Broken Swords and Bayonets

A common problem with old figures is that often they will lose a bayonet and cavalrymen and officers often have blunted or broken swords. When restoring old figures it is possible to carry out simple repairs.

To do this I use the following:

• An empty drinks can, or better still the lid off a bean tin or similar.
• A good pair of kitchen scissors.
• Sharp modelling knife.
• Super glue
• Pliers.

Here is my first subject, an old Minifigs cavalryman, with broken sword:

Cut out a section of the drinks can ( the bean tin lid is more sturdy, looks better, but is a little more difficult to cut and shape):

Then using scissors, cut a very narrow sliver of metal - this may curl, but can be easily straightened:

Cut the new sword to size with scissors and shape the end:

Now the tricky bit. Using the knife cut a slot in the figures hand:

Fix the new sword in place with super glue and gently squeeze the hand back together using the pliers:

Job done.

Using the same method it is possible to repair bayonets. It is a bit more fiddly, but with practice it can be done. Here is my subject:

I make the bayonet in the same way as the sword, but include a tiny lug at the blunt end:

I cut a tiny slot in the end of the musket - tricky this:

Attach the bayonet in the slot with super glue and close the slot with pliers: