Yo! I see some great info here about where to buy figures and how to paint them but how do you keep a standing figure upright on your layout? Those feet are awful small! Any ideas appreciated. thanks.
Possibly the easiest way is to drill a small hole into a leg and superglue a short length of thin wire in, which can then be glued to a small hole drilled into the scenery.
I used a "tacky white glue" to fix my figures on the layout. W/S sells a product for that purpose, however some other major glue makes also have a similar product. Superglue has some short-comings if one wishes to move the figures later on. I recently packed my layout and wrapped the building and loading dock in newspaper leaving the figures in place on the dock and stairs.
If the detail is too small to drill a hole in it for brass wire, such as the leg of a child, I will carve away the 1/2 of his calf, lay a piece of brass wire on the other half, superglue it in place and then rebuild the calf using modeling paste. Once the paste has dried, I paint the paste by matching his original cloths, skin and shoe colors. A hole is drilled in the appropriate location on the layout or module, and the wire glued in place. No glue blob, and the detail/person is on there for good. Sometimes I use phosphor bronze wire instead of brass. It does not bend as easily as brass. NCDaveD
I just glue them on, trimming away any base, with white glue or tacky glue. I might have to hold them in place for 20 seconds as the glue starts to set, but that's it. They are down plenty good.
I have used Woodland Scenics tacky glue, for a better name at the time, designed for this type of thing. Dries clear.
I tried Woodland Scenics and also Elmer's tacky glue. I think the Elmer's was less expenses and worked fine for me. I think these can be used in excess, so like the old Brycreem ad, "a little dab will do you."
thanks everyone for the replies. I have been using both WS tacky type glues. I get some of the figures falling over. Maybe I am not getting quite enough on. This is why I asked. I do have some locations where the wire ideas should work well. Good ideas. thanks.
My first thought is that you are using too much glue, so it cures more slowingly allowing a soft center and thus figures fall over. Try using a pin dipped in the glue and transfer only that small amount where you want to place/fix the figure.
