Vintage Kenner M.A.S.K. Firecracker box repair guide - Toy Polloi

[@batangbatugan]

80's era toy packaging is a lost art. Those gorgeous traditionally painted artworks belong in a museum and this is the closest we can get to the equivalent of an art restoration.

[@gregscalzo5259]

Now I want a Toy Polloi / Baumgartner Restoration collaboration video.

[@kevcox5585]

Dave, my favourite videos of yours are vintage box restorations. It's so satisfying to watch you at work. I've bought the tape, EVA glue and have all the tricks in the book from yourself and I love it when i receive a battered vintage box to restore myself, it feels hugely rewarding once you've finished it, even though it does take time as you say. Love watching you work my friend and thank you, you've taught me so much and helped me bring many vintage boxes back from the brink of ruin!

[@TheToyBoy1978]

I never get tired of watching box restorations! Despite what you said Dave, i actually think the end result was perfect!

[@toypolloi]

Thanks. I like boxes like this. They show age, but it's now nice and strong again.

[@TheUncleRuckus]

Awe man this brings back so many memories! I had the Fire Cracker and a bunch of other M.A.S.K toys as a kid. Wish my mom wouldn't have thrown all my childhood toys out me, I had so many! All I have now is a few Hot Wheels/Matchbox cars a Decepticon Transformer that's purple & blue and that's about it. 😞

[@grahampeat6945]

Wow, what a difference !!! Love the opening title sequence

[@toypolloi]

Thanks. I thought I needed a MASK intro as I have a few more projects in the works.

[@bufordhighwater9872]

That was an awesome introduction. I'm still grinning. Thank you.

[@toypolloi]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@ghostbustersquickresponseu5159]

You're the Box-Master!

[@jeremyhoffpauir3571]

Picked up a beat up TMNT sewer system box. Remembered this video and gave it a rewatch. Hoping for the best.

[@zarnistastudios]

I love these box restorations. Maybe because I am a package designer lol. Very cool repair.

[@sithcarebear1]

It really turned out well, Dave. The wear and tear reminds me of the faux weathering on the Hasbro Star Wars Retro Collection packaging. It’s funny how the weathering looks forced and like a cash grab where as the actual vintage wear and tear brings back a sense of nostalgia and longing for the simpler times of our youth when a new toy was like a celebration of life. Thank you for another great video. Cheers!

[@eltenda]

Great video and project as usual

[@kaidzaack2520]

Very good! What helped me a lot was polishing the outside of the box with some „floor-shine“ liquid (Polyboy - not sure what is available in the UK). It makes the print shiny and „seals“ the cardboard in some way. Cheers!

[@ambassadorz]

I've been waiting for a MASK box video for ages. So happy you done it. This is exactly how I do my MASK boxes and funnily enough, I was doing a Firefly Box when I came across this one. Great job as always Toy-polloi. Keep ut the great videos

[@toypolloi]

Glad it was helpful!

[@davidpyott3710]

Your restoration work is first class mate

[@inthelionsden6335]

Your box restoration videos are fun to watch.

[@tootyuk]

Great fix Dave

[@dakaraius]

That intro is EPIIIIIIIIC !!!!!!!!!! I want one of me now!

[@toypolloi]

Thanks. I've been meaning to make a MASK style intro for a while as I have more MASK videos coming along soon.

[@GrrrwolfWherewolf]

You, sir, are a godsend! Thank you so much for what you do and sharing your videos with us!

[@toypolloi]

My pleasure

[@KRnut82]

It's my first time watching one of your box repair videos. I have to say I truly enjoyed what I saw. Great job!👍

[@toypolloi]

Thanks 👍

[@banzaibobA7V]

That was cool! Been a while since you did a box restoration.

[@kaaawasakiproductions]

What a GREAT opening!!!! Thank you for another fantastic video!!!

[@toypolloi]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@kaaawasakiproductions]

@@toypolloi Every time! its entertaining to watch and very informative. I learn something new with each video. Keep up the great work!

[@kernowvideo]

Love the intro.

