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Ok this is niggling and very specific, but to those who have the new sisters AND drill out barrels, what is up? I used to have no problem using my 1/16" bit to drill out bolter barrels, now, on these, it is the same size of them. I've had to go one bit down (which is a pain since I also pin my feet using 1/16" wire...two separate bits for each mini...)
Anyway, am I crazy or do the ends of bolters seem smaller? Is it just the new sisters?

And...yeah...I know, just paint a dot.

They are not the typical "Heroic Scale" as marines are. They are more realistic in proportion and therefore the weapons themselves are adjusted to match.

I know even for my marines, I have always found 1/16 to be a tad too large, so I switched to 3/64 about 15 years ago. Works wonders and is the same size as large paperclips

edwardmyst wrote:
I've had to go one bit down (which is a pain since I also pin my feet using 1/16" wire...

Ouch, that sounds painful! You should talk to a doctor first at least...

To give you a serious answer, I never use 1/16 for bolters as it's too big. Works okay for heavy bolters though, if a bit small. I'm honestly not sure what the size of the bit is that I usually use for bolter barrels; I use a pin vise drill that came with a bunch of really small bits. It's probably 1/32 or 3/64 or something.

3/64th is the new bit for me. I do agree on the 1/16th a bit large, but I generally manage it with a shallow cone rather than punching it all the way through. I have this great wire coated in green for gardening and such that I find far more efficient for pinning etc, as paperclips have a tendency for me to "slip" off the super glue. Roughing them worked in the past, but sheesh, too many steps...

edwardmyst wrote:
3/64th is the new bit for me. I do agree on the 1/16th a bit large, but I generally manage it with a shallow cone rather than punching it all the way through. I have this great wire coated in green for gardening and such that I find far more efficient for pinning etc, as paperclips have a tendency for me to "slip" off the super glue. Roughing them worked in the past, but sheesh, too many steps...

Just curious what you mean by "slip" off the superglue?? Never had an issue like that ever.

In truth, the slippage is another niggling rare occurrence , Joyous_Oblivion.
I guess slip wasn't a great word. Basically I have had pins using paper clips come out of the glue (as in the super glue is not bonded well enough to the smooth metal paperclip). It is a rare thing, but I pin everything.
The green wire is cheap and easy to work with, it also fit snugly into a 1/16" hole (for me, paper clips are "loose") so I've gotten used to it, and the coating material grabs the super glue better.

I certainly wouldn't tell people Paper clips suck, they work great, I've just gone to something I've grown familiar with.

I’ve been drilling SoB bolters with the same bit I use for marines. They feel a bit smaller, and are thin enough that the barrel distresses a little bit more. But close enough I’m not going out to buy a new bit. I’m using the smallest one I have (it came with my pin vice, no idea on it’s actual size).