This has to be new--Metal fatigue

[martin goddard]

CM?

martin

[Colonel Kilgore]

Need-to-know basis, Martin 

Chariot Miniatures, now being sold (seemingly with rather better metal) by Magister Militum.

Simon

[martin goddard]

Thanks Simon

The number of letters matched Citadel.

martin

[Colonel Kilgore]

Well maybe we were all talking about different manufacturers?

At least I know what I was talking about (which was bound to happen one day...  ).

Simon

[Leslie BT]

Old Citadel and Rafm seemed to be the most prone to problems, by old I mean bought in the 70's. Modern metal standards have reduced the problem.

[Brian Cameron]

There is a huge variety of tin alloys available for a range of casting applications (and others with different applications such as bearings).  The alloys vary in properties such as melting point, ability to reproduce fine detail, mallebility, brittleness etc.  Impurities in the metal will affect those properties and much will depend on the quality of the metal used in producing the alloy. 

It's worth bearing in mind that casting figures is commercial business and there's doubtless been producers in the past who have used 'cheap' batches of metal.  Such batches are always available on the market but the drawback is, of course, the doubtful purity.  I was once offered quantities of cadmium for an astonishingly low price.  I asked out of curiosity whether the paperwork would evidence its quality; I was assured that the paperwork could say anything I wanted it to. 

Even if people don't buy 'off the back of the wagon' they may still pick an alloy on the basis of cheapness rather than the suitability for the job.  I'm sure we've all encountered figures with very poor detail - such items are clearly made using a lead-rich alloy which will be cheap but it's the proportion of tin which largely determines the detail obtained.  Some alloys will include a lot of porosity (voids) which weaken the piece.  And some alloys are quite brittle.  I thus suspect that the figures in question were made cast using an unsuitable alloy.  They'll also be susceptible to fatigue at places where the casting changes size or shape - ankles being a good example.

John mentioned 'lead rot'.  Lead actually has good corrosion resistance to acids and seawater.  I use lead sheet for adding weight to my model railway models and I've yet to see any 'rotting'.  Take a look at your lead flashing or balance weights on wheels - they probably won't look like they are falling apart after years of exposure to varying temperature, humidity, pollution, etc.  I'd agreed with John about "a load of rot"; any problems probably result from impurities in the poriginal metal.

Brian

[Leman (Andy)]

Poriginal metal comes mainly from Scotland. Check the legs of any Highlanders in your collection.

Andy

[Sasquatch]

Actually, this is a known/old weakness of the "Chariot" (Now MM) 15mm ranges, weak ankles.

Looking through my collection of 15mm DBA Armies (40 odd. with lots of, er, parts) casualties through accidental "Epic Fail" elements/figures are often Chariot.

I have a set of Gallic 3Wb from 24 different manufacturers (There may be an element of Peter Pig Germans that snuck in there...) I dropped at one point; Years ago.   All survived except a rather nicely painted Chariot element (DBx speak), all THREE figures "snapped off" at the ankles. 

And multiple similar examples in my hoard.

[martin goddard]

Bad news when figures break off.
If the figures are worth repairing I suggest the following.

1. Get some brass rod, 1mm from the model shop.
2. Drill into the figure's base and the "mounted on" base. thsi gives enough depth.
3. Drill into the figures figurative testicles 
4. Glue the rod into the figure's testicle area with super glue. make sure there is at least 4mm in. The rod needs to be "too long".
5.Holding the figure with the protrusion push it through the whole base so it comes out the other side.
6. Snip off/ any excess.
7. Apply another dab of super glue to strengthen the rod joint. Don't bother reinforcing ankles etc  as the contact area will not create any better bond.
8. Paint rod black or dark brown.

If the above is not worthwhile then use figure as a casualty marker?


martin

[Colonel Kilgore]

That's a good idea for repairs, Martin.

Although I suspect that the figures might not fight so well once they've been neutered?

Simon

[sukhe_bator (Neil)]

But at least they'll stand up straighter during parades!
My experience of CM has been that the ankles are too finely cast and consequently weaker and more prone to breakage. Better to build in more thickness making them more robust. Since most figures are viewed from the top down I believe some designers adopt the same trick the Greeks did with their columns and add a slight taper to compensate for perspective.

[John Watson]

Martin I think you will find that under the Geneva Convention you are no longer allowed to drill into testicles. Apparently it can be a little painful.
I must admit I tend to use broken figures as wounded where possible. Using basing materials to disguise the bits that don't look right.
John

[martin goddard]

Well John, Nuts to that!



martin