1982 My Little Pony G1 Cotton Candy Nirvana Vintage Toy Restoration - Argentina MLP Hasbro Top Toys

This My Little Pony Cotton Candy was made in 1982 by Hasbro/Top Toys in Argentina (so it's a Nirvana pony). It made it across the Atlantic, rust and all, and I knew in an instant I had to rescue it. This video documents the long and arduous process of making that happen :)
The culprit was a completely rusted-out-of-existence tail washer. The treatment, several soaks, toothpaste, oxi baths, and cream peroxide treatment in UV light. I also re-pinked its hair with dye to match the original color. Unfortunately, after much effort, the pony tail had to be exchanged for a donation one. I wouldn't normally do this for a Nirvana pony, but this Cotton Candy is going to stay with me and was long considered lost by its previous owners.
Quick jump to:
00:00 - Intro
00:30 - The yucky inspection
00:55 - Removing the rusty washer
01:28 - Cleaning the rust with soda
02:00 - Cleaning the rust with oxi clean and toothpaste
02:45 - Cleaning the rust with cream peroxide and UV light
03:21 - Untangling the hair
04:49 - Re-tailing the pony
05:48 - Re-pinking the mane
08:11 - Styling the hair
08:34 - Results
Become a Patreon and access Restoration School!: / retrogeekcrafts
Find this pony on eBay: ebay.us/FUFuoN
Explore MLP G1 merch (and help keep this channel running): retrogeektoys.com/product-cat...
Complete restoration videos that you might enjoy: • 1983 My Little Pony G1...
More How-To videos for MLP restoration: • Quick and Easy UV Ligh...
Materials used (Note: As an affiliate, I get a small commission from Amazon if you make a purchase. There's no extra cost for you):
- Peroxide cream, 12%, 40 volume: amzn.to/2LQaNPv
- Cable ties: amzn.to/3squuOi
- Oxi Clean: amzn.to/3ruxS9b
- Biodegradable Cotton buds: amzn.to/3id4T6q
- Paper towels or thick toilet paper, for example: amzn.to/3i8C5w7
- Any shampoo, for example: amzn.to/39tz7OD
- Any conditioner with silicone (the cheaper ones tend to have more of it), for example: amzn.to/3by3aHL
- Whitening Toothpaste: amzn.to/3cktOUY
- Nitrile gloves: amzn.to/366WKf2
- Softboxes and tripods: amzn.to/2N25Lzv
How to make your own UV box:
- Quick and Easy UV Light Chamber for Curing, Retrobrighting and Cleaning Vinyl Toys like Little Pony: • Quick and Easy UV Ligh...
My Little Pony is a trademark of Hasbro. I am not affiliated with Hasbro in any way.
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[@pukeforbrainz]

I admire your patience for rusty hair - I would’ve given up and just gone for rerouting LOL

[@RetroGeekCrafts]

Haha thanks. I had it by the sink for weeks and I haveto say, I wasn't feeling too friendly every time I washed the toothpaste off and it looked EXACTLY THE SAME!

[@randomcrap4230]

Right?! I loooooove a good bit of restoration work, but even I would have given up on this one. My hat is off to RetroGeek Crafts! Hahahha

[@RetroGeekCrafts]

@@randomcrap4230 Thank you!!!!

[@Liver-ti5di]

@@RetroGeekCraftshow can I send my ponies for a restoration service

[@missunlucky2159]

that poor pony was probably kept outside or next to a heater, It was in a pretty bad condition. Good job, you restored it so well 💕

[@RetroGeekCrafts]

Thank you so much! It was suggested she might have been floating on a pool or some body or water -- it makes sense because I had never seen damage like this. The hair, especially, is a msytery to me. I'm glad you like the final result (even though one side of the pony is still a little pale. Maybe some day I will dye or repaint her, if I can find a way that is unnotioceable enough!)

[@suntrespasser9684]

@@RetroGeekCrafts When I was a kid, we used to put some of ours in the bath. Could this one have suffered the same fate?

[@pacrat6271]

@@suntrespasser9684 it seems to be like it was in water for a long time, but possibly could’ve had bath water stuck on the inside and it kept the inside wet. I know that happened with a few of my old lps(some of the neck pegs were getting rusty so to get the water out I kept them in a hot place for a short bit compared to how I would usually store them

[@karrahklinger2573]

I work in tech so I'm quite familiar with oxidation- but I didn't expect it to bleed through and discolor a plastic like this. It almost made it look unpleasantly moldy. It's a shame the pony was discolored by the oxidation... but for what it's worth, you did a fantastic job making it look as best as it possibly could. These are really fascinating and... kind of relaxing to watch?

[@RetroGeekCrafts]

Thank you, I'm really glad you enjoyed it :) Someone suggested maybe she was in water, perhaps a pool. I think she would have had to spend a long time in the same humid place and position for this kind of damage! I'm now practising how to repaint the bodies with an airbrush, so I might come back to this pony and deal with that discoloration for good :)

[@mehchocolate1257]

@@RetroGeekCrafts do you get your ponys from Amazon and ebay

[@veronicaohmanisraelsson2049]

I was supposed to make an important phonecall when I stumbled upon your channel and have been watching for an hour or so now. Even if I used to restore ponies myself there is something soothing about seeing someone else do it. You're doing a great job, I was especially impressed with Nightglider, Peachy and this Cotton Candy. Very well done. You've got a new subscriber.

