Pro Line Bases: What are the best methods for tweaking Pro Line Bases?

[GrandMasterKC]

I have seen post up for tweaking bases and to "The Tweak" and the Coaches that have shared their wisdom on tweaking rookies and or TTC's and have enabled me to converse on the telephone and or travel and sit with them for "Tweak University Class". I wanted to know what are some of the best tweaking methods for:

Proline Strong Rookies/Strong TTC's?
Proline Fast Rookies/Fast TTC's?
For Power? For Speed? Best tools used for PL's? Best flash removal technique for PL's?[/size]

[Shabby J]

Oh, this is gonna be good!

cant wait

[RPD]

Karim,
We have spoken on the phone on the subject of tweaking. There isn't any easy formula, the best advice I could give anyone interested in tweaking, and you can ask Jim davis, or Norbert or any of the other tweakers in this hobby, is very simple just start doing it, first, put the base on the board and test it, then put the figure on the base that you want to use, then I usually squeeze the back prongs, then test the base again, you will learn how to tweak by trail and error, there is nothing I can tell you that will make it easy for you. Some bases will require more tweaking than others, some bases have more talent than others. A technique that works for you may not work for me and viseversa. There is no simple answer to tweaking, no shortcut, a lot of hands on and believe me one day you will say to yourself I got it, this is what it takes to make this base strong or this is what it takes to make this base fast. I can tell you from my personal experience, don't squeeze the front prongs to much as it may ruin the base. Clipping the front prongs shorter than the rear prongs can make the base stronger, but there is a fine line here, B/C if you clip the front prongs to much the base will be worthless. So guys enjoy your tweaking adventure, and be ready to ruin some bases, it comes with the territory.

RD

dont forget to use your lighter

[detroitchild]

Amen brother! That's pretty much what Norbert told me and that's how I'm learnin'. Karim...just get you some bases and have at it. I GUARANTEE that you are gonna mess up your share of bases. I've got a pile of them to prove it. But...I'm waaaay better then I was 6 months ago. I still got a ways to go but tweaking bases has become my favorite part of this hobby. Fix me a drink (a soda pop for you youngin's), put on my favorite music, and relax while tweaking.

As RPD said...just do it!

Originally Posted by RPD

Karim,
We have spoken on the phone on the subject of tweaking. There isn't any easy formula, the best advice I could give anyone interested in tweaking, and you can ask Jim davis, or Norbert or any of the other tweakers in this hobby, is very simple just start doing it, first, put the base on the board and test it, then put the figure on the base that you want to use, then I usually squeeze the back prongs, then test the base again, you will learn how to tweak by trail and error, there is nothing I can tell you that will make it easy for you. Some bases will require more tweaking than others, some bases have more talent than others. A technique that works for you may not work for me and viseversa. There is no simple answer to tweaking, no shortcut, a lot of hands on and believe me one day you will say to yourself I got it, this is what it takes to make this base strong or this is what it takes to make this base fast. I can tell you from my personal experience, don't squeeze the front prongs to much as it may ruin the base. Clipping the front prongs shorter than the rear prongs can make the base stronger, but there is a fine line here, B/C if you clip the front prongs to much the base will be worthless. So guys enjoy your tweaking adventure, and be ready to ruin some bases, it comes with the territory.

RD

im still confused. do you remove the flash before or after you do the other stuff?

[GrandMasterKC]

What I have found on the PL's is that 1 extra bump is what takes it from champ to chump. I have had a couple of PL's just right and then that 1 extra squeeze(in the front) and now we have a limping base. I was throwing this question out because I am still working on the new bad plastic PL's and I can not afford errors on any of the good stuff when I graduate to that level. I have my error pile and a few signed draft pics as well. Coach Don and others you are so right...practice, trial and error. I posed the PL question because the 1st runs are tough to come by and when I destroyed a few I had to throw tha question out there.

Originally Posted by RPD

Karim,
We have spoken on the phone on the subject of tweaking. There isn't any easy formula, the best advice I could give anyone interested in tweaking, and you can ask Jim davis, or Norbert or any of the other tweakers in this hobby, is very simple just start doing it, first, put the base on the board and test it, then put the figure on the base that you want to use, then I usually squeeze the back prongs, then test the base again, you will learn how to tweak by trail and error, there is nothing I can tell you that will make it easy for you. Some bases will require more tweaking than others, some bases have more talent than others. A technique that works for you may not work for me and viseversa. There is no simple answer to tweaking, no shortcut, a lot of hands on and believe me one day you will say to yourself I got it, this is what it takes to make this base strong or this is what it takes to make this base fast. I can tell you from my personal experience, don't squeeze the front prongs to much as it may ruin the base. Clipping the front prongs shorter than the rear prongs can make the base stronger, but there is a fine line here, B/C if you clip the front prongs to much the base will be worthless. So guys enjoy your tweaking adventure, and be ready to ruin some bases, it comes with the territory.

RD

[Shabby J]

If you over tweak the front prongs and the base collapses under the weight of the figure, depending on how bad of shape the front prongs are in, you can clip them shorter and they will actually not flex under the figures weight as bad.

Though you will find that now you may have to alter the rear prong length, but you can bring a over tweaked base back to life like this if it's not totally FUBAR'ed.

Try only tweaking the bottom half of the front prongs, dont go all the way up to where the prong contacts the underside of the base, make slow gentle squeezes until you get a feel for it, don't crank down on the pliers right away.

[RPD]

Originally Posted by GrandMasterKC

What I have found on the PL's is that 1 extra bump is what takes it from champ to chump. I have had a couple of PL's just right and then that 1 extra squeeze(in the front) and now we have a limping base. I was throwing this question out because I am still working on the new bad plastic PL's and I can not afford errors on any of the good stuff when I graduate to that level. I have my error pile and a few signed draft pics as well. Coach Don and others you are so right...practice, trial and error. I posed the PL question because the 1st runs are tough to come by and when I destroyed a few I had to throw tha question out there.

Instead of squeezing the front prongs simply try curling them towards the back of the base, I don't squeeze the front of many bases as it tends to make them to limber