NECA 9" Alien problem

[RobMetalCheese]

So as you may know, I'm new to figures and stuff, so please excuse my lack of experience and otherwise stupid questions.

Anyway, my first Alien (the Aliens series one) arrived today and as soon as I take it out of the box, the leg seems to come off at the knee (not the cut articulation above the knee, the actual swing joint of the knee). Now, I don't know if it actually came off or if it wasn't attached, but either way I can't get it back on. Also, I can't seem to get the joint to move at all, neither on the part that's attached to the body or the part that came off. Some help to a fellow newbie? I'll post pictures if needed.

[Xenodork79]

A hair dryer and hot water are your friends. Use them to soften up the joints when they are stuck and gently work them until they cooperate. Same applies to getting the leg back on. Once the peg softens up a bit, you should be able to ease it back to perfection, male to female. Just use wise discretion and be patient with the process, and it should work out fine. Unfortunately the paints used on many of these toys sometimes dries on the joints and causes these issues out of the box, once things have set since production. Same thing with loose joints that cause separation in shipping. But they can be remedied with patience and some TLC.
Posted on: February 18, 2010, 11:07:06 AMBTW, I should have probably noted - hot water OR a hair dryer. Use either or both in separate attempts to remedy the situation. But not both at once, lol. Don't want anyone get electrocuted in desperation to fix their Alien.

[RobMetalCheese]

Hi again. Thanks for the advice Xenodork. As of yet I didn't put it back together, however while trying to move the joint I did manage to poke out a semicircle kind of thing, and a cylinder-shaped thing was left in the knee. On the semicircle I pulled out, there are 2 plastic, "teeth" let's call them, the kind you get on gears. When I put the semicircle back in, I couldn't get it to move at all though. So I poked it out again, and I was thinking of cutting off the 2 gear-like teeth with a modelling scalpel, good/bad idea?

[Jmek]

Sorry to hear that bud. It's a well known problem with the NECA Alien and Aliens line. They're amazing sculpts but sadly are terrible quality. I've got 3 18" Versions all of which have manufacturing defects, frozen joints etc. I have two 7" versions one whose arm fell off straight of the packaging. On the other most of the joints are frozen and the hair dryer does naught. I have an Aliens version which has numerous flaws, bent head, hole in the leg, malformed jaw that doesn't open etc. After that I kinda gave up. 

[RobMetalCheese]

Well, so far I got everything working (BTW, false advertising on the packaging - the inner jaw does NOT extend at all, as it's just molded into the alien's throat!), however I still can't get the leg back on... should I try to carefully superglue it back on?

[Sabres21768]

Well, so far I got everything working (BTW, false advertising on the packaging - the inner jaw does NOT extend at all, as it's just molded into the alien's throat!), however I still can't get the leg back on... should I try to carefully superglue it back on?

I can assure you that the tongue IS NOT molded into the Alien's mouth.

I have 2 of these and both of the tongues extend.

You do have the Giger Alien figure right?

[RobMetalCheese]

I can assure you that the tongue IS NOT molded into the Alien's mouth.

I have 2 of these and both of the tongues extend.

You do have the Giger Alien figure right?

No, it's the Aliens series Alien. Maybe I need new glasses, but from most angles it looks like it's molded into it. Truly  advertising.

[Xenodork79]

Well, so far I got everything working (BTW, false advertising on the packaging - the inner jaw does NOT extend at all, as it's just molded into the alien's throat!), however I still can't get the leg back on... should I try to carefully superglue it back on?

Can you take a pic and show exactly what you're left with now? I couldn't make hide nor hair out of your earlier comment (I went and stared at my Warrior fig and didn't see the issue you were describing ). If you post a visual of what you're now dealing with (glad to hear the other joints appear to be moving now, BTW), maybe we can help you fully fix it.

And Jmek - you still have frozen joints on yours? I bet I could get those loose for you, had I the actual opportunity. I have 2 18" Alien figures myself and both had issues right out of the box. You just have to relentlessly attack the problem. Getting some of the limbs unstuck on my two figs took HOURS to solve, as I recall - and not in a single sitting for them, either. It's an unofortunate issue plaguing many of these figures, yes - but I've yet to truly hear of someone being fully unable to lick the problem with a little hard-fought perseverance.

[Sabres21768]

No, it's the Aliens series Alien. Maybe I need new glasses, but from most angles it looks like it's molded into it. Truly  advertising.

I promise you they're NOT molded in there.

Try taking a pair of tweezers and pulling on the inner jaw.

Here's a shot of mine to show that they do come out.

[RobMetalCheese]

Sorry, no pics ATM, maybe tomorrow morning (in UK time). However i pretty much got the joint fixed, I took apart the whole knee, glued the broken pieces together and letting it dry now. Tomorrow I'm gonna stop around my mates house and borrow some plastic glue to make a more solid connection and tell you guys if it works out. I'll also post pics of the inner jaw.
Posted on: February 18, 2010, 07:45:37 PMAlso - I tried pulling it out with tweezers, but for the love of f**k I can't get them to move at all. I'm scared that if I pull any harder I'll damage the inner jaws (or get an unintentional trophy kill on it...).
Posted on: February 18, 2010, 07:54:55 PMPictures of the inner jaw:







Oh, and if you notice any damage on the inner jaw, that's the "footprints" of me failing trying to pull it out with tweezers.
Posted on: February 19, 2010, 11:25:18 AMUmm, problem still here, help? 

[the Reverend]

dude your aliens warrior is friggin BUSTED

[altwcre666]

I promise you they're NOT molded in there.

Try taking a pair of tweezers and pulling on the inner jaw.

Here's a shot of mine to show that they do come out.

I have only one question to Sabres:
Has Your Warrior been repainted ?.

Check the difference between those two.

[abake]

Sorry, no pics ATM, maybe tomorrow morning (in UK time). However i pretty much got the joint fixed, I took apart the whole knee, glued the broken pieces together and letting it dry now. Tomorrow I'm gonna stop around my mates house and borrow some plastic glue to make a more solid connection and tell you guys if it works out. I'll also post pics of the inner jaw.
Posted on: February 18, 2010, 07:45:37 PMAlso - I tried pulling it out with tweezers, but for the love of f**k I can't get them to move at all. I'm scared that if I pull any harder I'll damage the inner jaws (or get an unintentional trophy kill on it...).
Posted on: February 18, 2010, 07:54:55 PMPictures of the inner jaw:







Oh, and if you notice any damage on the inner jaw, that's the "footprints" of me failing trying to pull it out with tweezers.
Posted on: February 19, 2010, 11:25:18 AMUmm, problem still here, help? 

Looks like it got stuck because of paint, maybe dunking it into hot water might help.

[Sabres21768]

I have only one question to Sabres:
Has Your Warrior been repainted ?.

Check the difference between those two.

Nope, no repaint on mine.

I don't have the "blue" version though, mine's the "brown", and I guess I got a better paint app on mine.

[RobMetalCheese]

Got it working with hot water 

Except I fooked up the paint on it sooo bad. I'll have to get out some paints from the loft sometime and fix him up.

[abake]

Excellent, glad to see it worked out dude.

[Mr. Weyland]

This happened with my ALIEN figure, it didn't seem still, one leg moved, the other just snapped off, but I glued it, I wasn't bother much, I had another I keep in its box.

I did have trouble getting the inner mouth out, had to get some tweezers and pull that thing out.

I think I prefer the McFarlane ALIEN, sometimes when you pressed the button to extend the inner mouth, it flied out across my room.