"Re: Plastic Tanks - Lead Shot?" Topic

For those of you who game with plastic tanks – notably 15mm – they look great but feel a bit – light

A buddy of mine had an idea that I took up on; putting some lead shot in the hull of the tank (presuming that they won't fall out – and as I mostly use those excellent kits from the Plastic Soldier Company that is certainly the case) so it gives the tank a bit of heft

So –

A) Great idea – must try it
B) Utter madness – you will get lead poisoning
C) Already do it
D) Don't do tanks
E) Other/no opinion

It's a regular technique used to bring the nose down on plastic aircraft models that don't balance right on their landing gear.

E) I glue fender washers underneath for my magnetic storage boxes. It adds a bit of heft to them as well.

Fishing weights too. Split 'em in two. Squeeze the lead with pliers to make flatter shapes. Cram 'em in. Drizzle in a bit of super glue. After that's cured use one of the many styles of putty to smooth over the bottom if it's still open.

At least that's what I … erm … OCD types might do.

I don't know how much of the stuff is actually lead anymore. My concern with shotgun refills is they may be too oily for glue to keep them from rattling around.

C.
I use steel shot, actually. You can buy it in bulk at a sporting goods store, and even at Walmart.
Most plastic tank hulls have a bottom half which acts as a pan to hold the shot.
Mike

C

I put mine on magnetic bases to transport them around. Then they are plenty heavy.

Half the reason to even use plastic tanks and figures is to reduce the weight of carrying them around. Why would I ever want to make them heavier?

E) This is a big reason why I prefer metal miniatures in all periods and scales.

Good question, Nazrat – I do most of my gaming at home and the extra weight keep them where they should be on the table!

Don't bother. "Heft" of the model is meaningless to me.

Damon.

I just filled some 3d printed tanks' hulls with Durham's Water Putty. The 3d print material is even lighter than styrene; I was actually afraid that a stiff breeze would blow the vehicles away. This technique also allowed me to drill a hole in the putty and place a rare-earth magnet in the body, which clamps on to one in the turret. That makes me an "E" in the scope of this question.

I only weight aircraft. If the tanks are lighter, easier to carry around.

I've done the washer thing to all my 28mm plastic stuff. No need to do it to my all metal 28's, they already feel like tanks!

Only bothered with the Jagdtiger that wouldn't sit down on its tracks properly – a levitating Jagdtiger just looks odd! Basically I stuffed its hull with plasticine. The rest are un-weighted as I carry them around occasionally.

I once tried to spray paint a line if 5 T-70 plastic turrets.
It took me five minutes to round them all up.

I have heard from aircraft modelers that a mix of Super Glue and lead shot will oxidize and swell enough over time to split a plane's fuselage. Never happened to me but I thought I would warn you.

I don't do it with regular plastic tanks.

But Shapeways ones are featherweight and I glue BBs in them. Heft isn't an issue per se, I just don't want them to be easily brushed out of position on the tabletop during play.

E, Heft is not an issue for me.

BBs and glue for me, just makes them feel better.