Buzzetta

I was going to change it last night. Guess I will leave Bobby D for a little while more.

I am getting the itch to buy something... I hate all of you.

Interesting... So just throwing this out there... if the off gassing from the plastic, cardback, or the interior of the blister is the actual culprit causing an issue for the long term health of the figure, what a small pinhole or two (the actual size of a sewing needle or something similar) in a discreet location alleviate this issue? Would a grade drop be significant ? I am so nervous with carded Kenner figures. I sold mine off years ago and sometimes when I see the current prices I want to kick myself. However, then I see all of the issues that these carded figures have experienced or can experience and I feel that for all I know, my stormtroopers could have yellowed, some of the blister packs could be brittle to the point that the figure burst off the card. I sold the last few except for the three I still hold once I saw that my Jedi Luke was yellowing and the bubble on my POTF2 Han Carbonite started to crack.

Another AFA graded figure that has degraded in the pic. This piece is only 16 years old and the torso has turned from white to tan. https://www.ebay.com/itm/R2-D2-Coruscant-Sentry-Variant-Star-Wars-Attack-of-the-Clones-Graded-AFA-U85/323043503675?hash=item4b36e4ae3b:g:6JEAAOSwal5YFQYK As Joe has made mention of, be very CAREFUL what you are paying for.

Ugh... Graded and now the sticker adhesive has degraded and is lifting off the figure. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Star-Wars-Loose-R2-D2-1977-Kenner-Action-Figure-AFA-85-NM/173078917747?hash=item284c4eb273:g:dUoAAOSwuIlaUBgt

@comicwiz Joe, I was not aware of vinyl discoloration to the extent that I see on the Jawa. I checked my vintage loose figures and have not seen any such discoloration on my Raider, Obi Wan, Leia or any of the others. (I do not own a vinyl cape Jawa). So here is my question. Was the vinyl used for the Jawa of a make that it naturally degraded no matter the circumstances? Are the sealed figures allowing for a toxic buildup inside that bubble that degrades the figure? I wonder if any materials released through the natural breakdown of the plastic is causing a harmful effect.

Yes. Last month I was looking up information on the current ASM storyline leading to issue 800. I wanted to discuss it here but realized it would get lost in the clutter of discussing which modern comic is the best to pick up and flip. I have no problem with the flippers but I figured, why bother as it wouldn't get noticed and no one would discuss it. I decided not to post the thread and I have not been in moderns since.

North of the border that makes some sense to me but only depending on the books. If I am submitting items of high value I am not placing them in the hands of the LCS. The now defunct Blue Planet on Long Island (notorious for MANY other reasons as detailed across these boards) was one of those shops that was reportedly conveniently misplacing certain submissions. I think it is that reason that I am sour on the idea of giving books off to a LCS to send to CGC. I usually wait until I have a number of books and then send them to Florida.

my LCS owner said he has about another two years left in him and then he is going to retire. After that I will order my twice monthly copy of ASM once a year through MCS. I search through their listings quite frequently and I am always pleased.

I do not understand why people hand off books to their LCS to submit. Why not just submit them yourself?

The Wheels are in Motion ! (One of the greatest threads ever) Ian Levine v Metropolis

This is a steal at this price. This is my second copy of this. http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/Product/VariationDetails/65211 I am not in business with BBTS I am not profiting off this and I receive no compensation for the link. However they are selling the Star Wars Black Series AT-ST for $25. They are $57.99 up here in Walmart and have traditionally been a Walmart exclusive. This is not like the one that was released with the original line that was much smaller and only fit one figure. This is in scale with the larger AT-AT that came out and fits two figures side by side. I would grab one for $25 and add it to your pile of loot if you have an account with them or ship it now for $4.

I am debating heading down to Maryland for 8/11 and/or 8/12 or... Camden for 8/7 and/or 8/8. You should come.

Whoa... https://mcmanusauctions.hibid.com/lot/37995155/frank-sinatra-wax-figure-display-head/?ipp=100&ref=catalog

This was from 2014 on Hisstank... guy bought a 1st Series Snake Eyes MOC where the O-Ring snapped. http://www.hisstank.com/forum/g-i-joe-toys-vintage-discussion/391088-snake-eyes-9-back-moc-broken-o-ring.html Google is revealing a lot of cringeworthy incidents.

Call them and ask. I have always found them to have exceptional customer service depending on how you conduct yourself. I am being serious. They have done a lot for me over the years whenever I have had a question about something.

You are right with the quality of the bubble used on the GI Joes. I make mention of the original series based on my experiences. Maybe it was just me. The first Joes I had were Clutch, Recondo, and Stalker and I am always looking for Snake Eyes just to take a look. (You always remember your first GI Joes.) I was going around looking for a MOC sample of a 3rd Series Recondo and I ran into one that had the stress cracks in the elbow. The sample was non AFA graded but it was supposedly a MOC. I have seen the same on a couple of stressed elbows on Snake Eyes I and II. I stopped looking after I started seeing figures that clearly looked like the O-Ring had broken or I suspected. For those reading it looks like it sounds... basically a slumped over rag doll type figure. I only have the three AFA graded MOC Star Wars figures but they have some value. I am at work and on lunch so I cannot be too specific. Boba Fett - ROTJ forget the cardback Yoda - ESB Forget the cardback number but remember making sure it was the earliest release - It had the Department store price sticker on it from where it was obtained. My dad had worked a part time job at that store and gave me a Yoda figure before anyone else could get them when they got the new ESB figures in. When I saw it offered at auction I wildly overpaid for it just to get the one with the price sticker. Figured it was a once in a lifetime opportunity. Rebel Soldier - First Action figure I ever owned. Also on it's "Rookie" release cardback I keep them flat.

I only own three AFA graded figures. All three are Star Wars figures. They all lay flat in order to protect the bubble from the weight of the figure.

The best site I have seen dedicated to GI Joe is Hisstank.com However, be very careful of dropping a on of money on AFA graded GI Joes. I would not recommend it to tell the truth. There have been quite a few documented instances where the figure has snapped on the inside of the figure. Vintage GI Joe was constructed with ABS plastic held together with metal rivets and screws and held together by a strong rubber band. The ABS plastic grows brittle over time and the metal rivets and screws add stress to the limbs. Over time, Joe collectors are seeing cracks and stress marks on the elbows of the figure and areas by the screws in the back and legs. No one really notices that on the card. The one thing you will never notice though is the interior rubber band of the figure which itself grows brittle and can snap causing the figure to collapse upon itself on the card while still sealed in the bubble. Once that happens your AFA graded Joe takes a severe hit. There is no such thing as getting it fixed without popping it off the card. You can google search it to take a look of instances that it happens. Another incident that I am now seeing with greater frequency is that the bubbles themselves are cracking while sealed in the AFA chamber. Keep in mind that these toys were never meant to last the test of time. The other day I was looking for an R2-D2 MOC AFA graded figure. The AFA graded figure made mention that the bubble had grown brittle since being graded and cracked and split open. It was graded BEFORE the crack and split. So again, be careful in what you buy when it comes to these things. I am beginning to believe that the only 'safe' and long term AFA toys are boxed items like Transformers or loose samples of figures.

One thing that may happen is that it will allow more growth for PayPal since PayPal will not be bound to any agreements that it currently has with eBay. I do not believe that this spells doom for PayPal in the long run at all.