Hot Toys rubber deterioration

[The Skull]

Maybe you could apply some kind of epoxide or glue from an art store, theres has to be something that you can use to repair it, the problem is matching the skin color. Good luck.

I'm looking into that or a body swap, not sure which way I'm going to go yet.

Nope, there's no repairing that - rotten luck Skull

I think that little muppet who tried to blame collectors for their figures' rubber deterioration was banned. But here's another example of how it's just a matter of time when it comes to rubber figures. Only thing to do is replace the bodies to at least retain the character on the shelf.

I took as good of care as could be expected aside from just leaving it in the box, I've avoided this issue since I started collecting hot toys since 2009 but no matter what its bound to happen eventually, I've seen this before of the same figure from other collectors years ago so the extra care I took afforded me some extra time with a mint figure.

As sad as the situation is, it isn't a lost cause. There are plenty of replacement bodies out there and the figure will be as good as new. We shouldn't have to do that so soon, but it is what it is. Try replacing that Arkham Bats HT is releasing.

I think a bane body would work nicely, I wish Hot Toys would produce more TrueType's and give us new body options, but it seems there not interested in making those anymore

Dang, Skull. That sucks. He's one of the figures I still want to get but those rubber arms have always but me off. I still might track one down someday but I might try and do a body swap.

At this point I would recommend holding out for a 2.0, it will happen sooner or later, not worth paying after market prices for a figure that a limited time shelf life, my dutch was boxed up for years and is on display in a sealed figure case but I'm going to put him back in the box for safe keeping real soon.

It could be you didn't have the arms 100% straight and any slight bend would stretch the rubber at the elbow. Though doesn't look too bad. Get some good clear rubber epoxy or super glue, carefully drop it in via toothpick not too blobby so it doesn't squeeze out, then push the two ends together for 10 seconds making sure the seam is nice and even, carefully wipe away excess quickly with finger, done

Your not wrong, I had about a 10 degree natural bend in the arm, he would look a little goofy on display if it was completely strait, even then it may have split on the front of the elbow but who knows. I'm thinking of trying that, a pinch of gel superglue in the tear and maybe it will fix it, I'm going to sleep on it for now.

Thanks to everyone for offering advise, its greatly appreciated

 

[fosing]

at least you had him displayed for a while.
i feel sorry for those that keep them boxed up. only to take a peek to see their figure is crumbling.

use silicone vs non silicone grease, preemptively i suppose.

 

[chaosMonkeyPoo]

I actually swapped both my Chris Redfields with alt bodies to avoid this same issue. One with the upper body from a T2 Arnold figure (and the lower from a standard body as the HT Arnold lower body won't fit Chris's pants) and the other figure I swapped with a Barney Ross body (his clothes cover all the tattoos without an issue). Both work and look great.

 

[fosing]

any of you folks tried to apply gummi pflege on your rubber bodies yet? pre-emptive approach.
i already tried it on ed209, seems to hold up and doesnt leave a greasy residue unlike shin etsu/silicone grease as per others review.
i'm still on day 6 after application though.

 

[HYMN]

Damn, I hate to report that I have finally fell victim to the dreaded hot toys rubber deterioration on my Chris Redfield BSAA version. I have had the figure since release in about 2009-2010, I've had it on display the whole time and only posed it once to check the joints and left them in a strait arm pose for fear of this very issue, figure was as mint as the day it came out of the box and has been displayed in a glass detolf. You can see I never even removed the plastic on the arms that protected it during shipping from hot toys.

I've always figured if I take care not to pose rubber figures I could avoid this issue, not the case this time, I'm torn on what to do with the figure, I'm a bit **** with my figures and this is going to annoy me knowing its no longer in mint condition, but I still really like the figure

This product may be a solution.

https://sugru.com/

 

[potato]

May we know what environment you are living in?

High Heat/Humidity/Dust free?

 

[The Skull]

This product may be a solution.

https://sugru.com/

That's pretty interesting stuff, I may give it a try

May we know what environment you are living in?

High Heat/Humidity/Dust free?

Northeast US, New York, we get all four seasons here and my collection is in a temp controlled home and displayed behind glass detolfs, figure was posed once and arms left in a neutral pose with a 10 degree bend at the elbow as to not stress the rubber, Figure has been on display for approx. 6 years. This just happen over the past 2-3 months as I took photos of him in for my collection thread update it this was not present then.

 

[Underworld54]

Maybe there was a defect in it to being with and it took it that long to split apart. We have decent weather here in Upstate N.Y., nothing that should cause that damage.

 

[The Skull]

Maybe there was a defect in it to being with and it took it that long to split apart. We have decent weather here in Upstate N.Y., nothing that should cause that damage.

Yup, its not the weather, its the plain and simple use of rubber, as much as I love hot toys, there use of rubber has been shown to be a faulty choice as this thread is proof of, I'd rather have had a single joint elbow made of plastic that I could display for a lifetime then rubber I can only display for a limited number of years.

