[Loose knee joints]

Try dipping the knee in boiling water.

 

While it's soft, get a small C-clamp and tighten the sides (the loops).

 

With the C-Clamp still in place, hold the joint under cold water for 1 minute, then place the figure in the freezer for about 30 minutes.

 

This "shock therapy" re-forms the plastic in a new position, and might (might!) tighten the joint. It's worked for me in the past, and can avoid the obvious risks of super-glue (which can stain or fog the plastic, even if it tightens the joint).

 

This actually works pretty well if you don't clamp it down. Just put the figure in a neutral position, such as on it's back, and put in the freezer immediately after it's been well softened in boiling water It kinda makes the plastic snap back into it's original position. If the joints are loose due to stretching and distortion this works the best. If the joints are loose because they are worn down or ground down from constant use than you'll have to use a material that will fill in the area that was worn off the original plastic. That's where the Super Glue comes into play.

 

Both methods can damage the figures finish. The Super Glue can stain and fog but you can reduce this affect by cleaning as much excess from the visable surface as quickly as possible. This is easier than you think because it dries a lot slower when it doesn't have a second surface to bond to. Careful because whatever you use to clean it actually becomes the second surface so you have to be quick all the while still working the joint to keep it from freezing. I usually just use my finger. It's non-toxic and you can get quite a bit of it off, just don't leave it on there too long or you become one with the figure.

 

The boiling method will remove the oils that they put on the figures before packaging. This oil is necessary to preserve the exterior finish of the figure and must be replaced. If you only submerge only a part of the figure it may very well look different from the rest of the figure when you are done. This is most noticable on darker colors and glossy finishes. The best way to reduce this is to get the figure back to a neutral temperature as quickly as possible, (try running room temp water over it, drying it and letting it sit for 10 - 15 minutes) and then (honestly) rubbing the figure with vitamin E enriched lotion or skin cream and removing it as quickly as possible. You may have to do this with the entire figure to make it match. I actually do this to some of the figures anyway to give them a little bit more depth, almost like a wash. Try it with Black Manta or Superman. I bet you'll like the way they look.

 

The boiling method works very well to correct distortion created by packaging as well which happens a lot with DCUC. Most of the time the figure will return to it's natural position after it's been softened by the water, but sometimes you have to hold the part into the desired position and run cold water over it, then place it in the freezer.

 

Sorry to be so long winded, but I know how particular I am about my figs and I have to do a little bit of adjustment / repair to almost all of them at one time or another.

[Will DCUC price increase stop you from buying new figures?]

A figure comes out to $14.01 at Wal-Mart. :/ QC is absolute garbage. Figs are often n/m coming out of the case. Paint is still sloppy in Wave 8

(seems like a slight downgrade from 7). And, like everyone else, I believe the Gleek fiasco is unforgivable.

 

I think Mattel just sits in front of eBay all day, and laughs uncontrollably at the secondary market prices. Mattel knows that they don't get anything out of it, but they just believe that it's ever so funny.

 

I don't think they get some sick enjoyment out of watching ebay prices. They just finally learned from their mistakes by limiting production, thus making the product harder to find.

 

Back when they tried to bring back MOTU the first time in early 2000's, their old school business model damn near ended the company. They flooded every wave with at least 1 new variation of He-Man and Skeletor (sometimes 2) and packed em at a ratio of 4/1 to the figs everyone really wanted. If anyone else recalls, there had to be at least 50 He-Man / Skeletors on the shelve and not a Whiplash or Zodac to be found. It ultimately led to the cancellation of the line.

 

From a company who's had so much success with Barbie by simply making small changes to the same product it seemed like a sound game plan. I could see it starting all over again with the first few waves of DCUC when they insisted that each wave had to have either a Superman or Batman in it. Either they got some new blood in the production and developement dept or they learned by watching ML when Toybiz had it, but they've learned and it's only going to increase the longevity of DCUC. The next few lines don't have any Supes or Bats in sight and I'm totally down with it.

 

Mattel finally listening to the fans (something Hasbro doesn't do so well anymore) and as long as they keep giving us what we want I can deal with the occasional price increase. As long as it's relative to the economic times.

[Just got the Wonder Twins]

Look pretty damn cool, but damn looks like Zan's been hittin the gym pretty hard. Isn't it about time Mattel worked an a less "yoked" body figure for some of the less buff characters?

[SDCC is over, Here's everything we've shown you!]

...make the trip to your local stores and enjoy.

 

 

Enjoy what? A bunch of Captain Colds?

 

 

Tell me about it @hmmm@ .

 

Funny thing is I got in on one of the first deliveries on the Atom Smasher wave and had to chase the same captain cold (and Aquaman) that're clogging the shelves now. Bought them at Hastings for $16.00 each. Patients is not a virtue of mine.

 

The figs hibernating on the shelves in my neck of the woods right now are Cyborg with sound cannon and maskless Batman Beyond.

 

Another thing, does anyone know why suddenly Firestorm has been re-released (with C&C piece) and you can find the original only at Walmart and the modern only at Target.

[Will DCUC price increase stop you from buying new figures?]

I'm in total agreement with Dragon66. Everyone has a point and mine just isn't there yet. Increases were innevitable, but I doubt they will top out over $13.00 for quite some time. BBTS sucks and they're just gouging to make sure they're covered. Contrary to what ML is doing, DCUC is still utizing the C&C and they are not scaling down the molds, so the increase is still justifiable in my mind.