Top Loader Fix

[Palifan]

Hi All,

I had a spare moment this morning so thought I'd put in a little work on a couple of my mocs.

Both mocs have bubble fails on one side and the top but the figures have never been removed. I didn't want to glue the seal on either of these as you would be able to see it and for the fact that they weren't intentionally opened. The Top Loader method seemed to be the best course of action so I made a paper template around each bubble and placed it inside the Top Loader. I then slid some thin card behind the template and using a metal rule cut the bubble window out using a scalpel.

It didn't take very long to do and now means that each bubble is fairly secure and hopefully will prevent any further problems with the seal. It's a good alternative to glueing the bubbles back in place and means I can display them now without fear of the bubbles falling off (even though I'm not sure if they'll fit inside an acrylic case anymore ).

Ian

 

[Michael Sith]

They look brilliant mate

Toploaders are a great way of securing bubbles without any need to glue

I've done the same with a couple of bubbles that are completely loose and they look great.

 

[Cazza]

Excellent idea, Ian. They look superb 8)

 

[Palifan]

Thanks guys and it was nice and quick to do which always helps with these things

Ian

 

[Grant_C]

If you get rid of the outside trim, it might fit into a case.

 

[Mini99]

Great rescue job and has stopped the bubbles coming off totally.
Did you buy these like this or has this occurred over time on display?

 

[Snaketibe]

Great job, Ian. Both cards look terrific, and as you say, it avoids the need to glue them. It's great when such a simple fix (albeit very well executed!) produces such a high quality result

Jeremy

 

[Palifan]

Great rescue job and has stopped the bubbles coming off totally.
Did you buy these like this or has this occurred over time on display?

They were both bought like this so I picked them up for a good price and now they're nice and secure. I've seen bubble fails on both of these characters so there must have been something off with the batch of bubbles they went out with. It happens some times but I'm glad I didn't buy them as mocs.

Ian

 

[Palifan]

If you get rid of the outside trim, it might fit into a case.

That's what I was thinking of looking at although there's not much material to play with as the front and back of the Top Loader may well separate if I start cutting into the edge of it.

I'll take a look though but they will display fine without the case so it isn't a problem either way.

Ian

 

[theforceuk]

Look really good, great idea. 8)

 

[Michael Sith]

This 45 back was from eBay bubble and card completely separate ( and in this case was a factory error with the bubble upside down as the imprint from thhe numbers matched up on the cardback upside down as well so must have been upside down originally)

Cut the top loader with a scalpel to fit the bubble and slipped into the toploader, looks great and keeps everything in place

 

[aussiejames]

If you get rid of the outside trim, it might fit into a case.

That's what I was thinking of looking at although there's not much material to play with as the front and back of the Top Loader may well separate if I start cutting into the edge of it.

I'll take a look though but they will display fine without the case so it isn't a problem either way.

Ian

An option is to separate them. The double layer is too thick to get under the acrylic rails. So you can 'fix' two 'MOCs' with one toploader. The case rails hold the sheet in place.

 

[Palifan]

If you get rid of the outside trim, it might fit into a case.

That's what I was thinking of looking at although there's not much material to play with as the front and back of the Top Loader may well separate if I start cutting into the edge of it.

I'll take a look though but they will display fine without the case so it isn't a problem either way.

Ian

An option is to separate them. The double layer is too thick to get under the acrylic rails. So you can 'fix' two 'MOCs' with one toploader. The case rails hold the sheet in place.

Ha! Now there's an idea!!

Thanks for that James, I may well give it a go if I feel the need to keep things all the same and display in a case (it's those little things that can really begin to bug a collector :lol: ).

Great work as well Mike and I'm thinking there are few mocs out there that have used the Top Loader method to attach their bubbles upside down.

Ian

 

[Michael Sith]

Great idea James on the splitting of the Toploader, will have a go at that , I'm definitely an acrylic convert, especially for Mocs/reseals, think they really enhance for display, and they protect as well.

Yes Ian on the upside down bubble the toploader worked a treat, like you say little things like this make the difference.

 

[Michael Sith]

Tried the cut toploader idea from James

The toploaders are quite stiff plastic so scissors didn't work but scalpel did, my cutting skills are a little off but it fits into the case and still holds the bubble,

 

[Mini99]

That's better, looks fantastic.

 

[Snaketibe]

Tried the cut toploader idea from James

The toploaders are quite stiff plastic so scissors didn't work but scalpel did, my cutting skills are a little off but it fits into the case and still holds the bubble,

Great job! That looks even better than before

 

[Grant_C]

Superb!