The Loose Association of Wargamers

A very pleasant chap* has sold me a pile of Newline (ie 20mm) Macedonian phalangites.

When they arrive, he's warned me, they are sans pike. A pike-less pikeman seems to defeat the purpose so I'll need to acquire some pointy sticks of a suitable length.

Firstly size: I gather they were 4-6 metres (quite a discrepancy). This translates to over twice the length of the figure if you go with the minimum. I think, given the exigencies of storage, about 50mm should look about right?

Does anyone have a source for such items? I'm thinking the actual scale of the figures should not matter when buying spears or pikes etc, as long as you get a required length.

donald

* you may know him. He goes by the alias 'Iain of Essex'. Well known (miniature) arms dealer.

I use the 'soft' iron florists wire available for a few bucks at your friendly local craft superstore. (eg https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/80Pcs-White ... SwvDpbD7iR ) I use it for my 15mm ECW pike - which are around 5m long IRL (5cm for 15mm)). Cut to approximate length with wire cutters - if you do it at an angle they end up with a sharp tip. a bit of careful painting - wooden shaft, gunmetal or black for the tip and the 'cheeks' & they're more than serviceable IMHO. They will bend with pressure but they're less delicate than the whitemetal equivalents. I think it's known as 'stem wire'.

If you're worried about the sharpness, then an alternative is to cut the plastic bristles from a broom, preferably not the best one!. I use bristles for aerials on my vehicles, as it's possible to get the 'bend that is often seen on a long aerial.

Another alternative is brass rod, cut it bundled with a hacksaw and bang the end with a hammer. The sharpness discourages beer bellies bending over the table without a care.

Surely he sold you them without pike as they will be based and deployed in their skirmishing role?

Damn it. Andy beat me to it

What's this....

















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That was me ignoring you both.

Donald - people have spoken of using plastic bristles from a brush.

I use piano wire, but it needs shaping with a grinder.

Iain

What gauge is piano wire or does it come in different sizes ?

Essex Boy wrote: ↑Sun Dec 06, 2020 2:07 pm I use piano wire, but it needs shaping with a grinder.

Do you have to swipe left or right?

goat major wrote: ↑Sun Dec 06, 2020 2:10 pm What gauge is piano wire or does it come in different sizes ?

It comes in several sizes. Unfortunately, I have a bundle of it and pick out the gauge that looks right at the time. I believe 1mm suits for 28/30mm figures, so perhaps 0.75mm for 20mm pikes. It's a beast, but there's no chance of spaghetti weapons.

E