4 year old comment, I know. But just stumbled across this channel and retroblasting recently, and I totally agree. I'd watch the hell out of a show of these guys doing vintage toy hunting and restorations etc. Something like American Pickers, but less boring.
Dave. I also restored a TIE Interceptor as well. I turned it into 181st Elite Tie Interceptor. And I put a green light bulb. It took me three soldering attempts to put the new bulb. Finally it stayed on. It looks pretty good.
Just used this video to fix a wing ejection trigger for my original white TIE Fighter. It worked perfectly and saved me from laying out about $40 for a used but intact one, thanks.
@@TenkoVA yeah, toys that "blew up" at the touch of a button were popular. the speeder bike for example. great fun for kids playing with the action effect but also a great opportunity for parts to get lost or weak points to break.
This a good fix, worked a treat on a reconstruction, as wing release clips are ridiculous prices as spares, and mostly only in the states, nice work toy polloi.
Your voice and the calm manner you approach each fix, confident the toy can be saved. If one method doesn’t work, simply try another. It’s a positive feeling.
This video helped me so much, currently restoring a white tie fighter. Starting with the wings, which both hooks were broken. The major pain will be fixing the button on the back that controls the light/sound, as it seems to be completely stuck. Great video!
I got an original princess Leia action figure from 1977. It was at a yard sale for a dollar. She's out of the box but in fair condition. A little wear, a bit of lost paint, but no missing pieces or serious damage
I have used styrene to fix the clip on one of my vintage tie fighters. I cut part of the hook shape out of a styrene sheet and then superglued it on the broken one. It's not perfect as I have to hold down the button to latch on the wing, but it holds it in place.
Thanks Dave, it's taken me a couple of years to actually get around to doing this fix on my broken Tie Interceptor. Took a bit of adjustment on the "hook" but got there and works great. Thank you so much. I'd be very interested in replacement decals for the wings if this something you ever look to do.👍
I really thought it was going to be to hard to save this interceptor. I love the fixit videos and same as ever, I'm very pleased to say I was wrong. A great subject too as the Interceptor is easily the coolest tie out of all of them.
another great video. The stress marks you mention at the end of the video im assuming you mean where the grey plastic has been bent a bit and it leaves a white mark? Do you have a method to get rid of the white marks or reduce them at all?
If you have a part like that wing clip where you have one complete but the other broke, you can make a silicone mould of the complete one and cast replacements in resin with a pigment infill. If you're careful, you can even reinforce with wire inside the mould before pouring the resin, for extra strength. This would amount to a restoration indistinguishable from the original part, and you can re-use moulds if you come across the same issue later (or you can sell castings of replacements parts on ebay...!)
That would be a good solution. I try to show fixes that anyone can do and that don't require special skills or equipment. Moulding and casting will be beyond most peoples abilities. So I hope this fix is something they can try. But for the more expert restorers, your way is certainly a good option. Thanks for the info.
Wonder if it would it be worth doing a short video series (similar to the electroplating ones you did, which I found very informative) outlining the basics of the casting process?
I recently acquired one of these also with a broken wire near the light bulb. However, the light section is still in place and in good shape. Since it is glued in, how can I fix this with or without removing the bottom part with the bulb? Thanks in advance and love your videos.
@@toypolloi how should I safely pry the panel off without breaking it? I'm sure you've covered this in some of your videos but I'm still nervous about making something worse. Thanks so much
i wonder if you can make replacement holder clips using resin. obviously, a 3D printer could do it, too. or would those options be considered cheating?
I don't know what the Star Wars toys are made of, but if they are made of styrene (which they might very well be) a glue like WeldOn 4 or even just a polystyrene cement will adhere them together and also glue Lego to them. That sort of glue might be better for a piece which is under stress, such as the hook.
What year is listed on the battery cover? How were you able to discern which TIE Fighter this was since you only had the body in tact before you began replacing the parts?
