Making Spears for wolf riders

[maxbrown]

Greetings All,

Sorry if this is the wrong part of the forum to ask this. I'm building some wolf riders and want to equip them with both bows and spears. I like building them with a bow and would like to make spears to put over their backs. Could someone please give me some ideas of how to make spears. The spears in the sprue have arms and it seems difficult to cut and file them down. Any ideas? Does anyone do this?

 

[Einion]

Welcome to CMON! This is the right part of the site for this kind of question.

The easiest way to work with what you have would be to cut off the heads of the spears on the sprues, drill out the socket portion and then mount them onto plastic rod (or copper tube etc., whatever you can find of the right diameter that you can cut to length).

What about straps? You happy enough to glue directly to the back or what?

Einion

 

[maxbrown]

I suppose I was, but straps would be great. I'm guessing I need to use milliput or some sort of epoxy. Just not to sure about my abilities in that area. Thanks for the spear tutorial. I'll get a really small drill bit and start looking for something that would make a good shaft.

 

[Einion]

Straps can also be made from metal foil - probably better than epoxy in fact, if you want to have a suspended section going from shoulder to weapon.

The lead from on top of wine bottles is good for this, but aluminium foil from disposable cooking containers is an option. Even paper can be used in a pinch.

Einion

 

[Tercha]

I suppose I was, but straps would be great. I'm guessing I need to use milliput or some sort of epoxy. Just not to sure about my abilities in that area. Thanks for the spear tutorial. I'll get a really small drill bit and start looking for something that would make a good shaft.

Toothpicks, stretched sprue, florists wire, etc etc

 

[maxbrown]

Thanks so much. I'll try foil and see how that works. What do I do? Fold it over until it's thick enough to stand out a bit, proportionally on the

I haven't been into miniatures since I was a kid in the 80s. I'm pretty excited to get back into the hobby and am painting a couple of armies up for my 10 month old son and me. I'm starting to remember how relaxing the hobby is. Nowadays, with the internet and sites like this, I might actually develop some skills.

 

[Einion]

Thanks so much. I'll try foil and see how that works. What do I do? Fold it over until it's thick enough to stand out a bit, proportionally...

Welcome! If you want them to be really fat, in keeping with other parts of the sculpt, then I'd suggest using putty after all - GS, since it's flexible when cured. Roll it out to the right thickness on a piece of plastic food wrap (using two guides for the roller to run along, to ensure consistency) then when it has cured peel it off and you can cut straps with a good sharp craft knife and a steel straightedge.

I'm starting to remember how relaxing the hobby is. Nowadays, with the internet and sites like this, I might actually develop some skills.

Good to hear, that's one of the things that's so great about the Internet!

Einion

 

[aon14]

For straps, the easiest way to get thin even strips is with a particular kind of wrappin ribbon that splits easily and along it's length. Not woven material based ribbons and not plastic ones.
Or cotton thread and you could even tie knots.
It's difficult to get a spear slung on a model to look "right" imo.

For spears one of the best materials is the plastic rods/bristles off a broom. You can buy the heads separate from hardware stores. Decide how thing you want and take something that diameter first. One brush has a lifetime's supply of plastic rods. It won't glue with regular plastic glue as it's different stuff BUT it springs rather than bending or breaking.

Steel rod from model stores is the most robust but you need to buy special linesman's pliers to cut the damn stuff.
Brass rod is easier to cut and you can form the heads easier but it's bendier.

 

[generulpoleaxe]

get the wire spears from gripping beast.

to make a strap just twist fuse wire to look like rope and attach, so simple i could do it.