Memoir 44- straighten those barrels

[50th]

I found a way to straighten out those bent artillery gun barrels. Although I can't take credit for it, because I found it on the memoir 44 forum. But I tried it last week and it works. One of my arty pieces did not sit all the way into its space in the clear plastic tray that holds them. When the lid was put on and the rubber bands placed around the whole thing (I use rubber bands so that I can pull the whole container out of its space, and not just the lid) the artillery barrel came out of the box with a sideways z shape. So I searched the above mentioned forum and discovered that when heat is properly applied, the barrel will straighten. So I heated a small pan of water to the boiling point. I pulled the water off the burner when small bubbles were appearing at the bottom of the pan, not at a furious boil. I poured the hot water into a mug, simply to transfer it to my table, and used forcepts to lower the malformed artillery piece into the hot water. As I held it there for a few seconds, the barrel straightened. As soon as it was straight (it only took about two seconds) I ran it under cold water and set it aside to dry. Now my previously bent artillery piece can shoot straight as it was made to!

[TRDG]

You should see some of my FoW gear when I first open them up, the metal "guns" are sometimes something to behold there, as to the lack of a straight piece..... But they do bend back fairly easily for me, until I drop them while playing a game, then all bets are off!!

Cheers

Tom

[eldurand]

That's a good tip, and it works for many different plastic figures. I used it to straighten the wings on some of the Memoir '44 planes I got, as well as some Japanese infantrymen, and don't even get me started on the Battlelore figs (I had to drop whole lots of them into the hot water at a time to get them all done!).

For me, it works best to heat some water in the microwave to just below boiling, drop the figure in, remove it after about 3-5 seconds (using a spoon or other utensil), bend it to the proper shape if necessary (though most will automatically return to their original shape), and then drop it into an ice water bath to "set" it.

[Whiterook]

Wow, what a great tip guys! I have to visit the Memoir' 44 forum more often than I have of late! I've been admittedly lax!

That was one of the most annoying things for me, about the game...the bent arty barrels and legs, and the infantrymen leaning backwards. I imagine the method would work on the Infantry, too, eh? Finally, I'll get those sad sacks at attention!!!!!

Interestingly, the two Memoir'44 base sets I bought...at separate stores at different times, no less...ended up being original pressings of the game. I found out from Maryland (of DoW's company staff) at last year's Origin's Game Expo, that the later pressings were done in stronger, harder plastic than the originals (I was complaining to the poor thing), much like the expansions plastic. I hadn't realized that the game had older and newer versions out there!

Thanks for the tip! Hey, bet that'd work on my bent Axis & Allies bent tank barrels, too!

[50th]

It works like a charm, whiterook. My poor bent arty barrel looked like this:
___
. /
/
----O---
And when I held it in the hot water with the tweezers, it just straightened right out! I just know it would work on your infantry too.

[Whiterook]

Cool beans! I'll give it a whirl on the infantry figures and let you know how it worked!