RFCM

RFCM discussion => General discussion => Topic started by: martin goddard on October 23, 2021, 09:38:43 PM

Title: Damaged figures
Post by: martin goddard on October 23, 2021, 09:38:43 PM
Have you suffered from damaged figures or models?
How did it happen??
What were the consequences.


martin :)
Title: Re: Damaged figures
Post by: Bankinista on October 23, 2021, 09:57:46 PM
So far it hasn't happened to my (younger) 15mm figures but my older 25mm figs, and even some 28mm figs have developed a degree of brittleness and break rather than bend. Dropping a figure on to a hard surface can be catastrophic. Ankles seem particularly vulnerable. Martin, you're probably better place than most to know if this is the figure's age, a change in the metal used for casting, the casting process or something else. Is there anything that can be done apart from "don't drop your figures".

Derek
Title: Re: Damaged figures
Post by: Sean Clark on October 24, 2021, 12:41:54 AM
Following a disagreement, an ex girlfriend threw a newly painted Sassanid Persian army down the stairs (along with clothing and other items).

I think she was suggesting I move on with my life. I never had the heart to repair them and sold them on a few years later.
Title: Re: Damaged figures
Post by: pbeccas (Paul) on October 24, 2021, 02:10:22 AM
Quote from: Sean Clark on October 24, 2021, 12:41:54 AMan ex girlfriend threw a newly painted Sassanid Persian army down the stairs

The girlfriend was later found floating down the Thames.
Title: Re: Damaged figures
Post by: Spartacus on October 24, 2021, 07:12:22 AM
@ Paul  ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Damaged figures
Post by: sukhe_bator (Neil) on October 24, 2021, 08:43:33 AM
Absolutely no concerns about PP figures. The metal composition is a good one - though the down side is head swaps are more awkward since drilling with a pin vice is harder work. I'd far rather that though than suffer some of the casualties among 'bendier' sculpts by other makers - ankles, fetlocks and rifle barrels being the chief casualties...
Title: Re: Damaged figures
Post by: Big Mike on October 24, 2021, 08:49:22 AM
Sean, our figures are easy targets for such wrath!

My first wife glued my 25mm Minifigs together in a big clump and then sprayed them with lead primer. They served as a reminder to me to be a good husband and I have now repainted them.

The current Mrs Big Mike is very happy that all my figured are locked away in my Wargame Shed - and so am I....
Mike
Title: Re: Damaged figures
Post by: John Watson on October 24, 2021, 09:54:59 AM
Most of the broken figures I have had were from bargain buys at Bring and Buys. Usually broken off at the ankles or broken pikes or standards. Where possible I have repaired them. When that hasn't been possible I try to improvise. In 15mm this is fairly easy. Some halberdiers with broken weapons became hand gunners after a new paint job. Casualty figures have been made from figures with broken ankles. I have, on one occasion, had a vehicle with only three wheels which I disguised with the use of lichen etc to make it look like it was driving through rough terrain. Last resort I throw the figure away.
I've never had this problem with PP though.
John
Title: Re: Damaged figures
Post by: Leslie BT on October 24, 2021, 10:20:16 AM
Only damaged when the heavy knit jumper pulls them onto the floor and then your opponent stands on them!!!
Title: Re: Damaged figures
Post by: Wardy64 on October 24, 2021, 10:59:23 AM
I don't worry about broken figures - if the ankles or other bits break, then I throw them in the bin. Have to say, had very few over the years, most tend to be bring and buy or e bay figures that I have brought that are to be re based. So not interested in spending the time to fix them.

David & Ben
Title: Re: Damaged figures
Post by: Leman (Andy) on October 24, 2021, 11:11:50 AM
I just get out the superglue or use them as damage markers (such as a 10mm gun and crew I trod on recently). Tend not to think in terms of scale, age or manufacturer so can't really add to that debate.
Title: Re: Damaged figures
Post by: Colonel Kilgore on October 24, 2021, 11:56:12 AM
My 15mm figures are almost exclusively Essex and (mostly) Peter Pig.  I can't recall ever having had problems such as the sad tales related here.

