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Post by marchand on Aug 18, 2021 0:42:17 GMT
Having a large collection of AIP figures, I am wanting to convert some of them by switching around some heads. For instance moving the Boxer Rebellion US Infantry Slouch Hat heads to the WW1 Russian bodies to make US Infantry of late 19th Century.
Is the best method to use some sort of pin? Instead of having to cut down regular pins, which make a dangerous mess, is there some sort of short pin with points on both ends?
Drill holes in each head and body with a Pin Vise? Then use a pin and some glue?
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Post by Mike Lewis on Aug 18, 2021 8:05:14 GMT
I would drill a hole in each end and then use a short piece of brass wire. No need to use an actual pin.
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Post by Mike Blake on Aug 18, 2021 9:12:25 GMT
I would drill a hole in each end and then use a short piece of brass wire. No need to use an actual pin. Me too - plus a little superglue for extra security in some cases. Rebuild collar with modelling putty. I always drill now, since I had AIP figures split when I just used a pin pushed in.
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Post by zuludon on Aug 18, 2021 17:46:20 GMT
I have found this method to work on AIP plastics, especially the softer castings: I stick the sharp end of the pin into the middle of the cut surface of the neck and then I use a wire clipper to cut a sharp angle 1/4 inch or 7mm above the neck. Then I pull out the pin with a needle nose pliers. I then reverse the cut pin so that the very sharp end is sticking up and push the head onto the pin. If I've done the cuts correctly, it's usually a pretty good fit, so I pull the head off and put a drop of super glue on the neck and pin and then reattach the head. You can always add putty to cover the join, but I find that gap filling glue generally does the job. BTW, Les White told me that he noticed that the lighter colors of AIP tended to be softer than the darker colors, so you might consider that when ordering, if there is a choice.
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Post by marchand on Aug 20, 2021 2:16:06 GMT
Thank you for all the suggestions! I really appreciate them.
Besides the US Infantry of the SAW I am thinking of other conversions.
Use the brimless soft Russian cap on the Royal Navy sailors. You can also carve up the Sennet hat (with brim up)and come up with an early version of the US Navy white canvas hat.
Switch the pith helmets on the Martini British and the Lee-Metford British. The cloth covered Metford helmet would make a good French Foreign Legion Tonkin one.
Switch the Glengarry head on the WWI British Scottish figures with the pith helmet on the Martini Scottish figures. That helmet can almost pass for the WWI British sun helmet. The new helmeted WW1 Scottish would make great WW1 Mideast Campaign or Northwest Frontier of the Interwar Period.
Use the French Napoleonic Infantry shako on the War of 1812 American or British infantry to make some Alamo Mexican infantry. They already have the Brown Bess!
Use the Egyptian fez heads on WW1 German Steel helmet figures to form troops from the WW1 War in East Africa. Would have to add a neck cloth though.
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