Playmates Toys

[CommanderTrip]

I finally bought the Enterprise-D bridge set which was like my holy grail as a child. No idea where I'm going to put it!

This was my favorite trek toy by far. Last time I saw it I was 18 and it was in a bin in my moms house in pieces. It was a great replica though in its hey day. The light up viewscreen was awesome, and the fact you sort kinda could but really couldn't connect it to engineering and the transporter was a nice feature.

It was also the best effort I've seen for a trek bridge toy in my generation. The Kelvin playmates bridge was a disappointment, and the fact art asylum never completed the enterprise nx 01 bridge is a great tragedy.

Wheres my disco enterprise bridge MacFarlane toys?

Or Hasbro, come on throw us a bone here.

 

[Therin of Andor]

Hey everyone, long-time lurker and first time poster.
I hope I'm putting this in the right forum, but I couldn't find a merch section and hopefully this post will appeal to fans of all series.

I maintain the Playtrek Facebook group which has its roots in an email listserv, established in the heyday of the Playmates Toys.

You are most welcome to join us. As are any other collectors.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/Playtrek/

I wished they had released a M'Ress figurine (and I guess Arex as well for his fans)...

Which is why customising is so much fun.


M'Ress and Arex landing party by Ian McLean, on Flickr


M'Ress the Caitian by Ian McLean, on Flickr


Arex the Edoan/Triexian by Ian McLean, on Flickr

 

[fireproof78]

Thanks for sharing, @Therin of Andor . I'm starting to figure out customizing using other figures to create a variety of crew. Its great to see people's hard work!

 

[captainjellico]

Yeah I found the best way is not even to pop the head off because I've ended up ripping the neck joint.

My approach is to soak the figure for a few mins, then pop out the shoulder sockets, and use a pair of needle nose pliers to crack open the whole torso. Then you can replace parts as needed and glue the whole thing back together.

That's how I did the DS9 crew in the grey uniforms. I'm trying to do the TOS crew in TWOK uniforms but finding it hard to get the parts for reasonable prices.

Thanks Tomalak...I’m going to give this technique a go again! I did try it once, but the torso of the figure cracked in half. The plastic was so brittle It’s going to be quite an expensive hobby if I keep messing it up! It’s harder to pick up second hand figures in the UK too.

Are you going to attempt a Bashir later season uniform figure by the way?

 

[captainjellico]

I maintain the Playtrek Facebook group which has its roots in an email listserv, established in the heyday of the Playmates Toys.

You are most welcome to join us. As are any other collectors.

Thanks! It’s great to meet like-minded collectors so will join you now

 

[Tomalak]

Thanks Tomalak...I’m going to give this technique a go again! I did try it once, but the torso of the figure cracked in half. The plastic was so brittle It’s going to be quite an expensive hobby if I keep messing it up! It’s harder to pick up second hand figures in the UK too.

Are you going to attempt a Bashir later season uniform figure by the way?

Tell me about it, I'm in awe of how cheap they are in the US compared with here. Before the pound crashed it was often cheaper to import directly from America.

Yeah I've got a Bashir somewhere, but he needs painting with the right shade of teal for the undershirt.

 

[fireproof78]

What are the paints that people have had the most luck with?

 

[Leroy]

Does anybody remember the Innerspace or Strike Force line? It was Star Trek meets Mighty Max/Polly Pocket, with the miniature ships that could open up to reveal an interior inside.

 

[NCC-73515]

I have the Enterprise D, the BoP, the CSM, and the LM. My brother has the warbird, my cousin has the shuttle, and I'm still looking for the Borg cube every now and then

 

[Tomalak]

Does anybody remember the Innerspace or Strike Force line? It was Star Trek meets Mighty Max/Polly Pocket, with the miniature ships that could open up to reveal an interior inside.

These were the bulk of my Trek toys as a kid, more than the 4.5" figures. It was a much more affordable and space-saving way to get the Enterprise-D crew and playsets. I expanded it by building my own bridge, engineering, shuttlebays etc. Great fun!

