Small Scale Military Headquarters

I loved the first WWII XD figs and the airborne set that came afterwards, but since then it's like the quality has dropped, or I've been very unlucky and have been getting the defective ones. I have problems from figs being made of plastic that feels very soft almost rubbery that when you move joints they are melted together that break. I try putting them in the freezer and they still break. Maybe they have been exposed to super high temperatures while in shipping; I don't know, but that isn't even half of my XD problems. Many of the accessories like the first aid poutches don't fit in to the wholes, or plugs on the figure's body. The ankle joints that don't break are because they are super loose and can't stay in the position I leave them in. This is happening mostly on my S1 Marines like Zippy and Lt. over the top.
I know the BOB figs have some kind of rubbery material used for their coats,but the rubbery feeling I'm talking about is the material that makes up the entire figure of some of my marines and 2 of my airborne germans from the airborne set. I don't think this is normal because not all my figures from my Marines, or Airborne sets feel that way and as I said there are figures that don't feel rubbery and are made of such hard plastic that their accessories don't plug in to their bodies.

What can I do to fix this problem. I live in Canada and pay a lot for these figures after shipping and border duties. I order these by the set and at least half of them end up busted, or having accessories that can't be put on to them. Are you guys having the same problems, but have found ways around them? I read many posts on here and see that all of you are really happy with your XD figs. I'd be too if they didn't have problems. I am so frustrated and getting broke from buying items that end up useless because of broken parts, so I feel like stopping my 1:18 military hobby unless I can find some solutions. I could really use some advice and help.

When a car is full of errors and malfunction we say in germany that it's a "Monday car". It meens this car has been produced Monday morining when everybody is lazy and tired from the weekend. So you could call these figures with broken joints, bad paintjob or missing/not fitting assesories "Monday figures". I believe those Monday Figures were in every wave. 2 weeks ago I remove a Wave 1 figure fron the package and his leg felt of. From the paratrooper wave I have a Private Krieger who is on a Private Jäger Card and his magazine bag is missing. So I don't know if the qualtity has changed much - because there are also Monday figures in early waves. The BoB figures I have (not many) are all okay. I can't say anything about the marines or japanese troopers, bucause I don't have them yet.

I have the same problems. I found out here that if your run the figure under hot water for a while, the joints will loosen up. Just gotta be careful not to force the joints-just keep running them under hot water.
I also had a Post here that I HATE those 'holes'! I HATE the same thing you're going thru trying to get the equipment INTO the holes!! I hate that once I DO get the equipment in-as I pose them, the equipment FALLS BACK OUT! ARRRGGG!!!
Even though I live here in the States, I STILL have to buy my XD online too as my local Walmarts never have ANYTHING!! At least when I get there-so if I break it, I own it too!
But one of my WORST frustrations is the vehicles!!! Try to SIT one of your XD figures in the latest Dodge truck-or try to have them SIT in the back!
Even though I LOVE the WWII stuff...I've been getting more into Power Team 1:18 modern figures. They're priced right and these guys can pose!!! Without BREAKING!!! PT has what I think are the BEST articulated 1:18 figures on the market!!! Now if they'd only make WWII stuff.........

It's pick your pain when it comes to figures. My very first 1:18 purchase was from Target and damn if I can remember the name, it was "elite somthing" (not operations or force). Anyway the figures were a little cartoonish but the weapons were right on. For the price you get 2 figures vs the single XD I saw at Walmart. Then I saw the Krauts and that's where my trouble (addiction) started. I bought 2 Germans and 1 Market Garden figure. I was spoiled by the target figures as they were (1) fully articulated and (2) didn't disintegrate when move around. I kept the germans as I needed badguys but the 101st guy went back to the store pronto.

Now convinced that there must be a "complete" package as far as figures go I went to the only other "toy" retailer here in town (TRU) and was very pleasently surprised with what I found. The detail was above and beyond anything the others had to offer - but at a price. The single carded figures, as you know, have the funky articulation that gets old quick and eventually breaks but the best figures hands down are the BBI parachute figures - period! But at $9 a pop it's more than I can handle for sure and while detailed, expect to break out the exacto knife if you want him to hold a weapon correctly.

