Just a horse for a change

[kagemusha]

Hi all, as promised here is the 120mm horse WIP. Kit is Verlindens "Bare Horse 2".First pics show it assembled and primed with extra detail added. This consists of ear canals and nostrils opened up and the tail and forelock having had more detail carved in, and genitals added. This kit had some serious air bubbles in it, which required a lot of opening up, filling and sanding.

 

[kagemusha]

120mm horse continued

Next step is the "scrub coat".This is primarily done to show up any remaining faults etc. For this I use a glaze of oil colour similar to the base colour I want for the finished tone. As you can see, there is no finesse to how it is applied, hence the term scrub coat. Once happy, I take a wide soft varnish brush and blend this down to a very thin glaze and leave to dry.

 

[kagemusha]

120mm continued 2

Now comes the first stage of "Underpainting". This is where I begin to lay out the primary areas of the various colours of the coat.Here, the choice of colour is important as it will show through and around the next colour.I stipple this colour as opposed to brushing it on, which avoids stark edges and brush marks. Next I add the third colour over the previous colour but staying just inside the edges. This gives a more pleasing blend to the different colours.Then comes the pink areas where the skin is thinner and the veins that are near the surface. Again, all colours are stippled, not brushed.

 

[kagemusha]

120mm horse continued 3

Once I am happy with the basic coat I begin to add the first stage of dappling.This is done by painting "off" the dapples by dipping a suitable size brush in clean spirit and removing the previous colours.My reason for doing it this way is to avoid having to paint the dappling and maintaining an even colour on top of the previous ones.Another benefit is that it softens the edges for you and once it all dries the colours blend unaided. I have begun to lay in the colours for the head/face mouth etc.

 

[kagemusha]

120mm horse contiued 4

I have detailed the hooves and shoes, and mounted the horse to its base for ease of handling.Next I begin to work on the legs, socks and head according to the way I want the finished horse to look.Once these areas have dried, I apply a coat of 'Liquin' to the hooves to add a subtle sheen which makes them look solid.I have also worked the muzzle, nostrils and teeth to give character to the head.A darker colour has been stippled onto the back of the ears to blend them into the neck and the ear canals have been softened.

 

[kagemusha]

120mm horse continued 5

Now I have added the tail and forelock so that I can work them with the mane. Colours chosen will help to blend everything together and add the texture that it needs. I have added the eyes and facial blaze plus a touch of darker pink to the nostrils.Just about done now. I leave it all to dry for a week to make sure every colour has settled to the intensity I want and all edges are soft. Fingers crossed!

 

[Sambaman]

I was worried for a second there Ron. Your horse appeared to have a giant pencil inserted in his anus, it made me uncomfortable, let alone his expression! Wasn't sure where you were going with that! LOL!

Sorry, just a bit of humor. Very cool little SBS here. Love the addition of the pinks to the thin skinned areas, really adds another dimension to the horse. Thanks for sharing!

Jay H.

 

[trooper]

Very impressive. I read this quickly, but are you using oils as your medium. You said oil scrub coat. Again great job. I hope you can add some more in discussion as this appears to be another good technique for painting.

 

[kagemusha]

Like the humour Jay and thanks. Yes James, all in oils apart from glaze to hooves and eyes.

 

[gordy]

Incredible Thanks for sharing Ron !

 

[clubcat]

If I may ask Ron, what filler did you use on the "aero" leg you show at the beginning?
I like the method you used and it's beautifully painted. It's an unusually coloured horse, what breed is it?

Melanie

 

[pinsel]

i was about to ask but did not dare.i know that american wildhorses may have the weirdest colours but this seems more an european breed.
i know of chestnut bays with dabbles but those are much more subtle
the least iam after is to sound nosy.to built uch an horse from two halves with the neck on is an tread.therefore i seldomst try an riding figure.one exeption will be the viking 75mm from Carl Reid.here i could not resist.you have done an very clean and impressive job on this
its only curiosity in regards to the colour

 

[kagemusha]

Hi Melanie, I used 'Squadron' Fast Drying (fine) putty. It comes in a tube and is very fast drying! Quite vaporous tho, but works great with resin especially. Markus/Melanie, I found a picture of this horse in a magazine at my local dentist while waiting for my appointment. It is described as an Appaloosa/Quarter Cross! so you are half right Markus, and I think the european look is more to do with the proportions of the kit itself.

 

[pinsel]

hello ron
oh yes an quarterhorse those have indeed crazy colours seems the wildhorse percentage in them
do you plan an rider or will it left bare
regards

 

[kagemusha]

No rider Markus,don't want to cover up all that hard work! I am going to do the 'AuthorSculpt 75mm mounted trapper soon, so I am looking for a suitably unusual horse colour for him.

 

[davidmitchell]

Great SBS Ron ,its always good to see someone else's approach to painting.You will have a great time with the Trapper Ron, the horse is superb as is the figure.


Cheers David

 

[kagemusha]

Thanks David, am looking forward to the 'Trapper' very much as the detailing is of the very highest standard which allows so much more scope for my style of painting.

 

[T50]

Wow... Excellent work!!!

 

[TWOMOONS]

Fine work, Shadow Warrior...very fine.

 

[kagemusha]

Cheers Phil. Do I sense a fellow samurai ?