"Tips on Assembling Plastic Figures?" Topic

I am about to embark on a run of 28mm plastic figures. I have Warlord ECW, Wargames Factory Saxons, Vikings and Samurai. I was wondering if anyone had any helpful tips on assembly, puttying, primer, or painting. Tutorials, blogs or just some tips would be much appreciated.

TIA,
Kevin

Use Liquid Poly cement for hard plastic figures.

Get some nippers which are much better than cutting with a knife. DO NOT USE SUPER GLUE FOR ARMS. Glue for plastic models is best since it doesn't set up right away and allows you to position the arms and place a rifle properly.

I try to glue the arm holding the rifle to the rifle, and after that has set then glue that assembly and the other arm onto the body. Of course I test fit everything first.

Use plastic cement, but give it time to melt both surfaces – Dab, Dab, dwell a pause of 2 marching paces, press!

be patient.

Use nippers as mentioned above to cut model from the sprue, then use a dull x-acto knife to remove mold lines, etc.

Use plastic cement as mentioned. This is the biggie. If you use anything else they will just fall apart.

I usually start with removing two parts for all the models on one sprue and then cleaning them and then put them together. Then do another part for all of them.

So body and right arm. Assemble. Then left arm, clean, assemble and so on.

You can keep them in a line then the first one you did you start with again.

I sometimes feel plastic figure assembly to be the IKEA furniture of the wargaming world

GW's plastic clipper is pretty decent. There are probably better or cheaper ones out there by other companies, but if you don't have time to track those down, I recommend picking up the GW one. A clipper/nipper makes it much easier to remove plastic figs from the sprue.

For filling gaps after assembly, take a little gel CA glue on a toothpick and let it flow it into the gap by capillary action. Take care not to overfill as cured CA is a little difficult to remove without damaging the surrounding areas.

Thanks everyone for your help it is much appreciated. Looks like I will need to get some nippers.

If it's clippers you want, the best, the ABSOLUTE best, I've found are manufactured by Xuron. They blow GW clippers away at I think 1/3rd the price. I assemble huge armies of hard and soft plastic in all scales, and I've never had a bad day with the Xurons.
amazon.com/Xuron-410-Micro-Shear-Flush-Cutter/dp/B000IBOOWQ/ref=pd_sim_t_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=0KX59F51433VRX337TKJ

Thanks parrot I'll add those to my next order.

YAY I HELPED SOMEONE! Who's a constant impediment to human happiness NOW, ex-wife? NOT THIS GUY!

If you're interested, I assemble plastic figs for $0.50 USD/fig or $0.25 USD/fig if I get to keep the spare parts

Small set of clippers, and then a modelling knife and emery board to make sure the base is flat and the joining surfaces will make a good bond. Plastic Glue (definitely not super glue). Bit of green stuff for any gaps. Army painter primer (or B&Q , but price isn't much different) and then good to paint.

"I sometimes feel plastic figure assembly to be the IKEA furniture of the wargaming world"

Warlord now releases 'Bjorn' British riflemen with writing desk and 'Fisknjaar' French Voltigeur with personal folding camp bed……..