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  • Home
  • Shop
  • What Are Model Horses?
    • Introduction to the hobby
    • Introduction to Collecting
    • Introduction to Showing
    • Getting Creative
    • Pedigrees
  • Sizes & Brands
    • The Brands
      • Animal Artistry
      • Beswick
      • Breyer
      • CollectA
      • Copperfox
      • Equorum
      • Julip
      • Magpie
      • Peter Stone
      • RubberNedz
      • Schleich
      • Everything Else
    • Size Guide
      • Understanding Scales
      • Generic Size Guide
      • Breyer Size Guide
      • CTF Size Guide
      • Model Railway Scales
      • Size Comparison Gallery
    • Finishes
      • Original Finish
      • Custom Finish
      • Artist Resin & China
      • Commercial Resin & China
      • CTF Plastic
      • CTF Bendy
  • My Own Collection
    • Arabians
    • Thoroughbreds
    • Warmbloods & Sport Horses
    • Iberian
    • European Light Horses
    • British Native Ponies
    • European Ponies
    • Other Ponies
    • Type Ponies
    • American Quarter Horses
    • Appaloosas
    • Paints
    • Gaited
    • Mustangs
    • Other American
    • UK Heavy Horse
    • European Heavy Horses
    • Other Heavy Horses
    • Other Purebred Horses
    • Cobs & Vanners
    • Partbred Arabians
    • Other Partbred Horses
    • Partbred Ponies
    • Other Equine
    • fantasy & decorator
    • Other Animals
  • Showing
    • Live Shows
      • Introduction to Live Showing
      • Attending a Live Show
      • Running a Live Show
      • Gallery of Champions
      • 2019 Live Shows
      • BMECS & NAN
      • Recycled Live V
      • Herefordshire Live 2019
    • Photo Shows
      • Introduction to Photo Showing
      • Entering a Photo Show
      • Running a Photo Show
      • Gallery of Champions
      • Grand Photoshow
      • 2020 Photo Shows
    • Postal Shows
      • Introduction to Postal Shows
      • Entering a Postal Show
      • Running a Postal Show
      • 2019 Postal Shows
    • Other Competitions/Events
      • Customising Competitions
      • Tack/Prop Making Competitions
      • 30 Day Challenges
      • Body Transformation Challenge 2019
      • 2019 Competitions
    • Understanding Sections
      • In Hand
      • Performance
      • Workmanship
      • Collectability
      • Fun
    • Where Should My Horse Go?
      • Brands & Finishes
      • Breeds
      • Performance Entries
      • Colours
    • My Own Show Results
      • Section Champions
      • Supreme Champions
      • BMECs Success
      • Chestnut Ridge Customs & Resins
      • Chestnut Ridge Tack
  • Tutorials
    • Customising
      • Base Colours
        • Airbrushed Grey
        • Airbrushed Bay
        • Bay
        • Bay Foal
        • Black
        • Brown
        • Chestnut
        • Faded Black
        • Light Bay
      • Dilutes
        • Cremello
        • Dun
        • Grulla
        • Light Palomino
        • Palomino Foal
        • Silver Dapple
      • Spots & Splodges
        • Black Pinto
        • Bay Pinto
        • Black Leopard Spot
        • Chestnut Pinto
        • Grulla Pinto Foal
        • Leopard Appaloosa
        • Bay Blanket Spot
      • Other Colours
        • Blue Roan
        • Fleabitten Grey (Pencil)
        • Grey (Pastel)
        • Mulberry Grey
        • Red Roan
        • Roan
      • Sculpting
        • Carving Ears
        • Fairy Horse
        • Feathers
        • Hogged Mane
        • Marwari Ears
        • Pink Unicorn
        • Plaited Mane
        • Wild Mane
        • Winged Foal
      • Prepping & Other
        • Hair Direction
        • How to Prep
        • Leg Pinning
        • Removing Paint
        • Prepping for Hairing
        • Touch Ups
    • Tack Making
      • English
        • Boots
        • Grackle Bridle
        • Sidepull Bitless Bridle
      • Western
        • Paddock Pal Western Bridle
        • Two Ear Western Bridle
        • Western Breastplate
      • Headcollars & Halters
        • Arabian Halter
        • Classic Arabian Halter
        • Paddock Pal Arab Halter
        • Simple Headcollar
      • Everything Else
        • Rug Templates
        • Saddle Cloth Templates
    • Other
      • Computer Tutorials
        • Adding Excel Filters
        • Horse Record Spreadsheet
        • Pedigree Table
        • Points System
        • Setting up a Facebook Page
      • Props
        • Bird
        • Breyer Cross Country Jump
        • Desert Scene
        • Horse Lick
        • Snowy Base
        • Snowy Scene
        • Stable Items
        • Trail Class Props
      • Showing
        • Creating a Judging List
    • Online Seminars
      • Seminar Schedule
      • Past Seminars
  • Galleries
    • Custom Gallery
      • Bay
      • Black
      • Chestnut
      • Grey
      • Duns
      • Cream Dilutes
      • Pintos
      • Spotted
      • Roan
      • Fantasy & Decorator
      • Other Colour
    • Tack Gallery
      • English Bridles
      • Western Bridles
      • Other English
      • Other Western
      • Arabian
      • Headcollars & Halters
      • Other Tack
    • Scenes
      • The Model Horse Shop
      • The Live Show
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    • 2021 New Releases
      • Breyer
      • Schleich
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(c) Chestnut Ridge 2019