Downside? I've purchased 4 of the Sgt Furgeson figures and on 3 of them the right arm is detached at the swivel joint. Not sure if the females too big or the male is too small (no inuendo here). Anyway, I've called BBI several times but got fed up and broke out the crazy glue.

PTE - figures are the most articulated but the most cartoonish of all. BUT - if your looking for vehicles you gotta consider PTE. Again, their figures are pretty weak but I've purchased a bunch of their vehicles and IMO they are just as good as anything the others have to offer (especially the Humvee and the patrol cart).

Tanks/Armour - 21st - they've got that covered damn good without a doubt!

Aircraft - Ok, here's the argument. IMO BBI first but as for variety ya gotta like 21c.

Again, sorry for the diatribe. Just one guys opinion.

Heck ya, I got my Power Team camel and horse right here on my desk! I bought the watch tower as well. The "gummy" weapons suck though.

If you have an airbrush, with some paint and detailing some of the PTE stuff can look pretty cool. I think it is also sold at TRU under another name. They had a jeep and raft set for $10 that would look pretty sweet with some airbrushing and detailing.

As for the XD gear and holes problem, if the peg is a bit too thick I carefully slice off a bit with my X-Acto. If I want the piece on there for good, a drop of crazy or model glue will do it. If I think I might want to change the piece again, I put a tiny piece of Plasti-Tak on the end of the peg. It will keep it in and you can remove the gear later if you want.

Plasti-Tak is amazing stuff. It's a sticky, stretchy compound with million hobby uses. You can pull of cut off any size you need. It doesn't leave any stains or residue or anything. You can get it from Hobby lobby and office supply stores.It's only like $2.

Thanks, Rowsdower! I'm gonna pick up some of that Plasti-Tak! Can't figure out why 21C can't do what bbi does with their equipment and just have it ON the figure! I can see removing the back pack, but why the small pouches, etc? Cost cutting?
I'm glad you see the posibilities of PTE too! Some airbrushing on the vehicles and they'd look GREAT! Same goes with the figures! They have the vests, and web belts and with some painting and detailing...I love the articulation and the price point of these guys!! I hope this line continues, especially with that bridge that pictured on the back of their packages!!!

Thanks for the tip wit hthe pegs. Plasty stuff sounds like a solution for one of my XD problems. It's good to know that I'm not the only one in XD misery, but it real sucks that so many of us are having these issues. I hope the XD line will get better quality control at their factory, or reduce the prices on their figures, and I hope they don't keep giving us repaints and if they do then they should pay special attention to detail and make all the accessories on their OMG guys fit on, or provide propper parrashoot rig thing on their back.

Is PTE the name for the 1:18 BBI line?

<---> No ,.. it is not ! ...

PTE stands for Power Team Elite, for their 1:18 line. They also produce Power Team 1/6th figures too.
bbi has their 1:18 line, Elite Force.

Yeah Plasti-Tak is great stuff. I use it on Transformers I collect which often have floppy joints. Best part is that although its tacky it doesn't pull off paint or leave a residue.

Glad I could help! Those holes and pegs do stink.

holensock wrote: Some airbrushing on the vehicles and they'd look GREAT!

Yeah, I think the painting makes them look a lot more authentic than the plain plastic. A lot of the detail is molded in, it just needs some attention.

PTE really has some original pieces, I mean a rideable camel and a horse? How cool is that?

Now I'm mad I didn't pick up that jeep set when I was in town today!

I haven't seen the bridge. Sounds cool though!

KB had the jeeps for I think around $6 or $7. I LOVE the horse and camel sets!! That's all PTE needs is some attention. Same with the figures. I can get 5 Humvees for the cost of one XD tank! And with PTE, their figures FIT in the vehicles!! I LOVE posing these guys too!!
Check your area for a KB store. Unfortunately, the KB's by me are over an hour away! (but now you've got me wanting to go!!)

holensock wrote:
Check your area for a KB store. Unfortunately, the KB's by me are over an hour away! (but now you've got me wanting to go!!)