 

[fireproof78]

Does anybody remember the Innerspace or Strike Force line? It was Star Trek meets Mighty Max/Polly Pocket, with the miniature ships that could open up to reveal an interior inside.

I still have my ENT-D and Borg Assimilation Team. Hoping to pick up some more!

Also, a general question. Does anyone have a good video or guide on doing the boil method to create customs?

 

[Kor]

From what I understand, the boil method is used when you add plastic modelling clays that have to be heated to set. They are actually made of a bunch of tiny plastic particles that get bound together. Or something like that.

Kor

 

[fireproof78]

From what I understand, the boil method is used when you add plastic modelling clays that have to be heated to set. They are actually made of a bunch of tiny plastic particles that get bound together. Or something like that.

Kor

Oh, weird. I had read (and looked at online customs) where they boil the figure enough to pop joints, like arms or heads, to swap them out. Do people just cut those limbs then?

 

[Kor]

Oh, weird. I had read (and looked at online customs) where they boil the figure enough to pop joints, like arms or heads, to swap them out. Do people just cut those limbs then?

Oh okay, that's a separate matter then. Boiling will soften the plastic so that it's easier to pop out limbs that are attached with ball sockets.

Kor

 

[fireproof78]

Oh okay, that's a separate matter then. Boiling will soften the plastic so that it's easier to pop out limbs that are attached with ball sockets.

Kor

Yes, I was just trying to make sure I wasn't doing it wrong because I haven't been successful.

 

[Tomalak]

Also, a general question. Does anyone have a good video or guide on doing the boil method to create customs?

This is basically the method I use.

http://bradstoyblog.blogspot.com/2014/11/playmates-anatomy-lesson-and-customs.html?m=1

 

[Redfern]

Boiling can help achieve both results. I've only risked it once, to fit a replacement head upon a Big Chief Tom Baker 12 inch "doll". In theory, it original should have easily popped loose with hand pressure and the new piece snapped in its place. But the "ball in socket" joints were far tighter than expected, so I applied the technique used to customize smaller figurines.. Thankfully, it worked and my display piece afterward had a far more accurate likeness.

(When the doll was first released, the "neutral expression" head came from the mold a bit too narrow, creating an emaciated look and they painted a dark "5 0'clock" shadow which Tom never sported on camera. To make up for the gaff, Big Chief sold (at a "modest" cost) a grinning face that far better caught Tom's essence. But it required the removal of the old head and attachment of the newer version.)

The recent Godzilla 2019 from S.H. Monster Arts states within the package one should dip the separate tail section in hot water to soften the "plug" so it can be snapped onto the main figure. That isn't even a case of "after market" modification, but basic assembly.

 

[The Wormhole]

This is basically the method I use.

http://bradstoyblog.blogspot.com/2014/11/playmates-anatomy-lesson-and-customs.html?m=1

A dismantled action figure is surprisingly disturbing to look at.

 

[JesterFace]

Is it allowed to talk about Micro Machines in this thread, those are toys right?

I have many TNG era ships, hidden, but they're there.
Also there are many Star Wars ones I'm shamed to admit.. but I think I got them over 20 years ago.

 

[NCC-73515]

A dismantled action figure is surprisingly disturbing to look at.

The Borg corpse pile in Scorpion was made from action figures!

Is it allowed to talk about Micro Machines in this thread, those are toys right?
I have many TNG era ships, hidden, but they're there.
Also there are many Star Wars ones I'm shamed to admit.. but I think I got them over 20 years ago.

I love the MMs! They were surprisingly detailed for their small sizes. I have the A, B, D, spacedock, Vor'cha, runabout, DS9, marauder, warbird, type 6 shuttle, K7, Grissom, Romulan scout, Stargazer, Galor, and Defiant!

 

[Tomalak]

I never had the Defiant or Voyager! They were impossible to find.