But I will keep an eye on Mrs K just in case. Fortunately I don't think she knows how to use superglue or spray paint...

Simon
Title: Re: Damaged figures
Post by: Spartacus on October 24, 2021, 12:20:09 PM
@ Andy.  You trod on them????  With those supersoft slippers????

Surprised you didn`t injure your foot!
Title: Re: Damaged figures
Post by: martin goddard on October 24, 2021, 12:36:58 PM
Some damaged figures I dispose of.
The greater loss is the painting and basing.
It is often hard to match a replacement to years ago paint and basing.
I usually put he pieces to one side but then lose one of the small bits.
For many repairs I rely on drilling in a bit of brass wire for support and then filling with milliput.

As I have stated before horse are best repaired with a central spike of  good wire to take all the stresses.
Broken spears used to be a major headache for me. Especially when Minifigs 25mm switched from chunky to thin spears. Always a weak spot. I did not like the makers who produced spearmen holding their spears and guns like guitars with a hand at each end.
A partial solution would be to cast in a small web where spear meets hand.

Due to weight, my vehicles suffer more than my infantry when I drop a box.

The Realy Useful Box insert trays are now a no no for me.
Too often I put the tanks in the bottom layer with the turrets off so as to avoid crushing.
The tanks often got crushed when fok were helping put troosp aay for me. Not their fault at all, but a bit sad for me to have crushed vehicles etc.



martin :)
Title: Re: Damaged figures
Post by: Martin Smith on October 24, 2021, 06:16:58 PM
Quote from: pbeccas (Paul) on October 24, 2021, 02:10:22 AM
Quote from: Sean Clark on October 24, 2021, 12:41:54 AMan ex girlfriend threw a newly painted Sassanid Persian army down the stairs

The girlfriend was later found floating down the Thames.
...not weighted down by a bag of damaged lead Sassanid soldiers??
Title: Re: Damaged figures
Post by: Smoking gun on October 24, 2021, 09:16:33 PM
I was sent this today and thought I'd share it.

(https://i.postimg.cc/bD4GxGYw/IMG-20211024-WA0000.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/bD4GxGYw)

Best wishes,
Martin Buck
Title: Re: Damaged figures
Post by: John Watson on October 24, 2021, 09:50:08 PM
Brilliant!
John
Title: Re: Damaged figures
Post by: Smiley Miley 66 on October 25, 2021, 07:55:05 AM
My wife when I first met said to me. " I play darts that's my hobby I sometimes play twice a week"
I said that's fine. You wait until you find out what my hobby entails.......
But I must say 30 odd years later and my own Workshop and "shared" family entertainment and Wargames cabin, I think she has accepted my hobby ? LoL
Miles
Title: Re: Damaged figures
Post by: Smiley Miley 66 on October 25, 2021, 07:58:26 AM
Yes like most people I ve had my fair share of broken figures, even some PP ones ? But I think that's multiple use and get them in and out of boxes over the years, it happens. But as Martin says repairs can be relatively easy.
Miles
Title: Re: Damaged figures
Post by: Colonel Kilgore on October 25, 2021, 10:47:17 AM
@Miles, even better, your lady wife is also very accepting of all the strange blokes traipsing through her house to your hobby cabin.

@Martin B - that is a great cartoon

Simon
Title: Re: Damaged figures
Post by: mellis1644 on October 25, 2021, 03:39:16 PM
My daughters puppy chewed on and ate some of my painted 15mm bases.... I managed to recover most and with some painting and new bases managed to keep them. One fig was chewed beyond repair. We have learnt to keep the dog away from the hobby area and anything nice in general.

The dog is still mad as a hatter but thats life, maybe in a few years it will calm down but I don't hold my breath on that. :)