​catriona@chestnutridge.co.uk

Important note - Chestnut Ridge does not endorse any of the external links or companies linked to on this website. We are not responsible for the content of those links nor do we recommend using those companies for purchases. Any links are provided for information purposes only and you use at your own risk. We are not affiliated in anyway with any of the companies mentioned.

We highly recommend you research any company before making a purchase from them. This is also true for individual sellers and buyers. There are numerous model horse reference sites that we recommend you look at before buying.

Chestnut Pinto

The following tutorial was written in 2011.

The model used is a Breyer Stablemate G2 Appaloosa.

The paints used were the Citadel range from Games Workshop, with earth tone pastels. Approximate costs are based on you buying all the items needed for this tutorial including a brushes. It is assumed you are painting a Stablemate model horse but this tutorial will work for all scales.

Difficulty Level: Medium
Approximate Cost: £65.00

Shopping List

The Basics

Prepped Model Horse
Set of Paint Brushes
​Reference Picture
Sealant
Old Paint Brushes (for pastels)

Paints

See the image below for an idea of shades needed

Black
White
Cream
Light Ochre
Medium Ochre
Dark Ochre
Red Brown
Burnt Umber
​Red
​Dark Grey
Pink (optional - blue eyes)
Light Blue (optional - blue eyes)

Pastels

​Set of Earth Tone Pastels
Grey Pastel
Cream Pastel
Pink Pastel (if needed for pink muzzles)
Picture

Base Colour

Picture
Picture
Step 1

Mix together cream, light ochre and medium ochre

We are using an airbrush for this tutorial but you can use hand painted acrylics instead
Picture
Step 2

Cover the entire model (you can leave the end of the tail) in this paint mix
Picture
Step 3

Add a little dark ochre to your paint mix to darken the colour slightly (you may need to remix if you didn't have any left from step 1)
Picture
Step 4

Apply this to the barrel, neck, chin and tops of the legs of your model. Use reference to see what areas are darker and lighter on a real horse.
Picture
Step 5

Mix together red brown, burnt umber and ochre paints in equal parts.
Picture
Step 6

Add this to the withers, bottom of the barrel, back of the quarters, neck, ears and chin.

Again use reference to help you see what areas of the horse are darker.
Picture
Step 7

Before you move on wait for the paint to fully dry and apply a layer of sealant to your horse.

We are now going to do some pastelling. Use a red brown colour from your earth tones set and an old paint brush to apply pastels.
Picture
Step 8

Apply this dark pastel to the grooves of the muscles on your model - work with the model you have (even if the sculpting is a little off) so that the shading looks right on him.

​Now seal your model.
Picture
Step 9

​Use a lighter, almost orange, shade of pastel for the highlights
Picture
Step 10

Add this to the base of the legs and then onto the muscles (not the grooves but muscles themselves) to highlight them. Also add to the elbow and stifle.

​Seal your model.
Picture
Step 11

Add grey pastel to the genitals and muzzle.

Now make sure your model is well sealed before we move onto the white markings. If you just want to paint a chestnut you can skip the next few steps and avoid the white pinto pattern.
Picture
Step 12

Map out your markings (use reference) using either thin white acrylic paint or a white pastel pencil.
Picture
Step 13

Start to fill in your markings using thin layers of watered down white acrylic paint. Make sure to wait for each layer to dry first and apply them in thin layers.

