What to do and don't when making your first Schleich custom model horse tips for customization process
January 1, 2025
Hello everyone!
Today I want to share some of my experience for making your first Schleich horse custom or just to help you improve your process even if you have already been customizing for a while.
I want to make a little note here that the majority of people customize horses using pastels to some extent and so do I, I generally have horses with an acrylic paint base and pastel shading and sometimes even make straight pastel coats, that is why some of the tips I give refer to pastels.
What NOT to do when customizing a model horse.
If you are using pastels don't forget to give your model a layer of sealant before adding the first layer of pastels. I have always sprayed my models before the first layer of pastels and I wouldn't skip this step because it creates a grip layer for you pastels to stay on.
Do not touch your horse with your bare hands if it has pastels on it. The sebum on your hands can be extremely harmful to the pastel layer and it can cause the pigment to clumping and grain. Always wear gloves!
Don't leave your model horse uncovered while you are waiting for it to dry. Dust if the worst enemy of any model horse artist so always make sure the horse is covered with a box and placed in an area where it won't be disturbed and it isn't at risk of falling.
Don't rush! It might seem obvious but when you are really excited about the vision for your model it can be tempting to rush thing for quicker results, however you shouldn't, the more time you spend patiently working on your model the more similar it will be to your vision. If you lack patience one day there's no shame in leaving your work and coming back the next day.
When painting markings on your horse don't make straight edges! You will never find a horse that has a marking with a perfectly straight edge, it isn't necessary to make the edge uneven, you can simply add small lines to mimic hair texture on every edge and ensure realism for your model horse.
What to do when customizing a model horse.
Always wear your safety gear! Pastel dust can be dangerous to humans and you should always wear a mask when working with it. All sealants are toxic and I always were a mask, gloves on both hands and eye protection to avoid contact with the spray.
When working with pastels place a piece of paper on your surface. That way you can gather up fallen pigment and reuse it. You will be shocked to see how much pigment would have gone to waste!
Have references, many of them! Always find reference pictures of coat colors or breeds that you want to replicate, the more you have the better. You can pull inspiration from each horse and create something unique! Books, pictures and observing real horses are the best ways to get references.
Start small and build up! With your first sculpt job on a model horse, it's really hard to start from scratch, especially if your don't usually work with clay. I recommend moving ears, bending legs, and sculpting manes and tails for the beginning, focusing on each individual step and working slow using lots of references. Then build up to more challenging stuff.
Think ahead! Always know what step is next. Plan things in advance as much as you can. This prevents issues and gives you time to research and find solutions for a step you aren't sure about.
I hope these tips were able to help you and point out things to remember if you are customizing your first Schleich model horse!
I wish you all the best, till next time!