[@RetroGeekCrafts]

Wow, Veronica, thank you so much for your words. I'm really glad you enjoyed the videos. I love doing this kind of work and it's really nice to know others find it interesting too. Also, I'm sorry I made you delay your phone call :P

[@KoriEmerson]

I legit don’t have words for how much your 80s restoration videos mean to me. It was such a fun time to be a kid. I always wanted cotton candy but we couldn’t afford her. This just makes me beyond happy and has brought a happy tear to my eyes.

[@RetroGeekCrafts]

Thank you so much for your message 😊😊 I hope you can find a Cotton Candy if you haven't already. Her colours are so pretty!!

[@axisdoesart4721]

I like the lighter and darker side. It mimicks real cotton candy in a way!

[@RetroGeekCrafts]

😊😊

[@avocatto1877]

Poor pony, with how parts are lighter I feel like she was left outside for so long. Its amazing how you've brought her back

[@RetroGeekCrafts]

Thank you :) I still plan on painting her lighter areas at some point, probabbly with an airbrush!

[@jtarantula3390]

As a gay kid from the 90s, my little pony was my dream toy. Never officially had one. Seeing this brings back many memories. You do an extraordinary job

[@RetroGeekCrafts]

Thank you so much, Jesus 😊 I'm sorry you didn't get to have a pony growing up. Luckily, it's never too late! You can find some really nice ponies on eBay for just a few dollars; prices went up during the lockdown but are more reasonable now :)

[@helatica8332]

I'm really impressed by all the time you can put to fix all of these ponies ! It's a great job I mean I'm always shook of the result ! It's so different from the start ! I would really like to see how many ponies you have (if you keep them after fixing them of course !)

[@RetroGeekCrafts]

Thank you :) It's my lockdown hobby, a good distraction from being in front of the computer all the time (that is, except for when I have to edit the videos but I actually really enjoy that :P). I don't have too many ponies, only the ones that were special to me when I was little and a few favorites I've added through the years. Half of the repairs are for friends and when I buy bundles I usually re-sell the ones that are in better condition -- so I can buy more damaged ones :D I'm definitely a larva if you compare me to the real collectors out there!

[@ajwinberg]

Wow. Amazing. I would have never used the original hair. I commend you for taking the time to keep as much of the original pony as possible.

[@RetroGeekCrafts]

Thank you 😊

[@YourMum-jc4df]

You really turned her life around! I liked seeing the dyeing process, how long do you leave the dye before rinsing? Also I love how you wiggle their tails at the end, I also do that it’s very cute.

[@RetroGeekCrafts]

Thank you so much for watching! I left the dye only until I was done painting the mane (and did it twice because the first time I had missed sme spots). I thought the water would take some of the color away but honestly, it barely changed it. Which is a little scary, there's no easy going back from too much color! *Wiggles tail as she walks away*

[@pistelli57]

Very Good job. I have a Topo Gigio (anyone remember it?) needing a restoration. I have it since 1965. It's dirty and missing the hair. But it's very well made and painted. Seeing your video made me decide to put hands on job. Thanks.

[@RetroGeekCrafts]

I had a Topogigio too! It's adorable. I lost mine, now I really want to get another one to add my shrine of childhood toys :D I hope you restore yours, it's a really, really satisfying thing to do. Thank you for watching my video :)

[@LimonadnajaPony]

When I see "Result" - I always smile. And in this video you did miracle, cause pony was in awful condition 😞 and now she is beautiful!

[@RetroGeekCrafts]

Thank you Anna! I really appreciate the comment and I'm glad the before and after video can make you smile :)

[@silhouettoofaman2935]

I picked up a reissue of this pretty pony at a thrift store. Surprisingly good condition too!

[@RetroGeekCrafts]

Nice!! The reissue are great, a little harder to work with because the plastic is different but they look great 😊

[@paolaatrentini78]

Tus videos son tan interesantes, útiles y divertidos!!! En cada restauración de mlp pueden verse nuevos desafíos con sus posibles soluciones. Si viese ese pony Cotton Candy asi como estaba no se si daba para recuperarlo, muuy buen trabajo con la limpieza del óxido y el teñido de su melena!!!

[@RetroGeekCrafts]

Muchas gracias, Pao :) Me gusta probar técnicas nuevas. No siempre funciona, pero de los errores también se aprende!

[@Sofia-ji7km]

The poor pony was probably used as a bath toy or pool toy. It was quite shocking too see the washer almost completely worn away and even more shocking that the rust managed to stain through the plastic.

[@RetroGeekCrafts]

Yes, it must have been outside for a looong time. At least the rusty washer had roken apart, they are a pain when you have to cut them open!

[@kitstout2093]

This is such an impressive restoration! You did such an amazing job getting the rust out of the body

[@Gildedware]

This channel is such a treasure!! It's very very relaxing seeing you restore these old ponies!

