Bendy Barrels

[Grimreaper]

Okay I have to ask this as its driving me nuts. I have tried everything I can think of to straighten out bananna tank barrels. The hot to cold resin type treatment doesnt work ( i went to the extreme of heating over a gas flame and rapid cooling in water-barrels remained straight for about a week then drifted back again).
Any one got a good technique to sort this out..my 3 vet Tigers like shooting around corners still.:eek:
Cheers

[Jig-Saw]

Okay I have to ask this as its driving me nuts. I have tried everything I can think of to straighten out bananna tank barrels. The hot to cold resin type treatment doesnt work ( i went to the extreme of heating over a gas flame and rapid cooling in water-barrels remained straight for about a week then drifted back again).
Any one got a good technique to sort this out..my 3 vet Tigers like shooting around corners still.:eek:
Cheers

I have the exact same problem. Nothing works for me. Not so sure about the new set (I would rather spend my money on brandy)

But apparently there is only one special secret way to do it. And it is the exact same way I did mine, hot boiling water and ice water. But apparently I am dumb and ignorant according to some posters on here. :rolleyes:
This is the last time I post on here.

Face it quality sucks. It can be much better for the price. Look at other minis games, no big problems with D and D or starwars.

To wizards, nice set of rules, easy and fun. But I will be buying minis else where. ;)

[ACQ]

I've always had luck using the boiling water/cold water method. The trick is right after you pull it out of the boiling water to carefully shape the barrel and hold it straight. It'll be very malleable. Hold it in that shape while you run it under cold tap water. It'll get hard again and stay that way (yuk it up, gentlemen).

WotC minis are soft plastic unlike WizKids minis. Most WizKids minis will return to their original molded memory once dipped in boiling water, no hand shaping required. I've done it countless times.

[Grimreaper]

Hi,
Firstly thanks for the replies.
Yes I have tried the hot to cold method. I heated the barrels up over a gas flame held them in place and immersed them in very cold water which then seemed to set them. However after a week they reverted gradually back to the original bent position. I even tried putting them in my storage boxes so that the barrels couldnt rebend but they sprung back to bent shape again after a week or so. One thing to mention though is i collect DnD minis also and the Frost giant Jarl I had came with a curved over sword. This sword may be made of a different type of plastic as it it transparent. When i tried my hot to cold method on this it actually held and has been straight since then.
I will have another go as it may be that you just have to keep doing this hot-cold process over and over till the required shape is remembered.
Thanks again
:)

[panzerpainter]

If yu have micro-drill, you can cut the barrells off (save any muzzle breaks). Drill 1/32 diamter holes in the mantlets and into the ends of the muzzle breaks. Then get some brass or aluminum tubing from the hardware store, 1/32 inside diameter), also get some 1/32 outside diameter brass wire. Cut lengths of tubing, sand ends flat and smooth, and slip the brass wire through the new barrels, with a tiny bit sticking out one end (to glue muzzle break back on), and a bit more sticking out the other end (to glue back into mantlet). I've fixed around 100 or more barrels this way. Make sure to sand and prime the tubing barrells though, the water based paints dont stick well to the metal directly.

[Grimreaper]

Hi,
Thanks PP If all else fails i will do what you suggest and go the replacement barrel route-although my repaints wont be a scratch on your excellent AFV's sir.
Cheers

[Colonel_Coo]

Since most of here has some spare $$$, I recommend contracting PanzerPainter for the job. His mods are top notch.

the heat/cool thing worked for me enough for my level of comfort.

You can also try "storage" of the barrel inside a small diameter guide (like what's found on paint brush tips).

[Cruizin2000]

After the boiling water dip, straighten the barrel and then put the barrel into ICE water. Still the ice up in the water first and it will make it quite frigid. My Marders look fine now. Try it.

C2K

[TomCat]

I've found you need to "over do" em with the hot/cold plan.. Push the barrels in the other direction too much.
and it kinda centers where you want it to be.

Then again I always wash my tanks before a big battle...GRIN

[Mr. Lang]

If yu have micro-drill, you can cut the barrells off (save any muzzle breaks). Drill 1/32 diamter holes in the mantlets and into the ends of the muzzle breaks. Then get some brass or aluminum tubing from the hardware store, 1/32 inside diameter), also get some 1/32 outside diameter brass wire. Cut lengths of tubing, sand ends flat and smooth, and slip the brass wire through the new barrels, with a tiny bit sticking out one end (to glue muzzle break back on), and a bit more sticking out the other end (to glue back into mantlet). I've fixed around 100 or more barrels this way. Make sure to sand and prime the tubing barrells though, the water based paints dont stick well to the metal directly.

Ultimately, doesnt that defeat part of the purpose of AAM pieces? No assembly. No painting. If I'm going to go through all this trouble, I'd just buy Flames of War pieces or learn to live with being able to shoot around corners.

[Bobsalt]

After the boiling water dip, straighten the barrel and then put the barrel into ICE water. Still the ice up in the water first and it will make it quite frigid. My Marders look fine now. Try it.

C2K
I’ve done this exact thing. MANY TIMES. I’ve used this method to fix bent barrels on a couple of Jagdpanthers and Tigers. It does not work on any piece from Set IV though because the plastic used in that set apparently includes something like rubber. Every attempt to straighten the barrels results in them eventually reverting to their previous shape. The best result I’ve ever gotten is to keep them straight for about a week.

Ultimately, doesnt that defeat part of the purpose of AAM pieces? No assembly. No painting. If I'm going to go through all this trouble, I'd just buy Flames of War pieces or learn to live with being able to shoot around corners.
Extremely difficult to argue with you on that point.