Dave, you have totally transformed my thought process on purchasing broken vintage toys. There seems to be almost nothing that is too broken, or too far gone, so long as you're willing to put in the effort. Each broken toy represents a new opportunity to problem solve, and a good result makes you appreciate it all the more. Thank you for making these videos!
Thanks Michael. Even a broken toy can be appreciated I find. But most can at least be made displayable again, and with this I would say it's stronger than it was originally now. Glad you can see the worth in them. Cheers
Amazing restoration 😮. This was my favourite MASK toy / vehicle during the mid / later 1980s. Brings back so many memories- thanks for the restoration video!
I loved this thing. My good friend across the street had one and lent it to me. I transformed it incorrectly and ended up snapped the tip of the wing off, where the clip would normally hold on to. I was devastated, he was devastated. It was a dark day for our friendship.
Thanks a lot for this very detailed guide! My Switchblade also had a broken latch that's supposed to lock the rotor blades and I really love your simple yet very effective solution with an actual spring. Now I'm running around the house testing all my old pens to see if any are no longer working so I can salvage the springs for my own little repair. You definitely deserved my sub! 👍 Switchblade definitely was one of the most awesome toys imo; and I really love mine! EDIT: I also really appreciate you offering all those cool plans for free!
It's always fascinating to see how vintage toys were put together and with Dave's expertise, these videos become excellent guides for fellow collectors and restorers.
Awesome restoration Dave, the wing clip is a piece often missing so great that you have the pattern available now. But works perfectly, this will help a lot of people with their own switchblade, bravo sir 👍 And thanks so much for the shout out 🙏🏻
That's a great work! I think you need a laser cutter to avoid a long blade cutting session, but it's always a pleasure to see you working on those vintage toys. Thanks.
Thanks, I don't have access to tools like that and I don't think many people do. So it's nice to show that all these fixes can be done using basic tools. That's the plan anyway. Cheers
I have zero interest in MASK, I am here primarily for the Star Wars fixes, however every single one of your repairs are interesting because the fixes you come up with can be used across the entire toy range. You are nothing short of a genius when it comes to giving new life to otherwise broken, useless toys. I hate to think of how many toys have gone to landfill because they were broken and could have been fixed quite easily because of your trials and tribulations. Please keep up the good work!
Thanks Mike. Certainly most of what I show can be used on multiple toy lines, the same ideas can be modified as the toys often work much the same. And you will be pleased to hear there are more SW projects coming up, and also in the works. Cheers
Great restoration Dave!! The mechanics of MASK make them fun to work on. I like the plate you made for the propeller switch spring, better than my solution of using a wider spring and fitting directly to the switch. Isn't it strange they glued some parts together at the factory - there are a few other vehicles like this too!
Love your videos. Most videos seem to go “let’s 3d print the part” as if everyone has use of one. You use traditional methods which I appreciate seeing the skill involved in that 👍
Thanks Andy. That's my plan, 3D prints are great, but I don't believe many have access to them. So my plan is always to try and show a way to fix it that 99% of people can have a go at with limited tools and skills. Cheers
Nicely done restoring this classic MASK enemy fighter, Switchblade Venom, with Miles Mayhem as the ruthless, evil leader. Hasbro has the Kenner license, and is sitting on it, not releasing a single new or retro MASK item in many years...
Great job! I find it fascinating how you find such intuitive ways of fixing what most people would consider a broken toy and even improving it. Those propellers look very similar to those on Ghostbusters helicopter which I used to have as a kid. Makes sence as they were both made by Kenner.
The Switchblade was my first and one of only four MASK toys I owned as a child. I thought it was the coolest vehicle and always loved its transformation. These repairs were brilliant and I was so happy you didn’t paint the black styrene as I immediately thought it actually looked pretty good with the blue and enhanced the toy a small bit. Thank you for sharing this awesome repair. I can’t wait to see you tackle the other one. Cheers to our boy Luke from Reynolds Reviews for the assist on this one. Such a fantastic friend he is!😃👍
I still have this toy. As a kid, one of the hooks holding the wings back for helicopter mode broke. I used a electrical spade connector to hold the broken wing for helicopter mode.
I have my switchblade from my childhood. Been slowly finding most of the parts in bins and boxes at my folks house. I have the same issues. I am very excited about this project
This has been one of my favourite videos Dave, I can’t thank you enough for it. My first MASK vehicle was Switchblade and still think it’s one of the greatest tours ever made. It just looks perfect, very menacing and fits Miles Mayhem so well. The repairs you made were genius, excellent stuff mate. I have an old Holborn tin with ‘bits’ in too. Cheers & have a great Sunday. Stay cool, Ross
I was just watching this thinking wow Luke would love this restoration, then you mentioned he helped you out with bits, top bloke. Awesome video as always 🤘🤘🤘🤘
Yeah, I have been chatting with Luke on the project as I needed help on what price I should expect to pay for a Switchblade. And he also had a 3d print of the part I made from scratch. Very useful as a guide
Awesome video. I love watching your videos, they are relaxing and educational. You give so many great tips and tricks on how to repair toys which can be used on any kind of toy and toyline. Unfortunately it has only been fairly recent I found your channel after searching for G1 Metroplex repair, and now I'm "binge watching" all your videos. Had I found your channel years earlier some of my own fixes would been have done a lot easier. I recently managed to find a complete Switchblade for £23 where one of the latches on the side that holds the wings in place is broken, so your video here is the perfect inspiration on how to fix it. Keep up your awesome videos ❤
Just wanted to drop you a comment. I've been watching you from day 1 and you've had alot of great techniques for restoration of vintage toys. I'm 45 and just received a vintage 1984 Matchbox Voltron CIB. it needed alot of TLC. I was able to do a full restoration and re chrome and it looks absolutely amazing. Took everything apart, oiled the springs retro brighted the white plastic and I couldn't be happier. Just thought you should know that you have really helped with me restoring my childhood toys!!! Cheers. I would like to send you some pics if possible.