[@RetroGeekCrafts]

Thank you so much 🥰

[@Sammy_47]

So pretty. I had the plushy version when I was little 🙂

[@Meowzipan]

Wow. That hairstyle is gorgeous. Props to your dedication into making her beautiful again!

[@RetroGeekCrafts]

Thank you so much 🥰😊

[@vinehasnohopeleft3363]

Me: *finds this on my recommended* I'm not much of a my little pony person anymore but why not. Me, after a video: looks like this channel got a new subscriber. To be honest, channels that have the time and patience for this is amazing, I'm surprised some people have time to kill and focus on this, I would never have the focus to do this, I'm amazed you are able to restore old toys, keep up the cool work!

[@RetroGeekCrafts]

Thank you so much for your comment and subscription 😊😊 I wouldn't say I have time to kill, more like I try to make time to do something I enjoy and hope to expand on. It's a really satisfying hobby 🥰

[@leahrowden3939]

I wish I had a lot of cable ties that I could use to secure the pony’s tail in place so that I would not have anything to worry about the rusting progress in the future.

[@RetroGeekCrafts]

I bought a bag that came with a lot of them. I think I got them from Amazon. If you can't buy them, could you ask someone who does repair work? (like house repair, electricians, etc)

[@leahrowden3939]

@@RetroGeekCrafts I don't think so. They would rather say no.

[@marialuisatrentini532]

Me encanto este trabajo! Una de las mas ingeniosas restauraciones!

[@RetroGeekCrafts]

Muchas gracias!! Llevó mucho tiempo pero estoy bastante contenta con el resultado final. En el futuro quizás pruebe oscurecerle el lado despintado.

[@TheDivaLovely]

I had some rusting on my flat foot Cotton Candy as well. Only on the tail. I found that Barkeeper Friend is AMAZING at removing rust from the fiber. Took maybe 20 minutes of me rubbing. It’s also great on the ponies body with a toothbrush and it is paint safe.

[@RetroGeekCrafts]

Ohh thank you so much for the tip! 😊 I really need to give it a try, it sounds great!

[@margui6224]

Muy buen trabajo. Quedó linda.

[@RetroGeekCrafts]

Muchas gracias! Me encantan los colores.

[@bitter-bit]

Thank you for making her feel young again. She must be so happy.

[@RetroGeekCrafts]

Thank you 😊😊

[@Furbtastic]

I just got Cotton Candy from a bag of other G1 ponies from a thrift store and thankfully she wasn't in this condition and just had purple markings on her face that came off easily.

[@everythinggirly916]

Wow. You're channel is so underrated. These transformations are amazing!

[@RetroGeekCrafts]

Thank you :)

[@Pawz06212]

Those damn tail washers..

[@RetroGeekCrafts]

Nightmare inducing :P

[@gotademiel]

Quedó precioso candy Cotton 😍

[@RetroGeekCrafts]

Muchas gracias! Sigue pálido de un lado pero ya veré si algún día me animo a teñirlo entero!

[@gotademiel]

@@RetroGeekCrafts Lo importante es que lo limpiaste y le das mucho amor que necesita 💟 ya me suscribí a tu canal 😊. besos 🐥

[@RetroGeekCrafts]

@@gotademiel Definitivamente mucho amor :) Mil gracias por suscribirte!!

[@woffydoggy686]

Wooow! Lo del tinte en el pelo me ha parecido estupendo! Actualmente tengo un starshine sin flequillo, y encontré un tono similar, pero se ve algo menos rojizo que el original. Pensaba hacer algo así para solucionarlo, gracias!

[@RetroGeekCrafts]

Es la primera vez que pruebo el tinte. Es increible lo que unos granitos pueden hacer. Miro la bolsa del restante y pienso que tengo suficiente para teñir 500.000 cottons! Igual viste que no quedó exactamente del mismo tono. Me parece que para que coincida con la cola habría que agregarle algo de amarillo... pero no quería arriesgarme a arruinarlo todo :P

[@stateofdisorder1]

Cotton Candy was my first pony! This makes me so happy!

[@RetroGeekCrafts]

That's definitely a nice first pony 🥰 I'm glad you enjoyed the video!

[@stateofdisorder1]

@@RetroGeekCrafts 😊💜 loved it. Between MLP, Care Bears and Strwberry Shortcake my room was horrible lol. We didn’t get much through the year but my folks went all out on holidays. And it didn’t help that I shared a tiny room with my sister 😂…….. best years of my life.

