reinforcing GW\'s plastic elves\' weapons - kid safe way?

[usurpator]

Hi, I\'m painting some wood elves from GW - frankly they are NOT good casting (I refuse by principle to criticise GW sculptors - they are working with handcuffs on so to speak). The elves swords/lances are already warping coming out of the box!
My problem is I\'m painting this for a kid (nephew!) and so I will not do what I would do n ormally ie: replace the swords/lances with some metal equivalent.
How can I reinforce the swords/lances????? varnish? Paris plaster? (only joking) or is there some way to add rigidity to the swords/lances without it being too easy to see (I\'m trying to paint somthing nice and cool for a birthday - this is serious work)
all ideas welcome!
many thanks!
U
ps: I\'mù terrible at sculpting so maing greenstuff swords/lances is a no no

 

[DaN]

Have you tried something like hot water to bend them back to shape?

I suppose you could try drilling them out if they\'re thick enough and inserting a rod down their centre?

 

[usurpator]

rod: far far too thin
hot water: plastic too weak, it will bend again

 

[Trevor]

For the lances cut the heads off and replace the shafts with brass rod.

Swords... no idea... make em into spears?

 

[TAB Studio]

What about green stuff to toughen them up and straighten them out?

 

[usurpator]

Originally posted by TAB Studio
What about green stuff to toughen them up and straighten them out?

You mean cover them with gs - could a liquid putty like gunze\'s work?

 

[freakinacage]

Originally posted by Trevor
For the lances cut the heads off and replace the shafts with brass rod.

that what i would do and the swords should be thick enough to be ok once they have been bent back (use hot water)

 

[Dr Death]

If you\'re careful you could probably manage drilling them out and inserting a paperclip in them. I\'ve done it with Uruk-hai pikes and it works like magic. The trick is to watch the plastic- when it starts to go light, just bend the spear slightly towards the pale so you get back on the straight path.

With Uruk-hai pikes, i managed to do it in about three peices per pike, threading them onto a paperclip that then got inserted through the hands and along the shaft in between. With Warhammer spears you should be able to manage something better. To finish them, just apply a thin coat of poly cement over the separate peices and then lightly file the damage.

I know you\'ve already discounted this method, so this may be of dubious use but i hope it helps.

Dr Death