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Author Topic: North Star Wire Spears  (Read 9788 times)

Offline nicknorthstar

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North Star Wire Spears
« 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

Offline Dr Mathias

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Re: North Star Wire Spears
« Reply #1 on: February 09, 2020, 07:30:56 PM »
Dang, I like those spears :)

I used them for my Darkest Africa project.
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Offline Dags

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Re: North Star Wire Spears
« Reply #2 on: February 09, 2020, 07:39:04 PM »
Sad, sad day.

I may have hoarded several packs

Offline AKULA

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Re: North Star Wire Spears
« Reply #3 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

Offline Orctrader

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Re: North Star Wire Spears
« Reply #4 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.   ::)

Offline Blackwolf

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Re: North Star Wire Spears
« Reply #5 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 :)
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Offline Calimero

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Re: North Star Wire Spears
« Reply #6 on: February 10, 2020, 12:39:58 AM »

That's some bad news... nobody else can make them? :?
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Offline levied troop

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Re: North Star Wire Spears
« Reply #7 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!
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Offline Captain Blood

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Re: North Star Wire Spears
« Reply #8 on: February 10, 2020, 09:11:16 AM »
Yep. These are very good. I need some more!

Offline SteveBurt

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Re: North Star Wire Spears
« Reply #9 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.

Offline nicknorthstar

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Re: North Star Wire Spears
« Reply #10 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.

Offline Captain Blood

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Re: North Star Wire Spears
« Reply #11 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

Offline Malamute

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Re: North Star Wire Spears
« Reply #12 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!
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Offline Hammers

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Re: North Star Wire Spears
« Reply #13 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...


Offline armchairgeneral

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Re: North Star Wire Spears
« Reply #14 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?