[@RetroGeekCrafts]

@@stateofdisorder1 That sounds really lovely 🥰🥰

[@littledebbie5440]

I dont remember which ones but I had these pony's when I was a kid. Brings back some memories lol

[@RetroGeekCrafts]

I'm glad they do! Good ones, I hope :)

[@a_bubbly_artistbby2850]

Ah I have the same one on my shelf it just brings me happiness that a pice of time is getting love and care back to its glory days 😤☺️

[@RetroGeekCrafts]

Oh nice!! She's a beauty 😊😊

[@Naho.dessire]

OMG those little ponies have the best owner i collect them too i'm from Mexico and i have a bunch of the mexican versions

[@RetroGeekCrafts]

I love the Mexican (Auriken, right?) versions but don't own any yet. I think Argentina and Mexico didn't always follow the Hasbro guidelines, resulting in beautiful combinations! (Yo soy de Argentina, por cierto)

[@Naho.dessire]

@@RetroGeekCrafts yeah they are auriken and firely and medley have rainbow hair (que bueno por fin alguien que habla español y le gusta la g1 de mlp )

[@frankiemustdie]

major props to you on this one. if i looked inside it and saw that amount of rust i would’ve threw it across the room and vomited because that is nastyyyy

[@RetroGeekCrafts]

Thank you 😊😊 Opening a rusty pony is... Scary. But even though it looks awful, it actually doesn't smell or anything. The worst is when the ponies are.mouldy inside 🤪

[@valenzuela1998]

Hermoso!!

[@RetroGeekCrafts]

Muchas gracias 😊😊

[@onekaseivwright4367]

Cool toy

[@RetroGeekCrafts]

Thank you so much!! 😊😊

[@MiceAndMinecraft]

Aww we had this one in the 80s too

[@RetroGeekCrafts]

Cool! 😊

[@shrimpsushi763]

I'm pretty sure this was one of the ponies I had growing up! I wish I still had mine, my mom made me throw her away because I got "too old" for toys.

[@RetroGeekCrafts]

Don't worry, soon you'll be old enough to manage your own money (or you are already) and can choose to get and keep whatever toys you like :)

[@WhiteIndoraptor]

I actually have that pony she’s in pretty good condition but one of her eyes is slightly scratched and has some marks on her but it’s not too bad. 😊

[@evilbarb]

Great job! She was my favorite pony !

[@RetroGeekCrafts]

Thank you! 😊😊

[@ShadeGirl123]

she looks beautiful

[@RetroGeekCrafts]

Thank you 🥰☺️

[@kattriella1331]

She actually looks very cool/pretty with one side of her body being an almost silvery pink. It makes her look magical, somehow.

[@RetroGeekCrafts]

I like this!! I might leave it like that, then :)

[@MythicMoonlight]

Your videos keep coming up in my recommended. And I'm glad I clicked

[@RetroGeekCrafts]

Thank you for clicking! :) I'm happy you enjoyed them!

[@beautyforashes2022]

Oh wow, I had no idea that you resold these after restoring them. Being that I was born 1980, I grew up playing with these ponies and I loved them. I would love to see any that you might still have for sale. I really wish I could find one of the Flutterby, I think they were called, ponies. They were a bit smaller and thinner and they had beautiful, see through, rainbowy wings, with a little clip on the back between the wings that you could press down over and over and it would make their wings flutter like a butterfly. I don't know if anyone else remembers them. They were one of my favorites.

[@RetroGeekCrafts]

Yes! Those ponies are great. I love how delicate they look, they are like fairy ponies 😊😊 I don't have any for sale, although I'm planning on putting some up (regular ponies I have duplicates of, and customs). I will let you know if I do!

[@whowantswaffles]

You did such a good job! She looks so much better! I'm trying to fix up a Cotton Candy at the moment with lots of ingrained dirt on her but not having much luck shifting it...it's all in the 'pores' of the vinyl. Any advice?

[@RetroGeekCrafts]

Thank you! If you can see tiny dots in the plastic it can be dirt or it can be mould. The very elaborate solution is ultrasonic cleaning. The easier (but not very pleasant!) is using your nail to "push" the dots out. You will still end up with little holes in the plastic, unfortunately. I've seen people using a hair dryer, so the head expands the plastic, but I'd very careful not to burn anything xD

[@whowantswaffles]

@@RetroGeekCrafts ooh thank you! I'll see what I can do :D

[@whowantswaffles]

@@RetroGeekCrafts *Update* I used oxiclean and it removed all the nasty dirt in her pores :D Rehairing now. Your videos are inspiring me to get back into pony customs! Have you ever mended a pony with a missing leg before?

[@RetroGeekCrafts]

@@whowantswaffles That's so great to hear!!! I haven't mended one yet, but I have a few ponies waiting for the procedure :P I will use milliput (two part epoxy) and then paint with acrylics.

[@PuddleSlime-xu2hm]

2:38 Really? For 80 Hours? I don’t even know how many days that is!

[@RetroGeekCrafts]

I had this pony next to the sink and I saw it every day, many times a day, for months. It wasn't always 4 hs between applications (I need a good night's sleep :P) but it was part of my routine for a looooong time xD

[@magenpetrofsky8155]

So pretty

[@RetroGeekCrafts]

Thank you Magen! (she is ;))

[@annareifer2249]

And know, I feeNow I feel bad for taking my ponies to the bathtube earlier :( But WOW how you got that little thing back together!

[@RetroGeekCrafts]

Don't worry, we all did 😊😊 I blame the manufacturer!

[@areyoulostbabygirl1916]

👍

[@RetroGeekCrafts]

Thanks!

