How do I swap heads on Mattel figures?

[zen411]

I am new to customizing. I looked around for some FAQs and the links are disabled or outdated.

I may eventually do some painting or sculpting. At this point I just need to swap some heads. One is a basic and the other is an elite so not sure if that makes a difference.

Are there up to date FAQs with links that are active or can someone fill me in here? I'd like to know where to go for the day I do decide to sculpt or paint but for now just head swaps and maybe swap legs lower half to the upper half body.

Thanks.

[Deleted]

Head swapping is incredibly easy.  Heat the figure up (I microwave water for a few minutes and dunk the head in for like 30 seconds to a minute) and then just pull the head off.  Same procedure to put a head on just reversed of course).  Swapping other parts can be more of a challenge. Here's a little video showing how torso cracking works, just for when that day comes.  He also has a good video on dry brushing, which is a vital technique to learn for painting. 


Torso Cracking

[emofoxy48yt]

So, I was swapping a head from a Elite 65 Roman Reigns onto my Elite 79 Roman Reigns body. I got the head off the E65 Roman but when I try putting it on my E79 Roman (At this point it had been about a day after I removed the head from the E65...), it just would not pop on! It has been about 2 or 3 weeks since then, but no matter how hard I push the head onto the E79 Body, IT WON'T POP ONTO IT! Can you help me please!

[theungreatone]

Jan 19, 2021 22:15:44 GMT -5 emofoxy48yt said:

So, I was swapping a head from a Elite 65 Roman Reigns onto my Elite 79 Roman Reigns body. I got the head off the E65 Roman but when I try putting it on my E79 Roman (At this point it had been about a day after I removed the head from the E65...), it just would not pop on! It has been about 2 or 3 weeks since then, but no matter how hard I push the head onto the E79 Body, IT WON'T POP ONTO IT! Can you help me please!

heat the head up again and then try

[emofoxy48yt]

So do I heat up the head only? Or do I have to heat up the Peg too?

[inevitabledeth]

Feb 22, 2021 17:29:31 GMT -5 emofoxy48yt said:

So do I heat up the head only? Or do I have to heat up the Peg too?

Just the head. Your goal is to heat the softer plastic (the head) so it can expand/ stretch with ease, allowing easy placement onto the peg. Heating the peg serves no purpose and may even cause wear and the peg may bend if heated.

Specifically, you'd want to aim the heat at the bottom hole area (if using a hairdryer or heater)

[emofoxy48yt]

Thanks Guys!

[emofoxy48yt]

One more thing... How long do I heat it up for?

[Cane Dewey Riley]

Jan 19, 2021 22:15:44 GMT -5 emofoxy48yt said:

So, I was swapping a head from a Elite 65 Roman Reigns onto my Elite 79 Roman Reigns body. I got the head off the E65 Roman but when I try putting it on my E79 Roman (At this point it had been about a day after I removed the head from the E65...), it just would not pop on! It has been about 2 or 3 weeks since then, but no matter how hard I push the head onto the E79 Body, IT WON'T POP ONTO IT! Can you help me please!

I've found for some reason that Mattel has created different sized head holes for Elite figures and I don't know why.  I was trying to put a John Cena head onto a Dolph Ziggler body and the Dolph head has a much larger hole in it to go back onto the peg much easier than the Cena head.  I will never understand why Mattel did this and it seems to be hit or miss.  I've had to use a straight razor to go in and cut some of the extra plastic out to make heads fit.