[@mmamaverick35]

Awesome repair and Intro

[@davidtexmex1616]

Smashing work 👏🏼 loving the Mask content, keep em coming 🙂

[@JohnJones-oy3md]

I've learned a lot from your channel. Thank you! Let me try to give back a little. Instead of lighter fluid, give pure n-heptane a try. It evaporates quickly (like real quickly) and won't leave behind any of the oily residue that light fluid often does. It's apparently what professional conservators use in their work. In the US at least, a cheap source I've found is the product Bestine from the company Speedball (the screen-printing supply company). The stuff is truly magical for reactivating/removing adhesives.

[@Tim-57]

Thanks Dave 😊 You are always doing something interesting. I will be sharing this video with friends who have a channel, one of them wanted to fix a box for a toy. Take care of Yourselves ☺

[@toypolloi]

Thanks 👍

[@Tim-57]

@@toypolloi The least I could do for you 🙂

[@michaelparkes3059]

Loved the MASK opening titles! Box looked great! I've done a few myself, I run a red marker pen along the white cracks on the edges. The cardboard seems to absorb the ink and hides the cracks.

[@toypolloi]

Thanks Michael. I've a few MASK projects coming so thought I'd better make and special intro.

[@samuelcopeland]

Turned out fabulous! Awesome job!

[@toypolloi]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@wampaslap4123]

Another amazing box repair video! Keep it up...always!

[@toypolloi]

Thanks! Will do!

[@markmmm667]

Great video! I have a bunch of old boxes that I'm going to have to restore (83 GI Joe APC & G1 Omega Supreme pop to mind first). Probably will change-up the ironing part and use my comic pressing set-up (w/ steambath) to get the major wrinkles out, then fine press any remaining areas with some other tools. The steam may even loosen the glue joints.

[@MrIrrepressible]

Amazing work. Very impressive.

[@kingerikthegreatest.ofall.7860]

Excellent work.

[@stephenpenor9957]

@toy Polloi man what you did to that box was quite amazing! I agree seeing age to it makes it look nice! Just how you restructured it wow love it! Great job! Always enjoy watching your repairs! -Stephen

[@toypolloi]

Thanks so much!

[@paulsstuff1969]

Great video as always Dave

[@toypolloi]

Thanks 👍

[@1966tvbatman]

Nice restore.I'm always a bit disappointed when you don't go over the bad creases with ink and paint to make it look that much better, because I know you are capable of it.

[@Phantasia_Workshop]

Sometimes he likes things to be a little wabi sabi

[@1966tvbatman]

@@Phantasia_Workshop Yes, but I don't think he's EVER done a box/card repair where he's touched up the surface. He'll do a great job on the toy restoration, but will leave the packaging looking like it's been run over.

[@toypolloi]

I have, At-St box. Cheers.

[@jonboldrey5339]

That water tape is good sh....! I redid snake mountain an droids a wing box an many gi joe boxes. Nice dave

[@cookiemadison8529]

By coincidence just today I found a 70s era version of the game Battleship at an op-shop. The game itself is great shape, but the box is really dilapidated. I usually don't mind because for me, that kind of pre-used, beaten-upness (did I just invent a new word?) is part of the charm. But I think I'll give some of your techniques a go. Thanks, as usual.

[@TheRetroTinker]

Nice job!

[@ReynoldsReviews]

Well MASK is always gonna get my vote Dave, actually have a couple of MASK boxes to do myself. Exceptional job though once again my friend. The colours on the box still look nice and bright too, as always thoroughly enjoyed it 👏👏

[@toypolloi]

Thanks Luke. It's a nice display piece now. Still has age, but holds together and is sturdy. Cheers

[@teppest111]

Thanks for doing this I knew this would a agreat video like al of your videos.

[@toypolloi]

Glad you liked it!

[@ActionPopCast]

Fantastic job, I really must repair my scout walker box. It's great seeing something that is essentially rubbish become a great display piece 🤘🤘🤘🤘

[@leebush4053]

Would it benefit from the inside being completely reinforced and one end glued shut? Excellent repair again.

[@agathisrobusta]

Nice work. I imagined you were going to make another box to slide inside it for strength and shape.

[@toypolloi]

If you can get the outside strong enough then it's not always needed. And this box ended up nice and sturdy. Cheers

[@lonniestringfellow9854]

I've bought Styrofoam blocks and cut them down to fit inside the box snug. Light weight, and makes the box nice and square.