[@pastelskies99]

How many times did you have to dilute the dye? I'm getting an extra g3 pinkie pie with g3 rainbow dash and I want to change the extra into Cotton Candy so I want to have the exact color

[@RetroGeekCrafts]

I would try to use as little as possible, you can always go darker. I used just a few specks (?) of it, I wouldn't know the quantities but what's in the video is all the after I used (I mean I didn't cut it and add more off-camera). Might have been something like... 4 or 5 tablespoons of water? Test with some paper towels first, that should show you the color. Good luck!!

[@pastelskies99]

@@RetroGeekCrafts thank you so nuch. I will defiantly keep this in mind when they both get here

[@F5dfgvjh82j68]

Man i would pay good money for someone to restore my vintage dolls.

[@RetroGeekCrafts]

What dolls do you have? They are not very difficult to restore, in general. Especially if they are made of vinyl, they wash really easily! Feel free to ask me for advice.

[@bubblylemon9471]

Looks like shes sunbleached. Mustve been left outside where it can get heated up thus making the tail plug rust from condensation and the sunlight making her colors fade

[@RetroGeekCrafts]

It would be very interesting to know what happened to it. I imagine a montage with the seasons changing, the children growing... and then, suddenly, a hand picking her up and putting her up for sale :)

[@ufolandings]

I only own G3 ponies (what was left over from my childhood anyway) but I love watching your restoration vids! This one looks like she was sunbleached on one side? But with so much rust I just wonder how it happened...

[@RetroGeekCrafts]

Thank you so much. Yes, she is still very bleached on one side. I've seen de-coloring but nothing like this before. I'm not sure what happened. Maybe she was displayed next to a window? All the way since 1982? :P I'd love to be able to see the story of this pony too.

[@cathytaylor9700]

Maybe she was left floating in a pool.

[@RetroGeekCrafts]

@@cathytaylor9700 Oh wow, that'd be a really good explanation!!!

[@ufolandings]

@@cathytaylor9700 that makes a lot of sense actually, especially with how it looks like a really small area as opposed to being left on a windowsill for too long. Otherwise it'd have spread to her back. Probably was taken into a backyard pool by her owner to play and maybe left there to float all day before being taken back inside. Would explain the rust and hair pretty well.

[@StitchGV]

@@ufolandings nah, rust and bleaching like that doesn’t happen in a single day… I left my ponies in the pool all day when I was a kid and that didn’t happen. I’m guessing this one was left floating for WEEKS! Maybe the parents considered it a permanent “pool toy” and didn’t bother making the kids bring it in. But you can tell that metal wasn’t allowed to dry for quite a while.

[@sarahvanrooyen7280]

Nice

[@RetroGeekCrafts]

Thank you 😊😊

[@sarahvanrooyen7280]

@@RetroGeekCrafts your welcome

[@fluttershy750]

me parecion bastante asmr cuando le pusistes pasta dental a la cola ¿puedes coprar otro pony oxidado?

[@ValeLoveMJJ0606]

El secreto para el oxido es dejar reposar con vinagre y bicarbonato! // The secret to rust is let it sit with vinegar and baking soda!

[@RetroGeekCrafts]

Gracias por el dato! Sabes, uso vinagre con bicarbonato para limpiar la casa, no se me había ocurrido que funionara con ponis también!

[@BrynSmith76]

Just recently found your channel by chance, you do great restoration work. Do you think the rit dye would have worked on the vinyl light side. I'm watching your videos in order so apologies if you tried this at a later date and I've not seen that video yet. ☺️

[@RetroGeekCrafts]

Hi Bryn! Thank you for your message 😊😊 I am not too good with rit dye, to be honest. I tried with a pony and it didn't go well. But it's definitely a good option for this case! I'd love to give it a try 😊 Thank you for the idea!

[@Anna-jr8gu]

💝💝💝

[@RetroGeekCrafts]

😊😊

[@oatmealgaylord2321]

whoever did this must have magical powers

[@RetroGeekCrafts]

The one that damaged or the one that repaired it? :P

[@oatmealgaylord2321]

@@RetroGeekCrafts Both, but yours (the repairer I'm assuming) are much better :3

[@leopriest133]

In future, fabric softener/ conditioner works best for the hair and use nail clippers on zip ties! 🤫

[@RetroGeekCrafts]

Yes! In the newer videos I use fabric softener 😊 Thanks for the suggestion!

[@gingeeta_creecha3401]

The acids in lemons work pretty good for rust stains in fabric. 🤷‍♀️

[@RetroGeekCrafts]

Ohhhh I didn't know, I have to try it!! Do you know if it would fade strong colours? For example, I'm working on an emerlad green tail with rust, do you think the lemon will make it lighter?

[@gingeeta_creecha3401]

@@RetroGeekCrafts salt can help the lemon juice too :)

[@itsuralienbestfriend7778]

Hello I’m kind of new to collecting I’m getting some of my first generation one ponies In two days do you know how to keep your ponies from looking like this? And do you have experience with the fluffy ones

[@RetroGeekCrafts]

Hi, and welcome to the world of collecting! :) This pony probably spent a few seasons in water and under the sun or something similar, so I don't think you'll have this issue. In general, try to keep the ponies away from direct sunlight as it can fade or yellow the plastic. Also check if any of your acquisitions has white spots - this might be acne cream damage and it can bleach the vinyl of other ponies. Other than that, you should be fine! It's normal for these old toys to have some marks, most of them can be safely removed with hot water and soap - also the dirt in the so soft (fluffy ones). Feel free to ask me any questions about them once they arrive! (you can use the Discuss tab in the channel if you want).

