"How to Strengthen 6mm figs" Topic

I use this with great results on my Ros and Heroics foot figures. After painting, and ideally before varnishing, take some slow setting transparent epoxy glue. Lie the figures on their side and, using a toothpick, roll a tiny bit of the glue between the legs of each figure. Once the glue is set, paint mat varnish over the glue. This wonderful method greatly strengthens figures with weak legs/ankles. Being transparent, rendered matt, and in the tiny 6 mm size, you will hardly notice the glue is there. Do not use quick setting up epoxy. I use slow setting Araldite with about one third Bob Smith finishing epoxy added to the mix as an ideal -increases working time and transparency. Araldite alone is fine. Hey presto, no more worries about your small figures breaking off at the legs! You can also put a little of the glue mix under rifles/muskets – you create a slightly thicker rifle/musket strap and paint it an appropriate colour.The rifles and muskets are now much stronger! If the strap looks too big, use a small stone on a hobby drill to sand it down a bit.

I often use this technique to reinforce weak ankles and flimsy musket barrels, bayonets, flagstaffs, spears, etc. on 15mm and even 25mm figures. Just a thin layer of epoxy. If the part has already broken, I will cut a slip of cigarette paper (which is the thinnest, strongest paper medium readily available to me), dip it in epoxy and form it around the broken parts as a cast. Once dry and painted, the extra thickness is hardly noticeable.

You can do much the same as this with brushed on gel superglue.

Jim, sounds like a quicker way, but would the super glue dry as strong as epoxy? Because it is maximum strength one needs in this situation.

I've never used epoxy in this fashion so can't say that superglue is better but it is certainly good enough for weak ankles and spears on 6mm and 25mm.

My 6mm are Baccus which may be a bit tougher than H&R.

@Jim Duncan: As a matter of interest, how do you clean up brushes after using with gel superglue? I have used the stuff directly from the tube and smeared it round with a bit of scrap wood, so I know it works OK, but on the odd occasion I have got it onto a brush, the brush has been useless afterwards.

@steamingdave47

Simples.

Buy the kind that comes in a bottle with a brush.

Like this:

link