Warped Star Wars Minis Help

[Inferno!]

Merry Christmas everyone,

I got half a dozen Star Wars boosters for Christmas today (including a Millennium Falcon - yea!). However, several, including my TIE fighter Ace and ARC-170 are seriously warped. Can anyone offer tips/advise about how to straighten the wings and cannons without melting them?

 

[HeapThaumaturgist]

Being very careful?

I've had some luck taking warped plastic pieces of minis and pinching it the way I want it with something (usually old coasters or bricks or combinations thereof) and placing it in a sunny location and letting the sun warm it for a day. Back of a closed car on the ledge, etc.

--fje

 

[Garet Jax]

For my Battlelore minis I've had good luck with dipping the warped ones in hot water for a few seconds to soften them up, take them out to straighten, then dipping immediately in cold water to harden the new shape. Works like a charm.

 

[Inferno!]

Thanks, I'll give that a try.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Those are excellent suggestions, and I've done much the same.

But before doing that, I'd contact the company- they may just replace it in a display of customer service...especially if the damage is significant.

I had a Cannonball mini from Heroclix show up sans one arm. I contacted WizKidz, and they agreed to replace it.

(Unfortunately, some relatives of mine came over (while I was absent) and one of their kids downloaded a virus onto my Mac. After cleaning THAT up, I was having connection issues, and my ISP decided they couldn't send me any help (after 3 weeks offline and using their phone-in tech support for several hours a day!), so we switched to Verizon FIOS. If I could find the email with that address, I'd follow that up with buying a lottery ticket.)

 

[rgard]

Thanks, I'll give that a try.

I use a blow dryer instead of hot water. Try it out on some fig that you have no use for first.

 

[Twowolves]

I use a blow dryer instead of hot water. Try it out on some fig that you have no use for first.

I know this works ideally for all the other WotC minis, but I have a funny feeling that the starships are not made of the same type of plastic. I have been eager to fix my x-wings and tie fighters this way, but not had the time nor courage to try it yet.

So let me know how it works out for ya!

 

[Tarek]

The Star Wars minis have a different softening agent in the plastic mix, but a blowdryer should still work. Just remember to keep the area you're doing this in well-ventilated; the gasses hot plastic emits are toxic.

I just now straightend out a badly warped Droid Control Ship in about 5-6 minutes with a hairdryer and a few ice cubes. The hairdryer method works fine.

 

[Twowolves]

The Star Wars minis have a different softening agent in the plastic mix, but a blowdryer should still work. Just remember to keep the area you're doing this in well-ventilated; the gasses hot plastic emits are toxic.

I just now straightend out a badly warped Droid Control Ship in about 5-6 minutes with a hairdryer and a few ice cubes. The hairdryer method works fine.

I think the large figures are different from the smaller ones, with regards to the type of plastic used. I'm more worried about the wings on the tie fighters and x-wings, not to mention the clear plastic stands they are on.

Unfortunately, I've found that the hairdryer-ice water trick works well, but if you don't store them carefully, they will bend again in new, unusual positions. :\

 

[0-hr]

Just as another option, I've straightened some ships out by holding the bent area over a lightbulb and letting gravity and heat do the straightening. Followed by the usual ice water bath, it worked well enough.

I like the precision of the hot spot over a bulb compared to the large heated area produced by my hair dryer.