Need help fixing broken horns on a FW Deathguard dreadnought

[fubar]

Hi all,
I recently purchased a FW Deathguard dreadnought, but accidentally dropped the model (butterfingers I know ) on its back destroying all the spikes on the vent area. I was wondering if anyone knows a good way of fixing them, they're too small for me to pin, and greenstuff doesn't seem to want to stick to the small surface area or even stand up to the sculpting.
Thanks in advance.

 

[Einion]

Presume the broken bits are lost so you can't think about glueing them back in place?

...greenstuff doesn't seem to want to stick to the small surface area...

Try a tiny drop of superglue to help hold it in place. I don't think this is an ideal working practice, but it can help when there's a very small attachment surface.

...or even stand up to the sculpting.

Once it'll stay in place you'll be off to a better start but this kind of thing can be tricky to do in situ. It can help to roughly form them, then come back later when the putty has stiffened up to do the final shaping so it's not so prone to flopping around when you press against it.

Last thing I can think of, and this may be the final alternative IYO, is to sculpt replacements off the model, then cut them to size and glue them in place. Spines, teeth, horns etc. are often done this way by sculptors.

Einion

 

[freakinacage]

you can pin anything. i have pinned fingers before

 

[fubar]

Thanks for the response guys. I was thinking of the last option you mentioned Einion when I had a thought. Would it be possible to do this, but with the tips of toothpicks (cut to size) instead? And freakinacage, what size drill bits are those? The smallest I have is the paperclip sized ones (0.5mm I think?) which would destroy the spikes.

 

[Einion]

Would it be possible to do this, but with the tips of toothpicks (cut to size) instead?

Yep, sure. I've seen teeth or spines, not sure which, made both from styrene rod and rolls of putty carved to shape, so this would be the same basic principle.

Edit: you'd have to come up with a good way to cut them down, since wood has a tendency to compress.

Einion

 

[freakinacage]

i have 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.3 aaaand 0.5

 

[Dragonsreach]

you can pin anything. i have pinned fingers before

As well as your own, no doubt!

@Fubar, very thin items can be pinned in fact I had to repair a broken sword blade yesterday and used a piece of Guitar wire for the pin.
That stuffs built to take some serious strain so is ideal for pinning. (Also bl**dy ideal for spiking delicate bits of anatomy when you drop it and go looking for it....Use a magnet!)
If you're in the UK Hobby Craft do a set of drills ranging from Hair fine up to 1.5mm for about £10.