How to Customize Model Horses
Customizing model horses can be a very rewarding hobby. There are many reasons to customize a horse, from the desire to own an original piece to wanting a model of a specific or personal horse. The techniques and tools involved require a certain amount of practice and skill but are limited only by the artist's imagination.
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Things You'll Need
- Heat gun
- Dremel tool and round saw attachment (optional)
- Goggles and mask
- Rubbing alcohol
- Epoxy resin
- Sculpting tools for working with resin
- Sandpaper
- White gesso primer
- Water-based acrylic paints
- Paintbrushes and blending tools
- Matte sealer
Instructions
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Observe your model. Pay attention to the conformation, which is the body structure and how it is put together. Determine the areas of the model that you wish to change. You can get ideas by looking at photos, models or real-life horses.
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Begin making any changes necessary to the position of the model. A heat gun will warm the resin of the model enough to make it malleable. You may need to remove portions of the model at this stage to achieve a realistic movement in areas such as the shoulder or hindquarters.
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To change the mane, heat the mane with the heat gun and then scrape material off with an X-acto knife. This will leave you a blank area on which to create a new mane. To remove the tail, heat the tail base with the heat gun and pull the tail off. If the tail touches other portions of the model, you may need to cut through these with a Dremel tool round saw attachment.
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Change the leg positions of the model. Heat the joint of the leg with the heat gun, moving it back and forth gently until it can be easily manipulated. When moving the leg, start with the shoulder, then knee, then fetlock joint. Using this order of movement will ensure a natural result. Run the newly bent joint under cold water to set it.
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After the model has cooled, prepare the model for sculpting if necessary. Wipe any areas that will get epoxy resin on them with rubbing alcohol, then apply the resin in layers, working with each layer to sculpt it as it dries. This technique can be used for creating a new mane as well as altering the muscle depressions and ridges of the model. The parts you will use the epoxy resin on will depend on what you have changed in the previous steps. It can also be used to create facial features such as nostrils and ears.
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Allow your epoxy resin to dry and set. When it is no longer malleable, sand the model completely, rinse and dry.
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Add a coat of white gesso primer to the sanded model and allow to dry. You may choose to put a second coat of primer on for an even finish.
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Working from light colors to dark, paint your model. Begin by using the lightest color in areas where the coat is lightest, then progressively blend the darker colors into it. Sweep the dark colors along the depressions of muscles to create a shadowed effect and to add definition. Repeat this technique to gradually build to the desired color, then allow to dry.
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After the darkest paint has dried, add any highlights needed. These will be applied to the peaks of muscle ridges and the contours of the face. Now is also the time to add dark points such as a bay's ears or markings such as white stockings, if desired. Allow paint to dry fully before proceeding.
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Spray the model with the matte finish to seal the new paint.
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Tips & Warnings
Do not start off with an irreplaceable model for your first project. It can take several attempts to refine your technique. Observe safety protocols when using a heat gun or Dremel tool.
