This past November, Nintendo released their new line of collectible figures (just like Skylanders or Disney Infinity, but with Nintendo characters). No big deal, except for a manufacturing defect which produced a small number of Samus figures that have two arm cannons. That's pretty cool by itself, and, of course, collectors had to have it, resulting in one selling for as high as $2,500.

My brother in law heard about this and told me to keep an eye out for a defect Samus on store shelves. Of course I never found one, but when his birthday rolled around, I thought it would be fun to make him think I had.

This project is very straightforward: I'll show you how to create a double arm cannon Samus Amiibo by simply buying two normal Samus figures and doing a little surgery. As an added bonus, you'll end up with an even rarer Samus that has two left hands.

Disclaimer: This idea should be used only for your own entertainment. It's fun to fool your friends into thinking you have a rare collectible, but please don't try to pass this off as the real thing on an actual marketplace.

Supplies:

Two Samus Amiibo figures ($12.99 each)
Box cutter and/or other small blade
Super glue
Black Sharpie

Step 1: Remove Samus From Her Cryogenic Sleep Bay

The hardest part of this very simple Instructable is simply getting Ms. Aran out of her packaging while keeping that packaging as intact as possible. It's important at the end that we get her back into the packaging and have her look as freshly store bought as possible. My method is clumsy enough that it would only take a few seconds for someone to notice that the figure has been tampered with, but that's good enough for the prank I'm pulling.

You'll get into the packaging from the bottom. Start by using a small blade to cut the perforated plastic at the base of the cardboard backing.

Then use a straight edge and your blade to cut from the cardboard base to the front edge on either side of the bottom of the packaging. When done, you'll be able to lift the bottom like a flap (see picture).

Very gently pull out the contents. I pulled too hard on the first box, and the cardboard backing ended up detaching from the plastic bubble. Not a big deal, but I went slower and had more success on the second try.

Repeat these steps to get the second figure out of the packaging.

Step 2: Scalpel, Please

Time for surgery! Use your box cutter to amputate the left arm of one of your Samus figures. You'll want to cut just under her upper arm plating, taking the black elbow piece off with the arm.

Next, take the other figure (the one that's still fully intact) and cut off the arm cannon. Again, cut just below the upper arm plating, taking the black elbow joint off with the cannon.

You now have two disfigured (and probably very angry) Samuses (Sami?) as well as two severed limbs. This is getting creepy.

Step 3: Reattaching the Limbs

Now it's time to introduce the Samues to their new limbs, but first...

You'll notice the insides of Samus are white. Use a black Sharpie to cover up some of that white so that any cracks after reattachment aren't as apparent.

Now, just use a small dab of super glue to reconnect the appendages to their new homes. As for positioning, keep in mind that the new limbs need to be angled so that they'll fit in the plastic packaging. Check out my pictures for suggested positioning.

Step 4: Return to Cryogenic Sleep Bay

Return Samus to her plastic cradle and slide the whole thing back into the plastic bubble. Use small dots of super glue to seal the bottom flap closed. Again, this doesn't look great, but it's on the bottom where it's least likely to be noticed.

I also returned my two-left-hands Samus to her packaging. Now I have the rare double-arm-cannon-Samus and the even rarer (and slightly disturbing) two-left-hands-Samus. Take that, collectors!