Introduction: Fix a Classic G.I.JOE Figure (using a Condom)

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About: I'm Mario Caicedo Langer (M.C. for short), a Colombian STEAM educator living in Azerbaijan, BSc in Naval Sciences and former Navy officer. I am a CAD and 3D Printing enthusiast and an artist specialized in jun…

Last saturday I was invited by a couple of friends of mine to their home. They have an awesome collection of classic G.I.JOE action figures. Some of them were damaged because the inner rubber band that put them together was broken. Luckily, the keep the parts. Then I took one of the apparently good figures and... accidentally I broke its rubber band. Now I have in my hands the legs, hip and chest of another dead JOE.

Ashamed with my friends, they told me I didn't need to blame myself. After all, it was a normal age damage on the classic JOEs. Maybe one day the would buy some rubber bands for the action figures. Or maybe not.

I didn't want to leave without make amends for my fault. But what could I do? I didn't have any rubber band, neither my Dremel or my Sonic Screwdriver. So I use it something everybody has: a condom. It worked so well my friends asked me for fixing other figures and I'm posting the instructable. It's a simple solution and you can give a new life to your old G.I.JOEs. Even, you can reuse expired condoms.

And here I am, using condoms in near Valentine's Day, repairing some old toys...

Step 1: Materials

You will need:
  • A classic G.I.JOE action figure, with the inner rubber band broken
  • A condom
  • Scissors
  • Tweezers (or anything for grabbing the rubber band, like a paperclip)
  • Small screwdriver

Step 2: The Condom

First, transform the condom into a rubber band. Unroll it and cut the base ring. Wash it.

(CAUTION: Please, for God's sake, use a NEW condom. The rest of the condom will become useless for its original purpose. So please again, PLEASE! don't try to use it).

Step 3: The Torso

With the screwdriver, remove the screw. Remove the chest. Watch out for the correct position of the arms.

Step 4: The Legs

Hook the condom's rubber band (use it in two loops) on the legs hook and pass it across the hip.

Step 5: Arm It Again

Put the rubber band in the center of the chest. Make another loop for reducing the elasticity. Put on again the head, arms and chest and screw it. It's done.