Metal Fatigue (1 Viewer)

zblang

1st Lieutenant
Joined
Jan 7, 2013
Messages
4,479
I forgot which thread we were discussing it in, but here is an example of metal fatigue. This guy falls over every month from fatigue in the right front leg. He is even well supported on his legs, so I am thinking some cheaper material was used as I wouldn't expect to see it on such a grounded figure.


Russian%20Noble%20Mounted%20%3F%201-M.jpg
 
that's sad...and like you...I'm guessing an inferior...softer...metal was used...
 
Brad - it's the horses leg, near the ankle. This is an old photo after I had picked it back up. When i get home, i'll take a new one. I aven't touched it in a few months, so probably will be laying down by now {sm2}
 
I have had the same problem with older Russian made figures, some Trophy and some Little Legion mounted figures. Generally happens with one or two legs are only on the base.
I think FL uses a peg or screw for the one or two base legs.
 
Sorry to see this Zach. It looks like the right front leg is physically broken just above the hoof. It's either that or there is a lot of metal loss from twisting. I bet Brad's friend Mike could fix this. He did some amazing repairs for me on Russian figures with broken limbs, albeit this mounted piece would be much more complex. I would send him some pics to review. I wish you luck with this.

Joe
 
Sad to see this recurring problem Zach. I agree with Joe, it does look from your photo, that there appears to be a break in the front right leg, down close to the hoof - which may be the cause of the problem. Difficult to say when this happened - but the answer is a repair that is relatively simple to effect. Of course, the value of such pieces may make the solution daunting.

I'll explain - and try and show how such a fix may be undertaken - using a rather extreme ( and much cheaper) example.

Below, see a Johillco Mountie - as found, once the layers of paint and grunge was removed. Just concentrating on the legs of the horse for now, as you can see - he had no base at all (that's how they were made), which means the legs are always vulnerable to bends and fractures. This one had the front right leg missing altogether - and the rear right snapped off below the knee.

The answer was - to firstly make up a base from metal alloy sheeting. Then, each of the broken legs replaced by a wire armature and set into the body for the front leg, and into the stump of the rear leg - and the other two original legs drilled up into the hoof. Then, once the position of each hoof has been determined - drill a hole in the base to correspond where each of the four hooves will stand. I use epoxy resin glue to set each piece of steel wire in place for each leg and hoof - then when completely dried and solid - glue in place onto the new stand. When all is set, once again, I built up each "wire" leg with putty and model each leg - then repaint. Next pic. down shows how he looked after repairs and a repaint.

URL=http://s1192.photobucket.com/user/johnnybach43/media/Cowboys%20and%20Injuns/PIC_3142_zps559cd35f.jpg.html]
PIC_3142_zps559cd35f.jpg
[/URL]

I used as a "model" - a picture of an original piece - found on the Internet (bottom picture), to get the legs and positioning correct.



I hope you can see - from my somewhat extreme example - that almost any piece with "leg" problems can be fixed - and by comparison, your repair would be much easier. Looks like drilling and pinning up through the base, through the broken hoof and into the front right leg of the horse would fix it in place permanently. Maybe about a centimetre into the leg, should do it. Then, all that would be required is a retouch of the paintwork at the hoof, ( maybe with a dab of putty first to disguise the original crack), once all was set. Repairs done with a hand drill take a bit longer - but generate little heat, compared to the friction caused by an electric drill ( which can damage existing paintwork). So - with care - little damage need be done. You may also need to look at the back legs for this piece too - as continual flexing can weaken metal elsewhere too. I usually pin all legs that touch base when making up or repairing mounted figures - and have never had any problems thereafter.

Any competent repairer could undertake this fix - though maybe one close to home would be best of all, if you can find someone - as it's always better to collect - than rely on the post or other transportation - as that's where rough handling can cause many breaks and fractures, in my opinion.

Hope this helps - jb

 
Last edited:
Good suggestion! Most of the horse I've repaired don't have bases, making the solution much easier. If there is a crcak showing after the repair, you might try filling it with gap-filling superglue. Being transparent, it will not affect the underlying paint, thus making touchup easier.

Bosun Al
 
Zach, who ever you get to repair it, get them to drill and pin the other legs while they're on. Better safe than sorry! :)

Martin
 

Users who are viewing this thread

Back
Top