Head Swapping

Figure conversions are very easy. One of the fastest ways to make new figures is a simple head swap. Cut the head off one figure and replace it with the head of another figure. When the two sets are made out of glueable plastic this is a ten second job. When one or both figures are made of soft non-glueable plastic it takes a few minutes but is still pretty quick and easy.

Cut off both heads. Drill a small hole in the bottom of the head and in the top of the torso. Using a pair of pliers, insert a short piece of wire into the torso of the figure. Apply a drop of gap filling superglue on the torso around the wire. Press the head onto the wire. The gap filling superglue will fill in any gaps and any excess can be daubed away with a tissue before it dries.

I have used this technique on civilian figures to make them into Volksstrum and Imex Pioneers into Wehrmacht Auxiliaries and many other times. The replacement of a head is very easy and when the new subject has a distinctive head wear like the WWII German helmet goes a long way toward suggesting the new figures identity.

The best sources for the extra heads are dead and wounded poses, and figures in strange poses, or simply poses you don't like very well. Imex makes a great kneeling WWII German firing a pistol. A good figure, but you get too many in a box of figures. I like to use his head for other figures. You can also actually swap heads by exchanging heads between figures. Sometimes swapping a cap for a helmet and back can make more variety in your army.

Once you get good at head swaps, you can move on and try more complex figure conversions.