Thanks for the response! Perhaps you can help me answer a question. I inherited a TIE Fighter body which works and is in great shape. The battery covers lists 1978 as the production year. So, I assumed it was a Darth Vader TIE Fighter. I started ordering the wings and wing connectors only to find they are much darker than the body of the TIE fighter in my possession. I was told this could be an Interceptor body, though the friend who gave this to me vehemently denies the wings this TIE Fighter once had were the Interceptor wings. Would I be able to possibly send you some photos to confirm so I can get a definitive answer on this? I would be so appreciative for any help you can provide.
+Jarrod J. Perrott The bodies all have the same date on them as they are basically the same, just different colours. If it's a light grey, it is a tie interceptor. You can send me photos via my Facebook page, or other social media accounts. Links in my banner. Cheers
Hi, I have an original Star Bird S-F-5052 Silver version which no longer works because we accidentally tried putting the battery on the wrong way. I'm trying to find someone to talk to about it and see If I can possibly get it fixed, it's the only black chip on the internal board which is damaged and is an MB signature chip so isn't easy at all to replace. Can someone help me? Joel
Thank god i was thinking the same thing, would i be able to replace just the chip, because i would feel better having the original board in there, i guess it depends if its the same which I'm guessing it is, i haven't been able to find a spare parts version though, and i can only find the white version which i do know makes the same sounds and lights, though it doesn't have the same button on it which is what I'm also missing. thanks btw.
hey dave thank you they looked good but I cleaned them with sandpaper bought at the local dollar general and got them working i used a cheap multimeter on ohms to check conductivity I thought the contacts were clean by looking at them
@@toypolloi I've since repaired a Darth Vadar TIE Fighter (with the help of your videos) and annoyingly, managed to break one of the wing clip hinge/support pegs in the process. I can confirm that plastic weld does work really well on the wing clips. It's almost good as new again. Thanks for the inspiration Dave!
Dave, what is your opinion on "modernizing" toys, like adding a real tiny sound board to this TIE Interceptor here, with the laser gun sound and the flight sound... maybe an explosion sound..? It would be cool to see you make something like that.
Seems to me like that would be boring. Every TIE toy produced from now till the end of time will make the real movie sounds. The old Kenner ones have charm with that awful screech!
2 questions. 1. I'm curious why you don't use model cement, does it harm the plastic in a way you don't like? 2. I notice you are very thurough at cleaning all the parts except the springs. I've even seen you remove rust from screws. But I've never seen you clean the rust from the springs. I'm curious as to why you skip cleaning the springs?
The new TIE Bomber from Kenner's Star Wars: The Ultimate Force Collection. Imperial TIE Pilot action figure sold seperately. KID 1: Locked and loaded! Ready to go! With new light, sounds and bombing action, nothing will stand in the Empire's way! KID 1: Take that! Wings also pop-off for Battle Damage Action! KID 2: What goes around comes around! The new TIE Bomber from Kenner's Star Wars: The Ultimate Force collection! Action figures and A-Wing Fighter sold seperately.
Good repair job but I would have used a pin vice and some .5mm wire and some fibreglass bridge compound to form and shape a new hook rather than butcher a Lego and rely on evo stick.
Hi . As a child it bugged me the tie fighters only had one "laser light" you could modify it to have two, just a suggestion. Enjoying the videos a lot keep it up.
It would be easy enough to do. And make them flash as well. There is quite a lot of space in the bottom of the ship for adding electrics. If I get another one in to repair I may do that. Thanks for the suggestion.
This wing button repair isn’t good enough. I followed these instructions, but the Lego piece isn’t a good match for the shape of the original. Sure, it’s hidden inside the ship, but it doesn’t work nearly as well as an unbroken piece. The Death Star column repair video set the standard I expect from this channel. Those tabs are a very close match to the originals and the repaired piece functions perfectly.
+Toy Polloyi Have you come up with any other solutions for a broken clip? Being without Legos, the principle seems as if it would apply to a lot of other clip imposters, but wondering if you've found any in particular? Have a Vader tie in need of a new clip.
