Off And Running...
I Hope you will understand, Dear Readers, that a few weeks ago as I was diligently working on the Ravenwood windows, and pondering the impending Holiday Season, I had one of those ideas that wouldn't leave me alone. Really, I had been thinking about it for longer than just those weeks, but suddenly I had an idea that might be a "breakthrough" in methodology for this long-standing idea! What idea is that you are Wondering? Well, the need to add a Santa Sleigh with eight tiny Reindeer to the Secret Christmas House which is still not completed after several years of waiting! I am sure you recall this is a 144th scale Robin Betterley kit that I built throughout 2017, (before I got sidetracked by the Lilacs Project). Of course, I had to make a start on a "prototype reindeer" right away, just to see if this was possible and worth pursuing. Above you can see the only photo I took of the beginning, and it is a bit blurry.... but I was just testing the idea and not thinking about the pictures. The critter begins much like the Hounds I made for the Secret Christmas House, and the Cat... "Mittens" too.... (please visit the side-bar to find reference to those old posts if you desire to see them). It is just fine paper-covered floral wire twisted together to form a basic armature. The secret ingredient is "the glue trick" which relies on the bulk of the dried glue to form the body shape. You start by adding glue where the legs join the spine and let it dry completely.
Here you can see the "prototype reindeer" several steps further along.
The "breakthrough" idea was to use very fine wire
to form the antlers' armatures.
Here you can see them twisted through the head wire
and sort of spread out to look like antlers.
These will get shaped and trimmed more precisely
once the bodies are more stable,
ie more layers of glue applied and dried.
And because this idea looked so promising....
I needed to start the others too....
before I lost my courage....
Seven more bodies begun...
shaped wires with glue on the joins
to solidify the structure.
And then wait while they dry thoroughly!
The glue shrinks... and becomes translucent....
You can see the skeleton...
The "prototype" is testing his legs....
Here he has had several layers of glue added to his body...
but none so far to the neck or head.
Here I have started to add glue to the head and neck area.
Once this is added, the neck position can't be changed...
Maybe I should have "positioned" some of them artfully...
but oh well... I was more concerned with being sure
the glue was in the right places as it dried!
And adding the wires to all the rest of the bodies.....
The wires will be shaped and trimmed later.
Here they just need to be securely attached to the head
before the glue is added.
I have been using some fairly old and quite viscous Aileen's Quick Dry glue.
When first applied it globs and sags a little bit.
Here I am adding it to the head neck and upper legs.
Here is the "prototype reindeer" on the clip with the glue dried.
You can see the armature skeleton.
And testing the legs for balanced position....
He stands quite well!
The tails will be trimmed last
after they serve as the "handle" while being worked on!
There is still such a long way to go, Dear Readers,
with these Tiny Reindeer,
But I do believe this Wild Idea
is Off and Running!
