Sassafras
Super Freak
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- Jun 21, 2016
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View attachment 659875
So I just noticed what looks like a small paint chip in one of the braids on my figure. There's also a part on one of her other braids that's almost like melted. It feels sticky to the touch and looks that way as well. I have no idea how either of these things would have happened. I don't recall ever noticing these issues when I first got the figure so I'm not sure if they were always there or I'm just now noticing them.
I've had the helmet on Fennec twice and for no more than a day or so but this was a while ago and I never noticed anything after removing it. l'm still new to collecting but have tried to handle my figures with the utmost care. I do not recall pushing hard on the helmet when previously securing it though I acknowledge that this would seem like a plausible - or perhaps the most plausible - cause of the paint chip. What I don't understand is how this would in any way cause the plastic to melt.
On a somewhat related note, has anyone figured out how to get her hair to sit more closely to her face? This was originally why I put her helmet on in the first place. When I removed her helmet her hair looked a lot better but after a few hours it went right back to sticking out. Again though, after removing her helmet and studying her hair and the larger sculp, I never noticed any issues, which is why it is so odd to me now.
Have you checked whether the sticky stuff is actually glue/adhesive dribble? Like from gluing a part, or gloss used on eyes? If you are going to try to remove with a solvent, always go with a gentle solvent at first (try nail polish remover) and move up to the stronger stuff like Goop off. Lots of solvents will take that off - if it is a drip, you MIGHT be able to peel off with pointed tweezers. You might loose paint tho, so be ready with a small brush and some paint for touch up.
Sigh - for chips etc, retouch with acrylic paint - you probably didn't do anything. Sometimes the odd chip shows up. Glue dries up, and parts fall off, or they were never glued properly in the first place.
That doesn't mean HT is &^%$ it's just I found out pretty fast with this hobby to have a repair kit handy. Needles and threads, fabric glue, epoxy, and super glue depending on the job, basic paints, forceps, small sharp scissors, small screwdrivers, sandpaper, brushes.
Re the hair thing, heat up a lot with a blow dryer, wrap in cloth - basically you are remolding plastic, kind of. Let it cool. You may have to do more than once.
Sorry you are running into a few issues, but IMO these aren't bad to deal with. There's been some really horrible stuff like with an MCU Gamora whose arms would peel and figs you can't pose much because of permanent suit creases. I've got Fennec on order, looking forward to her.
Good luck!