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How to magnetize an Icon Bearer (40K CSM)

OK, I'm working on an Iron Warriors force, and one of my marines is of course an Icon Bearer. There are 5 different icons - one for each Chaos god, and one for Chaos Undivied\Chaos Glory. Rather then pick one, I decided to magnetize it so I could swap out as needed. Since the rod for the icons is thinner in diameter then the magnet I'm using, I thought the technique was postworthy.

You'll need some magnets, obviously - I used 1/8th diameter magnets as I think they are a good size (that's what she said) and they offer good pull force. You'll also need some discarded sprue, a sharpie or other marker, and a pin vise with bits. Superglue kicker and a dremel are helpful but not required.

1.) Get some spare sprue.


perfect centering optional, apparently

Locate one of those round peg things. Using your pin vise, drill out a pilot hole first (all the way through, this is important later), or the dremel is going to bounce around everywhere. Once you have your pilot hole drilled, use a 1/8" drill bit to drill out a hole. You can go all the way through if you want, or not. I chose not to.

2.) Glue in your magnet


as long as Loc-Tite keeps sending those checks, i'll keep including them in the pictures

This is why you needed to drill all the way through - you need a place for the air to escape when you push the magnet in. Otherwise, the magnet will pop right back out in a supergluey mess. Much like Brycream, a little dab will do you - just a drop. Push in your 1/8th magnet and put in a drop of kicker.

3.) Drill out the pilot hole for the staff


also doubles as a periscope

Cut the glued magnet sprue piece off the sprue, leaving a little extra at the bottom. Drill a pilot hole for the icon staff. I'm pretty sure it was 3/32 but you will want to measure first because I didn't check. Also, I would not use the dremel for this piece, as it's liable to fly away into the mystery land filled with lost 40k bits and single socks from the dryer; I used the pin vise and worked my way up to 3/32 via increasing bit size twice.

4.) Glue a magnet to your icon



I glued the magnet head assembly to the staff, and used a 1/16" magnet in the back of the icon. You could also use a 1/8" magnet to match the one you used on the staff; I used the 1/16" just because I have quite a few of those, I'm running short on 1/8" magnets, and the icons are very light.

There is a technique I use here which is worth mentioning. Before I glue in a magnet, I drop it atop the target magnet (in this case, the already glued in staff). I then mark the outside with the sharpie. When I then glue the loose magnet into whatever it's going in, the rule is shiny side out - the side that was drawn on should be the side that's getting glue. I always repeat it to myself right before I drop it in the glue - shiny side out.

5.) You're done!



And that's how you magnetize an Icon Bearer's staff.

nice tutorial, thank you

I'm at the same problem myself right now. The standard bearer is the last mini left from the CSM battleforce and I just couldn't decide which standard to take
Will definitely try this