Figurine Support Ideas

[Guy]

I am posting this pic to get some ideas on how to better support the horse. This figure was done back in the mid 80's and has alot of show mileage on it and I found it in the showcase fallen off it's base due to metal fatigue. Any ideas on how I could re-support or hide the brass support rod.

Guy

 

[Richard E]

Hi Guy

Good old metal fatigue eh!!!, not sure how far you want to go with this because what I am about to suggest will be a rebuild of the back legs and is a major op.

However, what I would do is to resclpt the legs around stainless steel rod (which doesn't get metal fatigue (at least not for about 100 years) and sculpt the legs back around it.

You can use the original legs, cut into sections with a hole drilled down the middle legs but it will mean a resculpt of the joint.

Other than that I'm a bit stumped.

Good luck.

Richard

 

[John Long]

I've heard of guys supporting these type horses through the back legs. It requires some putty work though. What you have to do is cut a channel down one of the back legs and insert a brass or steel rod that would run from the body of the horse down the back of the leg and into the base. You may have to do this do both legs depending on the weight of the horse. then you putty over the channel and resculpt the detail.

 

[Guy]

Thanks John and Richard,
It is a heavy figure and I did well with it in competition years ago taking several golds and a BOS.....kinda want to keep it around.

Guy

 

[garyjd]

Guy, A friend of mine did a conversion of this figure into one of Moseby's Rangers and as you can imagine the conversion required the removal of quite a bit of metal. As for the horse, he drilled out channels into the legs and hindquarters which was done before assembling the horse halves (I believe) together. At this stage it might require quite a bit of work. Heavy gauge rod seems to be the only remedy.~Gary

 

[Guy]

Thanks Gary,
I have another kit but didn't want to just use the horse and figured that if it happened to this one It would happen again. The one pictured sheared off at the hoof line and I fastened him back with 2 ton epoxy and propped him up while the epoxy was setting for 24 hours. I inserted the brass rod to the stomach to keep the figure in the original pose. I have tried trees, schrubs, and bushes placed underneath but of course it didn't look natural.

Guy

 

[bobparker]

See this one some time ago,front legs clearing a log with a rattler on it ,front leg
supported by "branch " of the log.
I agree that to channel the back legs and insert a rod must be the best option on a painted peice rather than to chop the legs into segments to get a rod through.
Bob

 

[Guy]

Thanks Bob,
This is the conclusion that I ended up with due to the horse being painted already. I have started looking into my groundwork boxes in the garage looking for that right log and come up from it with a rod, hidden by foilage and a branch with leaves. I have another one of these kits and when I paint it, I may go into the legs to give a better support prior to painting.

Thanks again all for your suggestions