A rotten future... what to expect?

[Raymond F.]

Theres been a few rubber rot threads around. Mostly Rocky, Rambo and ED209. But how long, if at all can we expect before we start to see similar threads for Leonidas, Dutch, wolverine, batman etc.

How Long exactly did you guys own your Rambos and Rockys before they started to go? And can we really expect that Hot Toys has perfected the materials that gave us these problems?

Ive seen posts about the OC batman from TDK fading to gray. Dutch seems a little dry and I swear Sarah Connor was not so yellow, and closer in skin tone to her face, when I got her.

Any others forsee their figures future literally falling apart?

 

[galactiboy]

I think its a real crap shoot regarding what will deteriorate and what won't.

For instance my Creature from the Black Lagoon is 8 years old and going strong, yet figures less than a year old show signs of cracking and deterioration.

My stance is that if the figure is a must have I will buy and keep it in my collection. But if I'm iffy I either won't buy or will sell it now while its still in one piece.

I recently decided to sell my HT OC Batman for that very reason. I like the Nolan movies well enough, but not enough that I'd want to keep around a $400 figure that might eventually rot away to a parts bin piece

 

[karamazov80]

Fortunately, I haven't run into any problems yet, but I do worry about it. I support Hot Toys' decision to give the T-800 plastic arms, which shows to me that they are thinking of alternatives to their rubber fetish over the last couple of years. I hope they eventually find a way of giving us a decent poseable, muscular neck without rubber, and will do Captain America's suit using a different material.

 

[elämän merimies]

You can expect problems if you pose the rubber bodies too extremely. When posing I've always tried to stay within the limitations of the instruction sheet and have had no considerable damage yet.
Just a tiny little nick on the armpit of Rambo III, due to some careless posing. It was my first rubber body purchase back in the day, so I really didn't know. Left it in the pose for too long (2 years or so), but was luckily able to catch it in time.

But there are many variables to the rotting and there's only that much you can do to prevent it. Even the climate of where you live can be a factor...

The fact is that these thing arent eternal, so I dont worry about it that much anymore. I used to though...
but there really are more important things in life.

 

[El Skutto]

Rot is one of the primary reasons I moved away from 1:6 figures and started concentrating primarily on PFs. Polystone is much more durable than rubber, silicone or PVC.

 

[galactiboy]

Unless you drop it

 

[thenammagazine]

I wish HT would offer replacements made from plastic for their older figures (hell, seeing Shiva this morning, their newer figs too). Until that day happens, I'd just recommend watching the boards and when you see something that has you worried (in my case it was Rambo II), drop it on the bay before he has issues. Sadly, HT won't acknowledge the issue (it took several people harassing to even admit there was an issue with the DX suit and then replacements were small and reluctant). I'd much rather let it go to someone else than sit there and watch my figure deteriorate.

 

[elämän merimies]

You know, I've often wondered why doesen't HT atleast make the rubber bodies more available to the public?
I mean they offer True Type's as individual releases? Why not the rubber bodies? Even tried to ask them directly at some point with no answer.

If one could atleast buy a replacement body, it would be an improvement.

 

[ebor]

"Made in China"....

nuff said.

These toys are destined to desintegrate so enjoy them while you can.

 

[galactiboy]

I'd be happy to buy them even if I didn't want to replace them

I do wonder if reason they don't do that is to keep the demand up for the full figures. A lot of people buy figures just for the bodies and then part out the rest... I've done it a few times myself.

 

[karamazov80]

To elämän, my guess is they cost more to manufacture, and that Hot Toys figures they wouldn't bring enough profit if sold as stand-alone bodies. Another possibility is that they want to keep them special, to help boost sales of figures--particularly those from lame franchises like Prince of Persia--by folks wanting them for customs (like galactiboy says).

 

[denger4000]

I have quite a few rubber figures and all are in perfect shape, I dunno, perhaps I'm lucky

 

[thenammagazine]

I have quite a few rubber figures and all are in perfect shape, I dunno, perhaps I'm lucky

Just wait.

I haven't had any issues either (though I think my Rambo II was close). But I'd imagine it's just that odd coincidence, when you're dusting or switching them around in the detolf, and suddenly you notice cracks...

 

[elämän merimies]

I'd be happy to buy them even if I didn't want to replace them

I do wonder if reason they don't do that is to keep the demand up for the full figures. A lot of people buy figures just for the bodies and then part out the rest... I've done it a few times myself.

To elämän, my guess is they cost more to manufacture, and that Hot Toys figures they wouldn't bring enough profit if sold as stand-alone bodies. Another possibility is that they want to keep them special, to help boost sales of figures--particularly those from lame franchises like Prince of Persia--by folks wanting them for customs (like galactiboy says).

Ya, guess you're right.
Still would be an improvement though, for the customer, if they could/would offer them separately.

 

[Grosby]

Theres been a few rubber rot threads around. Mostly Rocky, Rambo and ED209. But how long, if at all can we expect before we start to see similar threads for Leonidas, Dutch, wolverine, batman etc.

If you didn't see, more recent than Rambo, et al, people were posting of their 'Mars Attack' figures cracking/tearing at the elbow when posed with the elbow bent to hold a gun. You can see here. That came out in 2009 and it seems people were reporting problems less than a year later.

 

[karamazov80]

Also, the elbows on Sheva (another fairly new figure) apparently tear fairly easily. However, fewer figures are going to have that specific issue as Hot Toys now has joints at the elbows and shoulders.

 

[RagingBull]

I've not a had problem yet but pretty much all my figures are displayed in my hall-way, were there's no day light at all.

 

[thenammagazine]

Also, the elbows on Sheva (another fairly new figure) apparently tear fairly easily. However, fewer figures are going to have that specific issue as Hot Toys now has joints at the elbows and shoulders.

I dunno about that. Didn't both the Sarah Connor figures have rubber arms? Which arms does Jill Valentine have?

 

[Cheungkinmen]

"Made in China"....

nuff said.

These toys are destined to desintegrate so enjoy them while you can.

Everything is made in China, man, that is not a valid argument. Of course there are good manufacturers and there are cheap manufacturers, choosing either one is the decision of the investors, not the factory itself.

 

[Wanderer]

"Made in China"....

nuff said.

These toys are destined to desintegrate so enjoy them while you can.

Right, right.. I guess anything saying "made in Canada" is the seal of quality?! Lol
Fact is nothing lasts forever, but here's hoping hot toys figures last more than a few years.
Same goes to a lot of high end pieces, not necessarily 1/6 rubber figures. Hell, PF's will eventually go funny, clothing cracking etc. God help owners of the Arnie T2 PF when his clothes start to crack and fall apart. Seeing his scrawny ass in all it's glory ain't the best...