​Top Tip: Layering white pastel pencil and acrylic paint will help the painting of markings go faster. Just make sure to let each layer properly dry before you apply the next one!
Picture
Step 14

Continue to apply layers of white paint until you are happy with the finish of the white markings.
Picture
Picture
Step 15

We now need to paint the tail. Your markings may mean that you have a white tail, if so you can add some cream pastel to gently highlight the ends.
If, like me, you need to colour your tail you can follow the following steps.

Firstly add a layer of cream pastel over the tail. Seal your model.
Picture
Picture
Step 16

Now use a darker shade of umber pastel to add depth to the colour of the tail and smooth it into the coat colour. You may need to add several layers at this point, make sure to seal between layers.

Now seal your whole model before painting details!
Picture
Step 17 - Optional If Needed

If your model has a white face like mine you will need to add some pink pastel to the muzzle. Seal your model after.

The Details

Picture
Step 1

The first thing we are going to paint are the eyes. Check your reference - some white markings (i.e. splash white) will cause the eyes to be blue.

​For blue eyes add a layer of pink first, for dark eyes add a layer of black.
Picture
Step 2

Add a layer of white to the eyes. Now put a tiny bit of red (or red brown) paint in the corner of the eye. Draw this into the eye, mixing it with your white paint.
Picture
Picture
Step 3

Now paint the iris - for dark coloured eyes this will be using a burnt umber coloured paint. For light coloured eyes this will be using a light blue coloured paint.
Picture
Step 4

Now paint an oblong shaped pupil using black paint.

The eyes are now complete!
Picture
Step 5

For the hooves you will need to paint them light (on white legs) or dark (on coloured legs).

For light hooves use cream mixed with light ochre paint.

​For dark coloured hooves use a dark grey paint.

​Your model is now finished! Make sure to seal it and then gloss the eyes and hooves for a realistic finish. And don't forget to sign your work!

Taking It To The Next Level

The piece we have painted is quite simplistic. It is a great way to start thinking about how to paint pintos or white markings on models.

However, to take your piece to the next level you may want to think about adding more detail.

Mapping

Where the white hairs mix with the dark hairs on a real horse mapping appears. This is an area of 'fuzziness' around the white markings. You can create this using a pastel pencil or very thin white acrylic paint. Experiment to see what method works well for you.
​
​Detailing the Details

The instructions given for details here are very basic. You may want to think about how you can make them more realistic.

Using pencils on the hooves can help to create stripes and lines as you would see on a real horse.

Mixing colours in the iris of the eye can give a more realistic look.

Think about adding extra details such as painted on chestnuts for a more realistic finish.

Gallery of Finished Pieces

If you've attempted this tutorial and would like to share an image with us for our gallery please email catriona@chestnutridge.co.uk

Make sure to let us know which tutorial you completed and any information (such as your name) you would like included with your picture.

