you can handle them, but put them away when your friends come over...Thank goodness for the collector friendly packaging.

[palitoy]

My only problem is i displayed them on the top of my toy cabinet in classic poses. They stage dive.

[noelani72]

everyone knows I have been pretty vocal with FTC quality over the years.
Having that said, the 66 figs are, to date, the very best construction.

I did move my Series 1 over to Type-S bodies out of my own idiosyncrasy.

In doing so, none of these new FTC bodies were strung as tight as previous attempts.
None had any hint of ripping the bicep PVC.

The gloves-falling-off thing, meh...FTC tried. I mean, they even put sticky tape around that lower forearm to help keep the gloves on - but sure, a few here and there pop off in shipping and I'd say it is unavoidable.
The gloves-falling-off thing is a really easy fix - use a tiny flat-bladed screw driver and open up the security zip-tie. With the tool, you can lift the inner tab on the zip tie and undo it without anyone ever knowing.
Fix the glove, zip him back up. That's it. I did show this method at MegoMeet. Toyman Chris brought my Series 1 and my Robin was like this. He felt really bad, but I reassured him I didn't care and I showed him how to do this.

I have not had the belt buckle issue, this was actually the first I'd heard about it - and outside of our tight knit group here, FTC's facebook page is a good place to get info (and see complaints).

I am super stoked for the rest of the 66 line...and yes, I will put them on Type-S bodies though. None of these figures are remaining in their plastic (minimum security lol) prison.

PS - oh, if I had one complaint it would be Batman's belt is about 1/16th of an inch too short. It's juuuuust long enough to snap the very last rib on the belt. Not sure why there would be more ribs to snap..it ain't like Bats is gonna loose weight anytime soon lol

[ubermanx]

Why could they make functioning action figures decades back...but not now?

Cost of oil affecting the types of plastic that are affordable / available? I assume ... and of course economies of scale. I can use this stronger plastic if I make 600,000 bodies but if I make 1000 at a time the factory demands I use this type of plastic? I'm sure EMCE and Zicaway can shed light on that aspect.

The plastics used back then seem to be less prone to stretching and deforming so they appear harder. Then again they got brittle with age. Maybe these newer plastics will last longer not going brittle but they are software to be sure.

- Marty

[Teemu]

replace them onto Type S bodies...

[rlkrefft]

The problem I see with replacing them on S-Bodies is it easy to do? I mean do these gloves and hands, boots and feet fit well on the S-body? How hard is it to take off a FTC Batman 66 head? Seemed like mine wouldn't come off so easy without ripping it so I stopped trying. Last thing is there is no S-body for Penguin or the upcoming King Tut. Will a fat S-body be made? Then there is the women figures. No S-body for Catwoman or Batgirl? Kind of seems not worth the switch if I can't switch them all.

[noelani72]

Think outside of the box for a second....everyone has the knee jerk reaction to swap hands, just to find thy don't fit.
Well, move up the arm and swap at the elbow joint - that stuff matches up perfect.
The ankles swap easy too so you can move the ballpoint to the type s body.
The heads swap fine. A little heat to soften up the neck plug and walla. But, on batman, he has this weird fabric cowl collar....I didn't heat him up, I just cut the body open to get the head.

[madmarva]

I love that weird fabric cowl collar, lol. I hope something similar is used on the upcoming series 4 Batman.

[Teemu]

The problem I see with replacing them on S-Bodies is it easy to do? I mean do these gloves and hands, boots and feet fit well on the S-body? How hard is it to take off a FTC Batman 66 head? Seemed like mine wouldn't come off so easy without ripping it so I stopped trying. Last thing is there is no S-body for Penguin or the upcoming King Tut. Will a fat S-body be made? Then there is the women figures. No S-body for Catwoman or Batgirl? Kind of seems not worth the switch if I can't switch them all.

very easy to do!

you'll have to destroy the FTC body to get the heads out (but that doesn't matter)

66 Batman penguin isn't FAT...but if he is using the tummy body...the solution is using a cotton ball under the clothes.watching the 66 show on TV the other day,Penguin isn't fat at all

King tut is another story and TFC hasn't even said they were even doing him

The woman bodies? well there isn't a solution for them yet,so I'll be sticking with the FTC body until Zicaway makes a female buck