Important Safety Tip: Don't Boil Classic TFs

[dragoness_e]

So, I'm trying to do a re-paint/mod for the first time. I want to turn a Classic Starscream into a Classic Duskwing, and the first thing I'm doing to it is dye it navy blue. I'm following advice from experienced modders--use RiT dye, boil it for best results. I disassembled the parts I didn't want dyed (cockpit canopy, head)--and those pins were a PITA to get out, and stripped off as much of the paint job as I could.

Tip: Classic figure paint comes off with alcohol and vigorous rubbing. Just take a cotton ball soaked in rubbing alcohol to it.

Washed it, and then put it in a pot of dye and water, enough to cover the parts plus an inch or two, and boiled it for about 45 minutes. (I wanted it dark). I'd been assured this was pretty much S.O.P. for dying toys.

Well, apparently the Classics figures are a bit sub-standard on the heat sensitivity. My Seeker figure had two noticeable parts warp and partially collapse from the heat of the pan that if I can put it back together, it won't transform. One leg is sort of squashed and won't collapse to transform to jet mode, and the back plate of the torso piece is a bit collapsed and warped along the right top--won't close properly for either mode.

It also came out darker than I wanted. Fortunately, I found another Classic Starscream over at Toys 'R' Us. I'll try cold dyeing that one.

Tip: DON'T BOIL Classic Transformers

Edit: Now I have pictures.

Comments

[tiamat1972.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the tip. I have an extra Classics Bumblebee I'm planning on repainting. Let us know how the cold dying goes.

[someidiot.livejournal.com]

You should totally model an OC off that melted, warped seeker now. ^_^

[dragoness-e.livejournal.com]

Well, he's Midnight the Headless Seeker (http://dragoness-e.livejournal.com/31424.html?thread=94400#t94400) now.

[raisedbymoogles.livejournal.com]

Poor Starscream. ;_;

[horsetechie.livejournal.com]

*stifles a luagh* That would bring a new meaning to Skywarp too.;p

But... maybe if you just stuck him in boiled hot water (the kind no longer boiling anymore) with the dye and just let it soak for an hour, would you have achieved better results?

I had used RIT dye in a washing machine, to dye some clothes, and the hot water cycle on that worked okay too without needing the constant boiling water treatment.

[dragoness-e.livejournal.com]

Midnight--as I'm calling him because he came out way too dark--is definitely an OC for the Crypt detail. I tried putting him back together this morning, and found that quite a few more parts were subtly heat-warped.

Basically, his shoulders fit together badly, so that while he has arms, he can't mount his arm guns. His arm cannon are jammed; they'll never fire their missiles. (Just as well, I hate shooting those pieces across the room and losing them). But that's trivial compared to this: the cockpit halves were excessively warped. I can't put his canopy on his cockpit, and the whole head-cockpit assembly won't fit in his badly warped torso.

So, I have a headless, cockpitless black and dark blue Seeker who's pretty much relegated to carrying his head (and cockpit) around under his arm. I think he's willed his guns to Screamer, though. E-Screamer wanted them, but couldn't find a mount point that fit.

I was able to fit the canopy into the torso cavity, so now I have a headless Seeker. He's got this stump where the head-cockpit assembly is supposed to attach, and looks rather macabre.