[@DizzyKatz]

I had no idea rust could go THROUGH the plastic! Do you know if g3 toys have washers too?

[@RetroGeekCrafts]

I haven't worked with or own any G3s so I don't know if they also have metal washers. I don't think they do because I don't remember seeing posts about them in the restoration groups but I could be wrong. I'm so sorry I can't be of more help :(

[@DizzyKatz]

@@RetroGeekCrafts its okay! g3s are my favorites, so i was just wondering! :D

[@RetroGeekCrafts]

@@DizzyKatz I'd love to restore a G3! They are in much better condition in general, so it's a bit tricky to find good "subjects". I love variety, though, so if you ever need a restoration I'll be happy to do it for just the cost of postage (if you let me post the video of the process ;))

[@DizzyKatz]

@@RetroGeekCrafts oh that'd be lovely! I'll let you know if I get one in need of repair!

[@jaynedavis4712]

I had this pony growing up, she was my 2nd favourite & the most “realistic” cutie mark of any generation. Her pink hair frays badly due to the combination of the synthetic strands & that specific dye, the tail on mine was a butt afro 😂

[@RetroGeekCrafts]

She's a gorgeous pony! 😊😊 But yes, I think the pink in general was quite prone to fading. I wonder what kind of due they used!

[@jaynedavis4712]

@@RetroGeekCrafts thanks for taking the time to reply to me, I’m so glad that I found your channel because it is right up my alley

[@woffydoggy686]

Oye,se me ocurre... Has pensado en darle color al lado pálido con pastel? Capa a capa puede quedar bien. Yo hice algo así en la cara de una Monster high y quedó perfecta.

[@RetroGeekCrafts]

Probé pasteles con otro pony y no podía ver bien el efecto, pero voy a intentar de nuevo!! Gracias por la sugerencia 😊

[@PuddleSlime-xu2hm]

I got Cotton Candy a couple days ago

[@RetroGeekCrafts]

Congratulations! Her colors are really pretty and kinda calming :)

[@PuddleSlime-xu2hm]

@@RetroGeekCrafts yeah she’s so pink!

[@doggyspeak]

Im wondering if something like Easter egg dye would work on the body. You could mask off the painted details with tempera paints or something then suspend the pale half of the body in the vinegar.

[@RetroGeekCrafts]

I've never used it. I have tried rit dye, the one for fabric, and it works really well but I got some streaking that wasn't too nice. I think it's good for darker colours. I should try easter egg dye, thank you for the suggestion!! 😊😊

[@wingheads]

Have you had success getting out pink spots on vinyl. What did you use on that?

[@RetroGeekCrafts]

I never got ANY success removing those pink ones :( Sorry I can't help!!

[@stargazaar]

gosh, you always make removing the metal bits off the tail look so easy!! i tried it while cleaning my Skyflier and the edges of the metal bit started cutting bits of her hair :( i ended up re-closing it and re-inserting it since i was scared of damaging her any further any tips for a newbie restorer? i'd appreciate it!

[@RetroGeekCrafts]

It's a horrible, horrible activity xD I usually record all of it and use 1% because it takes me aaaaages to open them. And I always hurt my fingers. I don't have any useful advice, if you find a way to do it you let me know LOL. Honestly, I just cut and pull and cut and pull. Some hair always gets damaged... Did you press the sides of the metal bit to make it rounder instead of flat? That helps as it also separated the hair more.

[@MitsueOokami]

question: why do you use hair conditioner? :0c wouldn't something like fabric softener make more sense for synthetic fibers? nonetheless i love watching these videos, so soothing!

[@RetroGeekCrafts]

It would! I use very cheap conditioner, which has a lot of silicone. I had a bottle that I didn't want to use for my hair, and I didn't want to throw it away :) but fabric softener works better!

[@denizguzel6759]

I just got the same pony from a second hand shop and it has the same problem (her one side is lighter). Do you think it's possible to dye the body too?

[@RetroGeekCrafts]

Hi! Yes, it is possible. But I haven't tried it myself, so I can't help much yet!

[@isabellabeatriz2242]

I have one of those!

[@RetroGeekCrafts]

They have great colors 😊

[@Shadow_Lyn]

Hola! te quedo hermoso. Que dice debajo de sus patas? para saber si es argentino.

