"Best way to stretch open rider figures" Topic

I have a bunch of 28mm metal rider figures that have leg openings that are too narrow--some have a sharp "V" others just not wide enough (I am wanting to mount various historical figures on GW horses to match warhammer figures). What is the best way to do this?

I assume I need to heat the metal first, but what is best way--and how should I mount or hold the figure?

Don't heat. If the metal is flexible just wedge needle-nosed pliers to widen the "crotch". If the metal is brittle you're screwed "stretching" the rider, modify the horse. A combination of both usually works best. It is in fact easier to take metal or plastic off the saddle area than from off the inside of the rider's thighs. Once you've done the first one, the rest will go increasingly fast….

I used a lot of GW 5th Edition Bretonnian and even Front Rank 100YW knights on the big GW 6th Edition horses and had similar problem. I used a pair of pliers, as noted above. Put the business end between the rider's legs and opened the pliers. Take it easy and you should be alright. Some miniatures are just not going to fit though – you may actually have to do surgery on them.

link

Yep. Needle nose done as above

Get a wooden dowel about the width that you want the stretch out and push the figures down over the dowel. Also sanding down the sides of the horse is useful as suggested also.

@Brian, I had wondered about the lance compatibility issue. I too have several Front Rank figures, some BTD Averaign figures, and a hodge-lodge of others.

Interestingly, the BTD armored horse for the Helsinian line (ex Harlequin?) fits the Front Rank figures perfectly and is itself about 90% compatible with GW Empire armored horses. The BTD comparisoned horses from the Averaign line are noticeably smaller than Bretonnian comparisoned horses, however.

@Rwphillipsstl – If you look at the link I put above, I swapped lances and in some cases, complete arms on the Front Rank figures to make them fir with my other Bretonnians. I think it worked quite well.

Brian Smaller -- That is a terrific-looking collection.

The Bretonnians were always my favorite Games Workshop figures, followed by the Saurus Lizardmen. I enjoyed your photographs immensely!

Historicals orientated horses can be bought separately and aren't as expensive as GW product.
You might find GW horses make their riders look a bit small.

I have so many GW figures, and some of them are really too big for smaller horses, but otherwise that is probably a more logical approach. My Empire and Bretonnian riders in particular are really too large for any historical mounts.