Gotcha. Was just wondering if you had found any other pieces that could form the hook and was thinking of something beside that Lego piece. It's a brilliant fix, I'm just looking for an alternative, as I'm working on the restoration today. heh :-)
The new TIE Bomber from Kenner's Star Wars: The Ultimate Force Collection. Imperial TIE Pilot action figure sold seperately. KID 1: Locked and loaded! Ready to go! With new light, sounds and bombing action, nothing will stand in the Empire's way! KID 1: Take that! Wings also pop-off for Battle Damage Action! KID 2: What goes around comes around! The new TIE Bomber from Kenner's Star Wars: The Ultimate Force collection! Action figures and A-Wing Fighter sold seperately.
Very informative & straightforward. Effective video!
Thank you!
Seeing the insides of the fighter really makes you appreciate the amount of engineering and planning that must go into each one of these old toys.
this guy should have his own tv show
You know I think you are right!
yas ^,..,^ you think youll ever to a restoration on old tin toys or old doctor who toys?
4 year old comment, I know. But just stumbled across this channel and retroblasting recently, and I totally agree. I'd watch the hell out of a show of these guys doing vintage toy hunting and restorations etc. Something like American Pickers, but less boring.
Dave. I also restored a TIE Interceptor as well. I turned it into 181st Elite Tie Interceptor. And I put a green light bulb. It took me three soldering attempts to put the new bulb. Finally it stayed on. It looks pretty good.
Just used this video to fix a wing ejection trigger for my original white TIE Fighter. It worked perfectly and saved me from laying out about $40 for a used but intact one, thanks.
Glad it helped
Amazing repair job. The Force is definitely strong with you. Keep up the good work!
A very neat repair.
I could never understand why you would want the wings to fire off.
I'd be tempted to just glue them in place.
I think it's for the action of the ship "exploding", like it was destroyed in a space battle
@@TenkoVA Yeah. That's what it was for, all right.
@@TenkoVA yeah, toys that "blew up" at the touch of a button were popular. the speeder bike for example. great fun for kids playing with the action effect but also a great opportunity for parts to get lost or weak points to break.
Wirelocking that wing hook gave me flashbacks.
EVERY SINGLE BOLT AND NUT on a Sea Harrier is wire locked to prevent unwinding in flight! Awesome vid!
This a good fix, worked a treat on a reconstruction, as wing release clips are ridiculous prices as spares, and mostly only in the states, nice work toy polloi.
I just was reunited with my complete working tie-Fighter from childhood......
Really neat fix. Great imagination you've got. Your videos are so relaxing. Keep em coming!
Thanks. Seems a lot of people find my voice relaxing. :D
Your voice and the calm manner you approach each fix, confident the toy can be saved. If one method doesn’t work, simply try another. It’s a positive feeling.
Your fix for the wing clips was great, another ship rescued from the salvage yard well done!
Thanks. This was a tough job.
This video helped me so much, currently restoring a white tie fighter. Starting with the wings, which both hooks were broken. The major pain will be fixing the button on the back that controls the light/sound, as it seems to be completely stuck. Great video!
Really loving your vids you have given me the need to restore a action man or mego figure
I got an original princess Leia action figure from 1977. It was at a yard sale for a dollar. She's out of the box but in fair condition. A little wear, a bit of lost paint, but no missing pieces or serious damage
Great fix Dave. Particularly love the work on the hook. Rock solid!
I have used styrene to fix the clip on one of my vintage tie fighters. I cut part of the hook shape out of a styrene sheet and then superglued it on the broken one. It's not perfect as I have to hold down the button to latch on the wing, but it holds it in place.
I admire your ingenuity
Thanks Dave, it's taken me a couple of years to actually get around to doing this fix on my broken Tie Interceptor. Took a bit of adjustment on the "hook" but got there and works great. Thank you so much. I'd be very interested in replacement decals for the wings if this something you ever look to do.👍
Check out Erik Stormrtoopers website. He has scans of them I think.
I really thought it was going to be to hard to save this interceptor. I love the fixit videos and same as ever, I'm very pleased to say I was wrong. A great subject too as the Interceptor is easily the coolest tie out of all of them.
