Making a Horse and Rider, start to Finish (1 Viewer)

[Captkronos]

I will use this thread to demonstrate the entire process of making a horse and rider, kitchen-table technology. I hope you guys will enjoy the ride...critics please hold the rotten tomatoes and cabbages until it is all done...{sm2}

 

[maddadicus]

I will use this thread to demonstrate the entire process of making a horse and rider, kitchen-table technology. I hope you guys will enjoy the ride...critics please hold the rotten tomatoes and cabbages until it is all done...{sm2}

From one of your biggest fans, horse head needs to be smaller or body beefed up..Michael

 

[Captkronos]

Yeah, it didn't look so off to my eye, but in this pic it is way off, so I already scrapped the head and started over. Actually, the entire horse is more like 60mm scale, so I'm trying to downsize the whole thing now. I've only made two other horses, so this is by no means "old hat" for me. In any case, my missteps will be on full display...

 

[Martin Tabony]

Here is a drawing of basic proportions of a horse.

Martin

 

[Captkronos]

Thanks for the reference, it was helpful. I've gone back to the drawing board somewhat (basically a snip here and there...) I've read it is about five feet to the tip of a horse's shoulder, so that gives me an idea when standing a 54mm fig next to one. I have the new one about this far along in the process, so I'll post some pics when the process itself is further along (sans lousy horse hopefully). Stay tuned...

 

[Peter Reuss]

Seeing the process is quite interesting! So often we just get finished products. Keep it coming!

 

[Martin Tabony]

This may be of more use to you.

Martin

 

[Captkronos]

Here is something I occasionally do...use cheap Sculpey (not as cheap as I wish) to build up, then white Milliput when I'm wanted more control. Unfortunately, white milliput does not photograph well.

 

[Captkronos]

...added an English style saddle and blanket roll..

 

[Captkronos]

I'll come back to the horse, because I dread the bridle/reins to be honest...so I'll start the rider..
First, I start with some simple 20 gauge jewelry wire found in the craft store. Then, make a basic skeleton. I use some Sculpey to secure the wires together, then I will bake it at 265 F for 15 min. I usually just heat the oven to 275, then turn the heat off and come back to it later. It seems to work fine like that.

 

[Captkronos]

this is where it is right before it goes in the oven...and NO, this isn't going to be a headless Hessian in pursuit of Ichabod Crane...though that would be cool..:rolleyes2:

 

[Captkronos]

Here I've made a little head for the body, and shaped the body for the horse, then applied more Sculpey. You can always bake new Sculpey over old.

 

[Captkronos]

I use a little Super Glue to attach the head to the body. I also re-positioned the right arm, which I think I will have holding a sword over the shoulder..

 

[Captkronos]

Here I have started building upon the fired Sculpey with white Milliput. I like to sit the figure on the horse throughout the process to better visualize how I want it to look when done. How it will really look is another matter...

 

[maddadicus]

Here I have started building upon the fired Sculpey with white Milliput. I like to sit the figure on the horse throughout the process to better visualize how I want it to look when done. How it will really look is another matter...

Looking good. You are starting to cost me some real money..Keep it up. Michael

 

[Captkronos]

I promised "kitchen table technology"...my recent discovery of an expensive material...aluminum foil! For a straight sword, I use a toothpick and sand flat two sides. Sabers like this joker is waving around are trickier. I will have to put milliput over the foil, so I need to make sure it is as flat as possible and kind of thin since the milliput will make it bigger.

 

[maddadicus]

I promised "kitchen table technology"...my recent discovery of an expensive material...aluminum foil! For a straight sword, I use a toothpick and sand flat two sides. Sabers like this joker is waving around are trickier. I will have to put milliput over the foil, so I need to make sure it is as flat as possible and kind of thin since the milliput will make it bigger.

What era and nationality soldier are you making? Michael

 

[Captkronos]

I am making an Officer for my French Foreign Legion in Mexico. I am assuming they were using the English style saddles at that time...but if I'm wrong, the FFL can sue me. I would probably have made a master skeleton figure with a curved saber I could recycle again and again if I wasn't doing this thread as a "start to finish".

 

[Captkronos]

Saber attached, milliput applied ever so gently...I put Super Glue on the shoulder where the saber rests to hold it better while I apply the milliput.

 

[Captkronos]

sorry for the lack of progress, that stupid thing they call "real life" always gets in the way of toy soldiering...here you can see I've now milliputed the sword on both sides. As for the reins of the horse, there are at least two possibilities I can think of. Firstly, you could roll out thin stips of putty, but this time I am going to try using a non-stretchy nylon yarn as the reins. I will cut pieces of it down and super glue to the horse. Finding a size that looks right is key I suppose. I have never done it this way, but in theory it should work...If it doesn't I can always strip it off and do it the other way. Stay tuned...