Help removing PCC limb connectors.

[Sleeve]

Howdy all.

I picked up PCC Heavytread the other day to repurpose him as Brawl, and dammit I hate those freaking blue connectors. Does anyone have any tips on how to remove them? Unfortunately there are no screws and they're all held in place by pins, and I have no idea how to remove pins. I plan on doing the same to Grimstone, that is when I finally track him down.

Any help would by greatly appreciated.

[snaketales]

I'm going to try hammer mine out. Get a small nail, place the tip on top of the pin holding the peg bracket in, and hammer away.
You might need someone to hold Heavytread for you though.

[LordCyrusOmega]

Havt to be careful doing this though. I ended up splitting and arm down the middle from using the old nail and hammer trick.

[Sleeve]

I vaguely recall a while back when a lot of us were swapping parts between Classicsverse Sideswipe and Red Alert that someone used a heated needle or something to remove a pin from the hood (I think it was the hood). Or am I just on crack?

EDIT: Scratch that. After some more thorough digging I found two great threads on how to do it at TFW2005 (http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/tutorials-how-tos/214537-how-remove-pins-rivets.html) and ProCustomizers (http://procustomizers.com/showthread.php?t=777&highlight=removing+pins).

[kup]

I just removed the blue pegs by punching the pins out with a hammer and nail. It does look better but unfortunately the tank has gaps on the side but better than those horrible pegs.

[Sleeve]

Done and done. :D Took me about 10 mintues to do, most of the time was spent on the first pin because it was in pretty tight. Looks so much better now. Now to track down my Huffer and do the same.

[snaketales]

How did you get the arm pegs out?

The legs pegs were really easy to get out but I had a devil of a time getting at the arm peg pins.

I ended up using a soldering iron to heat up the metal pin that was holding the pegs on. When it was hot enough I pulled the peg and pin out, then sanded down the plastic peg.

[Sleeve]

How did you get the arm pegs out?

The legs pegs were really easy to get out but I had a devil of a time getting at the arm peg pins.

I ended up using a soldering iron to heat up the metal pin that was holding the pegs on. When it was hot enough I pulled the peg and pin out, then sanded down the plastic peg.


I just did the hammer-nail tap trick, and the wood plank I was using to steady it was the perfect height to have the arm pressed against both it and the bench beneath, so it was really sturdy. I did the arms before I did the legs as they looked easier, but like I said I had a lot of trouble with the first pin. It was in pretty tight. The second arm only took a few taps, and the legs took a couple and slid right out.

I found it interesting that in the TFW2005 thread I posted the guy mentions the checkered part of the pin should come out first, but I couldn't tell which was which and just went for it. As it turns out all four pins came out smooth-side first.

I've had a look at Huffer and decided against it. Especially one the arm there's no way to get the pin out the other end, it's blocked off, and the legs are put together with so many different pins I can't be arsed doing every single one and then having to put most of them back in.

[jaydisc]

Anyone got pics of the finished job?

[liegeprime]

Anyone got pics of the finished job?

+1 ,

Guys, it would also help if you got pics of the steps before the finished product please. Thanks

[kup]

I'll take a photo when I get home. I am yet to finish properly securing the Energon port on the figure although I do have a plan of action. I will take photos of Brawl without the blues and some other day I will take photos of the secured port with instructions on how I went about it.

[kup]

As promised:

http://kupscigar.com/custom/xbrawl1.JPG

http://kupscigar.com/custom/xbrawl2.JPG

http://kupscigar.com/custom/xbrawl3.JPG

http://kupscigar.com/custom/xbrawl4.JPG

http://kupscigar.com/custom/xbrawl5.JPG

[gdmetro]

As promised:
Snip

That looks really good...

But why is he an autobot?

[kup]

That looks really good...

But why is he an autobot?

Because the PCC figure we are re-purposing as Brawl is an Autobot ;)

Once I have his combination refined, I will sticker him up and maybe throw in some painted details like a red visor.

[Sleeve]

Because the PCC figure we are re-purposing as Brawl is an Autobot ;)

Once I have his combination refined, I will sticker him up and maybe throw in some painted details like a red visor.

At least the Autobot logo is a bland silver and barely discernable. If it was bright red I'd get rid of it, but as I'm displaying him in robot mode you don't even notice it.

[jaydisc]

Nice. That looks much better.

[liegeprime]

hey kup. can you bring that Heavythread you modified at the Parra fair?

[kup]

hey kup. can you bring that Heavythread you modified at the Parra fair?

It's not really modified yet. The only thing different is that I removed the blue PCC connectors, otherwise it's pretty much in 'out of the box' condition.

It's not really modified yet. The only thing different is that I removed the blue PCC connectors, otherwise it's pretty much in 'out of the box' condition.

All that I did was place the Energon connector in the gap at the back of it's tank mode by exploiting two small pegs in the mold. When I have some time (a rare commodity these days) I will see about a proper permanent mod.

Edit: Sorry, I accidentally clicked on Edit instead of quote in your post :o