"Best way to attach a flag pole to a figure." Topic

I don't usually have a problem with this. But this foundry AWI figure is refusing to hold my flag. To the point that I am ruining the paint job. Any suggestions?

Have you drilled s hole through the hand?
I also drill a hole through the base of the figure and put the end of the flagpole into the base.

I have in the past but I was trying to avoid it. Thanks for reminding me about. I may end up doing that.

Winston's right. If it's the paint you're worried about, a pin drill takes a little longer but minimizes damage.

Definitely use the base as an additional anchor point.

Without knowing the precise problem it is hard to say but here are a couple of things that have worked for me in the past:

(i) as suggested, drill out the hand;
(ii) if it's an open hand, try squeezing the fingers closed around the pole with needle-nosed pliers; or
(iii) a tiny blob of green stuff to make the pole/weapon/arm/head hold and then glue; or
(iv) try different glue.

Winston's suggestion is also a good one.

I use super glue gel to affix pole to metal fig hand/s. Then a bit of slow setting epoxy if the drilled hand is partly open/damaged by drilling.

When gluing pole into a hole drilled in the base, if flag pole is now too long, make it look shorter with a tall clump of grass placed around pole where it comes down to the base. This hides the bottom part of the pole, making it look shorter.

If you drill the hole, it will work. The trick is that the smaller the figure, the smaller the hand and the more difficult the drilling can be.

When I drill, I file the surface the drill bit is to penetrate flat and smooth. I then put a small indentation in it with a nail point as a guide to hold the drill bit when I start drilling.

I gave up years ago on using a pin vice. I do a lot of flags and that drilling just takes too long. The chucks that come on cordless electric drills these days (at least on all the Back and Decker I have seen) go down to 1/32".

They are variable speed and you need to start the drill bit into the hand very slowly; barely rotating at all.Once it gets started, you can speed it up.

Sometimes the drill bit will slip off the hand before you get it in there good. Just start over with the file and the nail point.

I have done this on beaucoup Blue Moon 18mm ACW infantry with few problems. I have never had a pole come off an infantry figure.

The cavalry are sometimes a problem as I do not drill their hands. Too small for some reason.

Tom

As far as pinching the figure's hand closed, you can pick up pliers with plastic-coated jaws (intended for jewelry-making) at craft stores. These will prevent damage to the outside of the hand.

If you are using Super Glue, baking powder (NOT baking soda) will instantly freeze the super glue.

It will dry rock hard and your flags won't move.

After gluing, just sprinkle the powder over the join.
Wait a minute and then brush the excess powder off with a soft brush.

I use a pin vise & drill a small hole in the base (I use 3mm thick wood bases). I use two part epoxy glue to fix the flagpole into the base. Once it has dried, it is very sturdy. You can't tell that a figure is not holding the flag from 3' away.

I am working on my AWI forces at the moment (Foundry & Perry figs).
When attaching the flagpole I always drill out the lower hand, put the pole in position and then use a small pair of pliers with cloth over the jaws to close the open hand on the right arm.The upper hand is usually at the wrong angle for some reason so closing it around the pole helps.
Glue in position using 2 part epoxy glue and set aside for 24 hours to cure.
I also shape the head flagpole before installing it to the figure and am looking at using electrical copper wire to simulate the final cords.