| Ragbones | 20 Jun 2014 6:07 p.m. PST |
Can anyone recommend a manufacturer of 1:32 scale U.S. Cavalry suitable for the Mexican-American War? Preferably 'larger' figs that would match well with Conte-sized figures. |
| nevinsrip | 20 Jun 2014 11:26 p.m. PST |
Best bet is to behead some Conte Alamo N.O. Grays and stick the heads on TSSD US ACW Cavalry.
Either that or shave the TSSD ACW Cavalry headgear down and use greenstuff to shape the correct headgear. I think that's as close as you can get. Nobody makes the type figure your looking for in that scale. |
| Ragbones | 21 Jun 2014 7:36 a.m. PST |
Thanks Nevinsrip, I was afraid of that. My skills at repurposing figures are minimal and since I don't intend to paint these figures the modifications would be all too obvious. |
79thPA  | 21 Jun 2014 8:17 a.m. PST |
I've never seen any. @nevinsrip: That's a clever idea. |
| nevinsrip | 21 Jun 2014 12:52 p.m. PST |
Rag, Head swaps are simple and you can paint the figure all one color, so it matches. Or, you can take the TSSD figure to a paint store, match the color and buy a small jar of paint. Use that to paint the new head. There's alway a way. Try a few head swaps on cheap green army men. You'll get the hang of it right away. |
| nevinsrip | 21 Jun 2014 8:26 p.m. PST |
[URL=http://s222.photobucket.com/user/nevinsrip/media/AWILIGHTS6.jpg.html]
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[/URL] I made these from Accurate AWI 54 mm figures. Just a simple head swap made all the difference. |
| dBerczerk | 22 Jun 2014 4:46 a.m. PST |
nevinsrip -- great photos of some very nice conversions. You've inspired me to continue work on my 54mm Chechen and Ossetian warriors, Ottoman Turks, and Catherine the Great-era Russians -- a project which has sadly languished for several months. |
John Leahy  | 22 Jun 2014 7:03 p.m. PST |
Will ATKM heads work on AIP or Accurate figs? I'd love for it to be that easy to do. Thanks, John |
| dBerczerk | 23 Jun 2014 12:16 p.m. PST |
Yes, ATKM 54mm white metal heads will work on AiP, Accurate, and A Call to Arms 1/32 plastic figures. After decapitating the plastic head from the target plastic figure, you will have to hollow out a slight cavity to accept the peg at the base of the ATKM metal head. I use a pin vise to bore a small hole in the decapitated plastic torso. Then take a craft knife and widen the small bore hole to accept the peg at the bottom of the metal ATKM head. Once you've got a snug fit, use two-part epoxy to marry the two pieces. Let set for at least 10 minutes under periodic visual supervision to assure the metal head does not "shift" from the position you desire. The metal head may now make the plastic figure "top-heavy." I compensate for this by fastening two 3/4" metal fender washers to the bottom of the figure base, again with two-part epoxy. This helps keep the new figure upright, but also permits transport of my wargaming figures in magnet-lined clear plastic storage boxes. |
| John Leahy | 24 Jun 2014 5:50 a.m. PST |
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| nevinsrip | 12 Jul 2014 5:59 a.m. PST |
Actually, I don't use epoxy, which really doesn't hold soft plastic to metal. Use green stuff or plumbers putty to fill the hole in the body about half way up. Push the metal head in and test the fit. If you have to add or subtract green stuff, now's the time. Once you are happy with the fit, add a small amount of Loctite pro super glue. The glue will react with the green stuf and give you a secure bond.
Anyway, that's what I do and you can see the results above. You can also see the 1 x 2 thin metal bases that I use to keep the figures upright. I still have yet to get around to finally terraining the bases. |
| Major William Martin RM | 16 Jul 2014 2:40 p.m. PST |
@ the OP: Another solution that would work fairly well would be to find the ACW cavalry that you like (jackets, equipment, etc.) and then get a box or so of Armies In Plastic Napoleonic Prussian Landwehr. AIP chose to model their Landwehr in a soft cap that looks very much like a US Dragoon's cap, see here: link You get 20 figures for $17.00 USD, which is reasonable. The conversion would be pretty straight-forward, just a head swap really, maybe a little re-working of the caps just for some variation. The AIP are still in regular production so much easier to obtain that Conté or some of the more esoteric limited-production sets out there. Bill
Sir William the Aged |
learns to drill with a screwdriver.
