Damaged figures

[martin goddard]

Have you suffered from damaged figures or models?
How did it happen??
What were the consequences.


martin

[Bankinista]

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

[Sean Clark]

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.

[pbeccas (Paul)]

an ex girlfriend threw a newly painted Sassanid Persian army down the stairs

The girlfriend was later found floating down the Thames.

[Spartacus]

@ Paul 

[sukhe_bator (Neil)]

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...

[Big Mike]

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

[John Watson]

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

[Leslie BT]

Only damaged when the heavy knit jumper pulls them onto the floor and then your opponent stands on them!!!

[Wardy64]

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

[Leman (Andy)]

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.

[Colonel Kilgore]

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

[Spartacus]

@ Andy.  You trod on them?  With those supersoft slippers?

Surprised you didn`t injure your foot!

[martin goddard]

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

[Martin Smith]

an 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??