how to open a blister set?

[cachalote]

 
i just bought the new 5814 pirates' set.
it is made with the new blister packaging.
 
does anyone how i can open it without much damaging the blister or the cardboard behind?
although i try to buy all my sets bnisb i always open them with the utmost speed when i receive them to get my klickies out.
this one is giving me a lot of trouble and i can't stand having a new set and not be able to instantly open it.
i need help, the pirates are in desperate need for air.
please...

[Sylvia]

I think it will be very difficult to open it without any damage at all because of the strong glue which is used to stick the plastic to the cardboard backing.

My suggestion would be to use a very sharp knife with a small blade (eg. scalpel) and to slide it between the plastic and the cardboard, taking care that you do not tear too much of the printed background. Keep doing this around each side until you are able to get your figures out without bending the card.
You should be able to leave at least one side still attached to the cardboard.

I used to do this when trying to open my sons' collectable figures when they wanted to retain the blister packaging. I don't know of any other way, but I'm keen to get some tips on this too.

[Sir Gareth]

I didn't like having to open my 4430 30 years gold knight due to the amount of damage caused to the card. So I simply bought another one to keep sealed and one for display and I will do the same with the sets 5814/ 15 /17.

One more thing, since the thread is about the 5814 pirate set has anybody noticed anything odd about it?

[cachalote]

thanks sylvia and sir gareth.
did any of you tried the hot iron method?

[Martin Milner]

One more thing, since the thread is about the 5814 pirate set has anybody noticed anything odd about it?

It doesn't contain 11 pieces? 2 klickies, 2 hats, 2 swords, 2 pistols = 8. I guess you could pull off the red guy's swordbelt and make it nine.

If that's the answer, the Roman set 5817 also doesn't contain 12 pieces as advertised. 2 klickies, 2 helmets, sword, shield, trident, net, cape. You could remove the crest on the helmet to make 10, and the gladiator's bracer to make 11 - that's still not 12.

I'm still not keen on the red pirate's face in the 5814 pack.

As for how to open the blister pack without damage - I can't. I cut around the back of the blister with a very sharp knife, but it's not undamaged after that.

I dislike blister packaging generally, especially really tough packs you need a sharp knife to get into. I've bought torches (flashlights) and penknives in these sorts of packs on trips to the USA, and once you've ripped/bitten/sliced them open, you need a sit down and a cup of tea to recover your equanimity.

I think the idea is to reduce in-store pilfering.

[Tiermann]

They are stretching the pieces a little
In the pirates blister you have
2 figures
2 swords
2 pistols
2 hats
2 belts
the blue pirate has the yellow collar piece tha tis removable
so that's 11. The one that's a stretch is the gold belt since it can't be removed without cracking the klicky - but it is a separate piece of plastic.

I suppose if it's the paper part you are more concerned about you could cut through the plastic near the card instead of cutting the card itself.

[Martin Milner]

They are stretching the pieces a little
In the pirates blister you have
2 figures
2 swords
2 pistols
2 hats
2 belts
the blue pirate has the yellow collar piece tha tis removable
so that's 11. The one that's a stretch is the gold belt since it can't be removed without cracking the klicky - but it is a separate piece of plastic.

My understanding was that a belt you can't remove without cracking the clicky is not counted as a separate part, which is why they are not numbered or orderable as spares.

[Tiermann]

Perhaps they count the mini-catalog as a part?

[Sir Gareth]

I think they do count the mini cat as a part, don't know why?

5814 pirates,
2 Figures, the earrings and gold belt are part of the blue figure. 
2 hats.
2 swords.
2 guns.
1 orange collar .
1 sword belt
1 mini cat
11 parts in total.

5815 knights.
2 Figures
2 helmets.
2 swords.
2 shields
1 mini cat
9 parts in total

5817 Romans.
2 figures.
2 helmets.
1 red plume for helmet.
1 fork weapon or is it a trident?
1 sword.
1 net.
1 wrist band.
1 cape.
1 shield.
1 mini cat.
12 parts in total

What is odd is if you get the Knights and pirates sets together you will see that the dragon knight holds a pirate sword and the red Pirate holds a knights sword. The pirate type sword doesn't fit perfectly into the knights sword belt because the blade is wider towards the handle.
 
I wonder if they got mixed up when the card back images went to be made and after printing thousands of them they kept them like that rather than reprinting thousands more?

[Martin Milner]

I think they do count the mini cat as a part, don't know why?

What is odd is if you get the Knights and pirates sets together you will see that the dragon knight holds a pirate sword and the red Pirate holds a knights sword. The pirate type sword doesn't fit perfectly into the knights sword belt because the blade is wider towards the handle.
 
I wonder if they got mixed up when the card back images went to be made and after printing thousands of them they kept them like that rather than reprinting thousands more?

Aha, I was going to comment on the odd sword in a review (when I got round to one). I certainly didn't like the pirate sword with the knight, as you say it doesn't fit properly in his belt loop, and that's plain annoying if you're a child.

I wondered about the catalogue - my wife suggested that solution. I looked at the orange collar in 5814, and felt I'd risk breaking it or the klicky trying to remove it.