"Solid reins on a horse." Topic

If the reins on a model are a solid bar of metal hanging under the horse's head, do you drill it out and shave the metal to make two sets of reins?
I used to do that all the time, but not lately.
However, I have been given a few 40mm AWI mounted militia (Thanks, Doug!) and am taking the 20 minutes per figure needed.

No. Solid reigns were good enough for the ancestors. They're good enough for me.

Besides at wargaming table distances, it isn't noticeable. For me it is too much trouble.

Jim

I started to… and discovered just how hard it is to do properly.. but still loathe to give up. It is an eyesore compared with all the other detail… even if as has been pointed out.. nobody sees the blasted things.
Empress horses are great in that respect.. I have no idea how their mould cutter does it!

One of the joys of 15mm…..

I wouldn't even think of doing that.

I "might" think about doing that if I was doing a small vignette, but no way for the gaming table.

10mm? No … 15mm and larger? It depends on the figure ..

Phil

Yes, most get drilled, filed and shaped to represent separate reins if 28mm. For 40mm, I would definitely do it. In the end, it is what makes you happy that matters. Think of it as mental health therapy since the time spent results in something that pleases you.
youtu.be/Y_XXDMkmDqE

Never have in the past, but it's been years since my last project involving horses, and I'm a "better" modeller (in the sense of more patient and more meticulous) now, so I might in the future.

This is why needle files and Dremel are your friends.

Nope, if they were good enough for grampa the way they come, it's good enough for me. Besides, it's not like they are going to get in the way of the rider.

Are you kidding?

No. I constantly sharpen swords (so they don't look like planks), and have trimmed down many an Old Glory cankle, but I have never bothered with that.

I have never done it, unless they were designed as two pieces and it is just a piece of flash in between.

I'm just not THAT anal!

It's not as annoying as chariot horses without reins.
But it is annoying nonetheless.

Besides, what else would I be doing?
And when it is done and looks smooth (IF it looks smooth…) it gives me a sense of satisfaction, and is something that nobody else will see or care about. It's like researching the proper shade of Vallejo for Popinjay Green facings.

It's kind of like painting buttons underneath an arm that no one will ever see.
I've never done that, I've looked at, contimplated; but never will either.

Reins are designed and cast as one piece because it puts less stress on the robber mold. Stress and heat cause the rubber to harden and tear(especially in smaller scales). And if you do design and cast separated reins they are way out of scale(kind of like hands that are 2-3 times normal size(my pet peeve).

Dave
wargamingminiatures.com

I might at the very least carve a shallow recess between the reins using a hobby knife so there will be something to shade. If it's just a solid bar of metal with no recess, I'd feel forced to highlight it which would only heighten the absurdity. Painting shading on non-recessed areas just rubs me the wrong way.

That's for 28mm anyway.

Nope

I already hate painting horses enough without adding in extra aggravation

I put wire reins on a 15mm horse the other day, it was a one-off for Hannibal.

Regards

David F Brown

I have done it, but not always. Even then only on 25mm or larger.

I have done it, but not always. Even then only on 25mm or larger.

I might do it if it would keep my knights from fleeing off the table at the first sight of battle… or maybe that's due to the bad orders?

I probably would. It would annoy me every time I looked at it otherwise.

Flat Black paint for the middle of the solid reins, with the edges painted brown to represent the reins themselves is good enough for me.

As Ivan says, I would try to paint my way out of it. A little tougher with your 40mm figures though.