I'm the kind of person that likes to make life harder than it should be....for example making a western saddle for the first time I went for a stablemate scale. The theory is if I can manage to make a half decent one in this scale it will be easier in littlebit/classic scale (I don't have space for trads)!
This is my smallest resin, very much 32nd scale and ideal for a silver show saddle. First off I made the tree using styrene plastic and the seat with magic sculpt.
Working on patterns, which were done like the gammon bridle using low tack tape before cutting the leather
Showing the leather and pattern pieces, the weird contraption the seat is sitting on I made to have a stable base when molding the seat with apoxie
Checking the fit on the model after covering the seat. The seat leather is a lighter colour to the rest but interestingly in this scale its hard to see the difference. Of course the bad phone photography doesn't help!
First decorations in place which aren't glued but pinned in place with super fine wire embedded in the epoxie and then guilded with silver.
Seat is just placed on top checking the design and fit at this stage
First fit of the seat jockey
All the silver done and ready to assemble the two half's. I had planned on looping the fenders through the saddle tree slots but decided it would add unwanted bulk.
Glueing in place....modelling balloons moulding the saddle to the horses shape
There's a scrap of rubber under the panels to stop scratches and glue getting on the model
Whoop! Looks like a saddle
Does my butt look big in this??!
Forgot to take pics of the stirrups being made, the fenders are adjustable
So cute, I'm happy that using all the new processes worked out as I'd hoped
Lighting was awkward but this is more the actual colour
So chuffed....
I'm planning on making it into a parade set eventually
I have some curio resins I'll try the saddle on which i will take pics of. currently working on saddle pads. All in all a very satisfying project. The thing I'm most happy with is the saddle sits into the shape of the horses back nicely, it doesn't sit too high.
