ADVICE/HELP: ACW 28mm Redoubt Horse Furniture Casts

[BlindFool]

Hi Guys,
I thought I would turn to you for some advice/help regarding 28mm ACW Redoubt horse furniture casts and what you’ve done / suggest….

I’m currently prepping some Command horses - on a few the rein section are overly large (see picture)

A) Should the reins be cut to the desired length - to fit with the figure - or left as is?
B) Should the ‘flash’ between the reins be cut out?

Thanks in advance - I know ultimately it’s my choice but hearing about how you resolved this issue will be very helpful.

[Cholmondely Percival IV]

My OCD wouldn't allow me to leave a chunk of metal where there should be only air, or to have any part of excessive length, particularly when it looks unnatural when next to the figure who is meant to be interacting with it, so I would have already taken to my tools by this point, and doubtless incurred a number of small but painful wounds in the process. Others, however, may have a more considered or pragmatic approach.

[Pattus Magnus]

No, I would have exactly the same wounds from trimming down the reins…

[snitcythedog]

Gawd.  That model would drive me batty.  I would have to remove the solid reigns and either re-sculpt them or add some on.  Stuff like this is one of the reason that I hate doing horses. 

[BlindFool]

…thanks for your comments its appreciated.

Cholmondely Percival - I know all about the small and painful wounds - for me the pin vice usually when trying to drill standard bearers

snitcythedog - thankfully I don’t have too many of them like this but coming up with a workable solution without ruining them all with my poor remodeling skills is key .

[Cholmondely Percival IV]

I think the pin vice might be the most useful tool here, assuming the metal between the reins is as thick as it appears. I'd drill holes all around at short intervals before cutting away the metal between them with a heavy duty scalpel, though a file with a triangular section can come in handy in cases like this as the edge can function as a saw. The part close to the horse's neck looks as if it would be the most difficult. I've done this kind of thing quite a bit in the distant past and still have the scars to prove it. I'm particularly proud of the one on my left middle finger from when the blade slipped and the tip went right through to my knucklebone.

[BlindFool]

I’ll give the pin vice a go - I was kinda leaning towards trying it.  Thanks Cholmondely

[fred]

What a weird approach to reins!

I think this is why most model horses have reins that end around the saddle 'boss' and riders with a hand around their groin, so the two kind of line up.

I think I'd just be snipping these off just after they turn up. And just paint the reins on the edge of the remaining metal.

Good luck if you are going to hollow this out - sounds like a lot of work.

[Cholmondely Percival IV]

You're one of those 'sane' people, aren't you?

[fred]

You're one of those 'sane' people, aren't you?

  Who me? 

[Cholmondely Percival IV]

Relatively speaking, I meant. No offence intended.