This was something that at first I didn't really consider doing. I thought I would be content with leaving them as is, or just painting a black circle at the end of weapons barrels.
But then I saw what it looked like when it was done well and I decided that it was pretty much a necessity for sci-fi models like 40k infantry. It just makes the weapons look so much more convincing!
I made pilot holes with an Xacto blade positioned as dead close to the center as I could, spun the blade to create the pilot hole, then I took a pin vice and drilled into each barrel maybe 1/8". That's about as deep as you need to go for the full effect.
If you're careful to drill directly into the pilot hole guide, you should get the holes pretty darn close to the center if not 100% in the center. One of them was slightly off but not severely enough where you'd notice in 28mm.
This initial test-run gave me enough confidence to go and try my Primaris space marines and Death Guard from the Dark Imperium box!
Pics. of drilled Cadian weapons:
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finds out what happens when Elves go bad...
