Here you go...this was originally an email I wrote to a friend, so it`s been copied more times than the average pirate DVD by now! Nice to see it`s still of use,though....*ahem*...I don`t actually use this method any more! I use the fold-and-lean-on-it technique.
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"Hi,
I thought I would give this an email to itself, so you can keep it on file somewhere.
Lots of different variations on how this is done, so I`m just going to describe my method.
First thing...breakages. They do happen, but only once every thirty or so Klickies, in my experience. There are ways to minimise this.
The two bits that break most often are the legs, and internal clip or chassis. Two piece legs break most often...such as legs with boots on.
So first thing to learn is how to swop legs. Can you do this? I`ll assume not.
You need a smallish screwdriver...thin blade, about 5mm across. I have one that I slightly rounded the corners off with a file. Saves scratching.
Are you right handed? I am, so I`ll assume you are.
Get an adult klicky, lay it on its back on your desk, head to the left side, hands over its head. Insert the blade of your screwdriver vertically between the side of the legs of the figure and the white chassis part. Do this quite firmly, until you meet resistance. Then twist the screwdriver a quarter turn anti-clockwise. Legs should lever out quite easily.
If they don`t, or the screwdriver starts to scratch the figure, you don`t have the blade in far enough. It needs to be quite a thin blade....find an old, worn screwdriver.
To replace legs, you just have to hook one of the leg nobbles that act as pivot points back into the chassis, and gently push the other one in too. It helps if you do this with the Klicky lying flat on the desk as well.
This is pretty useful so far, because even just swopping legs, hair and accessories around can give figures a whole new look. Obviously you can`t put the legs of the fat-tummy figures on the standard ones, but you can take skirts off women like this, and make them into warriors etc just by putting legs on them.
Also the way to prevent two.piece legs breaking is to replace them with a pair of old one-piece legs, before proceeding to the next step.
There are lots of variations on this, which you can read up on in the Board threads. I`ve never had much trouble with this one, but it does depend on your hands, I think. It probably won`t work for you if you have hands the size of dinner plates, for example.
You need a pad of paper to protect your desk....don`t use your mouse mat..I did for a while, and I ruined it. Pad of A4 is fine.
Put the figure`s arms straight out in front of it, then make it into a sitting shape. Then cup it into your right hand, with the head of the figure just in the fleshy part below your middle finger. Curl your thumb round to keep it in place.
Here comes the hard part. You want to hit this poor Klicky into your paper pad, striking the heels at such an angle that the shock of the impact jars the head peg loose. Once you manage it once, you`ll see what I mean, so the first time is the most difficult .. (As in everything.)
Hit the Klicky into the pad of A4, aiming the legs at a 45degree angle, so the heels hit the pad hard. Do not try to ram the figure through the mat, but to let it rebound off again. Think bounce...
I`ve attached a picture of the above bit, to give you an idea of the angle. But it`s not great....difficult to take a pix of your own hand, I found out!
With any luck you just heard a soft pattering sound, as of Klicky parts falling softly onto the desk.
If no joy, try again. Don`t be afraid to use a bit of force, though it`s as much about the angle as anything. You have to work out what works for you.
(Use a Klicky you don`t mind breaking, for this attempt.)
Once you do one, you`ll do about fifty in the next ten minutes, I promise!
A note here about the chassis part, which sometimes breaks too. In my experience it`s the older, more brittle ones that break. Also I think it`s important to bounce them off the pad, not crash land them.
In addition, not all figures have the same chassis. Strange but true. Female Klickies have narrower waists, and you`ll find on reassembly that the male-type chassis won`t fit properly. Also older ones had a slightly different design. Check the fit before reassembly.
Which is easy. Fit a pair of legs onto the chassis, stand them on the table and add the torso. This is the time to add belts. Then put the arms in by lifting the torso up a fraction fro the chassis, rotating the arm connectors into place and pushing the whole lot down. You should be able to feel it sort of click together.
Good time to check the design, here, as they still come apart very easily. Make sure the arms are in properly, and that they rotate. Also females with the waisted design often have slightly curved arms, which are a left and right pair. You can end up with the curving towards the back.
Finally push the head peg in. You should hear it click (!) and seat in. If it doesn`t, it usually means that the arms aren`t in right. Or you have an improperly fitting chassis part, which can`t reach up to the top properly.
Fin.
Have fun!
Isabella."
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There was an image to go with this email, but you can`t just attach it here, can you? I`ll go and host it somewhere later if anyone needs it.
