For the pike shafts : I cut them as close to the hands as possible, or at a suitable point, like the ring on the newer spears.
Then I measure how long the extension should be by putting hands, rod and spear tip next to a ruler (My total chosen length was 4 inches).
Cut the rod to size (cleanest way is to roll it back and forth with your knife blade, this will saw through the material without deforming it.
Then drill a hole in the hand and one in the spear tip, insert brass pin, slide aluminium rod over that, glue it, paint... In some cases I added the rod after painting the soldiers' body, to be able to reach all parts.
Materials used : 0.014(0.016?) inch brass pins , 1/16 th inch alu tubing (K&S engineering stock #1008) I prefer alu over brass, because it's lightweight enough not to pull the plastic figures I used over. Of course, if you possess Midaskis' collection, you just go all metal minis and brass rod...
