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I have a bunch of old rank/file elves from WHFB that I want to do up. A significant number of them are missing shields, and it has been suggested that a cheap way of doing up some uniform looking shields was by using false finger nails. I have looked online and can't see any descriptions on how to do this - has anyone have any experience with this and could offer some suggestions?

I had considered just buying shields online, however given the number of shields that I would require this would turn out to be rather expensive (and more expensive than the price I paid for the miniatures). An alternate route would be trying to find a bulk seller of shields - does anyone know of any cheap/good supplierrs that offer this?

False fingernails... that's a novel approach.

For gaming bits, Eccentric Miniatures sells sprues of plastic shields. I dunno if it works out cheaper than your other options.

http://eccentricminiatures.com/sprues.html

I have made many a replacement shield from sheet styrene plastic. I then took my desk lamp and laid the cut-out shield shape on the bulb to heat it up so it would give it a slight wrap around the curve of the bulb, so the shield was not completely flat.

As soon as it heats up and conforms to the bulb, turn it off. When it cools the shield pops right off the bulb. With a little finish sanding, I cannot tell which of my knights have the original shield or my handmade one.

With the false nails ..for $5 to $10 you get some 500 - 1000 nails of a given shape ..(For elves I would suggest a natural sharp shape) ..These nails are normally made of acrilyc which can be primed and painted with model paints (they are desinged to be painted) and attached with a bit of super glue ..note in a 500 pack 300 will be identical..100 will be for a thumb so slightly larger (use on your heavies or calvary) 100 will be smaller at a penny each you have nothing to lose..oh and you can adjust the shape easily with a fingernail file ..often times the glue is included with the nails..


Automatically Appended Next Post:
also look in the same isle for various press on patterns these are very cheap..and allow you to make a quick and easy unique heraldry representation on the shield (one that is quick and easy to replicate) ...

 Vermis wrote:

For gaming bits, Eccentric Miniatures sells sprues of plastic shields. I dunno if it works out cheaper than your other options.

Another option: I was adding up for an order to Eccentric myself, when I rediscovered an old box of Fireforge foot sergeants. There are a few shield shapes on the sprue.



https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/777/32747835875_d1ddfda62c_o.jpg <- link for inevitable dakka foto fritz.

Loose HE shield on the left. The closest FF shield is a bit wider but looking pretty good.

Almost 50 figures per box and half can be built as shieldless crossbowmen; similar shields in other FF kits. It might be a bit more bother, but you could ask around some historical players and forums, see what they have in their bits boxes.

I have had some problems finding any nails that aren't too rounded to use as shields. Are there any ways they can easily be flattened?

hasdrubalsbrother wrote:
I have had some problems finding any nails that aren't too rounded to use as shields. Are there any ways they can easily be flattened?

Nail files and clippers.

Alternatively, EM4 make a pack of shields:

http://www.em4miniatures.com/acatalog/Copy_of_Fantasy.html

Not sure if this is the style that you're after, but they're sold in packs of 50 and are dirt cheap!

As someone with personal experience actually wearing fake nails, I don't think they'll work for your purposes. Like you said, they are pretty round, way rounder than a kite shield. They sell flatter ones for people with flat nails, but they are hard to find in big packs.

The bigger issue is that most packs of nails come in multiple sizes (for different size nails), so you are going to waste a lot of nails if you want a consistent size. I grabbed a 100 count pack at Walgreens that has 10 sizes, which means only 10 nails of each size. Maybe the really cheap ones like the ones for little girls might come in less sizes, but they also usually come caked in glitter.

Plastic card with a little heat is probably your best bet and way less creepy to find in your carpet a few months later.

polecat99e wrote:
As someone with personal experience actually wearing fake nails, I don't think they'll work for your purposes. Like you said, they are pretty round, way rounder than a kite shield. They sell flatter ones for people with flat nails, but they are hard to find in big packs.

The bigger issue is that most packs of nails come in multiple sizes (for different size nails), so you are going to waste a lot of nails if you want a consistent size. I grabbed a 100 count pack at Walgreens that has 10 sizes, which means only 10 nails of each size. Maybe the really cheap ones like the ones for little girls might come in less sizes, but they also usually come caked in glitter.

Plastic card with a little heat is probably your best bet and way less creepy to find in your carpet a few months later.

I love this forum.

I did wonder why nobody had considered that a pack of nails has 5 different sizes in it..