How To Guide Tutorial: Swapping Shoulder Swivels on 25th Joes & Modern Star Wars

Here is my tutorial on swapping shoulder swivels on 25th Anniversary GI Joes. This technique should work on any figure with injection molded shoulders, including modern Star Wars figures. Mods may want to sticky this or add it to the “Custom Tutorials Index” thread. Because of the limits on pictures per post I have to make three posts to complete the tutorial.

Here are the tools you will need. Make sure your glue is made for use on all plastics or it won’t hold. I didn’t end up using the cup of hot water, but heating the arms in the water would make it easier to peel the shoulder away from the swivel.




Here are the arms on which I will be swapping the shoulder swivels, comic pack Shipwreck and Snake Eyes. First and foremost check to make sure the swivel sockets will fit in the destination torso!




After checking to be sure the swivel sockets will fit in the destination torso, cut the post behind the swivel on both arms




After cutting, gently peel back the shoulder pieces surrounding the swivel

Slide the swivel off the post




Notice the swivel from the Snake Eyes arm is slightly larger than the Shipwreck swivel. Before the Shipwreck swivel would fit on the Snake Eyes post the hole in the swivel had to be widened. I used the small grinding tip of my rotary tool to do this. It could be done with a drill if you have the right size bit.




Next place the replacement swivel on the post of the arm, then with the shoulder joint held open apply a very small amount of glue to cut end of the post. Be sure not to get any glue on the swivel. Once again, be sure your glue is made for use on all plastics or it won’t hold.




Firmly press and hold the shoulder together while rotating the swivel. This ensures the swivel will move freely while the glue sets.

After the glue was set I had to grind down the Snake Eyes swivel a little to make it match the profile of the shipwreck arm. Then I repainted the sleeves and added the Shipwreck arms to my custom figure… me!

Good tut, not everyone has the balls to play with superglue near joints lol! *high-five*

I made a video version to supplement this, I used DCUC figures, but it's way easier for GI Joes!

VideoTuts :: ShoulderGrind2.flv video by nightmareparallax - Photobucket

Thank you for sharing. I have always been affraid the glue would not hold under use. What brand of glue are you using?

Originally Posted by Sgt. Stowell

Thank you for sharing. I have always been affraid the glue would not hold under use. What brand of glue are you using?

For a long time I used Locktite's glue for all plastics, but when K-Mart ran out all I could find locally was some stuff by Surehold called "plastic Surgery". It is phenomenal! I absolutely love it! It holds stronger and quicker than the Locktite. I bought it at Walgreens. Only one of the two Albany, GA Walgreens carries it. It's the tube in the top picture.

Plastic Surgery!? I'm there!

Awesome tutorial thank you this is much helpful.

Originally Posted by meandnooneelse

For a long time I used Locktite's glue for all plastics, but when K-Mart ran out all I could find locally was some stuff by Surehold called "plastic Surgery". It is phenomenal! I absolutely love it! It holds stronger and quicker than the Locktite. I bought it at Walgreens. Only one of the two Albany, GA Walgreens carries it. It's the tube in the top picture.

Cool beans. Thanks again, uber helpful.

Surehold "Plastic Surgery" is no longer available at Walgreens or Walgreens.com. Some ACE Hardware stores carry it. If your local ACE doesn't have it, they can order it. Ask to speak to a manager.