Hi all:

So for those of you who like to drill holes in feet and pin models to bases, have you noticed some of the PP characters have VERY small feet? I'm looking at the "special" model of Eiryss and alt sculpt of Prime Haley as examples. How exactly do you pin THOSE models? I was thinking of merely trimming the metal tab and using THAT as a pin instead. Would that work?

Oooh, yeah... I see your problem. PP likes to make all their stuff to a fairly slight (and probably quite accurate) set of proportions. Great for the looks of the figures, but not so great for pinning and such.

Their female figures are particularly bad for this because the guys tend to have some nice, heavy boots and/or greaves to bulk out their legs, but the ladies are almost exclusively quite delicate.

Definitely look into using the tab as a pin of sorts - it's already there, can't hurt to try before you snip it off, right?

Failing that, all I can really offer you is to get a really fine drill bit, matching wire, and go up through the ankles VERY, VERY SLOWLY AND CAREFULLY. I've pinned some really small parts before, so I know it'll work, but it's up to you to ensure that the job's done right. The trick is finding smaller bits than your typical pinning drill bits.

I am sure you can find some very small drill bits at a model railroad store. That is where I picked up some very very small ones (don't recall the size off the top of my head)... For pinning - I would look at some fine paperclips. You might find some brass rod (at the railroad store as well) that is small enough but paperclips should work.

There is really several ways to tackle this.

1. Is there a need to remove the metal tab? What are your ideas for basing? That should really dictate wether you remove the tab or not.

2. If you plan on doing something elaborate where the tab is getting in the way you could remove the portion that gets in the way and "pin" it with what remains.

3. You could remove it altogether and using a very fine drill bit - drill small holes and insert very small metal rods (probably paperclips).

4. If it is a flat surface and you plan on being careful (or if it is only for display and won't be handled) you can always score the bottom of the feet and then glue it into place without pinning. Pinning isn't necessarily mandated - it is just a better method to "more permanently" secure it to the surface.

I am sure there are other ways to approach this as well - but I would say let the situation dictate how you will proceed. Don't lock yourself down to just 1 way.

Cheers,

-Mike

I do want some sort of "anchor" helping to keep the model in place. I'm probably going to put her on a "stone slab" made out of cork. I'll probably invest in a metal saw and carefully cut away 3/4 of the tab and use the remaining little bits to "pin" the model.

Thanks for the help, guys!