Vintage Palitoy Action Man 1973-1984
Action Figures, Outfits, Vehicles and Small Arms
RE-ATTACHING 'EAGLE EYES' HEADS
Of my collection of twelve Palitoy Action Man figures three are 1977-84 vintage 'Eagle Eyes'. I keep my entire Action Man collection stored away and protected from Action Man's deadliest enemy - dust. Late last year I checked up on the collection and was horrified to find that the heads had fallen off two of the three 'Eagle Eyes' figures due to the disintegration of the original plastic connecting material. A common occurrence apparently. I thought that that was it for them - gone beyond repair.
However, a search on the internet revealed that the 'Eagle Eyes' heads could indeed be re-attached to the torsos. The various repair methods I came across looked a little tricky but, with nothing to lose, I gave them a shot. One of the stumbling blocks in the repair procedure is removing the neck cone from inside the 'Eagle Eyes' head. The repair procedures in the internet didn't seem to suggest how this could be done. It was my mother's idea that I use one of her metal Crochet needles (2.5mm) which is thin enough and has just enough hook at the end of it to pull out the neck cone.
Someone you know may be able to lend you a metal Crochet Needle (2.5mm) - mum, sister, wife, partner, friends of friends.
Dipping the base of the neck (not the entire head!!) into warm water for a minute or two, and thus softening the plastic around the base of the neck, will help in removing the neck cone.
Dipping the base of the neck (not the entire head!!) into warm water for a minute or two, and thus softening the plastic around the base of the neck, will help in removing the neck cone.
Although the procedure can be a little tricky keep trying. If you know someone with nimble fingers perhaps they can do the repair work for you. I took the photos shown here while repairing the second of my 'Eagle Eyes' figures.
You'll need a scissors, a paper clip, plenty of thickish rubber elastic bands or, better still, 2mm diameter elastic thread/cord which you can get on ebay (and which won't rot or disintegrate), and a metal Crochet needle (2.5mm).
Also, my thanks to 'Anonymous' for his/her comment/suggestion regarding 2mm diameter elastic thread/cord as an alternative to elastic rubber bands. Unlike elastic rubber bands this won't rot or disintegrate so I'd recommend its use in re-attaching your Eagle Eyes heads.
Rehearse the action of pulling the neck cone from the head - make sure the path of the Crochet needle is as far away from your body as possible when you pull the neck cone out.
Just before you begin inserting the rubber elastic band (or 2mm diameter elastic thread/cord) make sure that there are no loose bits of the old disintegrated connecting plastic rattling around inside the torso. Turn the figure upside down and gently shake these bits out.
There's a little plastic 'bridge' just inside the neck of the torso - you'll need to get the rubber elastic band around this, fishing it back out again with the paper clip hook.
The diagrams at the link below were most helpful at the rubber band knotting stage.
You'll almost certainly never get the neck cone to fit as tightly as the factory fresh original - just get it as tight as you can to carry the weight of the 'Eagle Eyes' head wearing head gear.
Before you snap the head back fully on to the torso do a test with the head just sitting on the neck cone/torso. Also put a helmet or some headgear onto the head. If the head is flopping all over the place then it's best to begin the procedure all over again. It took me three attempts with one of my 'Eagle Eyes'. It's worth it in the end.
Rubber band is no good as this too will disintergrate. You need 2mm diameter elastic thread/cord which you can get on ebay. This will never rot or disintergrate !
ReplyDeleteHi Anonymous, Thanks for the tip - it benefits everyone. I got about nine months out of the rubber bands I used before they began to dry up and disintegrate. 2mm diameter elastic thread/cord seems like a great solution.
ReplyDeleteI used elastic from an old cat toy. Used small screw driver and went around cone in head and it came out fine. Very easy repair took me 5 minutes. With elastic is almost like new.
ReplyDeleteJust did it and it worked a treat, only hard part was trying to get ahold of the other end of the elastic inside the neck
ReplyDeleteHi Lee, Well done! Parts of the repair procedure can be a bit tricky but it's worth it in the end. Best, Owen
DeleteI first fixed head with rubber band but the rubber was already worn out and it snapped. Then I used cable tie and it work. On top of the head falling off, the pelvis came undone too when I opened the torso. So I tied the pelvis and head together with 3 pieces of thin cable tie.
ReplyDeleteHi Matu, Many thanks for your comments and well done with the repairs. I'm sure your repair advice will help many people. Best, Owen
DeleteThis is really useful! I too had all my eagle eye action men in a box and couldnt understand when I go them out for my son why all their heads were off! Just wondering, if the space at the top of the kneck cone allows could you tie the elastic band around a small bead (from a knecklace) to enable the band to be pulled tighter; depennding it there is enough space in the cone?
ReplyDeleteMany thanks to you. That's certainly an interesting idea using a bead from a necklace. Also use 2mm diameter elastic thread/cord - it's better than a rubber elastic band which will rot in about a year. Good luck with the restoration work. Best, Owen
ReplyDeleteI use the 2mm elastic thread cord and also put a 3mm stainless washer in the neck cone as an extra precaution .
ReplyDeleteMany thanks for your comment and well done. Putting a 3mm stainless washer in the neck cone as an extra precaution is a superb idea. Thank you for sharing.
Delete