[IzzyTipsy]

I think I may have loved O-Ring more now if the figures and vehicles didn't just shatter from using them. Even back in the day they constantly broke their crotches and thumbs, and now when I used them on display again feet were shattering upon putt them on the old Joe stands, entire bodies just shattered (Wetsuit) upon moving them, etc.

My vehicles upon rebuilding them have almost all consistently broken.

For me, O-ring Joes have held up the least in terms of my toys from being a kid, with the A-Team 3.75 a close second.

I just can't collect them now when I know trying to use them they'll likely break. I have to be so ginger with my Hammerhead lest something break. I can't imagine giving them to a kid to play with.

[DarthBrett]

Quote:

Originally Posted by IzzyTipsy

I think I may have loved O-Ring more now if the figures and vehicles didn't just shatter from using them. Even back in the day they constantly broke their crotches and thumbs, and now when I used them on display again feet were shattering upon putt them on the old Joe stands, entire bodies just shattered (Wetsuit) upon moving them, etc.

My vehicles upon rebuilding them have almost all consistently broken.

For me, O-ring Joes have held up the least in terms of my toys from being a kid, with the A-Team 3.75 a close second.

I just can't collect them now when I know trying to use them they'll likely break. I have to be so ginger with my Hammerhead lest something break. I can't imagine giving them to a kid to play with.

I cant argue with any of what you said. The ARAH o-ring era definitely has breakage issues and the fact that most of it is now 40-years-old, well it comes as no surprise. I am extremely careful handling my ARAH o-rings and take special care when displaying them or gearing them up (I rarely ever do).

[Josh Z]

Quote:

Originally Posted by IzzyTipsy

I think I may have loved O-Ring more now if the figures and vehicles didn't just shatter from using them. Even back in the day they constantly broke their crotches and thumbs, and now when I used them on display again feet were shattering upon putt them on the old Joe stands, entire bodies just shattered (Wetsuit) upon moving them, etc.

My vehicles upon rebuilding them have almost all consistently broken.

For me, O-ring Joes have held up the least in terms of my toys from being a kid, with the A-Team 3.75 a close second.

I just can't collect them now when I know trying to use them they'll likely break. I have to be so ginger with my Hammerhead lest something break. I can't imagine giving them to a kid to play with.

All plastic degrades. The ME stuff will do the same when they hit 40-years-old.

[BizCopperhead]

Quote:

Originally Posted by IzzyTipsy

I think I may have loved O-Ring more now if the figures and vehicles didn't just shatter from using them. Even back in the day they constantly broke their crotches and thumbs, and now when I used them on display again feet were shattering upon putt them on the old Joe stands, entire bodies just shattered (Wetsuit) upon moving them, etc.

My vehicles upon rebuilding them have almost all consistently broken.

For me, O-ring Joes have held up the least in terms of my toys from being a kid, with the A-Team 3.75 a close second.

I just can't collect them now when I know trying to use them they'll likely break. I have to be so ginger with my Hammerhead lest something break. I can't imagine giving them to a kid to play with.

Treat them like an adult would treat a model or something intended for an adult, and you'll be just fine.I have a set of Stun flags that aren't previously stressed on my Stun, and I don't worry about them, because I'm careful around the flags

I sometimes think that part of some folks' perception of toys is "you don't have to be careful with them because they are toys", which was never the case with GI Joe, not even when it was new. Yes they are more brittle now, but not that much more.

A basic understanding of physics and how the vehicles are constructed will also help you understand how or how not to treat them.

For example, when you are disassembling a vehicle for repair, knowing where all the tabs are and how pressure needs to be applied to put the minimum amount of flex in the plastic is important, and knowing how to flex something by distributing that pressure across the widest possible area. This sometimes requires looking under and behind things, and finding a copy of the instructions.

I always put my thumb and finger over a figure's thumb and fingers with my left hand while placing a weapon or another accessory in the figure's hand in order to brace it with counter-pressure and prevent excessive flex.

If I think the accessory won't fit, I put the figure's hand in boiling water and open it slightly at the fingers, and let it cool under cold water in that position.

[DarthBrett]

Quote:

Originally Posted by BizCopperhead

Treat them like an adult would treat a model or something intended for an adult, and you'll be just fine.