 

[dao2]

the defect in it is that it's rubber :|

 

[DioramaMaker]

Yup, its not the weather, its the plain and simple use of rubber, as much as I love hot toys, there use of rubber has been shown to be a faulty choice as this thread is proof of, I'd rather have had a single joint elbow made of plastic that I could display for a lifetime then rubber I can only display for a limited number of years.

This is the single reason I'm skipping the new Commando figure. The joints, when posed, would be barely noticeable, especially if hidden with camo. I know the future of the rubber arms and there is no replacement body with a physique that matches that figure. So with all that said, I'd rather invest my money elsewhere.

 

[The Skull]

This is the single reason I'm skipping the new Commando figure. The joints, when posed, would be barely noticeable, especially if hidden with camo. I know the future of the rubber arms and there is no replacement body with a physique that matches that figure. So with all that said, I'd rather invest my money elsewhere.

If it were any other figure I could agree, but I can't possibly pass on Commando, its my most wanted figure and holds some sentimental meaning to me, long story, so even it I have to leave it MIB it will be in my collection. All that said I agree, I would have much rather have had them make it with a single jointed elbow, heck I could even live with a double jointed elbow like the Road Block figure came with, like you said with the war paint it would help to mask the joint anyway.

 

[DioramaMaker]

If it were any other figure I could agree, but I can't possibly pass on Commando, its my most wanted figure and holds some sentimental meaning to me, long story, so even it I have to leave it MIB it will be in my collection. All that said I agree, I would have much rather have had them make it with a single jointed elbow, heck I could even live with a double jointed elbow like the Road Block figure came with, like you said with the war paint it would help to mask the joint anyway.

I'm the same way; I missed the 80s by a little bit but might as well have been there. I grew up on Schwarzenegger films, notably Commando - to this day it's one of my favorites. That figure is a nostalgia punch in my face if I've ever had one; plus I don't have a 1/6th Arnold in my collection yet, something that needs to happen. But considering the price vs longevity, I just can't see justifying it as much as I really want to. The problem will be further accentuated on this figure specifically because the entire chest is a rubber sleeve, I think. That or they're skimping out on the ab-crunch for aesthetics. If I knew there was a surrogate body down the road that I could change it over to....maybe....but that makes it an extremely expensive figure.

 

[The Skull]

I'm the same way; I missed the 80s by a little bit but might as well have been there. I grew up on Schwarzenegger films, notably Commando - to this day it's one of my favorites. That figure is a nostalgia punch in my face if I've ever had one; plus I don't have a 1/6th Arnold in my collection yet, something that needs to happen. But considering the price vs longevity, I just can't see justifying it as much as I really want to. The problem will be further accentuated on this figure specifically because the entire chest is a rubber sleeve, I think. That or they're skimping out on the ab-crunch for aesthetics. If I knew there was a surrogate body down the road that I could change it over to....maybe....but that makes it an extremely expensive figure.

I here ya and don't blame you ether, after my last post I remembered its time to box up my Dutch, which was my first ever Hot Toys figure, I opened it and displayed it for a couple of weeks when I first got it, then boxed him up to preserve him. I then unboxed him last year to do a little review and put him into a sealed figure case for display, but after that split happened to my Chris figure I decided I would put Dutch back into his box.

Here is the figure today, still fully intact and hopefully he will stay that way in his box where he will remain in my collection going forward.

 

[potato]

Maybe there was a defect in it to being with and it took it that long to split apart. We have decent weather here in Upstate N.Y., nothing that should cause that damage.

but generally humidity over there is low apart from summer right? rubber need moist to avoid becoming hardened & crack.

 

[Underworld54]

but generally humidity over there is low apart from summer right? rubber need moist to avoid becoming hardened & crack.

We get pretty oppressive humidity but it isn't prolonged. We also get very hot days but not like 7 straight.

 

[<BEASTMASTER>]

any of you folks tried to apply gummi pflege on your rubber bodies yet? pre-emptive approach.
i already tried it on ed209, seems to hold up and doesnt leave a greasy residue unlike shin etsu/silicone grease as per others review.
i'm still on day 6 after application though.

Cool, would be interested in seeing how that turns out.

 

[<BEASTMASTER>]

WHats the best way to wash old rubber? My chris redfeild body is a little tacky and dirty right now. Is soapy water ok?

 

[potato]

WHats the best way to wash old rubber? My chris redfeild body is a little tacky and dirty right now. Is soapy water ok?

No, since soap water will make the surface even dryer. suggest use a damped microfiber cloth and swipe away the dirts, this will leave minimum dust/fibers on it. And keep it dust free, if you don't have a dust free cabinet a piece of plastic bag would do.

 

[potato]

We get pretty oppressive humidity but it isn't prolonged. We also get very hot days but not like 7 straight.

somewhere around 40-55% humidity & under 30deg C should be optimal, too dry the rubber starts to crack, too wet too much water may enter the rubber, and too hot it decompose the rubber, too cold it hardens it and also lowers the humidity.

one thing i know is, before your rubber deteriorates, your pleather will degrade much earlier. so if your pleather is alright, the rubber should be safe.