"Replacing Spears and Lances" Topic

If they are lead/pewter do you replace them with brass or commercial "spears/lances"?

It depends on the manufacturer in some sense.

Perry lances – should they hold up?

What about Eureka?

Both seem firm but of course any real push will bend them. All the figures in question (Cossacks in this case) have steel washers or bases so they won't land lance first if they are dropped.

Some brands like old Minifigs definitely should have them replaced.

Thoughts?

I prefer lead with spears(they are thicker and look more correct in their hands)

But for pikes you need wire stuff, no way can you get a 80mm lead pike to look right.

I've been doing Vikings and other Dark Age figures, most of which come with open hands, so I make brass spears for them. I have supplemented these with Reaper figures. Such Reaper figures as come with spears usually have thick sturdy shafts, so I haven't replaced them. My old Minifigs Saxons seem to have gone into hiding, but I believe I did replace most of their spears with piano wire spears with Ral Partha spearheads.

Grelber

I've replaced broken spears and such on both 15mm and 25/28mm figures. For the smaller guys I use floral wire. I have a bench vise as has an anvil as part of it. Flatten the end you want a point on. Then trim the end to a point. I drill a hole in the hand that grips the weapon and super glue it in the socket I made. For the larger figures I use paper clip.

I don't care what scale they are in. If they are cast on, you may as well replace them with brass rod as part of the pre paint preparation work. Save yourself some grief later.

I started out replacing spears, etc., in 25mm scale with brass rod, but then switched to aluminum. Go to Michael's, or anywhere they have jewelry making stuff. There are coils of aluminum wire in different gauges. It's much easier to work with than brass, to make points & such. I use the floral wire also, for arrows. Garbage bag twist ties with the paper or plastic covering burned off are even thinner, and make dandy bowstrings.

I rarely bother to replace existing spears, I just repair them if the break off. Brass, steel, whatever. Plastic brush bristles make good pikes.

Drilling a bunch of hands when I don't need to isn't my idea of fun.