Male Pickelhelm Heads with Collars: Fit and Paint Guide

Quick answer

To fit and paint Male Pickelhelm Heads with Collars, prepare the neck socket, dry-fit the collar, glue with super glue, then paint the spike separately for sharp highlights.

Step-by-step fitting and painting guide

1. Prepare the neck socket: Trim the plastic guard body's neck peg flat with a hobby knife. This creates a stable surface for the collar to sit flush. A common mistake is leaving a nub that tilts the head; sand or file until flat.
2. Dry-fit the collar and head: Place the collar over the neck socket and the head on top. Check that the head looks straight and the collar covers the joint evenly. Adjust by shaving the collar underside if needed. If the collar rocks, the neck socket isn't flat enough. Re-trim before gluing.
3. Glue with super glue: Apply thin super glue to the neck socket, then press the collar into place. Add a tiny drop to the head's ball joint and set it onto the collar. Hold for 10 seconds. Too much glue can seep out around the collar; use a toothpick to apply small amounts.
4. Prime and basecoat: Spray prime the assembled head with a matt primer. Apply a basecoat of dark grey or black – this helps shadows in the spike's recesses. Avoid white primer; it makes the spike look flat and requires extra shading.
5. Paint the spike separately: Paint the spike tip in a bright metal, then wash with a dark brown or black wash. Highlight the very tip with pure silver. This creates a sharp, realistic worn-metal look. Don't paint the entire spike silver – the wash will dull it. Keep the highlight narrow.
6. Finish the collar and face: Paint the collar in a uniform color (black or dark leather) to separate it from the face. Use a flesh tone for the face, then apply a thin wash to define the eyes and jawline. A common checkpoint: the collar color should match the uniform, not the helmet, to break up the silhouette.

About this product

• Male Pickelhelm Heads with Collars x10: Male Pickelhelm heads x10 suitable for Heroic scale troops. Compatible with Victoria Miniatures and popular plastic guard. Sculpted by Victoria Lamb. The 10-head pack gives you enough for a full squad, and the Heroic scale ensures they don't look undersized next to standard plastic guard bodies.