To Load, Or Not To Load... Does displaying 'loaded' TF's weaken the springs?

[Ode to a Grasshopper]

Yeah, they wear out do over time if you display them loaded.
Pity 'cos IMO the toys usually look better with weapons loaded, but them's the breaks.

[Jaisun]

Yeah, they wear out do over time if you display them loaded.
Pity 'cos IMO the toys usually look better with weapons loaded, but them's the breaks.

So true, they look so... unfinished without them. Thank you for confirming though, I guess now it just comes down to if I plan to keep them forever or if I'll sell them, because even though right now I would never, I've seen a few fans giving up and selling off their collection lately, and I doubt they thought they ever would do that. Never can tell..

[GoktimusPrime]

Meh, I keep 'ems loaded.

[Clutchkick]

While i think they will all weaken over time, I also think it depends on the strength of the original mechanism.

Example: not so long ago i found my G1.5 Rotorstorm and decided to resurrect him with articulation and such. when i found his guns, they were still loaded and had been for maybe 10-15 years. they can still shoot clear across the room and could take an eye out easily. ...great toy

[5FDP]

They will weaken faster if left loaded - fact!

It is well known amongst G1 collectors that if you keep Roller 'loaded' in Prime's cab, there is more chance that the spring mechanism will grow weaker and eventually useless. I don't, therefore it's as good as the day I opened it on Xmas 1985.

[griffin]

For those who don't actually "play" with their TFs, it's kinda like, does it matter?
It's like the removal of the batteries to prevent leakage - as long as the figure still converts, it doesn't matter much if they (springs or electronics) don't work anymore... because for most (like me), it won't be resold, and most likely won't ever use those two gimmicks again.
So for me, I prefer to prioritise the display factor (with missiles in place), because I'm never going to sell or "play" with the toys, to need the missiles to fire... and will only ever go so far as converting a toy, if that ever eventually happens again after their first couple months of usage when they are acquired.

[GoktimusPrime]

I play with my toys and I keep them loaded. And if the springs should weaken later, then so be it. I'm not that fussed by it. If I was worried about keeping my toys in minty fresh condition, I'd never open them.

While I always take care with my toys when I play with them, I do expect that some reasonable level of wear will occur, and the weakening of springs is something I consider reasonable. What's the worst that could happen if the springs weaken? They'll become just like original G1 launchers that I grew up with as a kid, and I'll just have to "manually" launch them! No big deal.