Restring Restore Vintage GI Joe Figure Hasbro - Elastic, Paint, Clean

I'm taking a 1966 vintage GI Joe figure and doing a restring and restore, and SO much more! In this episode, I'll show how I address rusty rivets without removing paint in the process. Touching up paint on hair rubs, eyebrows, lips, and scar. Learn a little history about the head sculpt, what creeps me out, and if you're a golfer you'll never be able to look at this figure the same way again.
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00:00-03:46 Figure overview, date identification
03:47-12:12 Disassembly and tools being used
14:00-16:16 Cleaning torso and hip ball rust removal
16:47-18:05 Treating rusty wire hooks
20:04-23:50 Cleaning arms and legs
24:30-25:47 Removing rust from leg pin rivets
25:50-28:09 Heat-treating wire hooks with oil
28:11-36:01 Paint touch-up on GI Joe's head
36:06-38:01 Making replacement arm elastic band section
38:06-39:09 Re-attaching arms
39:13-42:23 Making replacement inverted "V" leg and neck elastic
42:54-44:42 Pulling it all together, the final steps in restringing action figure
45:54-47:56 Review of end results restoration and repair vintage GI Joe 12" figure
Looking for a vintage GI Joe 12" figure? Check 'em out through my affiliate eBay link here:
bit.ly/vintageGIJoefigure
Some of the info I reference in the video can be found in the out-of-print book- "GI Joe: The Complete Story of America's Favorite Man of Action, Michlig, John, G"
bit.ly/GIJoeBookMichligEbay
Thanks for watching and don't forget to subscribe!

[@davewanamaker3690]

I really enjoy watching your restoration of these neat old G.I. Joes. Thanks for saving and making them whole again. Brings back great memories. You run a fantastic M.A.S.H. unit and plastic surgical unit for Joe!

[@ToyTinkerTim]

Thanks for watching and for the compliments. It's a great toy line👍

[@donaldlamendola8294]

You did an amazing job! Thank you for sharing your talents, and have a wonderful day!

[@ToyTinkerTim]

Thank you 🤜🤛

[@jonipalumbo4802]

Thank you so much for making this informative video! I really appreciate all the details you go over, especially when you describe the exact products that you are using.

[@deweychaffee5943]

Thank you. Fixed two ….. 1 suggestion … I used a super small zip tie to loop on arm hook and then thread through torso and pull hook and elastic through. Then clip off with hemostat and zip tie slides right off. But mostly Thank You.

[@ToyTinkerTim]

That's a great idea!

[@JackFlemingFan1]

Thank you for posting your excellent video of the restoration of your vintage G.I. Joe! If I ever need to restore one of the G.I. Joe's I have I will use your video as reference!

[@NB-wu7zo]

Nice job. Thanks for the patience with a classic.

[@sonicimperium]

FINALLY! Another REAL GI Joe! 👍🏻

[@ToyTinkerTim]

Yeah, it's definitely a classic figure. Going back to the origins of GI Joe. Thanks for watching

[@bioniccop40]

Awesome Video Tim Fixing Older Joe’s can always be a daunting task for sure.

[@ToyTinkerTim]

Thanks Robert, these figures can be a challenge but you can come out with some nice results! Thanks for watching 👍

[@DMoRiaM]

When I was a boy my parents gave me one of that. A modern one, in 1985, with a beard, here in Brazil, knew as "Falcon". I've had no idea that it was based in a toy from the 60s. Amazing job there. I'm glad youtube put it on my time line to see.

[@ToyTinkerTim]

I've seen images of the "Falcon" figures and sets, very cool. 👍

[@ladyamberskye]

Thank you SOOOO much. I have restrung BJD dolls, porcelain dolls, ect. My son was just gifted a GI Joe from his grandfather for his birthday and it needs restrung and cleaned. TYVM I know I can handle this now and keep my son being able to play with his grandfathers Joe for years to come and maybe even pass him down to his son one day. Thank you so VERY much. now I need to watch the video repairing a talkie GI Joe.

[@ToyTinkerTim]

Glad to hear this was very helpful! These figures are iconic in toy history, and definitely, ones to keep in the family and hand down over the years. Thanks for watching! 🙂

[@magicrobharv]

Fantastic video. G.I. Joe always brings back great memories.

[@war.drawer]

My needs it more

[@stevensmith9496]

I really enjoyed your video. It motivated me to dig out my GI Joe that I've had since I was a young boy in the 60s. I have another doll I'd like to identify, but can't find any info on it. It is made almost exactly like a GI Joe, but was made by Ideal. The doll has a blue body, and a removable rubber face with a monster's face under it. Ever seen anything like that? Thanks, Steve.

[@ToyTinkerTim]

It's nice you still have your GI Joe Maybe the figure you're describing was from the Captain Action line of toys, "Dr. Evil". They made a "Steve Canyon" disguise kit for Captain Action, a military outfit, and a rubber-like face disguise. Maybe Dr. Evil is wearing that? They were made by Ideal. Thanks for watching!

[@gunnersmate7482]

I look forward tour videos and you never disappoint, great video.

[@RiderOrigin]

Can't see myself picking up any Joes any time soon, but it was really great watching this.

[@ToyTinkerTim]

Thanks! I'm always getting sidetracked onto vintage toys I'd never had, or ones I'd not heard of before. What's your favorites that you have/collect?

[@arthurmandel6541]

Nice restore does take a little work but great work.

[@kandijaimz]

Great video Tim funnily enough I had just begun a 70s Action Man restoration when this landed

[@ToyTinkerTim]

Hope this helps out then, thanks for watching!

[@robertbeatty9563]

great restoration. they should call you gi surgeon

[@manofaction1807]

All in all, you have a great looking figure there. 'MURICA!

