how to string the bow on the AIRFIX archer

[Beano Boy]

Lots of years ago I started buying and collecting these. At long last I decided to string the bow on this one. I must however point out that the arrow is on the wrong side of the bow.







I realise the camera makes the wire seem like thick cable,but believe me it is not. The wire is used to wire up the tiny lights on my HO OO Railway Layout,and when stripped out of the plastic sleeve it is very very fine.




No hot pins needed for this topic,unless you like burning your fingers. The dress makers pin is simply pushed into the plastic,and then straight through to the other side.

I needed to just pin a little closer to the fingers by 1 mm. The next one I do will be spot on,untill then I`ll carry on showing how to do it.



This is like threading the tinniest needle,but it will go through eventually, and so there is no need to muck about trying to stick any of this with glue until the finish.



Dress Makers Pins,are so cheap,and great for this job. One is pushed into and through each end.




Sorry the picture below is not as good as the others.



The wire is threaded through.



Then looped over and wound round and round the wire itself not round and round the bow,and because it is wire it will stay put and there is no need for tying knots. Once fixed the end is left to be trimmed off later.



The wire is fixed likewise to the other end and then the tiny wire is trimmed off using a sharp craft knife. A small dab of PVA will make sure it stays put and not unwind in the future, or semi matt paint will do the trick or for the brave of heart Super Glue. There will be those who use other methods to string bows and I respect that. This is quite a thumb and finger fiddle of a job,but made easy by using fine wire.The option to make the holes needed and then paint the model and then string the bow is also another wise choice to make.



Just the job. Not perfect,but then what is? BB

[Kekso]

Really good tutorial Paul. Thanks for posting!

[Peter]

Good show Paul!

Euh was this before or after you had that needle in your finger?

[Beano Boy]

I`ve not been able to do much work in the past few days,typing yes,but modelling hobby wise,no.
I remembered how some where debating in the past just how to string the bow`s on model figures. I tried to find that topic again but couldn`t ,so I placed this one of my own. I thought it might help both members and guests alike. It also gave me something that I could do.










Over the years I have collected several hundred of these AIRFIX archers in 1/32 and 1/35 &1/72 scale of those figures above in the pictures, but never painted any and this one was the first time ever that I`ve done such a thing,as string the bow,and I am well pleased with the end result.

No pin in my finger this time Peter,but recently a few days ago,I did put a craft knife right through my right hand. It is on the mend which is great news,and hopefully I will be back to scratch building soon,and who knows maybe painting too. BB

[Susofrick]

I use a cheap brush and some woodglue for the 1/72-bows. Very easy. Paul (the other one) left us some time ago, but I think there is a tutorial somewhere on his blog.

[Wheeling Turn]

Great tutorial.....I wonder if this works on 6mm

[Beano Boy]

Thank you for your kind comment W T. As to your interesting question,very very fine wire is very strong and I suppose if I could see that small,I would allow for a lot longer piece of wire than what is needed,because this type of job is all down to using ones hands and fingers.I`d wind the wire around each end of the bow,a few times and loop the wire over a couple of times and pull it tight. When satisfied with the result I would cut the waste wire off, and apply a thin coat of PVA glue over each end, which would be unseen when dry .

The Loop Over is where you form a Loop and then holding it between thumb and finger you turn it over the end of something and pull it tight,and repeat the action again. This is a Loop Knot ! Using wire a couple of loops would only be needed. So no need to fiddle faddle about on the finish. I`m not a Knot person,but I was taught this one on active service long times ago. BB

[Duron QelDroma]

Paul (the other one) left us some time ago,

Why did he leave? As you say it, I remember, that I didn't see him posting for a long while now.

[Susofrick]

It was some issue over the PMs I think. He got enough and left. The blog is still working though and he is on facebook.

[Wheeling Turn]

THX...I will give it a try. The models look much better..

[Beano Boy]

Here we have one finished figure. I found using a much longer wire than is needed,then threading it through behind the fingers first before painting the string (COPPER WIRE! ) was the best way of working.Pulling it through a couple of inches. Then fixing the figure onto my painting table by using blu tac.Then bending the bottom piece of wire away from the figure , and fixing the end of it on top of a small paint tin which I already had stuck down onto my table with blu tac .So the stretched out secured wire can easily be painted without getting paint on the figure. The wire when dry needed carefully pulling through the back of the fingers slowly all the way so enough wire was on either side long enough for fixing to the top & bottom. I found it better to fix it to the bottom of the bow first then the top. Practice makes perfect they often say,and i do have a few of these bows to string. Nice to see viewing figures for this topic,and I hope some found it interesting to ponder though way through it. BB