How To... GI Joe Head Swaps

Showing you how to swap the heads from one Hasbro 12" figure to another.

[@lilbuggers3]

I don't know if it is any easier . But I have swapped heads by putting their head in boiling water. Once the water is boiling dunk them in for about 30 secons. Then cearefully take them out and watch out for the water in his head. I have done it with excellent results. Thanks for the tutorial.

[@vfwing]

You're doin' great Hutt! Glad to hear you are connecting with musicians and whatnot. Hope you're getting a little scratch for your splendiferous efforts! Your tutorials get more views than my actual stop mo works... be proud!

[@calicojack7029]

Awesome stuff, exactly what I needed.

[@shibumi8]

Useful info. Thanks for the vid.

[@dawgchyper91]

Hey Hutt, Thats a really cool tutorial that you put together. I never knew how to swap a gi joe head or any other action figure head to another. It was actually quite funny to see the head sticking out of the blowdryer end lol

[@croydesinaction]

Thanks for that, very helpful.🙏

[@SPGEN95]

dude thats awesome I was always wondering how to swap thier heads and before I always broke the heads off the peg and then glued them on

[@Dragonrider1227]

Excellent tutorial. I plan to do that with Hasbro's whip cracking Indy. :D

[@nik0bellicsir]

i live in wisconsin i go to Toys r us every month they have the same gi joes as he does there actually all Toys r us

[@huttwigley]

@TheBeastlyFollower Yes! The neck posts/heads are almost identical to GI Joes. In fact, I stick 21C character heads on GI Joe bodies all the time!

[@huttwigley]

Depending on what kind of figure you're working with, you can use the hairdryer technique to make the figure's forearms more pliable and just pluck the wrist pegs out. The Super Articulated GI Joes I use don't have the forearms that allow for this though.

[@huttwigley]

If it's one of the older 12" Star Wars figures with the same type of neck post, absolutely!

[@huttwigley]

Hey, Magicoflego. The trick is to get the head started (half-way on) then twist it around on the neck post. if it's pliable enough, the head should go on fairly easy. The technique outlined in this video is for Hasbro figures, but also works with some 21Cst Century and Formative International figures. There are several other figure lines that use this same type of head apature/neckpost configuration, but they are too many to list here.

[@kwandomando]

I always use the "boil and pop" method. You put a coffee mug with water in the microwave for like two to three minutes then dunk the figure head first into the water for a minute to a minute and a half and then pull him out wipe off and it is real pliable and ready to go. Works with a hand swap too. Only caution is it will cause a Wal mart Adventure team flocked head figures hair to fall out.

[@bryanlego]

So the head swap is like mounting a tire almost. Thanx for the how to.

[@huttwigley]

I know a few customizers who use boiling water. I use a hair dryer. The results are the same. I'm just not into having boiling hot water on my toys. Plus, using hot water on some of the flocked-head figures causes the flocking to come off.

[@psalm37v4]

Hey there! I know this is an old video but I have a question. I just got a couple 12 inch Joes... Ace and Rocknroll. They came with molded-on shirts. I'd like to rebody them, and if possible, salvage the hands. They have cool hinged hands. Do you know if you can swap hands on these guys? Thanks!

[@happybuddyperson]

How would you go about fixing a GI Joe head like this that has the neck post/peg snapped off inside of the head itself? If I were to pry it out with tweezers, the neck post/peg would shatter even further. Should I just glue the head onto the neck? Also, do you know how to fix the hands of these GI Joes if they are completely gone except the connector piece where the wrist would be?

[@SPGEN95]

I tried this with hot water and it worked the best for getting the heads of but not on

[@kwandomando]

I agree with you a 100 percent. though I did have Timeless figure, the first ones that came out, not the paler wal mart 40th ones, have his head crack from a dryer but they were more fragile than the 40th anniv ones. But yeah boiling water will make the Flock come right off the walmart/hot tropic ones.