It took a bit of thinking, but you can normally work out something.
Cmon uk Quest TV channel give this guy a slot!
Yeah, Come on Quest TV :D I could be a big hit :D
You're so good at this I'm betting you could build an entire ship from scratch with those Lego pieces. You're like MacGyver.
+Shannon Helton 😂
I once turned a tie fighter into a bathescope for Darth Vader and played it in the bathtub. A real hack job!
another great video. The stress marks you mention at the end of the video im assuming you mean where the grey plastic has been bent a bit and it leaves a white mark? Do you have a method to get rid of the white marks or reduce them at all?
They are. You can improve them in some plastics by waning them up in hot water. But the wing plastic is very brittle and makes little difference.
I love tie fighters so much. They can get gimicky with it and I'd probably like it. If that pod shape was attached to a stapler id love it
would you be bale to do a video on how to repair a vintage star wars imperial troop transporter
your other videos are great
thanks
If I find one I will give it a go. It's not a ship I have currently.
If you have a part like that wing clip where you have one complete but the other broke, you can make a silicone mould of the complete one and cast replacements in resin with a pigment infill.
If you're careful, you can even reinforce with wire inside the mould before pouring the resin, for extra strength.
This would amount to a restoration indistinguishable from the original part, and you can re-use moulds if you come across the same issue later (or you can sell castings of replacements parts on ebay...!)
That would be a good solution. I try to show fixes that anyone can do and that don't require special skills or equipment. Moulding and casting will be beyond most peoples abilities. So I hope this fix is something they can try.
But for the more expert restorers, your way is certainly a good option. Thanks for the info.
Wonder if it would it be worth doing a short video series (similar to the electroplating ones you did, which I found very informative) outlining the basics of the casting process?
i know this video is old but i am surprised no one has made 3d printed replacements for those parts
I recently acquired one of these also with a broken wire near the light bulb. However, the light section is still in place and in good shape. Since it is glued in, how can I fix this with or without removing the bottom part with the bulb? Thanks in advance and love your videos.
You'll need to get to the LED to fix that which means taking the panel off. It's normally only got a couple of dots of glue holding it in place.
@@toypolloi how should I safely pry the panel off without breaking it? I'm sure you've covered this in some of your videos but I'm still nervous about making something worse. Thanks so much
This video was very informative .Thanks for posting !!
great fix it guide restoration video on tie interceptor brilliant.
Thanks.
Do you have a listing of tools and supplies I should have to get started?
Check out the tool shop on toypolloi.com those are the main ones I use.
Did you use fishing line to hang your Star Wars ships on the wall?
Also did you attach it by the landing gear?
A really old video, but I go over my display hanging here. th-cam.com/video/TwkBDQ7BCTw/w-d-xo.html
Fantastic , bless you. A great idea ! X
i wonder if you can make replacement holder clips using resin. obviously, a 3D printer could do it, too. or would those options be considered cheating?
I'm sure you could. I try to show fixes anyone can do with limited tools. And casting or printing is ouch of a lot of people's skill sets.
Wonder if TIE wings are interchangable? I have 4 TIE fighters but no interceptor?
They are. Same clips hold them all in place. They are just different colours.
@@toypolloi Thank you!!!
I don't know what the Star Wars toys are made of, but if they are made of styrene (which they might very well be) a glue like WeldOn 4 or even just a polystyrene cement will adhere them together and also glue Lego to them. That sort of glue might be better for a piece which is under stress, such as the hook.
Plastic weld does work quite well, you'll see me use it in over repair videos. I didn't know about it when I filmed this one. Cheers
One of the few vehicles i didnt have
Yet another cool vid
Have you ever did upgrades to these? Like a new, brighter LED?
+Shannon Helton Not yet. But it would be easy to do.
Green LED would be fun since the movie ships fired green lasers.
How did you know if it was a tie intercepter? Was it because of the battery bit on the back?
The Tie Fighters are all different colours. This is the lighter grey body so an Interceptor. A DV tie is much darker grey.
