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Other Stuff => General Wargames and Hobby Discussion => Topic started by: nicknorthstar on February 09, 2020, 07:28:43 PM

Title: North Star Wire Spears
Post by: nicknorthstar on February 09, 2020, 07:28:43 PM
For the last 15 years or so, we've been supplying wire spears to the hobby. Even if you thought you were not buying North Star wire spears, you probably were 'cus we supply lots of other figure companies with them as well.

They are made for us by an engineering company (they don't know why I want 100's of thousands of pins with flattened ends!) but they called in Jan to give me some bad news. Due to outside circumstances, they can no longer get the wire at a competitive price any more.

The price they quoted for our 50mm spears, which is a thinner wire suitable for 15mm figures and javelins for 28mm figures, is far too high. So we're not doing the 50mm spears anymore. Once we've sold through that's it.

The 100mm spears, a slightly thicker wire for 28mm figures, we've negotiated a better price for. But they are still going to be more expensive. Once this batch of spears has sold through (40 spears for £8) we'll have to charge £6 for 20 spears.

It's a real shame. I estimate we've sold 2 million spears over the past 15 years, it's phenomenal really when you think each one (in theory) goes into a figures hand, and it's disappointing it's come to an end.

I recommend you buy some now, even if you don't need them immediately, just to have in case.

http://www.northstarfigures.com/list.php?man=62&page=1 (http://www.northstarfigures.com/list.php?man=62&page=1)
Title: Re: North Star Wire Spears
Post by: Dr Mathias on February 09, 2020, 07:30:56 PM
Dang, I like those spears :)

I used them for my Darkest Africa project.
Title: Re: North Star Wire Spears
Post by: Dags on February 09, 2020, 07:39:04 PM
Sad, sad day.

I may have hoarded several packs
Title: Re: North Star Wire Spears
Post by: AKULA on February 09, 2020, 08:12:59 PM
Another order placed... because you can never have enough spears....

Worryingly my third order with Northstar in the last ten days  ;D
Title: Re: North Star Wire Spears
Post by: Orctrader on February 09, 2020, 08:13:34 PM
...I recommend you buy some now, even if you don't need them immediately, just to have in case.

Good idea.  Order in.   ::)
Title: Re: North Star Wire Spears
Post by: Blackwolf on February 09, 2020, 11:12:32 PM
And they have more than one use, ;) clearing painting,adding superglue accelerator,so yes get them in :)
Title: Re: North Star Wire Spears
Post by: Calimero on February 10, 2020, 12:39:58 AM

That's some bad news... nobody else can make them? :?
Title: Re: North Star Wire Spears
Post by: levied troop on February 10, 2020, 08:49:24 AM
I was just painting a couple yesterday, I think I need to check my current stocks sharpish!
Title: Re: North Star Wire Spears
Post by: Captain Blood on February 10, 2020, 09:11:16 AM
Yep. These are very good. I need some more!
Title: Re: North Star Wire Spears
Post by: SteveBurt on February 10, 2020, 11:32:12 AM
The North Star spears are very good, but I've been making my own for years using brass wire.
Cut to length, hold on end in a pair of big flat-jawed pliers, whack pliers with hammer, and you will get a nice flat spearpoint; may need a couple of strokes with a file to give a good shape. Thicker stuff for spears, thinner for javelins.
Title: Re: North Star Wire Spears
Post by: nicknorthstar on February 10, 2020, 11:47:20 AM
I did a whole Pict army once like that, long before North Star spears. The 'time spent doing that' to 'buy ready made' ratio was definitely NOT worth it. I can see the odd one or two being quick and easy, but 150 Pict spears? Never again.
Title: Re: North Star Wire Spears
Post by: Captain Blood on February 10, 2020, 11:56:22 AM
Yep. I went through the same experience lol

I used to do the very same thing with piano wire, pliers and a hammer, then file down the flattened ends to points using my Dremel. Then I discovered ready-made wire spears with nice regulation points, and I never looked back :D
Title: Re: North Star Wire Spears
Post by: Malamute on February 10, 2020, 12:51:02 PM
Yep. I went through the same experience lol

I used to do the very same thing with piano wire, pliers and a hammer, then file down the flattened ends to points using my Dremel. Then I discovered ready-made wire spears with nice regulation points, and I never looked back :D

Seconded!