[@RetroGeekCrafts]

Hola Shadow! No dice nada en las patas. Lo compré como Argentino, tiene 24 marcas blancas en el símbolo. Ahora estoy dudando... no es Top Toys? O.O

[@hannahisapalindrome44]

These are great to watch. Do you perhaps know how to fix the holographic hair tinsel? It doesn't take heat like the metallic tinsel and I'm afraid I'll have to reroot my ponies instead 😰

[@RetroGeekCrafts]

Thank you, Hannah! Unfortunately, I've never worked with tinsel of either kind so I can't help you :( I do remember reading threads about it in one of the Facebook restoration groups, though. If you use FB, I'd consider asking in "My Little Pony Rehairers' Group" and/or "My Little Pony Restorations and Customs". I hope you can do it without re-rooting! (My guess would be hot water and a large comb but I really don't know for sure)

[@hannahisapalindrome44]

@@RetroGeekCrafts I rarely use FB but I'll give it a look! I tried doing a hot/cold dunk on a bait pony and then letting the hair dry while pressed under a heavy book. It worked for about 10 mins after I removed the book then curled right back 😭

[@RetroGeekCrafts]

@@hannahisapalindrome44 Same here! I feel it works best if you pour some boiling water before (only on normal hair, not tinsel or saran). I wonder how they did the original curls, those seem to last for eons. Here in the UK, and during the winter, I leave the ponies close to the radiator for a couple of days and they last a little longer than if I only used curlers and time.

[@maragalagher6471]

I have a Night glider who has some rust and pale spots do you think the sunfadeing is necessary to spot the rust from spreading

[@maragalagher6471]

I'm very hesitant to fade her cause all her planets and purple spots have already become almost the same colour as her skin

[@RetroGeekCrafts]

Hi there. For the rust you can try toothpaste and bicarbonate soda, they are safe to use with colours. the white spot might be acne cream damage, which can't be reverted unfortunately. Did you see my nightglider video? I covered the symbols with tape, just in case. So it's possible, but I would first try the less invasive ways. Feel free to send me a picture through IG/FB and I can tell you what the white marks are.

[@cinziamorando801]

Great video and awesome job! I have a beautiful Starflower: she is in good condition, but she has some yellow spots around the cutie mark and on the legs (it looks like original color has been swapped); can you tell me something to do to improve the original color? Thank you!

[@RetroGeekCrafts]

Hi Cinzia, thank you so much! I'm not sure what you mean by the original color having been swapped. Are the yellow spots very light? If so, it could be acne cream damage or regrind, which are unfortunately unreversible. Cream peroxide and sundafing/UV light cleans a lot of superficial spots although I've never used it on a Starflower. If you want, upload a photo and share the link here, I'll be happy to take a look (just keep in mind I'm more of an enthusiast than an expert!)

[@cinziamorando801]

@@RetroGeekCrafts Thank you for the answer! Can I send you the photos on your Instagram account?

[@RetroGeekCrafts]

@@cinziamorando801 Of course!

[@Sleep_deprived82]

I have the cotton candy pony❤

[@ECStarProductions]

oh this poor pony!

[@RetroGeekCrafts]

Yeah :(

[@ECStarProductions]

@@RetroGeekCrafts You did a great job with her!

[@Mugelbbub16]

The rust on the tail almost made me gag😵

[@RetroGeekCrafts]

It was tough!! But I kept thinking about what it could look like once cleaned :P

[@MyRageness]

Why do you choose black ties over white or clear?

[@RetroGeekCrafts]

It's just the ones I have at home, I had a pack of like 200 so I never needed to buy more. It's a goog point, though, when I run out I'll get white ones :)

[@icarusclark1653]

The tail washer seems like such a horrible way to hold that tail in place! Kids will bring anything into the bathtub.

[@RetroGeekCrafts]

Yes! I'm not sure why they didn't go for something more water-friendly. Cost, I imagine. Or lack of imagination, of course ponies belong in bathtubs!! ☺️☺️

[@leahrowden3939]

5:01 This is why you should've used fabric gloves instead of nitrile gloves.

[@RetroGeekCrafts]

LOL YES. That little thing was really sharp, I was lucky I didn't chop off my finger and dyed the hair with that xD

[@leahrowden3939]

@@RetroGeekCrafts That's good.

[@sideshowratt]

Can you use Whink on the rust? I use that on rust stains on clothes and it works super well.

[@RetroGeekCrafts]

Great suggestion! I've never used it but it looks very promising. I'll see if I can get one to test. As with any substance, I would just try to keep it away from eyes and symbols - in case it erases or damages them.

[@sideshowratt]

@@RetroGeekCrafts update: it works on pony hair! I don't have any with body rust though.

[@RetroGeekCrafts]

@@sideshowratt That's awesome!!! Thank you for letting me know. I'll add it to my list!

[@hollygolightly8970]

How do youse Whink to remove rust on clothes? What is the process?

[@sideshowratt]

@@hollygolightly8970 I just squirt some directly on the rust stain and let it sit until the stain is gone, and then rinse it really well.

[@kattiecorgan04]

Cómo se llama ese polvo para teñir el pelo?

[@RetroGeekCrafts]

Acá se llama Rit Dye (o tintura rit). Es tintura para ropa, viene en polvo o liquida y las dos isrven igual! 😊

[@ghostcraft3370]

Me: there is no way they're gonna be able to save that hair. You: *actually ends up saving the head hair despite the tail needing to be replaced* Me: 😱

[@RetroGeekCrafts]

Hahaha thanks 😊😊

[@sweetrollqueen5136]

It looks like pinkie pie XD

[@RetroGeekCrafts]

Yes!! ☺️☺️

[@michelleabel1841]

Hey! Can anyone tell me if the original G1 ponies were squishy at all? I've looked everywhere but haven't happened upon the plastic feel yet.