Glad you have found my videos of help. All the things I show can be used on many toys, and it sounds like you have done just that. Please do send me the photos. Always like to see what others are working on. You can find how to contact me in the about page on YT. Cheers
The care you put into this work is really amazing. I couldn't help but think how cheaply made these toys were originally. The sound of you handling the Switchblade really speaks to the thin, brittle plastic they used. And the way you lovingly restore and improve them is sort of ironic in that they were just churned out in the cheapest possible way when they were originally made. But all that is to say, well done. You're brilliant at this work. Would love to see you make something entirely from scratch. (If you haven't already?)
Thanks for another great video Dave. I started to recollect MASK toys over the last 3 years and have been put off buying some because I didn’t think I could fix them. But not with Switchblade now thanks to you. Keep up the great content and can’t wait for them next video 👍🏻
Awesome video sir!! I loved the Mask toys as a kid and I think I had them all at one point. As always, I learned a bunch and thank you again for your help on Twitter with my LJN AD&D toys!
Man, this is great restoration video! Great work Dave, the spring for the helicopter switch is a major improvement on the mechanism in my opinion and the black styrene looks like it was always meant to be there.
Thanks. There is a second video on this toy along in a couple of weeks that covers the blades and more. Early access via RU-vid Memberships and Patreon. Cheers
Great video. I made my interior cuts to the replacement clip with a cheap exacto knife with the blade super heated by a butane torch. I had it done very quickly.
Phenomenal video! WOW!! The detail and effort that went into lighting that ship is inspirational! Gives me hope and reminds me that I need to repair the lot of Y-Wings that I have. I will totally give lighting them a try!!! AMAZING video!! Your target audience is dazzled!!!!! THANK YOU!! Aloha!!!
You might find this funny but I find your videos relaxing to watch you put things together very interesting if you like how toys the beings of are way to pretend..
The tail-end wing clip mechanism reminds me of one in the Real Ghostbusters Highway Haunter vehicle/ghost. I got one of those a little while back, and the rear wheels weren't popping up. So inspired by your videos I opened it up & looked inside to find one part of the mechanism (I believe a little wheel with a little fin, functioning sort of like the tail fin) had worn a slot into a plate like in the tail here, instead of moving it. I didn't have styrene or plastic weld, so I gorilla glued some tin foil over it and fixed that. I don't know how common the problem is, but I'd love to see how you'd tackle it! (also because the other set of wheels still has an issue I don't know how to solve, short of filing down an original clip ^-^U). Always love your videos even when it's for toy lines I don't collect. They're often still nostalgic and always interesting & inspiring. Keep it up!
Just re-watched this video again while repairing the left broken latch/tab on the left side on my Switchblade. I didn't have any styrene sheets but I had 3 small black zip ties I glued together and filled them into shape and cut them into the right length and then I managed to glue a this new tab onto the mechanism with some Loctite Super Attak glue, and now it holds the wing in place perfectly and the mechanism still works flawlessly. While rewatching your video I wondered if you have considered making some custom exhaust/turbine stickers for your Switchblade? I always thought it was strange that when transformed into jet mode, there are no engine nozzles/exhaust ? I think two stickers at the bottom rear would be the ideal spot for them.
Plastic design principals. Sharp internal corners on plastic parts create high stress points. Allways add radii to spread the stress. Adding radii to the wing hook part will make it stronger.
Fascinating mechanics, clever designs but it seems like they didn't consider the durability of material strength, like that back part you replicated where it would have be metal to survive long term being at that original thinness Ie. it's just plastic. Same in the middle where you beefed it up a little further, not that more needed frankly. Seen some computer model testing along those lines where breaks can be predicted now. Curious use of glue at the front there, wonder if was spreading apart without it or they just didn't want to switch to a smaller screw size there, hmm? Great fixes TP. ;)
I have a Large box of Series 1 and some 2 trucks & cars this copter and a bunch of men. I also have a almost complete Boulder Mountain play set that is missing the front of the gas station and the front of the sign n the part the garage doors attach too. I'm wanting to sell them all together if they are worth anything to anyone. My switchblade copter has everything but the copter blades, and the wings do stay back when folded. Oh and the little robot with the kid that rides it too. LOL
It just caught me off guard before you started washing it I was like man that's a lot of blood on your finger LOL glad you're okay buddy and absolutely love the the video of the repairs! Keep them coming!
Its not rose tinted specs ( I owned this toy as a kid and still have one in my collection). My 11 and 9 year old go gaga over modern toys that are just simply rubbish. Look whats gone into making this toy fun for hours, weeks, years. Most modern stuff is dull the second it leaves the package. the 80s really was the best decade to be a kid.