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[Fighbird]

Inspired in part by Maz' reveal of the fake finnish black Diaclone Corvette (aka "Black Tracks") that sold at BotCon for $3K, I started to think about where that golden line lies between restoring a broken toy back to like-new condition versus the sacrilege of taking away the original historical patina of a time-worn piece.

Reprolabels (with whom I have no connection to other than being a customer) offer high-quality replacement stickers for a very large selection of G1 toys, and I'm pretty convinced that they have a rather good business going on selling reproduction stickers. But to add these replacements - unless the toy never had any stickers to begin with - would often mean that the old originals had to be removed, thereby losing an authentic part of the toy. Is this restoration or sacrilege?

A broken arm, some paint chipping, a missing rubber tire (for those early G1 toys there) - finding new parts elswhere and replacing them to get a complete and whole toy again, is that restoration or sacrilege?

Where to draw the line?

Case 1: Red Diaclone HiLux Wrecker-type

On the left: Original aution picture. Middle: In-progress shot. Right: Restored item with new head, rig, paints and stickers.

I found this guy on an asian auction site in terrible condition. This above is the original auction pic, and as you can see the entire tow rig is missing, the chrome and paint is heavily worn and (which I didn't notice untill in-hand) the head was missing. OTOH the "Wrecker" stickers on the side doors were in surprisingly good condition, so I figured I'd try to restore this guy back to his former glory. Using an Encore Hoist for the job (as detailed here) I was very happy with how this turned out. The trained eye would notice that the color hues of the restored head and hands are not exactly the same as the molded original pieces, and if you'd turn the toy over and look on the inside of the hood, one would see that it hasn't been painted - a few "tells" to indicate that this is a restored piece.

Case 2: Diaclone Blue Fairlady Z

On the left: Work-in-progress shot, at this point really just an assembly of the unmodifed donor parts. Right: Finished piece (with wrong color launchers - so sue me already!).

Actually based off of my experience with Wrecker above, I set about to making a Blue Fairlady Z - aka Blue Bluestreak. Combining parts from 2 Commemorative Edition reissues and a set of reprolabels, the result was pretty striking in my eyes (documented here). But this is technically more of a kitbash than a restoration project, if one should get technical...

Case 3: IGA Astrotrain

Old red-eyes, is that you?!?

The IGA Astrotrain in my collection is one of my few left-over childhood purchases, and had definitely seen better days: The backpack and one of the leg covers had broken off, both tabs on his shoulders were gone, some of the pins in the wings used to fall out easily, he couldn't stand etc. Still, reluctant to replace him or even give him a set of reprolabels, I was lucky to find another IGA Astrotrain in a TF lot I bought locally a few years back. Combining parts from both of them I came to the toy you see here. Vintage? Yes. Original? Well, the parts and stickers are, but is the toy as a whole original?

Case 4: Seven Windcharger kit

Left to right: Micro Change Trans-Am, Seven Windcharger, early pre-rub Windcharger.

A buddy of mine in the US was once so gracious to scan his unused sticker sheet for his immensely-rare Seven Windhcarger model kit so I could print and add the stickers to my own sticker-less loose specimen. Restoration? I'd like to think so, even though the elements added are deliberate copies (instead of recreations). One could say that we were in Reprolabels territory here - only adding nont-original stickers - but these stickers are 1:1 scans from the originals, so maybe they are more counterfeit than reproductions?

Case 5: Sandstorm rotor

"Hey buddy, can you spare a wing?"

I was handling my G1 Sandstorm when I accidentally broke off one of the wings on the rear stabilizer. Had at that point recently tried my hands at working in styrene and thought "what the hey". Came out pretty good (especially after it was painted!) and while they are discernable on the picture and in comparison with a vintage toy, the attached substitution both works and looks like it belongs. But it's still an unoriginal part - does that detract from the completeness of the toy?

Case 6: Blue Brawn

Has actually darkened in hue over the years - these pics were taken when this guy was painted originally almost 10 years ago!

Inspired heavily by the blue Brazilian Jipe, I set about to creating a version for myself that didn't have that garish red helmet. Somewhat in the same realm as the blue Bluestreak above in concept, this is one custom that doesn't try to emulate an existing toy. So basically a custom, period - even though I tried my best in making my work as production like as possible with painting little-seen areas and such. Oh well...

I guess my point is, that in my mind, restoration is preservation. As long as it isn't intended to fool anyone - i.e. that a restored piece is sold off as an unmodified toy. This is where I draw the line.

I've restored many of my own toys. Primarily replacing battered and missing stickers with Reprolabels, in some instances tightened joints a bit using super glue, while also having done "larger" fix-ups which have included repainting chipped pieces and replacing broken parts with donor parts from another junker toy. However, I've always done this with the intent that these toys are only for my own collection. Some may think that they are no longer "original" or "vintage" - even though I strife to acquire vintage parts to replace broken and missing ones with - but that does not really matter to me. What matters is that I have a presentable complete toy that brings me joy.

If - and that is a very strong *if* - these toys in question should ever be sold off, I would do my upmost to make the buyer understand that these are restored items, and try to make him remember to do the same if he should ever sell them. True, it would take a in-hand examination of the toys to determine if they were indeed restored (and I do think in all modesty that I have a few items where it is indistinguishable). But that shouldn't be an issue, because I will never sell them. The value of the toy is definitely dinished with a restored piece as compared to an original (I know I would not pay full price for a restored toy myself), but that's the whole point: I would never part with them to begin with, as they are worthless to anyone else but me.

That's the beauty of collecting and restoring: Doing it in a way that satisfies yourself.