We had one for years in the mall here but it closed. I think the closest is in Orlando which is 60 miles.

Yeah the figs are really well articulated. You can make some cool poses. and them fitting in their vehicles is another cool plus.

I want to find the "Gear Up Motorcycle." Looks like a cool sidecar arrangement. Havent seen the Humvee but I did see the Little Bird and it was pretty sweet.

Guess I will have to do some recon at Big Lots again.

That motorcycle and sidecar is cool! KB had those as a single set for something like $3.96 each. KB Online has it.
http://www.kbtoys.com/Results.html/No/1 ... Bestseller
This was on sale there a couple of weeks back for $6.99. Look for it to go this price again soon there.

Ah nice the cycle with sidecar and a dunebuggy to boot! I will have to check if Biglots has any of those. If not I will pick one up from KB. Thanks!

I am more excited by the gate that comes with the set. Can anyone say check point?

"Papiern, Bitte! Ich muss Ihr Ausweiss aussehen!"

So guys, I take it that XD is not your favorite line for 1:18 stuff?

XD is my absolute favorite. However, I am always looking to scavenge from where ever I can.

Yeah XD is MY favorite with BBI a close second. It's just that you can get all sorts of cool pieces and accessories for next to nothing with Power Team. They aren't as detailed as XD but there are a lot of unique items.

I forgot about that gate! That with my watch tower would be a sweet checkpoint.

You guys haven't really mentioned drawbacks with BBI, but you all have the same problems as me with XD, so why is a product that falls apart, and commonly has "Monday" figures your favorite?
More details is great, but to me If the product isn't doing what it's suppose to then it is no good. Details are very important, but again for me they are just the icing on the cake.

Is BBI less detailed? Is there a complete check list of these 1:18 lines anywhere on the net? I only know of a XD list.

I think it has something to do with no other company besides 21C and bbi that produce 1:18 WWII figures. I like bbi a lot more because their equipment is ON their figures! NO holes to try and put a tiny canteen in.
They're also 'weathered' better! But ya gotta run these guys under hot water too when you take them out of their package. Only problem with bbi is that they don't produce MORE WWII figures!

Yeah I really do like how BBI handles the canteens, pouches and other gear. Trying to put all that tiny stuff on is not fun for someone with shaky hands.

I really don't have any major problems with BBI or 21st and I hope they keep coming out with quality WWII figs and vehicles. There more the merrier btw, since I don't collect much modern stuff.

I havnt heard much mention about the Dragon 1/18th figures. Any one in here have some and how are they compared to XD?

From the Reviews I have read and hearing people talk about them sometimes on here, the Dragon 1:18 figures are static figures in poses with very limitted articulation. They are good for diorama building, and are more like plastic statues.

The Dragon Action 18 figures on the most part are OK. My favorite 1/18 figure is the Squad leader from the Dragon action 18 Panzgrenadier line. The weapons, helmets and some of the other accessories that come the figures are far more detailed then the 21C or anyone else’s stuff. The MP44 is really nice. The different helmets are pretty cool also. One problem with the figures is the articulation and some of the helmets only fit on dragon figures with half heads, for a lack of a better term. They also have some figures that make a decent mortar crew.

<a href="http://imageshack.us"><img src="http://img93.imageshack.us/img93/7697/w ... 037fd9.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosted by ImageShack.us" /></a>
Action 18 Squad Leader

<a href="http://imageshack.us"><img src="http://img50.imageshack.us/img50/808/woodpile038qy2.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosted by ImageShack.us" /></a>
Squad leader

<a href="http://imageshack.us"><img src="http://img93.imageshack.us/img93/9493/w ... 033zw1.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosted by ImageShack.us" /></a>
Weapons

<a href="http://imageshack.us"><img src="http://img50.imageshack.us/img50/319/woodpile035bx5.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosted by ImageShack.us" /></a>
Helmets

<a href="http://imageshack.us"><img src="http://img93.imageshack.us/img93/6334/w ... 036qp3.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosted by ImageShack.us" /></a>
Half head helmet on the left vs regular helmet on the right