Do you drill holes into the end of your guns?

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**Barksdale**

For the amount of time it takes to drill the barrels out you may as well just do it. The aesthetic return is so much greater than the few seconds it takes.

**oadie**

I find the aesthetic improvement well worth the minimal effort of drilling a simple hole. I'm also the type that cares about mold lines, for the most part (I did slacken, for a while, during an ork infantry assembly spree...) - seems the two tend to go hand in hand. I can understand when people don't consider it a priority, but "too much effort" is a hard sell. Grab an awl/pin, chuck up your drill bit, and it takes all of 10 seconds per model.

**clash0r**

i have seen rly superb painted models where it was not done - kinda ruined the whole work.

all depends on the standard you wanna achieve, but imo for an above average result its a must have.
and when you dont like the drill roll eldar :3

**Altruizine**

Joe Mama wrote:
Zuul wrote:Of course. The models are not cheap so why half-ass any part of their assembly?

That isn't part of the assembly. Unless you butcher the definition of the word "assembly" very very badly, so that it doesn't mean what the dictionary says it means. Now you may think the model is unfinished without the drilled barrels, but that does not mean the model was not assembled.

Now, onto another point, GW can easily put small depressions in their models, you see this everywhere, even on guns, see the sides of meltas and flamers. Why then, do they not have depressions on the end of gun barrels? It is not like it would be hard for them to include this (on the other hand, models produced with no mould lines is pretty much impossible). Seems to me that makes drilled barrels an extra, optional step, that some people somewhat foolishly claim should be required for everyone.

This is pretty pedantic, and comparable to claiming that removing mold lines is not a part of assembly, or that basing is not part of completing a paint job. Technically correct, intellectually dishonest.

**jordanis**

i do something a little different, instead of drilling out the barrel and having the hole be uncentered, i cut off the "flash-hider" and make a new one out of styrene tube, it works great for orks, havent done it for my marines yet.

**Briancj**

I think this topic has run its course.

**chromedog**

If it's a display model, sure.

If it's only ever going to be seen from arm's length to 3-6 feet away, I don't bother.

You don't play the game from 3-6" so nobody (unless they have OCD) will notice or care (and anyone who does is irrelevant).

**Flinty**

Yes. It makes for more awesome. That is all.

**Joe Mama**

Altruizine wrote:
Joe Mama wrote:Now you may think the model is unfinished without the drilled barrels, but that does not mean the model was not assembled.

This is pretty pedantic... Technically correct, intellectually dishonest.

Intellectually dishonest? How about MORE PRECISE. Read that above sentence of mine again. Unfinished is different than un-assembled. That was my point. Perfectly clear, perfectly honest, perfectly correct. And completely and utterly non-controversial. You should be ashamed of yourself for personally attacking me over this.

**ImperialTard**

I carefully paint holes in a lot of barreled weapons. If the circle is smooth enough, I think it looks better than a drilled hole.

**fenrir1997**

Nope

I'm a pretty good painter (lol, at least in comparison to my friends, but that's not too much to measure against) and I probably should drill the barrels, and maybe I'll start if I ever get my hands on a decent tool for the job, but until then....

Nah....

**Skalk Bloodaxe**

Yes.

**tilarium**

SuckMuffin wrote:Absolutely.

One of the easiest ways to improve the look of your models. Think of it as a wash for the assembly stage. If you're worried about making them off centre just start the hole with a hobby knife, this really helps with larger barrels.

Good idea! That's my problem, no matter how careful I am, I still end up off center, usally it's not enough to really be noticed but other times... it's just bad!

**Da_Todfatha**

If you dont drill out the barrels how will the bullets get out?

**Rinkydink**

For my Marines; yes indeedy.

For my DE; nope. Splinter rifle barrels are way too small and fragile for that treatment!

**insaniak**

Joe Mama wrote:Now, onto another point, GW can easily put small depressions in their models, you see this everywhere, even on guns, see the sides of meltas and flamers. Why then, do they not have depressions on the end of gun barrels?

In the case of plastic models, it's a limitation of the casting process. Yes, models can have depressions on them, but they have to be the right shape and in the right orientation for the moulding process. Until comparitively recently, plastic casting was unable to handle undercuts (and GW's mostly still is) so having a pre-drilled weapon barrel meant casting the barrel in two pieces, as is done for the Devastator heavy weapons.

**chromedog**

Da_Todfatha wrote:If you dont drill out the barrels how will the bullets get out?

You do realise they are plastic spacemen wardollies, right?

No bullets.

REAL weapons have barrels where bullets come out.
Little toy soldiers do not need them.

**LadyGray**

I do it because I care. If you don't care about it, don't do it.

**Dunwich**

I have been doing this for my GK's Storm Bolters. I find it is sometimes hard to get the two holes to line up, does anybody have any tips for this?

**Azazelx**

Yes.

Zuul wrote:Of course. The models are not cheap so why half-ass any part of their assembly?

This is why.

OTOH, other people are welcome to do whatever they like with their own models. Far be it from me to tell them how to paint, model, assemble, etc their figures.

Automatically Appended Next Post:

chromedog wrote:
Da_Todfatha wrote:If you dont drill out the barrels how will the bullets get out?

You do realise they are plastic spacemen wardollies, right?

No bullets.

REAL weapons have barrels where bullets come out.
Little toy soldiers do not need them.

/facepalm

**FeindusMaximus**

Ofcourse, @ 30 seconds a model.

**ChorusLucia**

/facepalm seconded, with a lot of laughter