+Toy Polloi ohhhh! Ok thanks! :D
What year is listed on the battery cover? How were you able to discern which TIE Fighter this was since you only had the body in tact before you began replacing the parts?
+Jarrod J. Perrott Based on the colour. It's a lighter grey than Darth Vader's tie fighter. And the normal ties are blue or white.
Thanks for the response! Perhaps you can help me answer a question. I inherited a TIE Fighter body which works and is in great shape. The battery covers lists 1978 as the production year. So, I assumed it was a Darth Vader TIE Fighter. I started ordering the wings and wing connectors only to find they are much darker than the body of the TIE fighter in my possession. I was told this could be an Interceptor body, though the friend who gave this to me vehemently denies the wings this TIE Fighter once had were the Interceptor wings. Would I be able to possibly send you some photos to confirm so I can get a definitive answer on this? I would be so appreciative for any help you can provide.
+Jarrod J. Perrott The bodies all have the same date on them as they are basically the same, just different colours. If it's a light grey, it is a tie interceptor. You can send me photos via my Facebook page, or other social media accounts. Links in my banner. Cheers
Sending now. Thanks for your help!
Wondering if you washed and oiled the wing launch springs. They were not looking good. Nice video too by the way. New subscriber here.
Parabéns pela restauração.
Hi,
I have an original Star Bird S-F-5052 Silver version which no longer works because we accidentally tried putting the battery on the wrong way.
I'm trying to find someone to talk to about it and see If I can possibly get it fixed, it's the only black chip on the internal board which is damaged and is an MB signature chip so isn't easy at all to replace.
Can someone help me?
Joel
Might be best to just by a spare parts one and swap out the electrics.
Thank god i was thinking the same thing, would i be able to replace just the chip, because i would feel better having the original board in there, i guess it depends if its the same which I'm guessing it is, i haven't been able to find a spare parts version though, and i can only find the white version which i do know makes the same sounds and lights, though it doesn't have the same button on it which is what I'm also missing.
thanks btw.
I'm sure if you look over a few weeks one will turn up with all the bits you need.
None of the star birds are the one i have.
Give it time. One will turn up I am sure.
my electronics work ok when testing them with a battery but the button won't make them work any ideas
+Dale Rockwell Clean the contacts.
hey dave thank you they looked good but I cleaned them with sandpaper bought at the local dollar general and got them working
i used a cheap multimeter on ohms to check conductivity I thought the contacts were clean by looking at them
what type of gule is that??
Evo stick serious glue.
What is the brand/model of your flush cutter Mr Polloi? it's pretty effective.
No brand. You can get them on ebay or from model shops. Plastic Nippers are what they are called. See my recent Top Tip videos.
Never get tires of watching these Dave. Would plastic weld work for the wing release clip, or is it the wrong kind of plastic? Cheers
It most likely would. I didn't know about it back then. Cheers
@@toypolloi I've since repaired a Darth Vadar TIE Fighter (with the help of your videos) and annoyingly, managed to break one of the wing clip hinge/support pegs in the process. I can confirm that plastic weld does work really well on the wing clips. It's almost good as new again. Thanks for the inspiration Dave!
Amazing repair.
Hi Dave. Nice enjoying videos as always! Do you know lego piece reference code? Thanks!
I'm not a Lego expert. I only know them as Lances. Check the bricklink website out. They have lots of details.
Hi! Checked for further needs. Item n.er 384926 and it is showed in 10223 KINGDOMS JOUST. Thanks again.
Dave, what is your opinion on "modernizing" toys, like adding a real tiny sound board to this TIE Interceptor here, with the laser gun sound and the flight sound... maybe an explosion sound..?
It would be cool to see you make something like that.
Seems to me like that would be boring. Every TIE toy produced from now till the end of time will make the real movie sounds. The old Kenner ones have charm with that awful screech!
great job as usual..
Wouldn't it have been better to use only small spits of glue in case you ever need to take the piece of again?
a hair dryer is good for removing stress marks from plastic but I don't know how plastic so old would hold up to the heat
This must be your longest video yet!