[@RetroGeekCrafts]

Yes, they are squishy! They are made of vinyl, which feels like rubber.

[@michelleabel1841]

@@RetroGeekCrafts thanks for letting me know! I just got my first vintage G1 and it didn't feel like the reproductions I had been buying. Thanks for putting out these videos!

[@PuddleSlime-xu2hm]

5:00 it’s all good until you cut your glove!

[@RetroGeekCrafts]

Oh, being such a clumsy person I was very glad I didn't chop my finger off. I felt sorry for the glove, though, I try to reuse them so I don't produce too much waste but this one became compromised :(

[@PuddleSlime-xu2hm]

The smiley face is silly

[@infinitemirr0r]

@@RetroGeekCrafts finger reveal?

[@PuddleSlime-xu2hm]

What about the right side? It’s all... faded!

[@RetroGeekCrafts]

Yes :( The only way to fix this would be to dye the entire body (which would still maybe result in unevenness and spotting) or paint on top, maybe with an airbrush covering the symbols and eyes. I think I will get to it at some point but for now I wanted to leave it as "original" as possible :)

[@An_Angel_with_A_birthing_right]

How do they get rusty if they aren't made of metal?

[@RetroGeekCrafts]

There is a metal washer that holds the tail in place. To this day, ponies are still made with metal washers. And keep rusting :(

[@inu4771]

The same happened to one of my ponies when I was little and my parents made me throw it away :c I'm still sad about this

[@RetroGeekCrafts]

I'm sorry you had to throw your pony away :( Do you remember the colors or symbols?

[@inu4771]

@@RetroGeekCraftsI only remember that it was yellow and quite big. Sadly I can't remember the symbol or hair colour :c I think on its hooves it had like a shape of longer hair or horseshoes, can't remember which one though.

[@RetroGeekCrafts]

@@inu4771 Sounds like a big brother pony! They have hairy feet like Shire horses. Maybe you remember more if you look at some of them here: mylittlewiki.org/wiki/Category:Big_Brother_Ponies

[@inu4771]

@@RetroGeekCrafts Omg!!! I thing it was Sunburst! Thank you so much! I'm so happy to see this pony again. I really think it is him! It was so nice of you to help me ;w; thank you. I might buy him again in the future haha

[@AndrosProtos]

What can I do for frizzy MLP build a bear hair? I DONT want to use a straightener like they say to use. I would risk damaging my build a bear

[@RetroGeekCrafts]

You use very hot water, conditioner or fabric softener and a comb 😊 This should work quite well for most of the hair, but the tips will also be a tougher (with any technique) so you might have to trim the ends!

[@arielle4087]

Sos de Argentina?

[@RetroGeekCrafts]

Si! Nací en Argentina pero vivo en Inglaterra 😊

[@arielle4087]

@@RetroGeekCrafts Te descubrí el otro día por el vídeo de Glimmer y apenas escuché tu acento pensé que tenías algo sutil de Argentina o en su defecto Chile XD y ahora que ví este pequeño pony de Argentina tenía que preguntarte. Muy bueno el canal 😍😍😍

[@leahrowden3939]

Um, the other side of Cotton Candy is still quite faded.

[@RetroGeekCrafts]

Yes, unfortunately the only way to fix this would be to either dye the entire body (which would still maybe result in unevenness and spotting) or paint on top, maybe with an airbrush covering the symbols and eyes. I felt I wanted to keep the pony as close to the original as possible so I decided not to try these options for now. I might go back to this, though, when I've had more experience doing this type of repair!

[@leahrowden3939]

@@RetroGeekCrafts And when will that time come?

[@RetroGeekCrafts]

@@leahrowden3939 Oh, not sure. I have a few other ponies in progress (a seashell, a couple of babies and another Top Toys). I'd say a few months still :)

[@leahrowden3939]

RetroGeek Crafts OK, fine. Whatever.

[@fluttershy750]

qreo que tiene friz en el pelo☹

[@RetroGeekCrafts]

😊😊

[@Vixenmon8]

Where do you find your donation hair?

[@RetroGeekCrafts]

In this case, it was from another Cotton Candy pony I had that I tend customized.

[@Vixenmon8]

@@RetroGeekCrafts Ok.

[@NepetasShippingWall1642]

yasuho pony...

[@RetroGeekCrafts]

From JoJo? 😊

[@NepetasShippingWall1642]

@@RetroGeekCrafts yup! :D

[@eisbar7681]

You forgot the sun damaged side of the pony

[@RetroGeekCrafts]

I didn't! But the only way to repair that siode would be by repainting the body -- which I wasn't sure about then. Now ,after having painted a few, I would like to try it!!

[@eisbar7681]

@@RetroGeekCrafts Oh okay. I'm sorry. I didn't know that. You are making a great job. This pony looks amazing💕