Order incoming!
Title: Re: North Star Wire Spears
Post by: Hammers on February 10, 2020, 02:05:14 PM
To each his own and not to be disloyal with Nick, but I armed my twenty-something Bolton pikemen with 1,5 mm 'black wire'. Cost me a pittance and took me an no more than two hours to heat, bang and sharpen. You know my proclivity for bleeding profusely on the work bench? I stung myself repeatedly on this thicket of miniature pikes while painting...

(http://www.adventuregaming.tsome.com/GoT/Boltons1.jpg)
Title: Re: North Star Wire Spears
Post by: armchairgeneral on February 10, 2020, 02:28:37 PM
Northstar and Front Rank both sell metal flag tops. Would it not be possible for someone to just bring our metal or plastic spear heads you simply glue on the ends of wires?
Title: Re: North Star Wire Spears
Post by: nicknorthstar on February 10, 2020, 05:18:53 PM
Hammers. 2 hours for 20 spears. So going by my spears, £8 for 40, you worked for £2 an hour  lol

I don't know what you do for a living, but if you'd done an hours overtime you could buy my spears and still be quids in.

Only teasing, we do what we want, that's why it's a hobby.
Title: Re: North Star Wire Spears
Post by: Andrew_McGuire on February 10, 2020, 05:39:45 PM
I recall from my early days in the hobby that some ancient wargamers - including luminaries from WRG - advocated the use of 'butterfly pins'. I have never encountered one of these gruesome instruments, but in view of the looming crisis have now researched their availability. The current term appears to be either entomological pin or insect pin (possibly out of consideration for the feelings of butterflies).

No doubt there are many suppliers, and there are certainly several sizes, but the nearest in dimension to the North Star article appears to be this:

http://www.wobam.co.uk/Insect-Pins-Size-007_ANDCT.aspx?nh=70276

Edit: the images shows all sizes. Item 007 is 52mm long, with the others being shorter. Some work will be required with the tip to flatten it, so it is not a straight substitution, but it may be as close as we are likely to get for the foreseeable future.
Title: Re: North Star Wire Spears
Post by: Hammers on February 10, 2020, 06:35:40 PM
Hammers. 2 hours for 20 spears. So going by my spears, £8 for 40, you worked for £2 an hour  lol

I don't know what you do for a living, but if you'd done an hours overtime you could buy my spears and still be quids in.

Only teasing, we do what we want, that's why it's a hobby.

Fair enough. :)
Title: Re: North Star Wire Spears
Post by: OB on February 10, 2020, 09:03:00 PM
Thanks for the heads up.
Title: Re: North Star Wire Spears
Post by: SteveBurt on February 11, 2020, 10:14:03 AM
Yep. I went through the same experience lol

I used to do the very same thing with piano wire, pliers and a hammer, then file down the flattened ends to points using my Dremel. Then I discovered ready-made wire spears with nice regulation points, and I never looked back :D

Piano wire is *way* too hard - would take a lot of hammering.
Brass flattens easily.
Title: Re: North Star Wire Spears
Post by: SteveBurt on February 11, 2020, 10:16:06 AM
Hammers. 2 hours for 20 spears. So going by my spears, £8 for 40, you worked for £2 an hour  lol

I don't know what you do for a living, but if you'd done an hours overtime you could buy my spears and still be quids in.

Only teasing, we do what we want, that's why it's a hobby.

The brass wire takes about 15 seconds per spear, I find. So 20 spears is about 5 minutes.
Title: Re: North Star Wire Spears
Post by: nicknorthstar on February 11, 2020, 04:56:16 PM
Still got to buy the brass rod...
Title: Re: North Star Wire Spears
Post by: OSHIROmodels on February 11, 2020, 05:06:20 PM
I put an order in even though I’ve never used them before  lol
Title: Re: North Star Wire Spears
Post by: Cubs on February 11, 2020, 05:15:19 PM
I like the NorthStar spears, and at 20p each for the 40 x 100mm pack I can't find anywhere that comes close to being as cheap buying the brass or iron rods myself.

I would really like slightly thicker and shorter spears available though. So rather than 1mm wire (which I think these are) 1.5mm and 50mm long, for hefty spears and lances in 28mm scale. I don't mind if the metal's softer than the steel, like iron or brass.
Title: Re: North Star Wire Spears
Post by: Hammers on February 11, 2020, 07:41:17 PM
Piano wire is *way* too hard - would take a lot of hammering.
Brass flattens easily.

Piano wire softens easily with a torch.
Title: Re: North Star Wire Spears
Post by: Hammers on February 11, 2020, 07:44:22 PM
I like the NorthStar spears, and at 20p each for the 40 x 100mm pack I can't find anywhere that comes close to being as cheap buying the brass or iron rods myself.

