Vintage thundertank box repair project

[Michael Sith]

Recently picked up vintage boxed thundertank and ESB ATAT

First project was to get the thundertank box looking better for display, thought I'd share for interest as it does work to a degree

Used the starch and ironing method

Before:
Sides all creased in and torn, box not square with no stability

http://www.flickr.com/photos/94132256@N07/10624749124/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/94132256@N07/10624749594/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/94132256@N07/10624749614/

After:

Stripped, starched and ironed, strengthened ..reassembled and glued on the original glue line internally.

Nice and stiffened looks much squarer and box like
Really happy with this
http://www.flickr.com/photos/94132256@N07/10624749614/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/94132256@N07/10624797374/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/94132256@N07/10624797104/

 

[tiefighterboy]

I should have gotten my spray starch method registered and patented. :lol: :lol: :lol:

Glad it worked for you................and alot of them said...it will destroy the box and it will fall apart using starch over time. Some of my boxes saturated with starch were done 20 years ago...........and to my surprise they have not turned to dust. :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[Michael Sith]

I should have gotten my spray starch method registered and patented. :lol: :lol: :lol:

Glad it worked for you................and alot of them said...it will destroy the box and it will fall apart using starch over time. Some of my boxes saturated with starch were done 20 years ago...........and to my surprise they have not turned to dust. :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

You should have :lol:

Seriously it works really well, I strip back the box along its glued edge ( there is only usually one, and it comes apart easily without tearing this way you only re glue one edge)

Then spray the inside with starch and iron straight away, ironing the creases at 90 degrees, then reassemble ....it works

Cheers Todd

 

[tiefighterboy]

I never iron mine or open up the glue seam. I saturate the entire inside with spray starch, collapse the box flat, put heavy ass **** on top of it and let naturally flatten and dry over the course of a few days. Drawback is that the interior will stick to itself, but will come apart if you take your time pulling it apart. The ironing piece came from someone else on here and may be a value added step....I am just way too lazy to iron. :lol:

 

[Michael Sith]

Pulling it from the one seam then ironing straight away on the inside, dries out the starch and shapes the box immediately...so no need to wait ( I am impatient at the best of times...plus the mrs doesn't get on to me for leaving boxes lying around for a couple of days)


Here are the finished boxes and toys 8)

Considering the boxes were well goosed I think they look pretty good...so thanks again Todd for the wise words and tips :wink:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/94132256@N07/10627928083/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/94132256@N07/10627928533/