So I was applying some Reprolabels to a TR Blaster last night, and after trying to get a chrome sticker placed perfectly (it was already placed nearly perfect, just not perfect enough for me, hah) I ended up crinkling the corner moving and replacing it. Nothing awful but it got me thinking about how I tinker with my figures/toys in search of perfection and have, at times, ended up breaking them or making them worse. It's also why I don't collect Masterpiece type figures   After handling MP 36 and not even considering transforming that was the end of that for me.

So like the title says, what's the silliest or dumbest reason you've broken/ruined a figure? could be anything, from mishandling, to customizing, to precariously displaying them (all of which I've done since collecting).

So let's hear some funny/infuriating stuff!

 

I ripped off the arm of the OS TLK Megatron the first time I tried to transform it.

 

I actually did the exact same thing to my Rendosra. Right arm I think. I got lucky though was an easy fix after I took the shoulder apart, as the screw just kind of stripped out of the plastic. His joints were TIGHT.

 

I tried to put lipstick (red model paint and then later red sharpies) on TW Leia so the face wouldn't look so bad. I'd screw it up because no matter how hard I tried, she always looked like she just had a hot date and had gotten done with a make out session causing her lipstick to go everywhere.

Then I'd take a q-tip with some thinner (the only way to get it off) and wipe it off and do it again. I did this about 7 times until I realized the thinner took her pink face paint off too so now she looked like a mime. At that point, I just threw it away in disgust. I tend to be OCD about these sort of things...much like the foil sticker not being "quite good enough"   but this one was just a disaster for real since most of her face was now gone.  

 

People actually want to relive this stuff???

Its traumatizing. I don't wanna talk about it.

 

I put a tiny little scratch on Tyrantron's silver forehead when transforming him, apparently. It's so small, I can't see it from a foot away and it's in the exact center of his helmet over his eyebrow. I didn't notice it until recently, but it bugs me to no end. I also think I had some cleaner or something on my fingers when I was handling Kultur because a chunk of the white paint on his right forearm flaked off inexplicably the other day.

I'm pretty careful with my figures in general, those are the only ones I can think of from my third party collection that have received the slightest bit of damage and they're minor enough that they could be attributed to play wear. I'm just a bit obsessive about that sort of thing.

 

I have a SoC Gunbuster that got a chip in the orange on it's chest on the intial transformation to Gunbuster. It's SO small but I know it's there and it bugs me to no end. I got some touch up paint but again it's so small I question if I can even touch it up well and make it better. So I get what you mean about yours.

 

Glad to know I'm not the only one minor flaws bother to the point of discomfort, I keep any broken or incomplete figures in the closet so looking at them doesn't bother my...obsessive nature. That's mostly the oldest official stuff though, I've been careful since I was like, ten.

 

Show me on the Soundwave where he hurt you.

 

I hate to admit it but this happened to me enough times that I don't bother trying to transform anything without watching a video.

1. Ocular Max Vulture - followed videos. Seemed simple enough. Woke up one day, all groggy, and decided to try transforming by memory. Snapped one of the laser backpacks off. Promptly bought a new one the next day. (My fault)
2. TW Constructor - The hip flaps were positioned the wrong way and I tried to pose the legs. One of the flaps snapped. Easy fix with glue. (My fault)
3. Justitoys WST Snarl - head snapped off first time I tried to transform. (Not my fault - plastic simply turned to powder as I tried to move the head joint. Didn't use much force)
4. DX9 Sonic Wizard - Cassette door may broke off first time trying to open, or may have already been broken out of the box. Replaced by seller. (Not my fault!)
5. WST Soundwave KO - let my brother try to transform and he broke the leg off

 

I do sometimes to put stuff in perspective. While it's happening I get so infuriated, but then later on I think back and try to remember they're just toys - albeit very expensive, and (sometimes) awesomely engineered toys.

Heck, it gives them some character or something, hah.

 

I totally messed up a viser mask on generations hasbro jetfire painting the eye visor red and went out of the line just ruined so i got the takara version painted that one ok but what a waste

 

I don't know why but the littlest things with these with make me obsess over it. Sometimes I go into my display room and have to adjust a figure 4 times because he's not standing "perfectly" straight like he should be. LOL

I don't do that anywhere else in our house. I like it neat and clean but I don't obsess over how the remote is laying on the table or how the glasses go into the shelves or whatever. It's just this stuff.

I need help  

 

My gf broke someone’s gun, in a fight with me. She grabbed it and snapped it in half.
Now ex gf. (Oh snap, her boobs are still in my sig). Remind me to update that with new boobs, Asian ones.

Can’t think of anything ive ever ‘broken’, I’m more about losing or ruining things. I over-dremeled on Ollie’s knees and did a pretty piss poor job on his other areas I had to mod. The rest of him is slathered in thick layers of future finish to give him some ability to hold a pose. Poor guy.
But no way am I buying that again.

 

next time you do that, send it to me. I’ll just repaint the face and put it on the shelf  

 

Not a TF story but I did a model of the Enterprise 1701-D and it was a kit that had fiber optic lighting throughout the model..the windows lit up and the engine nacels..the sensor dish in the main body..I thought it was a pretty cool kit..I had just finished it and was returning it to the self I displayed it on and it slipped from my hand and fell to the floor and did a pretty good crash sequence where the saucer section broke away from the main body and slid across the floor..It never lit up again and I was too pissed to take it apart and rewire everything...Grrrrrr

 

Snapped my first MMC Spartan's arm right off because I didn't read the instruction manual and didn't realize the chest opened up. My first third party figure, and I broke it within the first couple hours. Was not happy with myself that day. Ended up replacing it (even though, surprisingly, it can still sort of stay on most of the time) and keep the broken one in alt mode.

 

Maketoys Mobine Chaos/Paladin's twingun thing... the damn PCC port opening's plastic is cracked. I put super glue on it, but it's pretty damn ugly and noticeable...... Also don't dare remove it or fiddle with it, plastic seems a bit brittle regardless. =/