[windebieste]

At this point in my exploration and appreciation of the old action figure we move onto actually taking one apart. This is something that can't be done with most other figures.

See these 4 screws? These are your friends. Well, they certainly are if you want to fix your Kenner Alien, that's for sure. You will find all 4 screws hiding amongst the rich textures upon the figure's back. They are present in deep recessed holes concealed amongst the various appendages and spinal details. Removing them is as simple as using a screwdriver.

4 screws. Count 'em. I dare you.

It's a good thing that Kenner Products decided to use screws to clamp the figure's torso halves together. If glue had been employed, the dismantling of the figure to orchestrate any repairs would be impossible. Being able to remove the screws, disassemble the figure, make whatever repairs necessary and then fasten the torso halves back together again is an absolute Godsend.

Once the screws are removed you will need to pry the figure apart. DO NOT USE A KNIFE, SCREWDRIVER OR ANY OTHER TOOLS TO SEPARATE THE HALVES! Just use your fingers to gently separate them. Wedge your thumbs into the shoulder sockets and pull gently at the halves if they are unnyieldingly fixed in place. Turn the figure over and try the other side. Alternate and rotate the figure until you get the smallest movement. Repeat the process and pull at each side in turn until the halves are separated.

Yes, sometimes this can be a difficult process and wear painfully upon your fingers and thumbs but ultimately the figure will surrender to your patience, determination and tenacity. It will come apart.

An exploded Alien. Pulse rifle grenades not included.

This is what the figure looks like when it is fully disassembled. Notice there is almost a dozen mounting and securing posts present inside the front torso half? When assembled, these posts and their matching counter posts in the rear of the figure give it strength and a very firm and robust assembly.

Now, onto the parts themselves. Note that the shoulder crest and the tail are still attached to the rear torso half. Unless these particular pieces require attention and need fixing, then they should remain attached to the back of the figure and not removed. The other pieces: the head, carapace, screws, quad appendages (note that all 4 of these appendages are connected via an otherwise internally concealed bridge mount.), both legs, both arms and the torso front all come apart from the figure relatively easily once the screws are removed.

At this point, any damage to the figure can then be easily addressed either by replacing parts or directly addressing issues on a broken part. Once the work is done, reassemble it and return the screws to the figure's back and it's done. It's a simple process and easily accomplished. Brilliant!

Thank you Kenner for using screws to fasten this thing together. Most other action figures, if they break, will have all kinds of problems that will never be addressed. Never. Not this fellow.

He may be ugly.

He may be old.

He may have a reputation and history that makes most other action figures blush but one thing for sure, though.

He can be fixed.

Next up, I'm going to start exploring the curious oddities that followed in the wake of this figure's disastrous release. We still have a looooong road to travel, Folks.

A long road...

-Windebieste.