Reply To: Strenghtening swords and bayonets

[OotKust]

Not sure I should throw in on such an old issue- but as Minifigs features… etc. I’ve recently bought some painted units (French and others) for refurbishment to my ‘specs’.

Several of the officers swords have broken off at the hilt, a couple of bayonets and several plumes.

1- Plumes are invariably the easiest to replace, robbing a good example from another unpainted one, or reforming a stubb from plume to a pompom or aigrette.

2- Bayonets, broken, can be filed down to just a musket/ carbine appearance and used in the main line, or now I create skirmishing elements with several.

Alternatively, some can be resurrected- a dose of several dabs of AC glue on both ends, OR a brace made from a piece of steel staple, applied to the musket end, then a balancing act putting the old, or a new, whole bayonet fitting glued to both lead and the steel staple simultaneously. Sometimes takes a couple of attempts or repeats, but I’m loath to deploy painted figures with obvious defects.

3- Swords or sabres- same as #2, most effective a slightly longer piece of steel staple attached to the ‘hidden’ side (usually against the body or inside portion); flatten every surface, including cleaning by filing the staple area to be adhered, and assemble one piece at a time.

Once blackened to create shadow, then resilvered the mend isn’t that obvious. I have a recent one so will photograph tomorrow while it’s still a WIP.
cheers d