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HINTS & TIPS. |
OK - You have bought your sheets of flags, so what's the best
way to attach them to the figures etc. |
diagram 1. |
Flag basics:
The following technique was used to produce the effect seen
on the images used on these pages. It is a fairly quick method
of producing acceptable results.The aim is to produce the visual
effect of a flag flapping about in a breeze. This is what they
are designed to do and is why most of them were made of silk,
so they would fly in the lightest breeze. They do not under any
circumstances behave as if they were a rigid ¼" thick
plywood board, like you can see on some figures - see diagram
1.
We strongly recommend you practice this method with ordinary
squares of paper first before trying it out on your flag. You
will find that sliding the flag into place and the method of
making the furls actually work better if done quickly. |
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diagram 2.
diagram 3. |
Preparation of the flag bearer.
- Complete your miniature first, this includes fixing the figure
to either single or multiple base.
- Before painting the figure remove the flag staff, drill through
the hands of the figure and replace with a wire flag staff. 1-2mm
in diameter.
- Make the flag staff longer than required, trimming it later
is far easier than replacing one that is too short.
- Any eagles, finials, pike heads etc. are best fitted after
the flag - remember to keep the ones off the top of the manufacturers
original flag staff.
Preparation of the flag.
- Cut the flag from the sheet using a craft knife.
- Do not attempt to cut around odd shaped flags such as lance
pennants and rounded cavalry pennants, leave the unwanted section
on the flag, it is easier to remove later - see diagram 2.
- Fold the flag first, and then fold around another piece of
wire of the same diameter as the flag staff on your flag bearer,
using your thumbnail to score along the flag close the the flag
staff, for a tight fit.
- Don't try this directly on the flag staff it's a lot easier
on a separate piece of wire.
- Lubricate the wire with soap or something to prevent glue
sticking to it.
- Apply cement such as a water based PVA glue to the flag on
one side, spread this all over the flag, taking care not to get
any where the flag will wrap around the wire.
- Fold the flag around the wire and slide into place.
- While the flag is still wet bend the flag around a paint
brush handle on alternate sides as in the diagram, this will
produce the furls, try to make them uneven - see diagram 3.
- Tight furls done at an angle produce the best results.
- While still wet gently remove the wire and leave the flag
to dry.
- Take care not to get water on the printed flag as some inks
used are not waterproof. Alternativley lightly spray the flag
sheet with matt varnish before starting.
Completing the flag.
- When the flag is dry gently stretch it teasing out the furls
slightly.
- Trim to shape if a lance pennant or any other non standard
shaped flag, we find sharp pointed scissors are best for this.
- Careful paint the white edge the main colour of the flag
with thin paint, watered down acrylic works extremely well.
- If the flag has a gold fringe to it, a sand coloured paint
is probably the best match, using metallic paint doesn't work
as well unless you intend to repaint the entire fringe.
Attaching the flag.
- When dry carefully slide the flag down the flag staff of
the standard bearer and into place.
- A small spot of cement near the hand should hold the flag
in place.
- Trim the flag staff to size and attach the finial or eagle.
- If the flag bearer model was not supplied with a finial or
eagle, we recommend those produced by Bicorne available in 25mm scale see the image section.
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© 1995 Flags for the Lads Web Site. All Rights Reserved. |
| Site designed by Steve Dunn. |
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