Mattel Retro Action Body - Repair Tutorial

[Boywonder0]

AWESOME TUTORIAL,...specially for those who like displaying them (like me)!!!!!! Really liked the step by step tutorial Ariel!!! Only one thing worries me a bit,..wont the thin costume material snag at the parts where the vinyl sheet parts at the joints? Im afraid of doing this and getting runs on the outfits.....any advice???? Really wicked tutorial,..and yes,..prefer keeping the original Mattel body,....if only Mattel could see this so they correct the flaws.....
Ray

Hey Ray! Thanks for the kind words! Pretty much the same concern Rich had. As long as you trim neatly to contour you won't have any problems. Let me know if you decide to pursue the repair and I'll gladly pay you a visit and do it for you! Later bro!

[Boywonder0]

Curious though, since the outfits are so thin on these does the vinyl gasket material show up as a ridge or bump when they are dressed?
Rich

Great point! Yes it will! That is why you have to trim to contour the most you can. If done exactly as I instruct in my tutorial you won't have any problems. Guaranteed!

[Boywonder0]

What about Plasti Dip? would that be easier to apply? It seems like it would work the same with less difficulty and without the fear of snagging. Just dip the torso bubble into the plasti dip, should grip the legs fine when it is dry.

Yeah, why not? The bottomline is to increase RESISTANCE/FRICTION at these joints AND to re-string tighter. Just make sure you make a clean job... Let me know how it went!

[Boywonder0]

BoyWonder0,

Thanks for the great tutorial. I repaired my Two-Face today and it's a huge improvement. I really like the Mattel body, just wanted to restring it, and think this was a good way to do it. It now has the feel and pose ability of a mego or better. It is a bit time consuming, but so is most stuff involving collecting action figures. Question though, can you walk me through the best method to remove the head? I didn't use enough time or patience on my Two-Face and ripped the head off the neck post, then had to dig out the old rubber neck post part and fix the head so that I could reconnect it (win some lose some, it worked). I don't want to repeat that damage on the batman figure, so was just hoping for any tips on getting the Mattel Figure heads off. You mentioned the boiling water method and patience, let me know if there's any more tips out there. Thanks!

Glad you found it useful! And yes, when you are doing it for the first time, it could take you a couple of hours, but after that all others will come up faster (Practice is everything!).

What really matters is that the end results are worth the effort and certainly very rewarding. It is better to invest a couple of hours repairing a RA body than watching it standing awkwardly forever...

PS: Just sent you a PM with the head removal method I use

[Boywonder0]

This is a wonderful tutorial--thank you for your efforts in posting it.

Question: will a vintage or Emce/CAW pelvis fit a Mattel torso? i.e., is it possible to replace & restring the entire lower body?

Not as is... The Mattel Retro Action Torso will not enter nor seat into any of these mentioned pelvis. Either pelvis is molded with a very small torso entrance to accommodate their corresponding torso pivot ball. Nonetheless the pelvis may be worked out to make the Mattel torso fit. I'll work on that tomorrow and post some pictures. Thanks for looking!

[PNGwynne]

The upper Body(Torso & Arms)I like.

I agree--the sculpting of the shoulders & chest is nice; just think how cool Hawkman will look if they don't put him in a peach shirt.

[PNGwynne]

This is a wonderful tutorial--thank you for your efforts in posting it.

Question: will a vintage or Emce/CAW pelvis fit a Mattel torso? i.e., is it possible to replace & restring the entire lower body?

[Fuzzysnail]

What about Plasti Dip? would that be easier to apply? It seems like it would work the same with less difficulty and without the fear of snagging. Just dip the torso bubble into the plasti dip, should grip the legs fine when it is dry.

[CollectorDave]

Removing Head of the figure

BoyWonder0,

Thanks for the great tutorial. I repaired my Two-Face today and it's a huge improvement. I really like the Mattel body, just wanted to restring it, and think this was a good way to do it. It now has the feel and pose ability of a mego or better. It is a bit time consuming, but so is most stuff involving collecting action figures. Question though, can you walk me through the best method to remove the head? I didn't use enough time or patience on my Two-Face and ripped the head off the neck post, then had to dig out the old rubber neck post part and fix the head so that I could reconnect it (win some lose some, it worked). I don't want to repeat that damage on the batman figure, so was just hoping for any tips on getting the Mattel Figure heads off. You mentioned the boiling water method and patience, let me know if there's any more tips out there. Thanks!

[mego maniac mark]

Nice work! I nominate you to take over the quality control department at mattel!

[Raydeen1]

Go for it Dane. I'd love to see it when done!

I am going to try a repair job(using Doc Mego Legs)on the next Mattel Body, before I through it away.

[The Bat]

I am going to try a repair job(using Doc Mego Legs)on the next Mattel Body, before I throw it away.

[Raydeen1]

No. The Super Joes are taller. The proportion would make Joe look like he had a giant noggin. An FC body however would probably work great.

Here's a thought... I wonder if Mattel bodies would be a good substitute for a Super Joe head?

[The Bat]

I just display them on a stand in a glass cabinet anyway so these bodies by Mattel are fine for me.

I just displayed them as well...but the Superman I left on a Mattel Body, is hunched over with his Pelvis jutting forward. So...he doesn't display nice.

[rlkrefft]

Wow that is so much work. I think you did a great job but I just wouldn't have the time to do that stuff. I actually don't mind the bodies. I just display them on a stand in a glass cabinet anyway so these bodies by Mattel are fine for me.