Illusive Yoda cracking

helmethead833

helmethead833

New Member
How do I go about fixing / repairing this. Yoda starting to crack because of the sun :cry. I had him in the garage and forgot about the sun shing through the windows on my garage door. I have him covered up now. Is there a fix or do I need to purchase another one. Good luck to me with that. Any help from the Mr. Wizards here would be very grateful. Thank you. J
 
In my experience with Illusive and other latex type items the first question I would ask is if the latex is hard. If it's hard or getting hard then it would need a more experienced person (Wampa most definitely) to tell you what to do.

If it's just starting to crack a bit but still fairly supple I have always used Johnson's Baby Oil (and ONLY Johnson's, others have mixed oils that will damage latex). Get a fine misting bottle and gently spray it on the statue and let it soak in. If it's like some pieces I saved it'll literally drink it up. Don't drown it though, just a fine coat and let it sit, and don't move the latex or it'll just crack more.

Sun is definitely the worse thing for those statues and masks. I had an original Tusken Don Post that was painted great...but the sun got it and it was shot, hard as a rock and started to crumble like Toht's face from ROTLA!
 
I will try with Johnsons first. See how that goes. If needed, How do I get a hold of Wampa? I am hoping he can help. My poor Yoda.
 
check with the guy who restored the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles character, the thread is prob only a week or so old, he'd know.....
 
Wampa is the absolute best!!! Not sure an IC yoda is worth an expensive restoration but if he actually did an overhaul it would be freakin AMAZING!!

I do restoration on latex myself...I'd say i'm amateur but do some nice work if anyone wants to see it. I've saved a bunch of pieces..and one recently at a haunted house I work for in the off season
 
Tom is the BEST...but I figured this gives me a little chance to show off some of my work. If Tom's a professional, I like to consider myself an affordable amateur LOL

Here's a Don Post mask I restored a little while back. I bought it for 10$ on ebay and sold it for 150$ when I was done with it. Not a bad profit eh? The neck is a tad short on the after picture. I extended it later but don't have a picture of it. Came out great though!
BEFORE
jzfdq8.jpg


AFTER
73e6wo.jpg
 
Some more work....

Not quite a restoration but a reworking of a 40 year old rotting urethane master copy. Basically prepped the master enough to get a good mold out of it.

Now I was able to offer a mask that was made VERY poorly 4 decades ago. They came with thick castings and better paint jobs.
9bj8rk.jpg

I freakin love seeing reworkings and restorations. How can you not kiss Tom's butt over his work? LOL..it's brilliant. With each new piece he blows my mind. I wish I could look over his shoulder through an entire restoration!!
 
Great restore job on the mask. I would say that in my minimal experience trying to restore a latex mask that baby oil works wonders. I have had the sun get a few things. Not fun. Hope it works out for you.
Jim
 
What do you use baby oil for???? I hope that's a joke LOL

Baby oil would ROT latex. It might feel like it softens it up at first but any oil deteriorates latex.
 
Wow, thanks for all the kind words guys! :$

ioncanon said:
Not sure an IC yoda is worth an expensive restoration...
Click to expand...

Dan brings up the fundamental point on the IC pieces. Sometimes, the cost of repair outweighs the value of the piece.

I mainly focus my restoration efforts on screenused foam-latex pieces, which often require a bit more work but also have a high enough value (and often "one of a kind" status) which makes going forward with restoration a somewhat less difficult decision.

As the IC stuff is far from one of a kind, seeking out an example in better condition is certainly an option, depending on how bad the damage is and how well you get on with attempting repair on your own.

As for the baby oil treatment, I know Mike swears by it, but much like Dan, I'm uncomfortable recommending it.

Tom
 
What is the baby oil actually used for???

If you told that to some of my mask collector friends they would probably short circuit hearing that hahah
 
ioncanon said:
What is the baby oil actually used for???

If you told that to some of my mask collector friends they would probably short circuit hearing that hahah
Click to expand...

Actually I got the recommendation to use it from the Midwest regional manager from Don Post Studios back in the late '80s.

That's why he told me very, very specifically to use ONLY Johnson's Baby Oil and no other. The reason he said, and I later found out, is the refining process involved between the petroleum used (which would break down the latex) and the final resulting mineral oil (which lubricates without damage). Johnson's is the only one with the highest level of refinement of any company, and the cheaper the brand (especially dollar store types) the higher the petroleum content.

I have had latex masks that lasted over 20 years using just a fine mist once in spring and once in fall, not one iota of deterioration. The only thing to be careful of is any paintwork, but even Wampa's, Distortion Unlimited's, Illusive Concepts and Don Post masks have showed no sign of paint damage or deterioration.

Say what you will, but myself and other collectors I've told this to have never had any issues with it.
 
Well I assumed your post was just an innocent suggestion and you were uninformed.

I didn't know you were so researched in it.

Very interested to read though.

I've also heard stuff about using a spray that stretch armstrong collectors use. I think it's silicone tho....
 
ioncanon said:
Well I assumed your post was just an innocent suggestion and you were uninformed.

I didn't know you were so researched in it.

Very interested to read though.

I've also heard stuff about using a spray that stretch armstrong collectors use. I think it's silicone tho....
Click to expand...

Your right, since I was an action figure collector at one time. There is a protective silicon spray that some collectors us, on latex as well. However, and I admit not knowing as much about it, only some particular sprays actually work while others clog up the "breathing" of the latex or rubber (similar to what petroleum does) and then it ends up stiffening up as well.

Rule of thumb a horror mask collector told me...if a hospital uses it, then it's good for latex. Why? Consider Johnson's, it's the only one that hospitals will use because it will not deteriorate latex gloves, masks, etc., something very important in a hospital! ;)
 
And Dan, love your work! You and Wampa amaze me, but I'm with you all the way, I'd love to just be watching Wampa through an entire process! Tom is without doubt one of the most amazingly talented people I've met...about damn time some "major players" noticed! :lol
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

paplooo
My Yoda 1:1 Puppet ESB
Replies
10
Views
1,182
paplooo
paplooo
azheat01
My 3D Printed 1:1 Life-sized Yoda
2
Replies
21
Views
2,057
azheat01
azheat01
_Lee_
Animated Yoda prop. Anyone modified one?
Replies
4
Views
733
savant42
savant42
Media Man
Lineage cast Yoda Puppets- Is that even a thing?
Replies
7
Views
1,113
paplooo
paplooo
PACKARACK
Home Depot Christmas Yoda
Replies
3
Views
1,347
antwayne
A
Back
Top