It was. But there was so much fix.
Yes.
Great video keep it up.
2 questions. 1. I'm curious why you don't use model cement, does it harm the plastic in a way you don't like? 2. I notice you are very thurough at cleaning all the parts except the springs. I've even seen you remove rust from screws. But I've never seen you clean the rust from the springs. I'm curious as to why you skip cleaning the springs?
I use what I have to hand. If the spring is inside, then I don't bother, especially when the video is already getting long.
Just bought this one :)
I've just bought a Darth Vader tie fighter and ive got the same problem with both wings ggrr!!!
Build that notch up with epoxy putty, then sand away!
I wonder if it's possible to repaint an Imperial TIE Fighter into a First Order TIE Fighter?
+TheTWRModeller I'm sure it is, but why would you ;)
Funny, I was thinking of doing the reverse with a First Order TIE I bought cheaply.
The new TIE Bomber from Kenner's Star Wars: The Ultimate Force Collection. Imperial TIE Pilot action figure sold seperately.
KID 1: Locked and loaded! Ready to go!
With new light, sounds and bombing action, nothing will stand in the Empire's way!
KID 1: Take that!
Wings also pop-off for Battle Damage Action!
KID 2: What goes around comes around!
The new TIE Bomber from Kenner's Star Wars: The Ultimate Force collection! Action figures and A-Wing Fighter sold seperately.
Good repair job but I would have used a pin vice and some .5mm wire and some fibreglass bridge compound to form and shape a new hook rather than butcher a Lego and rely on evo stick.
Hi . As a child it bugged me the tie fighters only had one "laser light" you could modify it to have two, just a suggestion. Enjoying the videos a lot keep it up.
It would be easy enough to do. And make them flash as well. There is quite a lot of space in the bottom of the ship for adding electrics. If I get another one in to repair I may do that. Thanks for the suggestion.
Well that would be pretty cool to try.
Splendid
you can actually buy lego hammers which have the angled edge instead of going to the trouble of scrapping a lance
Thanks. I will look those up. I already had lances in my tool box as I use them for other repairs so didn't look for another part.
ok
Another great way for removing adhesive residue is using lemon oil
This wing button repair isn’t good enough. I followed these instructions, but the Lego piece isn’t a good match for the shape of the original. Sure, it’s hidden inside the ship, but it doesn’t work nearly as well as an unbroken piece. The Death Star column repair video set the standard I expect from this channel. Those tabs are a very close match to the originals and the repaired piece functions perfectly.
hi
Looks like it could have done with some Hydrogen Peroxide de-yellowing?
Oof. It hurts me to see a Lego piece destroyed like that.
seriously serious glue lol only in England
I love the restoration... except the part where you mutilated a perfectly good Lego piece. Q.Q
It had to be done. I'm sure there are more Lego pieces that tie fighters!
+Toy Polloyi Have you come up with any other solutions for a broken clip? Being without Legos, the principle seems as if it would apply to a lot of other clip imposters, but wondering if you've found any in particular? Have a Vader tie in need of a new clip.
+Adam Stevenson This is the best fix. And Lego is easy to get. Not sure what you are wanting?
Gotcha. Was just wondering if you had found any other pieces that could form the hook and was thinking of something beside that Lego piece. It's a brilliant fix, I'm just looking for an alternative, as I'm working on the restoration today. heh :-)
+Adam Stevenson you might find something. But Lego is easy to work with and glues well. Might be worth waiting to get some.
The new TIE Bomber from Kenner's Star Wars: The Ultimate Force Collection. Imperial TIE Pilot action figure sold seperately.
KID 1: Locked and loaded! Ready to go!
With new light, sounds and bombing action, nothing will stand in the Empire's way!
KID 1: Take that!
Wings also pop-off for Battle Damage Action!
KID 2: What goes around comes around!
The new TIE Bomber from Kenner's Star Wars: The Ultimate Force collection! Action figures and A-Wing Fighter sold seperately.