Repairing broken horse tails.

[twrchtrwyth]

I have a number of horses I aquired second hand who have lost their tails. I was thinking of using the very thin bendy florist wire to make new tails. Put a load together, twist one end and insert into a drilled hole in the horse, but I'm not sure if it would look right.

Does anyone have any other ideas?

[JollyBob]

It shouldn't be that hard to sculpt a tail over a wire armature. Or failing that, have you got any knackered old GW plastic horses or badly cast OG ones you could nip the tails off and stick on?

[twrchtrwyth]

Thanks for your ideas. These horses are I believe Minifigs, so tiny compared to GW and I have no Old Glory, and unfortunately I have negeative sculpting skill.

However, your idea of covering the tails, with sculpting putty in your case, has given me an idea. I might be able to cover the wire with PVA or something to make it look more organic and less angular, if that makes sense.

[JollyBob]

Could work.

Sculpting tails really isn't that hard. Have you looked at the plastic GW ones? They are really blocky and angular in places, and they charge money for those. A simple sausage of putty with a few lines scored in it when it's half cured should do the trick.

And if the horses are small, they probably won't be that noticeable when they're finished and painted up anyway.

[Aaron]

your florist wire idea might work fine. You could also use a length of sisal (twine). It would be a bit harder to work with, but would look more natural when done. You might be able to contour it a bit with watered down white glue if needed.

[meninobesta]

taking into account that horse tails are a very simple structure, you can try to make a temporary green stuff mold to make those extra tails you need, there are a lot of tutorials around the net explaining how to do this

[twrchtrwyth]

@JollyBob:I think I'll try to sculpt at least one to see how I go.

@Aaron:Is sisal a special sort of twine?

@meninobesta:I like this idea, hadn't thought of doing this. I have spare metal and a Prince August ladel.

Thanks again for all your suggestions.

[Svennn]

If you are really struggling I will gladly do them for you.  If you post some pictures of a complete one I will sculpt some tails from that.

Svennn

[meninobesta]

@meninobesta:I like this idea, hadn't thought of doing this. I have spare metal and a Prince August ladel.

when I said that, I was thinking about using green stuff as the mold and also as the material to make the cast!

but make things that fit best to your skills! 

[Aaron]

@Aaron:Is sisal a special sort of twine?

I think it is the material the twine is made from. I don't think it would matter too much what kind you used ad long as the individual fibers aren't too thick.

[twrchtrwyth]

@meninobesta:I like this idea, hadn't thought of doing this. I have spare metal and a Prince August ladel.

when I said that, I was thinking about using green stuff as the mold and also as the material to make the cast!

but make things that fit best to your skills! 

Yes I understood, you were perfectly clear. Sorry if my reply confused you.

[Hitman]

I bought several new horses in which the tails were snapped off or missing.

1. snapped off - pin the tail on the horse with a bit of wire...yeah, yeah, horse, not donkey.
2. missing - use a piece of wire, drill into horse, then apply green stuff, mold it until it looks like a tail

I tried the several strands of wire, and it never looks right - tail looks twisted and un-natural.

[twrchtrwyth]

If you are really struggling I will gladly do them for you.  If you post some pictures of a complete one I will sculpt some tails from that.

Svennn

Thats a very kind offer which I shall bare in mind, thanks.

[Malamute]

I bought several new horses in which the tails were snapped off or missing.

1. snapped off - pin the tail on the horse with a bit of wire...yeah, yeah, horse, not donkey.
2. missing - use a piece of wire, drill into horse, then apply green stuff, mold it until it looks like a tail

Exactly what I would do. Hope that helps