Argama Tutorial: How to fix Pegs

Have you ever been in a situation where while building or posing a kit, the dreaded "SNAP" noise happens and you find yourself with a broken peg? Feel dejected that you don't know how to fix it? well fret not as we have a tutorial on how you can fix your peg and not have to buy a new kit!

For this tutorial, we will be fixing the torso ball joint to the Eco-Pla Strike Gundam

Tools:

The main tools we will need for the repair are:

• Pin vise/Drill Set
• Brass Rod
• Super Glue
• Brass Rod Cutter
• Plastic Cement

Prep:

Make sure the brass rod you are using is not too thin for the job. For this repair, a 1.5mm brass rod is plenty enough but for larger joints for larger kits, a larger thickness rod may be required. Also make sure the pin vise set you have has the appropriate size for the rod. 

Tutorial:

First, you want to lay out the part that is broken. 

Find the centre of the broken area and drill a hole using your pin vise. If there are no guiding holes to help, use something sharp like a needle scriber or a knife point to make a pilot hole. Start from a smaller drill and work your way up for better consistency.

Take your drill that is the same size as the brass rod you will be using. In this case, it is the 1.5mm drill. Drill until you feel  it has gone through most of the part, but not all the way through. This part will require some practice. (Note: depending if the part is being hidden, it is okay to drill all the way through.)

Take your brass rod and test fit to see if it will fit on both ends. (Note:For better results,  use a drill bit slightly bigger than the size of the brass rod you are using, such as a 1.6mm drill bit for a 1.5mm brass rod. Using the exact size will make it a bit tight, but this can be fixed by drilling in place until it spins freely). 

Once the brass rod can fit in both parts, use super glue to the brass rod where it will come into contact with the plastic and insert it to the smaller, broken off piece first. 

Then cut the brass rod using a brass rod cutter to the length needed to fit in the other piece. (Note: I recommend cutting off a bit more than you think is needed, as it is easier to adjust by cutting more off bit by bit). 

Add some super glue to the exposed brass rod. Then insert the the rod into the hole of the other broken piece. 

Use plastic cement to seal the plastic ends that are now in contact. (Note: depending on the part, an extra thin cement such as Tamiya Extra Thin or Mr Cement S is enough. But for larger parts, a thicker cement such as the white capped Tamiya Cement or Mr Cement Deluxe may be better.)

Now for the hardest part, let it dry. I personally recommend it to fully dry for a whole day. That way the cement has fully bonded and set the plastic together and the super glue connecting the brass rod has enough time to dry. 

VERY IMPORTANT NOTE: Just because a part is fixed does not mean it is back to it's full strength. The part is still compromised in terms of its structure, but it is strong enough to withstand some stress. 

Hope you all enjoyed reading this tutorial and gained some knowledge, as repairing something is just as valuable as the building process. Se you on the next tutorial!