[Protek]

I like this topic a lot as I began to think. Let's say that you're able to restore a sought vintage toy with original vintage parts from another toy. Obviously it's still restored but would it be OK to call it genuine vintage as all the parts are genuine and not reproduction or customized to look like original?

On a side note, I haven't made much progress with my Smokescreen reproduction roof. I'd need proper side top and front pictures of the original part, in scale in order to be able to trace it properly. I've actually thought of "enhancing" some of my junkers provided that I learn to master some 3D designer. For example fully articulated legs for Prowl/Bluestreak/Smokescreen or properly portioned Ratchet/Ironhide with head. These enhanced robot parts would fit bolt-on to the original car panels.

This post has been edited by Protek: 20 June 2012, 22:57

[Fighbird]

I like this topic a lot as I began to think. Let's say that you're able to restore a sought vintage toy with original vintage parts from another toy. Obviously it's still restored but would it be OK to call it genuine vintage as all the parts are genuine and not reproduction or customized to look like original?

Exactly! The fine line regarding this is tough to discern. Taking my case 3 above as an example, I actually consider my IGA Astrotrain complete and vintage and... well, original but restored. I used only parts from another toy that was exactly the same, and when you think about it: If the parts are from the same production run of a given toy, wouldn't it then be as close to a production scenario, where the machines mix and match the parts anyway?

OTOH, it would require that the pieces were indeed from the EXACT same production run. With all the different variations out there of the exact same mold and release, one would have to do some serious detective work to determine if the 2 junkers that they'd want to merge were indeed 100% alike.

It's a tough call. And yes, I would still inform a potential buyer that my Astrotrain was Frankensteined together from different sourcers.

On a side note, I haven't made much progress with my Smokescreen reproduction roof. I'd need proper side top and front pictures of the original part, in scale in order to be able to trace it properly.

Just an idea: Why not make the roof the way that you want it to be? Again, keeping with the spirit of reproducing vintage parts, yours would stand out and be recognizable as reproductions. I don't know - just a thought.

I've actually thought of "enhancing" some of my junkers provided that I learn to master some 3D designer. For example fully articulated legs for Prowl/Bluestreak/Smokescreen or properly portioned Ratchet/Ironhide with head. These enhanced robot parts would fit bolt-on to the original car panels.

That would be really awesome! Having taken many Fairlady Z mold cars apart in my time, the seperat leg thing should be very feasible, and there should be enough "room" in the upper legs to make a knee joint. A working waist swivel (without the guy looking too happy to see you) would also be nifty, methinks.

[SureShot]

There's a saying going around.... "restoring to it's original condition" ! a term often used when you see cars restored.

If you restore/fix an original figure with original parts from another original, then in its essence it is still original - however it it not original when you take it part number by part number.... however I haven't seen part number digits on TF's like on cars, so I believe it's hardly a matter.

E.g I've restored about a dusin of Overlords now. Broken figures getting new original parts for replacement and some with sun damage have gotten near mint plastic in the involved areas. I still see these restored figures as original and genuine.

[Protek]

On a side note, I haven't made much progress with my Smokescreen reproduction roof. I'd need proper side top and front pictures of the original part, in scale in order to be able to trace it properly.

Just an idea: Why not make the roof the way that you want it to be? Again, keeping with the spirit of reproducing vintage parts, yours would stand out and be recognizable as reproductions. I don't know - just a thought.

Oh I think it will be distinguishable from the original, have no fear. Nevertheless, it has to be in correct measures in order to fit and that is where the tracing pictures come in.

The neatest solution would be to take a 3D scan of the original, which could then be 3D printed. A 3D scanner would actually be relatively easy and cheap to make. In that case, I'd still need the original part, though.

This post has been edited by Protek: 22 June 2012, 07:04

[Thunderclash]

I had a brain fart many years ago and actually cut off the protruding fins on G1 Swoop's beak and painted the beak black, just because I didn't really like the original look and wanted to be creative. Just a shame there was a complete lack of skills and the end result was, well, disappointing... But when regret set in, it wasn't like I was going to get a new one in the store. I had to go on eBay to fix the careless move I made. G1 Swoop has been quite expensive for years, also as a loose figure, so I got a donor Swoop in very good shape and fixed up my original, but it cost me around the $70 mark. Quite an expensive lesson learnt and a clear reminder that if you insist on doing a custom, start with inexpensive and easily obtainable figures .

[NRJohn]

Here are some restoration of my own, see if you can spot them:

Ok, so Pointblank's fix might be pretty obvious, seeing how one part has a different shade of blue. When I got it one of the "doors" was broken of so I took the hinge piece from a junker Rotorstorm and drilled out the side of Pointblank to fit it in, glued it in place and got a pin to re-attach the door.
G2 Terradive lost his neon light piping so I took a piece of Lego with the same color (compare to cockpit window) and cut out a new visor for him! Much easier said then done...
Ratbat had lost his ears (as he so often does) so I took the foot from Skullgrin's inner robot and cut out a new pair. Trickiest was getting them symmetrical.
Seaspray was missing one of the propeller blades which is quite common. Using one of those black plastic pieces used to hold the wires in packaged transformers, I made a new blade!

I think it worked out quite well! Perhaps Pointblank suffers somewhat from the different shade of blue but imo this is better then a broken one!

[Fighbird]

That is some very impressive restoration there, my friend! Brilliant idea to use a clear green LEGO part for that visor! What I usually find challenging is finding good/perfect materials to use for restoration, and I'd probably never think of using a LEGO piece (I'd probably try and find another Terradive and get the part from that).

The others look really great as well - I didn't even notice the slight difference in the blue shading on Pointblank untill you mentioned it. Good work!