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Model horses are meant to be fun, it's easy to lose that sometimes and feel like there is so much negativity around you. Chestnut Ridge is a happy place, here you will find information about the hobby, tutorials to try out and fun and games to help you fall back in love with your model horses.
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  • Home
  • Shop
  • What Are Model Horses?
    • Introduction to the hobby
    • Introduction to Collecting
    • Introduction to Showing
    • Getting Creative
    • Pedigrees
  • Sizes & Brands
    • The Brands
      • Animal Artistry
      • Beswick
      • Breyer
      • CollectA
      • Copperfox
      • Equorum
      • Julip
      • Magpie
      • Peter Stone
      • RubberNedz
      • Schleich
      • Everything Else
    • Size Guide
      • Understanding Scales
      • Generic Size Guide
      • Breyer Size Guide
      • CTF Size Guide
      • Model Railway Scales
      • Size Comparison Gallery
    • Finishes
      • Original Finish
      • Custom Finish
      • Artist Resin & China
      • Commercial Resin & China
      • CTF Plastic
      • CTF Bendy
  • My Own Collection
    • Arabians
    • Thoroughbreds
    • Warmbloods & Sport Horses
    • Iberian
    • European Light Horses
    • British Native Ponies
    • European Ponies
    • Other Ponies
    • Type Ponies
    • American Quarter Horses
    • Appaloosas
    • Paints
    • Gaited
    • Mustangs
    • Other American
    • UK Heavy Horse
    • European Heavy Horses
    • Other Heavy Horses
    • Other Purebred Horses
    • Cobs & Vanners
    • Partbred Arabians
    • Other Partbred Horses
    • Partbred Ponies
    • Other Equine
    • fantasy & decorator
    • Other Animals
  • Showing
    • Live Shows
      • Introduction to Live Showing
      • Attending a Live Show
      • Running a Live Show
      • Gallery of Champions
      • 2019 Live Shows
      • BMECS & NAN
      • Recycled Live V
      • Herefordshire Live 2019
    • Photo Shows
      • Introduction to Photo Showing
      • Entering a Photo Show
      • Running a Photo Show
      • Gallery of Champions
      • Grand Photoshow
      • 2020 Photo Shows
    • Postal Shows
      • Introduction to Postal Shows
      • Entering a Postal Show
      • Running a Postal Show
      • 2019 Postal Shows
    • Other Competitions/Events
      • Customising Competitions
      • Tack/Prop Making Competitions
      • 30 Day Challenges
      • Body Transformation Challenge 2019
      • 2019 Competitions
    • Understanding Sections
      • In Hand
      • Performance
      • Workmanship
      • Collectability
      • Fun
    • Where Should My Horse Go?
      • Brands & Finishes
      • Breeds
      • Performance Entries
      • Colours
    • My Own Show Results
      • Section Champions
      • Supreme Champions
      • BMECs Success
      • Chestnut Ridge Customs & Resins
      • Chestnut Ridge Tack
  • Tutorials
    • Customising
      • Base Colours
        • Airbrushed Grey
        • Airbrushed Bay
        • Bay
        • Bay Foal
        • Black
        • Brown
        • Chestnut
        • Faded Black
        • Light Bay
      • Dilutes
        • Cremello
        • Dun
        • Grulla
        • Light Palomino
        • Palomino Foal
        • Silver Dapple
      • Spots & Splodges
        • Black Pinto
        • Bay Pinto
        • Black Leopard Spot
        • Chestnut Pinto
        • Grulla Pinto Foal
        • Leopard Appaloosa
        • Bay Blanket Spot
      • Other Colours
        • Blue Roan
        • Fleabitten Grey (Pencil)
        • Grey (Pastel)
        • Mulberry Grey
        • Red Roan
        • Roan
      • Sculpting
        • Carving Ears
        • Fairy Horse
        • Feathers
        • Hogged Mane
        • Marwari Ears
        • Pink Unicorn
        • Plaited Mane
        • Wild Mane
        • Winged Foal
      • Prepping & Other
        • Hair Direction
        • How to Prep
        • Leg Pinning
        • Removing Paint
        • Prepping for Hairing
        • Touch Ups
    • Tack Making
      • English
        • Boots
        • Grackle Bridle
        • Sidepull Bitless Bridle
      • Western
        • Paddock Pal Western Bridle
        • Two Ear Western Bridle
        • Western Breastplate
      • Headcollars & Halters
        • Arabian Halter
        • Classic Arabian Halter
        • Paddock Pal Arab Halter
        • Simple Headcollar
      • Everything Else
        • Rug Templates
        • Saddle Cloth Templates
    • Other
      • Computer Tutorials
        • Adding Excel Filters
        • Horse Record Spreadsheet
        • Pedigree Table
        • Points System
        • Setting up a Facebook Page
      • Props
        • Bird
        • Breyer Cross Country Jump
        • Desert Scene
        • Horse Lick
        • Snowy Base
        • Snowy Scene
        • Stable Items
        • Trail Class Props
      • Showing
        • Creating a Judging List
    • Online Seminars
      • Seminar Schedule
      • Past Seminars
  • Galleries
    • Custom Gallery
      • Bay
      • Black
      • Chestnut
      • Grey
      • Duns
      • Cream Dilutes
      • Pintos
      • Spotted
      • Roan
      • Fantasy & Decorator
      • Other Colour
    • Tack Gallery
      • English Bridles
      • Western Bridles
      • Other English
      • Other Western
      • Arabian
      • Headcollars & Halters
      • Other Tack
    • Scenes
      • The Model Horse Shop
      • The Live Show
  • Blog & News
    • Our Blog
    • 2021 New Releases
      • Breyer
      • Schleich
      • CollectA
      • Other Brands
    • Model Horse News
  • Fun & Games
    • Colouring Pages
    • Wordsearches
    • Cross Words
    • Quizzes
    • Other Puzzles
    • Collector Bingo
  • Tales from Chestnut Ridge
    • Crackers and the Magical Fairies
    • Crackers Goes Viral
    • Julie's Story
    • Minstrel to the Rescue
  • Resources & Links
    • Glossary
    • External Links
    • Free Downloads
    • Privacy Policy
    • Shipping & Returns
    • Terms & Conditions
  • Wild Mane