I would really like slightly thicker and shorter spears available though. So rather than 1mm wire (which I think these are) 1.5mm and 50mm long, for hefty spears and lances in 28mm scale. I don't mind if the metal's softer than the steel, like iron or brass.

Another reason why I make my own. You buy rod to fit the purpose, both length and girth.
Title: Re: North Star Wire Spears
Post by: has.been on February 12, 2020, 11:04:55 AM
Over 30 years ago, while working for a Bank, I helped the stationery clerk sort out the stationery ROOM (much bigger than a cupboard).
I came across a load of long pins (About 40mm long). At one time
they had been stored in paper bags, but these had disintegrated
(God knows how long they had been there). He said I could have them
as the Bank had moved on (to staplers!) All I had to do was collect them all up. This task involved the taking apart of a big wooden drawer unit,
emptying out all of the forms, and picking out  (often one at a time)
the pins. It took all of my lunch hours that week, but I did it.
I use, & have used them for a variety of tasks, e.g. Hoplite spears,
lances, flagstaffs. I squeeze the tip (1 or 2 mm) with pliers, then when I paint it that bit and the next 3 mm as metal, the rest of the pin as wood)  I have also given a lot away to friends. There are STILL lots remaining,
 but they will not last forever, I will order some from North Star
 (Just to be safe).
Title: Re: North Star Wire Spears
Post by: AKULA on February 15, 2020, 12:25:13 PM
Piano wire softens easily with a torch.

It’s beginning to sound like you are literally forging these spears....  ;)
Title: Re: North Star Wire Spears
Post by: Cubs on February 15, 2020, 03:43:22 PM
It’s beginning to sound like you are literally forging these spears....  ;)

It's easier than it sounds to mine iron ore you know. Then you smelt the rocks to extract the iron ...
Title: Re: North Star Wire Spears
Post by: AKULA on February 15, 2020, 07:50:44 PM
It's easier than it sounds to mine iron ore you know. Then you smelt the rocks to extract the iron ...

I get the impression that Hammers is inscribing runes onto every weapon....

 ;)
Title: Re: North Star Wire Spears
Post by: wmyers on March 21, 2020, 02:26:56 AM
Here is an option:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=KWYAGyj01vE
Title: Re: North Star Wire Spears
Post by: fastolfrus on March 21, 2020, 02:37:46 PM
I get the impression that Hammers is inscribing runes onto every weapon....

 ;)

Might explain some of his dice rolling
Title: Re: North Star Wire Spears
Post by: Calimero on March 21, 2020, 05:32:31 PM
Here is an option:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=KWYAGyj01vE

Very interesting, I wonder if Icould find something similar at our local Dollorama store...
Title: Re: North Star Wire Spears
Post by: Cubs on March 21, 2020, 07:03:44 PM
I bought some 1.5mm brass wire and tried to flatten it with a hammer and pliers. I won't bore you with the details of what got hit, what got broken and what got yelled, but suffice to say it didn't work. I will be furthering my ridiculously futile attempt to make use of this wire with a tiny anvil, a flame and probably a lot more yelling.
Title: Re: North Star Wire Spears
Post by: wmyers on March 21, 2020, 09:02:39 PM
I went out and bought a broom head at a local hardware shop (Co-op Home Centre, for Calimero; it’s called ‘The Beast’ by Globe Commercial Products - I got the 24” width).

It cost less than 10 Pounds and is comprised of at least 4800 bristles.

Each bristle is just the tiniest bit wider than the Northstar pikes.

They are super easy to cut! Very easy to flatten the ends on and fairly easy to cut to shape!

You can also easily add a butt spike like the Greek hoplite spears and pikes.

A little ball of green stuff would make them into pila.

They are flexible but also rigid and very easy and quick to make!
Title: Re: North Star Wire Spears
Post by: Harry Faversham on March 22, 2020, 12:28:12 AM
While I was waiting for a couple of undercoated figures to dry I pruned the sweeping brush. I made 10 spears in a few minutes and wish I'd known the trick before I bunged plastic spears on over a 100 Hoplites.

:(
Title: Re: North Star Wire Spears
Post by: SteveBurt on March 22, 2020, 10:59:40 AM
I bought some 1.5mm brass wire and tried to flatten it with a hammer and pliers. I won't bore you with the details of what got hit, what got broken and what got yelled, but suffice to say it didn't work. I will be furthering my ridiculously futile attempt to make use of this wire with a tiny anvil, a flame and probably a lot more yelling.