[@rickyhoffa4781]

Love the video thank you

[@katsu-graphics5634]

i use "Extend" a rust paint, white acrylic paint that turns black in contact with rust, I paint the internal wires.

[@dongillis1500]

I converted a regular Chinese reproduction Joe to a Club Collector Joe, by replacing the head. The head hook was a MFer to get off unlike the old vintage joes. I finally just cut off the head pin off and replaced it with a cotsworld head pin. FYI on new joes.

[@ToyTinkerTim]

Good to know, I would have thought they would have been made just like the originals.

[@NatureLiving0]

Such a simple design no wonder these toys were so successful

[@mitchellpawlina586]

When you are heating up those hooks, you have to get them red hot , and then drop them in oil. One time is all that is needed.They’ll have a black look to them.

[@manofaction1807]

Use white vinegar next time on the rust discolored parts, and on the rusty metal parts. THEN use the dawn soap and warm water. DON'T USE TOO HOT OF WATER. Use the Warm water and dawn soap. The hotter water will distress the plastic. (I know, I've done it.) It will result in stress cracks where none existed before you overheat the plastic.

[@michaeloliver941]

Brilliant video, thank you for all the useful information. You mentioned that you cleaned the head prior to painting? What do you use to clean the head?

[@ToyTinkerTim]

I just use a good quality dish soap like the brand Dawn, and a soft bristle tooth brush. Thanks for watching!

[@jorgef.6477]

I bought a gijoe 64 but some one put a right hand on the left arm is it possible to take off the hand or the wrist or do they come off without restoring the whole arm thanks I like your video..

[@ToyTinkerTim]

These were designed pretty interchangeable, and yes, carefully you can work out the parts to interchange . Thanks for watching!

[@seufererfamily]

If you have to replace the thigh bars on a GI Joe how do you flatten the end of the bar? DO you just gentle tap it with a hammer to flatten it?

[@MichaelDutra-gl8ih]

Thanks for sharing! How can I remove their feet? I have a Joe I'd like to replace his feet with baby feet. Is that possible? Thanks!

[@falcon6415]

Great job love the video whats a safe way to get magic marker off a vintage gijoes face ? Would love your feed back !

[@ToyTinkerTim]

I've used a number of different things, rubbing alcohol, 3000 grit sandpaper, lighter fluid, and last resort acetone. Go at it carefully because sometimes the marker coloring may spread around as it's coming off the surface👍 Thanks for watching!

[@falcon6415]

@ToyTinkerTim OK thank you for your response 👍

[@jorgef.6477]

Can you tell me what colors you use to paint the head thank you!..

[@ToyTinkerTim]

In the video description (under the video) Jorge there are hyperlinks to the specific sections of this episode > 28:11-36:01 Paint touch up on GI Joe head

[@OutBackStu2575]

There is only one true Action Figure and his name is GI JOE. Great stuff

[@incubo_Morbid]

Great video, but im searching how to repair the next generation of G.I. Joe, the Action team ones, do You have video of that?

[@jorgef.6477]

Hello I broke a hook for gi Joe's arm what can I use what other one can I use can you give me an ideal thanks..

[@davegink9222]

Any tips on getting hands out of the forearms? I have a G.I. Joe with a broken finger, I found a replacement hand. But I cannot get the old hand and peg pulled from the forearm - even trying to use the pliers. EDIT: well, I broke the hand off, trying to get it out. Now I need to know how to get the post out of the forearm without the hand. Someone recommended taking the forearm off And pushing the post out from the elbow side, but it’s on really tight. I don’t want to break the elbow. Edit again: Since no one answered. I was unable to push the post out from the elbow side of the forearm. I ended up drilling out The hand post. Starting with a fairly small drill bit, and increasingly going larger until the original hand post came out. Fortunately, it worked and I was able to put a replacement hand in.

[@dongillis1500]

I would of thought you would of paint matched the tan rivets and touched those up as well.

[@ToyTinkerTim]

Thanks for watching Don! It's a easy touch up for sure, but my goal with this figure was to fix major issues and still maintain as much original vintage elements as possible (like keeping those original hooks inside instead of just replacing them).

[@enderking7148]

Where can I find one to buy

[@ToyTinkerTim]

In the video description I've got some links to eBay to shop figures and also for a book I refer to in this episode. It's a great classic vintage toy! Thanks for watching👍

[@jorgef.6477]

Can you tell me where I can purchase a pair of legs 64 original I tried ebay but there not whole thanks..

[@ToyTinkerTim]

To find original legs eBay has been about the only place online I know of. Reproduction parts you can get through Cotswold Collectibles. It may be a waiting game to get a listing for originals your looking for on eBay. You can create a saved search to get notifications for new items listed on eBay to help

[@williambradfordbaldwin4386]

Can you direct me to repair kits? Thanks!

[@ToyTinkerTim]

Yeah if your're figures are in major need of replacement parts there are multiple options on eBay: bit.ly/gijoerestringEbay Thanks for watching!

[@williambradfordbaldwin4386]

@@ToyTinkerTim thank you I also found some things today on the Cotswold site! Thank again!

[@ToyTinkerTim]

Very good 👍

[@JackFlemingFan1]

Have you ever touched up a blonde painted hair GI Joe and if so what paints did you use for this?

[@ToyTinkerTim]

As of yet, I haven't, but a good rule of thumb to keep in mind is don't try to match the color by using paint straight from a tube. It'll look flat, and probably not a good match, always blend/mix your colors to match.

[@douglasmills3844]

Just use a dremel sanding disc........................get the rust off!

[@carlosarce6352]

You're not going g to dress it up?