So, I was just using the screwdriver trick to pry appart a Zartan I found at Shopko, Well the Waist and upper body is seperated... but the upper body itself is still in one peice. Somehow I broke it apart just enough so I popped his torso off the peg without snapping off the rest of him. Did just try to wedge the driver in the joint and pry, but considering the damage done I don't intend to repeat that.

Any tips on how to get this thing apart or will I have to wait until Major Bludd comes out and try again?

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Run the torso under hot water for a bit to soften the glue. Then try prying again. If that doesn't work, switch to an Xacto and run the blade up the seam (start at the hole that the torso peg fits into).

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Just had the same problem a few days ago. Zartan is a tough egg to crack (no pun intended). I think it has a lot to do with the spacer that's use to house the lower torso ball (sounds weirder than it actually is). He was a bitty to open as well as a bitty to get to seal again. Hope to get the custom posted shortly to show my woes.

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quite a few i've popped open with a flat head wedged between the lower/upper torso joint, twist and it cracks open. didn't work for all of them though.

For Tomax (or was it Xamot....) I ended up using an x-acto, up and down the seams, then used a thin (but strong) piece of metal to wedge between the 2 halves, then a few careful twists to pry it open w/o doing major damage to the plastic. I wouldn't recommend a standard x-acto tip to pry it with (cut the seam, yes, pry it open, no), the tip could possibly break off...I would recommend a curved or "flat head" shaped x-acto blade.

broken these before.

these worked.

and these.

if you have any wood carving tools those would be good for prying as well.

allrighty then.

Well, I'd just got back on to tell you the tips wheren't working. Tried running my precision screwdrivers up the seems, got a little leeway, tried X-acto's, but wasn't really into it considering the rust on the blades (mmmm....tetnis...). Ran under hot water twice, tried prying from the hole again, but only suceeded in mangling it again.

Well I opened another tab on the new IE, accidentally switched my post to Generals joes, and upon backing up lost the whole deal. Well in the frustration I tried yet again, this time getting enough room to stick my pen flat/phillips down the neck, and I pried, eventually getting it apart... looks like I broke something, but hey, its apart.

Thanks for the help.

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I've found that the best x-acto blade #16. It's what I use to open all of the chest pieces. I found that it to be more effective than the normal x-acto blade #11 or any of the other types out there. It seems that the smaller the blade size, the easier it is--most times---to open the chest piece.

This is what I used on the Zartan chest piece. Remember to take your time and go easy on it. You don't want to cut the lower section...

http://www.widgetsupply.com/page/WS/CTG ... lade-no-16

You can get this at Michaels or a hobby shop--it normally comes in the multipacks.

If this doesn't separate the chest completely, then --depending on the chest piece, I'll use a reasonable size flat head screw driver or plyers.

It depends on the chest piece.

db

hmmmm maybe we should try and compile a list of what works for what chest....because it seems to be a lot of trial and error and I personally don't care for myself...but for others (what a samaritan).

I know i wouldn't recommend using the screwdriver method for Storm Shadow, or Wild Weasel.....I mutilated (but was able to salvage) the peg slot in Wild Weasel's chest, and I never separated my Storm Shadow chest from the abs....just stretched the peg (joint is still tight though, only damage was purely cosmetic).

sucks because screwdriver method imo is the best/fastest way to crack em open, just doesn't work for all joes.