1.5mm is very thick. The thickest I use is 1.2mm. I have a really big chunky set of pliers with a flat area on the jaws into which the end of the rod goes before whacking the pliers with the hammer. Tried with hammer and anvil but it was too easy to flatten too much or not enough. One firm blow is much better than several tentative ones.
Title: Re: North Star Wire Spears
Post by: nicknorthstar on March 22, 2020, 05:18:30 PM
I'm down to the last of the 50mm long, 0.8mm diameter wire spears now. These are the thinner spears suitable for 15mm figures, or a hand full of javelins in a 28mm figures hand.

http://www.northstarfigures.com/prod.php?prod=536 (http://www.northstarfigures.com/prod.php?prod=536)

We've still got a good supply of the 100mm spears (1mm diameter). When they run out, we can get them again, but they'll be more expensive.

http://www.northstarfigures.com/prod.php?prod=537 (http://www.northstarfigures.com/prod.php?prod=537)
Title: Re: North Star Wire Spears
Post by: Harry Faversham on March 23, 2020, 01:55:45 AM
I'll miss the good old days, keeping a beady eye on a sneaky enemy, while groping for some of your own lads...
then letting out a yelp of pain as you inadvertently impale yer hand on half a dozen Hoplite's spears!

:o  :'(  :o


Title: Re: North Star Wire Spears
Post by: DivisMal on March 23, 2020, 07:37:05 AM
I'll miss the good old days, keeping a beady eye on a sneaky enemy, while groping for some of your own lads...
then letting out a yelp of pain as you inadvertently impale yer hand on half a dozen Hoplite's spears!

:o  :'(  :o

Yeah, plastic totally killed that feeling. In those days, you could see if a bloke played ancients by just looking if one of his hands was bandaged...
Title: Re: North Star Wire Spears
Post by: Coenus Scaldingus on March 23, 2020, 09:03:09 AM
Yeah, plastic totally killed that feeling. In those days, you could see if a bloke played ancients by just looking if one of his hands was bandaged...
Granted, they're not ancients, but I've heard some stories of the plastic 4th (I think) edition WHFB goblins...
Title: Re: North Star Wire Spears
Post by: has.been on March 23, 2020, 10:28:35 AM
Back in the day, one of our group worked in a factory where they had a mini truck
sweeping the floor. He used to save the bristles it shed & use them for his 25mm
ECW pikemen.  He could lean over his troops, the pikes would bend, then spring
back upright as soon as the pressure had gone.
This was fine until he went to pick up & move another club member's pikemen.
That gamer  took great pride in the work he put into his accurate pikes.
Green gauge piano wire (thicker than my red gauge ones) carefully cut to length,
the ends were then individually heated & hammered on a hobby anvil. Each one
was then ground into a perfect leaf shaped point. You could have used them for
injections.
Player 'A' (plastic pikes) reached over to pick up player 'B's Pikemen, did not show
them the respect they deserved/demanded, got several of the pikes wedged up
under his finger nails. Slow motion then kicked in, as he involuntarily withdrew
his injured hand in an upward motion. The arc disgorged various bases of lead
soldiers. The rest of us frozen in time could only watch as their owner dived to
catch the various now giddy soldiers.
This was during a photo shoot by Duncan McFarland for one of his Mag.s ,
unfortunately Duncan did not manage to capture the moment on film. 
Title: Re: North Star Wire Spears
Post by: DivisMal on March 23, 2020, 04:56:45 PM
Granted, they're not ancients, but I've heard some stories of the plastic 4th (I think) edition WHFB goblins...

That was done by intent. Those gobbos are mean fellas, real nasty gits they are!

Yet, after a while your skin got adjusted to the stinging of gobbos spears. That was impossible with real metal!
Title: Re: North Star Wire Spears
Post by: Jemima Fawr on March 24, 2020, 01:38:42 AM
I'm down to the last of the 50mm long, 0.8mm diameter wire spears now. These are the thinner spears suitable for 15mm figures, or a hand full of javelins in a 28mm figures hand.

http://www.northstarfigures.com/prod.php?prod=536 (http://www.northstarfigures.com/prod.php?prod=536)

We've still got a good supply of the 100mm spears (1mm diameter). When they run out, we can get them again, but they'll be more expensive.

http://www.northstarfigures.com/prod.php?prod=537 (http://www.northstarfigures.com/prod.php?prod=537)
I ordered some yesterday.  Thought I'd get into the spirit of things with a little panic-buying... ;)