[@Akondom]

I have a 90s dino riders brontosaurus complete in box. The box jas some wear purely because it's so big. I'd love to see him work on it

[@Siansonea]

I wonder if it might be worthwhile to iron the flat unfolded box and leave it under a sheet of heavy perspex/plexiglass overnight, to really help flatten the paper. I also wonder if it would be worthwhile to fill boxes like this with floral foam blocking, to make them even more sturdy, and to help them keep their shape longer. If you wanted to do a display where you stack boxes like this, it would also help keep the boxes from being crushed due to being empty.

[@the_atomshop]

another interesting repair. Well Done. I wondered if the warm iron would add to dry out the old cardboard and make it even more brittle? I guess it's unavoidable.

[@toypolloi]

I don't think it should as the original glue used would not be water based.

[@GM-NSD]

Just need to find the insert template to finish it off 👍

[@andrewrichards312]

This is going to be a great help with partly restoring a water-damaged Sky Commanders Locust Raider box. Dave I did have a question though. Do you know how to fix the spare tire mechanism on Firecracker, so that the tire actually locks in place? I've disassembled it after it suddenly stopped working and I think I must be missing something.

[@toypolloi]

Great. I've not taken a firecracker apart yet. I would guess part of the clip has snapped off inside. If I get a broken one I'll do a video on it.

[@jonathancampbell5523]

Dave, have you ever used a scan of an original box section to make a sticker to replace torn off sections of graphics?

[@toypolloi]

I haven't. But I most likely have some boxes that could be fixed up that way.

[@jonathancampbell5523]

@@toypolloi I will throw a vote in for Thunderhawkif you decide to give it a go. I have a box with missing sections of graphics on every side due to Christmas wrapping paper being taped directly to the box and then ripped off.

[@toypolloi]

I'm trying to get a thunderhawk at the moment for a good price. I'll get one soon.

[@stephenrider2413]

I’m surprised there wasn’t mote MASKing tape.

[@briantrash]

I know what masking tape is, but what is mote masking tape?

[@a-tick]

Hey Dave, any chance you have an idea on how to fix the launching spare tyre? Mine no longer clips onto the post for whatever reason.

[@toypolloi]

I haven't looked inside this one yet. So hard to say. Most likely a clip has snapped off and would need either repairing or replacing. I'm sure it's fixable based on how the other toys work.

[@foxhound9781]

MASK was so ahead of its time, using all cardboard packaging with no plastic. Now they’re trying to package toys like this today.

[@johnblack9885]

Curious why EVA glue and not Mod Podge or Elmer’s glue?

[@toypolloi]

EVA is acid free and won't cause any damage to the box. Cheers

[@sylvanyoung]

Nice . Good repair, restoration . I imagin you have gotten and will be getting loads of sugestion from your fans👨‍🏫👨‍🏫 . If i may. 😏😉 . On Jules Burt channel , he uses Mr Sheen to clean some of his book covers . Any how thanks for the help and advice . 🖖

[@toypolloi]

Thanks 👍

[@Longtermalwayswins]

i would go ebay and get a new box. too much work haha

[@TrypticOwen]

This may be a terrible idea but I'd be really tempted to try and stick it in a giant laminating wallet.

[@mattm8641]

I use lighter fluid, and then i little goo gone gets rid of the residue. Goo gone only, takes to long to work.

[@needfoolthings]

I thought you'd be starting with a good soapy acrub with a toothbrush... Oh well.

[@brettwhite3766]

You've shown box repairs before and I'm wondering if you might be running out of toys to do videos about? I hope not

[@toypolloi]

Not at all. I have many toys to fix up. But people ask for more box repairs, and I know often collectors will only watch videos on toys they collect. So MASK fans may not watch the Star Wars Box repairs, etc.

[@dyiphotography8076]

You shouldn't use lighter fluid. What if a kid is watching this. It's very dangerous what you do.

[@toypolloi]

I would not expect a child to have access to lighter fluid in the first place as only adults can buy it. So they would need to ask an adult for help.

[@The1queencollector]

If you have not watched him you must, Posterfix. , May give you some worthy ideas to repair card and paper, vintage poster restorer.