Collapsing Custer

[chippy]

Have had this in my "grey army" for a couple of years

I started to build it and the horse was completed, glued to base and primed, then I noticed a little bit of sagging. Carried on and put the figure together, placed him on the horse to get an idea of what it would look like and overnight the horse had completely collapsed and Custer was sprawled on the floor with a very bent sword but no other major damage. Any suggestions on how to make the horse more rigid. Firstly I don't want to support the front with a bush or rock as I like the action pose of the kit. Secondly I don't want to buy another horse, I've already paid me money once! I think the leg is too thin to drill out and insert a metal rod. Personally I think this is a problem Andrea should have solved when designing the kit.
Anyone out there with ideas?
Chippy

 

[btavis]

A brass rod in the supporting leg is really the best method to support the figure.

 

[Fernando Ruiz]

What about some bush in the REAR part of the leg? The upper part of the leg should be enough thick to support a drill and the bush behind doesn't hinder too much the dinamism of the pose. I agree that Andrea should have figured out a solid solution for the leg.
Regards
FeR

 

[mikec55]

What a shame. I think this one just fell off my wish list.

 

[Nap]

Hi Chippy ,
You don't have much luck , pinning is the best and safest way ..perhaps disguised by a bush as others have said .
You could of course conatact Andrea diirect and say how dissapointed you are with the kit and what has happened ..and see if they will send another horse and sabre ...blag it a little perhaps , after all you paid good and hard earned money no matter when you bought it !!!




Nap

 

[Steve]

One would have equal luck trying to contact Santa Claus. My experience with Andrea is "buyer beware" as not only do they not care, they do not respond. I have this kit and the leg is not too small for a pin, but the best way is to seperate the halves of the horse and with a dremel grind out a narrow channel on the inside of one rear leg from the haunch (inside the "crotch") all the way down to the hoof. Insert good strong wire (piano wire is best but tough to shape) and extending 3/8 to 1/2 inch beyond the bottom of the hoof. The channel is then filled with putty and smoothed over. While time consuming it is simple and fool proof. As you are grinding a channel rather than drilling, the torque on the fetlock is not such as to cause it to spin off of the leg. Thanks for the heads up as this one is in the ready rack soon to be started.--

 

[AJLaFleche]

Accordi ng to their website: "Choice of two optional right arms (sabre or flag) included. Horse´s leg reinforced with a steel pin. Assembly and painting guide included, English and Spanish." So maybe an attempt to contact them IS in order.

 

[Steve]

Andreas idea of a steel pin protrudes only 1" from the bottom of the hoof and about that into the leg. Even if it was there it is not much use, though I have only done 54mm subjects. If it is not there you have a faulty casting and they should take it back. I will be interested to see what happens. LUCK!

 

[Steve]

That should read 1/4" from the bottom of the hoof.

 

[chippy]

Well Guys I've emailed Andrea today and I will wait and see what or if their response will be before proceeding any further with this kit .Nap your right I seem to be having a spell of receiving poor kits by ordering through post lately to the point where I feel that I shall only buy kits at model shows where the quality can be checked first. Steve I may have to resort to your method in the end but lets wait and see . Al like the old song goes ," the things that your liable to read in the bible 'aint necessarily so "
chippy

 

[davidmitchell]

Hi Gordon its a shame what happened , but if you pin it as suggested with the pin right up into the body you should have no problems.I used an Andrea horse very similar for a Napoleonic conversion about four years ago and pinned the one leg as mentioned and have had no problems with sagging.It even survived a fall from a competition table.

Cheers David