[@reye58791]

Greetings, Could you please can make a tutorial to do the same but to swaps hands in GI joe Classic Collection?? regardsLuis

[@huttwigley]

Thanks, dawg! I guess if you've never seen that before, it would look pretty silly!

[@huttwigley]

Exactly... Except, I never used a hairdryer to mount a tire. :-) But, yeah, fitting it to the neck post is sort of the same principle.

[@huttwigley]

They should clap on about waiste-high. You will need to use the stand to move the figure up and down as he walks, so it will vary.

[@Dragonrider1227]

Does this work with vintage or vintage style reproduction figures?

[@michaelgarcia5883]

Hey I a question what if u wont to add more muscle to a ji Joe figure like I'm wont to make Ryu from street fighter but don't know how to can u help me out

[@huttwigley]

I know a lot of people who use the "boilin water" method. Like you said though, it doesn't work on flocked headsculpts. It's all about personal preference. I'm not saying using a hairdryer is better, it's just the method I prefer.

[@ggc151]

The operation was successful!! haha

[@decepticonelite555]

hey man I've got a question, Does this work the same with an action man body? Scince i think the heads are cool for stop motion but the body's aren't very articulated. And i want to put an action man head on a hot toys true type. Oh and could you maybe check out my latest stop motion and let me know what you think?

[@DCogsdil]

How do you change out hands? I have one that has blk gloves for hands and wish to swap out with normal hands....any suggestions cause its my first time doing it and I don't want to break him....thank you so much....toodles Debbie from Texas

[@huttwigley]

Whatever works for you. Personally, I'd prefer to NOT submerge a flocked headsculpt into boiling water. Plus, I don't see how getting a cup, filling it with water, waiting for the water to boil then submerging the head you want to remove and the head you want to apply in the water, then sticking is on is any faster. How do you keep the water out of the inside of your headsculpt? If you get water in there, how do you get it out? If you leave it, how do you get rid of the mildew that will develop?

[@The_Jawnski]

Will this work on original 60's joes? Or more specifically the 40th anniversary ones?

[@riverphlegethon6661]

I've removed the 40th heads with blow dryer hot air. Get it good and hot so you don't damage the ribs in the head.

[@TheBeastlyFollower]

Does this work for 21st Century figures? I would like to know because I have an old japanese figure (probably from around 2003-2004) but his hand is broken, and I have plenty of 21st Century bodies laying around.

[@NonstopRam]

I had ben experimenting with painting an action figure's body, so that it matches the head sculpt I put on it. I was just wondering if anyone sell's a paint color that is like the figure featured in the vid. I have this problem from some certain indiana jones figures. (Dovencheko, Cairo swordman).

[@RanDAss]

To those who find this comment Its not easy its very hard after taking it off putting it back on is the worst part after boiling it still wont go on as easy as they said. Its like pulling teath. You will be at it for hours and hours. I know am stuck with broken toys. Worst part is this is the only tutorial that I saw that is useful. I am pissed off dont listen to the comments and this video.

[@TunnelRatoscarmike]

My problem is i have a gi joe that is the D-day aniversary and his arms broke (both at the elbo Join) probably all they play i had with it when i was a kid. does anone know how to swap with another figure because i like the head of the figure but the body is just messed up please help it is one of my favorite ones i have :(

[@huttwigley]

LOL! Not too bad for a dude who never attended medical school!

[@rhinohorn1258]

And if you can't afford a hair dryer lay your joe out in the 90 degree weather I've had that happen many times as a small kid😂👍

[@dawgchyper91]

Haha yea.

[@NonstopRam]

Just got my collecter series vader, old bem, and besbin luke.....now imagin the frustration when I found out how awful the articulation was...now I got to get a more articulated figure for them :9....but it will be worth it....

[@ggc151]

Rofl!!

[@reye58791]

Did somebody can tell me how to detach GI Joe hands?

[@huttwigley]

Not sure. I haven't been to Toys R Us in at least 3 years.

[@reye58791]

Greetings, Could you please can make a tutorial to do the same but to swaps hands in GI joe Classic Collection?? regardsLuis