ANOTHER Stablemate saddle!

Yup, the tackmaking bug has once again bitten me! XD I rustled this one up in considerably less time than the other one and this time went a bit mad and made a martingale and new bridle too...







The light had gone again so you'll have to put up with yet more terrible artificially lit photos I'm afraid.





I forgot to check if it would fit today but I'm hoping that one of the tack sets will work on the G3 jumping horse so I can do a proper SJ or XC setup for the MHL Live in a fortnight's time. :D

Stablemate Scale Saddle!

When Anna Kirby of Dreamflite Design mentioned that she was going to do another saddle tutorial, I was one of many people to show a lot of interest in it. I already owned one of her saddles, (made several years ago) and was utterly gobsmacked at how detailed it was. Not only did it have real WORKING buckles but everything looked exactly as it should.

Here it is being modelled by 'EA Turkish Brandy'



Anyway, the idea of a tutorial that would allow me to make something similar really appealed to me so you can imagine how chuffed I was when I was asked to be one of the guinea pigs and try out the 'beta version' before it was published for everyone. I got the guide emailed to me last night and used it this afternoon whilst watching two of my favourite series of Blackadder. I didn't have any leather thin enough to cover the back panels but I rather like the contrast the lighter leather has against the black so it's staying like this for now.

There are a few spots of glue and things that need touched up and apologies for the crappy photos - by the time I'd finished it, the light had gone so I was forced to use artifical lighting which I absolutely loathe.













Now that I had a saddle, I thought I may as well do a bridle to match. I and the glue had some arguments, the buckles are too big and the reins too short but it definitely beats my first attempt at 1/32nd scale bridling and vaguely looks the part so I'm happy! XD



I didn't have any sticky wax so the bit is held in place by a bit of 'Pritt Stik' glue stick! XD



I'll hopefully be entering this horse and tack combo in a performance class at the MHL live in a couple of weeks and under UK rules, I'd need a rider, so...





He's a repainted and slightly resculpted Britains motorcylist I found in the 2nd hand drawer at my local model shop years ago. I always knew he'd come in handy!



The saddle rose up on the back here which I didn't notice until now so rest assured, it does sit on there properly!



I'll probably make him a body protector and Brandy a breastcollar or something to go with it...



So yeah, an afternoon well spent I reckon! MASSIVE thanks to Anna for making such a fantastic tutorial and something tells me it won't be the last time I make use of it! :D

I've still got LOADS of bodies to paint up for the show (for my showstring and sales table alike) and haven't even started working out who I'm taking and putting in each class but this is technically productive action...right? :P

Draco Malfoy Portrait...

I've been in a bit of a slump with Post-Potter depression recently. I've seen Deathly Hallows Part 2 twice already and I still can't believe that it's all over. Pathetic some might say but I grew up with the books playing a huge part in my life so it really is the end of an era.

Anyway, on a lighter note...everything I need to say is in the description... ;D

http://elreniagreenleaf.deviantart.com/art/Malfoy-s-Mission-251558616?q=gallery%3Aelreniagreenleaf&qo=0

But yeah, SO ridiculously happy with this one. :D :D :D

Custom Julip and new tack!

This has been a VERY long time coming, apologies! I got him well over a month ago but haven't managed to take any decent photos until recently! ::)
Anyway, I went to the Royal Highland Show with another Julip collector who, on the bus back to the station gave me a very generous gift, a Cob Stallion who was in need of a little help after her hamster had err...taken a liking to him. :o





The pesky rodent had nibbled away at his face and hindquarters!





If I remember correctly he had been a 'second' on the spares page as he had a few mould flaws too but I didn't mind at all - I like a challenge! To begin with I just assumed this was to be a restoration job for her but it wasn't until I got home that I realised I was to keep him! O_O

I wanted to keep as much of the original finish as I could to begin with but as it was so speckly and awkward to match I decided a full repaint was in order...



This one shows his colour most accurately I think.



You can still see the nibbled latex at his eye in this one but his forelock obscures it now that he's finished so it isn't too offputting. I used Games Workshop paints if anyone's wondering. :)



I gave him some heavy feathering (which I may have to redo as I overdid it on the glue front and it keeps cracking) and a nice thick blonde mane and tail.







He also has a headcollar...



...a bridle...



..and a saddle, which was actually intended for Simba but Fred seems to have decided to nick it.


I reckon he's going to be one of those seriously laidback cobs who does what he's asked but begrudgingly, and if he can get away with just standing around somewhere and sleeping, he will. XD





As for the name, well, I've seen Deathly Hallows pt 2 twice already and he's orange so it just kinda had to happen. :P

Tackwise, I've been busy!

As already seen being modelled by Fred, Simba has a nice shiny new GP saddle - my best yet I reckon! The headcollar's new too - I don't have any decent photos of it sadly but it has little 'silver' name plates with his name scored onto it and a rolled throatlatch courtesy of one of Jennifer Buxton's excellent tutorials!



(the stirrup leathers have been trimmed since these were taken. ;)



Pirate also has a new saddle - the black panels are actually made from textured neoprene from an old school pencilcase! XD I used Jennifer Buxton's buckle free method for adjustable leathers which I think I'll end up adopting for most of my tack from now on as it is just SO much easier to deal with!
I actually hated this saddle for a ridiculous amount of time. The panels wouldn't fit properly, the tree was wonky and I couldn't find the right colour of leather for the seat but now that it's actually finished I really couldn't be happier - especially as it goes with his bridle. :)







...and Freya finally has a bridle of her very own. The headpiece went horrifically wrong and will be redone at some point but I'm really pleased with the raised noseband. I used yet another of Jennifer's tutorials and it was a lot easier to do than I thought!-here-






I'll need to resurrect the big tack list at some point as I've made rather a lot of stuff since I originally posted it!