I broke a staff on a wizard I just started working on. It wasn\'t totally my fault, as it was ~90% broken right at the top of the hand when I opened the package. Now since this will be a tabletop mini, I\'m wondering if there\'s a trick to strengthening the joint. It seems too small for pinning, but if that\'s the only way, I\'ll give it a shot. Are there any other ideas or successful tips on getting this staff back so that it won\'t break off again if I blow hard on it?
I broke my staff!
- Thread starter Eryops
- Start date
I thought this was a painful sounding medical thing! :wow: I\'m glad it\'s not lol
Can you show a pic of the staff in question...?
If it\'s plain wood, you might be better to either cut your losses and file the top flat and just have it shorter, or GS a new top if it\'s plain.
If, however it\'s got all fancy bits and bobs on, then I\'d at least TRY pinning - find some very thin wire.
Can you show a pic of the staff in question...?
If it\'s plain wood, you might be better to either cut your losses and file the top flat and just have it shorter, or GS a new top if it\'s plain.
If, however it\'s got all fancy bits and bobs on, then I\'d at least TRY pinning - find some very thin wire.
Friar
Dorks for Orks
depending on the staff as Dan said will determine largely what you\'d do. if the staff it selt is real thing you could try drilling a lil hole in the top of his hand and just sticking the staff into it. If it has a fancy top you could just drill out his hand and the top of the staff and put a piece of brass rod thru his hand as a new staff and put the fancy bits on top of the brass rod.
PegaZus
Stealth Freak
Failing any other suggestion, maybe make the break part of the character? Have the broken staff, but then have three or four splints around it, then tied with some thin fishing line or string. Paint the splints as regular wood, and the fishing line as rope.
Thus, its a battlefield repair to the broken staff!
Thus, its a battlefield repair to the broken staff!
For clarity, the staff and mini in question is:
http://www.reapermini.com/FigureFinder#detail/02307
I\'m not crazy about the top (the skull is a tad bit on the lame side) so I might just try to make a hole in his hand as Friar suggests and see how that works out. If that fails, I might take up PegaZus\' advice and make a battle-worn staff
http://www.reapermini.com/FigureFinder#detail/02307
I\'m not crazy about the top (the skull is a tad bit on the lame side) so I might just try to make a hole in his hand as Friar suggests and see how that works out. If that fails, I might take up PegaZus\' advice and make a battle-worn staff
Shawn R. L.
New member
This could actually work to your benifit. Due to the needs of molding, often the staff\'s and such are made overly thick. Were that my fig, I\'d just cut off the top and bottom of the staff and replace it with a thick paperclip or a tooth pick filed down to size.
Usually the ones that come with the fig look like telephone poles.
Usually the ones that come with the fig look like telephone poles.
Maybe the pic doesn\'t show it right, but that does look like it is large enough in diameter to pin with a paper clip. Otherwise, you could just cut off the whole thing and have him hold something else. Too bad, maybe you can take it back to the store where you bought it for an exchange?
It might be large enough to get a paperclip into it. I\'ll have to get one and check. I guess that would also mean that I\'d have to finally break down and buy a rotary tool
If that won\'t work, I could probably just make a new staff or keep the \'shaking a fist\' idea in mind. Returning it won\'t be viable, as I\'ve already removed the standard Reaper base and re-based it...
Thanks everyone for your ideas!
If that won\'t work, I could probably just make a new staff or keep the \'shaking a fist\' idea in mind. Returning it won\'t be viable, as I\'ve already removed the standard Reaper base and re-based it...
Thanks everyone for your ideas!
S
Shadzar
Guest
i don\'t have the mini so can\'t measure, but got an idea looking at the style.
do you have any bamboo skewers? is the staff about the same size around as they are? you could take the broken part to a grocery store and measure them up.
if they are about the same size you could get some skewers and remove the lower portion of the staf and bore out his hand and replace the whole thing with a skewer of the length you want.
or you could leave the bottom part and fashion some sort of handle and turn the staff into a cane. either use the existing skull (if you like it at all) or find something else to use as a handle or sculpt your own....
do you have any bamboo skewers? is the staff about the same size around as they are? you could take the broken part to a grocery store and measure them up.
if they are about the same size you could get some skewers and remove the lower portion of the staf and bore out his hand and replace the whole thing with a skewer of the length you want.
or you could leave the bottom part and fashion some sort of handle and turn the staff into a cane. either use the existing skull (if you like it at all) or find something else to use as a handle or sculpt your own....
Dragonsreach
Super Moderator
I\'d suggest removing the whole staff and replacing it with something like a dressmakers pin. (The type with the bead on the top)drilling completley through the hand and allowing your to make the staff more in \"scale\" to the figure.
It would need a little greenstuff work to make a wrap around where the hand goes but the is in itself relativly easy to attempt.
It would need a little greenstuff work to make a wrap around where the hand goes but the is in itself relativly easy to attempt.
freakinacage
New member
i agree. and a pin vice is only cheap. i reckon your best bet is drill it out and pop in a paperclip. although i do quite like the idea of him shaking his fist
MPJ
New member
Looking at the mini I\'d say the shaking fist idea wouldn\'t be easy to pull off, the staff is to big leaving his hand open to much and there is staff visible past his finger tips. Not to mention the angle of the arm would have to be completely re done. Now if you do somehow manage to pull off a shaking fist thing then be sure to paint him as an old bugger \'cause I can\'t help but picture it as an old guy shaking his fist saying \"You young whipper-snappers\".
Einion
New member
I\'d also remove what\'s left and replace it with something less fat.
Here\'s the method I\'d use:
drill the hand and the base of the finial;
insert sanded/scuffed paperclip wire into hand and glue in place;
glue finial back on;
lightly coat wire with superglue and sprinkle with baking soda*:
apply thin layer of putty and sculpt texture;
sit back and admire efforts while putty cures.
*Gives the putty something to grab on to.
Einion
Here\'s the method I\'d use:
drill the hand and the base of the finial;
insert sanded/scuffed paperclip wire into hand and glue in place;
glue finial back on;
lightly coat wire with superglue and sprinkle with baking soda*:
apply thin layer of putty and sculpt texture;
sit back and admire efforts while putty cures.
*Gives the putty something to grab on to.
Einion
freakinacage
New member
ooh nice tip there, thanks!
Thunderhawker
New member
I agree with the school of thought that replacing the staff altogether is the best way to go. Pinned and repaired just doesn\'t look right or wear very well in the long run. If its a display piece it may be okay, but replacing it may be the simplest and least painfull way to go.
Dragonsreach
Super Moderator
Second that response.
