Help with Popy 1/100 Hi-Metal L-Gaim

[Watari]

Don't you just love it when this happens to a vintage toy  Had this for years and kept it inside the box away from possible heat sources and direct sunlight. Took it out to play with it for a while, CRAP, the soft sound of little plastic hoses breaking

Tried to be careful not to break the others, didn't help, everything disintegrated the moment I touched them. I don't remember the hoses being this brittle before, geez.



Anybody here tried replacing the hoses with flexible ones, maybe the ones from Gundam models? Before I try, I'd appreciate any pointers from those who've already done it before since I'm not that good with modelling.

Like, if I cut away the remaining plastic hoses from the toy, can I superglue the Gundam hoses directly on the plastic? Or do I need to do something first? Any ideas if they sell the hoses separately or do I need to buy a whole Gundam model just to get the hoses? If yes, any recommendations on what model I should purchase, preferably a cheap one, like maybe in the 1/144 scale?

Totally unrelated, parting shot. Really like the box art on this toy.

[Mr. Ginrai]

I hate to break it to you but you'll really be disappointed when the figure yellows on its own and the arm and leg joints become as brittle as the hoses.

Unfortunately every one of these suffers from these problems and there is nothing you can do about it. So don't feel bad at all.

That's why in unused condition they really don't sell for anything. And it's not like they all just started breaking now. Once they starred to get a few years old it would start.

The rubber hose transfer sounds like a good idea.

[Watari]

Hehe, you are absolutely right, probably why these toys are so damn cheap, might as well just keep them in the box and never ever touch them

[faelon]

Even that won't stop the yellowing. That comes from the bromine fire retardant embedded in 70's and 80's plastics. It's why an old PC or Nintendo turn that horrid nicotine yellow. There are some tricks for which tending them that involve baths in complicated mixtures of oxyclean and peroxide. 

As as far as replacing the hoses. One trick is instead of a new vinyl or plastic hose use beads strung on a stiff wire. If you get the beads right they look fantastic and retain some flex.

[admin1 aka Ed]

I'd recommend putting the broken parts into a zip lock bag for later (maybe you can 3D print them in a few years), and then move on and enjoy it!

After doing more research on true antique toys, one finds that 100 years later, the problems are just part of the "toy." Enjoy the overall aesthetic. IMHO L-gaim is quite a ground breaking robot form. -Love it.

Ed