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Hey guys. I was lucky enough to be given quite a few SM models recently, including an assault squad. I'd like to remove these from their bases so I can do some rocky outcrops etc for them to stand on. They're unpainted. Due to the nature of plastic glue melting the plastic together, I'm wondering if there's any safe way to remove these from their bases without damaging them too much.

I had a couple of questions:

1. If I soak them in Isopropyl alcohol will that loosen the bond enough for me to break them off the base without damaging the feet too much?
2. Is there another way?
3. Will the alcohol damage the plastic at all?

you could either cut the bases to save the feet or you could use a razor saw and cut the feet as close as possible to the base.

Hmm, was hoping to get away with it without doing too much cutting, lol.

If there isn't much foot touching the base it may be possible to just snap them off.
But cutting them off the bases would probably be a safer bet.

Iso won't hurt and wont help.

Prying and cutting are the way to go here

Okay thanks lads. Was hoping to avoid that, but if it's the only way it's the only way.

Have to make a decision about whether I just base them as is or take the risk of messing them up.

I've found that if you are careful with your sprue cutters, being sure to keep the flat side tightly against the base, you can pop a miniature right off of its base with little damage done. This is assuming that it's just glued onto the base, though. Pinning and such can make it much more difficult to do cleanly.

 youidiotkid wrote:
I've found that if you are careful with your sprue cutters, being sure to keep the flat side tightly against the base, you can pop a miniature right off of its base with little damage done. This is assuming that it's just glued onto the base, though. Pinning and such can make it much more difficult to do cleanly.

Cheers, I'll give that a go. Some of them are pretty lightly glued by the look of it, so that method may work but others have been glued quite securely.

I got a carnifex off it's base cleanly by sawing with an exacto knife and prying with a dental tool. No real damage to either part.

 Paint_To_Redemption wrote:

 youidiotkid wrote:
I've found that if you are careful with your sprue cutters, being sure to keep the flat side tightly against the base, you can pop a miniature right off of its base with little damage done. This is assuming that it's just glued onto the base, though. Pinning and such can make it much more difficult to do cleanly.

Cheers, I'll give that a go. Some of them are pretty lightly glued by the look of it, so that method may work but others have been glued quite securely.

Best of luck, and remember not to force it. It is definitely a fair amount easer if there's a small gap for your sprue cutters to fit underneath. The worst that should happen would be needing to touch up a little bit of paint at the bottom of the feet if you're careful.

 youidiotkid wrote:


Best of luck, and remember not to force it. It is definitely a fair amount easer if there's a small gap for your sprue cutters to fit underneath. The worst that should happen would be needing to touch up a little bit of paint at the bottom of the feet if you're careful.

That shouldn't be much of a problem, because the feet will end up being pinned flat to a surface so hopefully not much touching up needed. I think most of them only have one foot glued as well, so that should make the job easier haha.

Space marine have pretty solid feet, so you shouldn't have too many problems. If I'm being careful, i usually just slide a scalpel underneath, and cut carefully. Otherwise I just snap it with sprue cutters close to the foot and then shave the plastic off the sole.

I've been able to pop tac marines off using my sprue cutters as close to the join as possible and gently squeezing so the model lifts from the base slowly and allows you to get the cutter in deeper. Nine times out of ten, the model pops off without any damage to the model and minimal damage to the base.

Usually glue is forgiving if the assembler did not overdo it.

I wiggle an exacto knife in the gap, and gently apply pressure. Should snap right off no problem.

If it doesn't work, wiggle the blade in a little further. You shouldn't have to force it too hard.

 goblinzz wrote:
Space marine have pretty solid feet, so you shouldn't have too many problems. If I'm being careful, i usually just slide a scalpel underneath, and cut carefully. Otherwise I just snap it with sprue cutters close to the foot and then shave the plastic off the sole.

That is what I would do, or even just stick the thick sole plus old base plastic to the new base, and cover it up with putty and sand, etc.

Exacto that gak off. Or dremel the entire base away.