How do I fix broken swords/bayonets?

[Shane Smith]

Hi Guys,
I have several Arabs with brokens swords. I was going to drill them out and replace with spears, but I kinda want the swords. The hilts are there, just need the blade.
These are OG, not sure if that makes a diffrence are not. Any advice?
Thanks, Shane

[Crestion du Sable]

I would use a modeling putty (i.e. green stuff) and make a sword blade shape and attach it to the model.

[porkuslime]

I found at the local Hardware store some tacks, with a flat shank, instead of round. Maybe take a look around for something like that? Cut off the head and glue onto the hilt? (I think that would work)

-Porkuslime

[MEDEVL]

If you can find small nails or brads that can fit a hole drilled into the hand of the minis then you can clip off the nail at the proper lenght and hammer all but a small portion flat. Use the unhammered part as your pin to go into the hole and tada!

[bluemeenie]

I think....(reads I won't know until I get home) That I might have about 20 or so empire sword arms from the men at arms box set.


If I do and you want to pay for shipping you can have them.


I will not know until tonight when I get home though...but if I do then you can snip them and glue them on your guys.


Mike

[MagickalMemories]

Are we talking about METAL models, then?

If so, you can always solder them...
Just solder them together at the break then, once the metal cools, take a file to the excess metal.

::


Just a thought.

Eric

[bluemeenie]

And you know what! I do.

I have 20 plastic arms with swords, 1 metal arm w/ sword (commander) and I have what looks to be the sword/spear tip of an old wood elf banner...hummm


Have no idea where that last one came from

[kturock]

Are we talking about METAL models, then?

If so, you can always solder them...
Just solder them together at the break then, once the metal cools, take a file to the excess metal.

::


Just a thought.

Eric

good luck on that.

IF.. and only IF your are very experienced with solder do i suggest you try this.
the metal in the mini is very soft and will melt.. i tried it with an old female human D&D mini.. her legs broke. when i got done, she was a halfling.

i suggest glue or if you want some stronger, jb weld.. you can get it in most hardware stores, like home depot. also auto parts stores.
it's a form of epoxy, but it's not as .... difficult to work with.

i had a lawnmower engine that had a crack in it. the mechanic said new engine or glue it...the glue burned away after 3 years...

jb weld even looks like metal.. i THINK it has metal in it.. it's silver colored.

just my .02.

[MagickalMemories]

I think you used the wrong solder.
As I understand it, different solders melt at different temperatures.
Also, lead has a lower melting point than pewter and tin. If, by "OG," he means OLD... it depends on HOW old. Old lead or old pewter?

That's about all I can offer, though. LOL

I know that there are people who SWEAR by soldering their metal models together, rather than gluing them. Granted, that's new tin based models... bu I really DO think you can solder lead.


I could be wrong, though. It's been known to happen.


Eric

[porkuslime]

I think OG stands for Old GLory .. a maker of historical miniatures..

and my helpful hint of the day .. Duct Tape!

-P

[MagickalMemories]

See... that shows the difference in our thinking.

I saw "OG," and I was thinking Ice-T "Original Gangster." Like the song.

LOL I just thought he was using old school rap terminology to mean that it was an old mini.



Dangit. Just when I thought I was young and hip, I go showing my age again.



Eric

[mrrshann618]

I used to work with lead at my last job, we used it to pour babbats for various machines.
Lead doesn't weld, when it gets hot enough to melt it simply looses shape.

When we had to fix anything that had lead involved we had to melt out the whole thing and re-do it

When we had to join to pieces together (for whatever reason) we used JB weld

I wouldn't reccomend trying to weld anything lead based, I'd assume that pewter is going to be roughtly the same due it it's lead content. The higher the tin content the better chance of success, but if you are not familiar with soldering don't bother.
I'd personlly reccomend JBweld.

[bluemeenie]

See... that shows the difference in our thinking.

I saw "OG," and I was thinking Ice-T "Original Gangster." Like the song.

LOL I just thought he was using old school rap terminology to mean that it was an old mini.



Dangit. Just when I thought I was young and hip, I go showing my age again.



Eric

You quoting Ice-t tells me a lot.


Fun facts for me..when you were young did you own a pickup truck and was it at a minimum 2 inches of the ground?




Bet my WuTang is greater then yours!!!!!!

[Adunaphel]

Wu-tang???? Ice-T???? OG???

Duct tape won't work, you have to use Scotch tape... It's transparent.

Karl

[MagickalMemories]

I didn't own a truck like that.... but i had plenty of friends who did.

We hung out and danced at teen dance clubs together. LOL

Anyway, back on topic... I'd like to know how old the OG models are. I really think soldering could be an option, if they're new enough.

As for JB Weld... can it be sanded? If not, it might not be a good choice for this project.


Eric