I sometimes think that part of some folks' perception of toys is "you don't have to be careful with them because they are toys", which was never the case with GI Joe, not even when it was new. Yes they are more brittle now, but not that much more.

I always put my thumb and finger over a figure's thumb and fingers with my left hand while placing a weapon or another accessory in the figure's hand in order to brace it with counter-pressure and prevent excessive flex.

Exactly! Just have to be incredibly careful with the stuff. I do what you do with the fingers while gearing them up. I have yet to have a thumb or hand break on me (...yet! lol knock on nearest wood!).

Quote:

Originally Posted by Josh Z

All plastic degrades. The ME stuff will do the same when they hit 40-years-old.

Yeah, we still have got another 25 years or so until the oldest ME stuff is about the same age as the early ARAH stuff is now. I'm not sure the ME stuff will get brittle since it was never the hard plastic that ARAH o-ring Joes were to begin with. But what I could see happening is the plastic getting softer and more gummy as well as color changes. I know a few of my older ME figures had some plastic change color slightly over time. Some ME torsos are a harder plastic though and may get brittle over time. I remember some of them were somewhat brittle even back then when I would have to split them apart for customs.

[Clockwise]

Yes, there's still a sizable group of 1:18 collectors. But as we enter our 50's there will be less and less as we, ugh, die off.

I used to not understand why the generations after us didn't like action figures as much. There will always be a small amount of new collectors. Hell, marbles and toy trains keep going, and those go back to pre-WW2 (I think?).

Digital media/gaming took over as the primary mode of entertainment for those who came after us. To appreciate that, I can look at the amazing Marx 12" cowboy figures and see how beautifully sculpted they were. The craftsmanship is stellar. But I have zero interest in ever buying any of them.

I'll just take some satisfaction in knowing that the generations that follow the gamers will have their own things. Maybe some analog stuff will slip back into the mix.

[freemansmind]

I'd say if Kickstarter is any indication with Longbow, OP:R, Marauders, Skeletron and others that there is a very hungry market out there but to a very select audience, one that is extremely passionate and keeps that range viable to produce and collect. I also think it's an audience that doesn't translate to direct market sales in big box toy stores sadly although Fortnite managed to temporarily cause sales even though that was more because of the brand than the scale.

[Dake]

I feel like it's the classic chicken/egg scenario. There are no toys because there's not a market/there is no market because there are no toys. They make a half-hearted attempt at dribbling out a handful of repaints/rereleases to a single-retailer and then when they inevitably wind up at clearance, use it as a reason to say "See? We told you it's dead!" For the record, I'm super happy with those new versions of Stalker and Scarlett.

I get that the market it tougher. Not having any media at all certainly hurts - compare it to Transformers with multiple options. I get that costs are up: the cost to create a 4" figure is not significantly less than a 6", so MSRP seems like a better "value" at the 6" scale.

Star Wars 4" is suffering too (though obviously still at least doing something). I contend part of the problem is that both Joe and SW have always been vehicle lines too and individual figures with nothing to do aren't as appealing. If you're not going to get a vehicle (and not just another AWE Striker), then might as well just buy the 6" - or in my case, buy nothing.

I loved the ME stuff, but by this point I have everything I want; I may pick up some random Acid Rain/Boss Fight/Fortnite figure to repaint or sneak into the mix, but that's it. ME looks great with my vintage vehicles.



If they give me new figures (or suitable replacements)? I'll buy 'em, but I don't need another Destro or 25th Anniversary Duke.

[Cobra Agent 66]

If Star Wars Vintage Collection and Retro can still sell, there's no reason to think Joe wouldn't. Remember the 25th and Rise of Cobra lines? That shit was ALL OVER Target and Walmart, and must have sold pretty well.

They just don't want to gamble or take chances, like they did in the 80's. Hasbro wouldn't make a Defiant today. Meanwhile, Mattel is over here like, "Hey, who wants a Snake Mountain!?!"

[GoodGuy9]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cobra Agent 66

If Star Wars Vintage Collection and Retro can still sell, there's no reason to think Joe wouldn't. Remember the 25th and Rise of Cobra lines? That shit was ALL OVER Target and Walmart, and must have sold pretty well.

Even ME retro sold well the first three waves, stuff would be stocked 9 in the morning but by noon they sold through two or three cases, it's the poor distribution that resulted in excess stock of the last two waves that it sat on pegs or shelves.