Chestnut Ridge
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  • What Are Model Horses?
    • Introduction to the hobby
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    • Size Guide
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    • Live Shows
      • Introduction to Live Showing
      • Attending a Live Show
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      • Recycled Live IV
      • Herefordshire Live 2019
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      • Introduction to Photo Showing
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      • 2019 Photo Shows
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      • Introduction to Postal Shows
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    • Understanding Sections
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    • Where Should My Horse Go?
      • Brands & Finishes
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    • My Own Show Results
      • Section Champions
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      • BMECs Success
      • Chestnut Ridge Customs & Resins
      • Chestnut Ridge Tack
  • Tutorials
    • Customising
      • Generic Colours
        • Airbrushed Grey
        • Airbrushed Bay
        • Bay Blanket Spot
        • Bay Foal
        • Bay Pinto
        • Black
        • Black Pinto
        • Black Leopard Spot
        • Blue Roan
        • Brown
        • Chestnut Pinto
        • Cremello
        • Dun
        • Faded Black
        • Fleabitten Grey (Pencil)
        • Grey (Pastel)
        • Grulla
        • Grulla Pinto Foal
        • Leopard Appaloosa
        • Light Bay
        • Light Palomino
        • Mulberry Grey
        • Palomino Foal
        • Red Roan
        • Roan
        • Silver Dapple
      • Humbrol Colour Forumlas
        • Bay
        • Chestnut
      • Citadel Colour Formulas
      • Sculpting
        • Carving Ears
        • Fairy Horse
        • Feathers
        • Hogged Mane
        • Marwari Ears
        • Pink Unicorn
        • Plaited Mane
        • Wild Mane & Tail
        • 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
  • 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
    • 2019 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
  • 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 IV
      • Herefordshire Live 2019
    • Photo Shows
      • Introduction to Photo Showing
      • Entering a Photo Show
      • Running a Photo Show
      • Gallery of Champions
      • 2019 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
      • Generic Colours
        • Airbrushed Grey
        • Airbrushed Bay
        • Bay Blanket Spot
        • Bay Foal
        • Bay Pinto
        • Black
        • Black Pinto
        • Black Leopard Spot
        • Blue Roan
        • Brown
        • Chestnut Pinto
        • Cremello
        • Dun
        • Faded Black
        • Fleabitten Grey (Pencil)
        • Grey (Pastel)
        • Grulla
        • Grulla Pinto Foal
        • Leopard Appaloosa
        • Light Bay
        • Light Palomino
        • Mulberry Grey
        • Palomino Foal
        • Red Roan
        • Roan
        • Silver Dapple
      • Humbrol Colour Forumlas
        • Bay
        • Chestnut
      • Citadel Colour Formulas
      • Sculpting
        • Carving Ears
        • Fairy Horse
        • Feathers
        • Hogged Mane
        • Marwari Ears
        • Pink Unicorn
        • Plaited Mane
        • Wild Mane & Tail
        • 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
  • 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
    • 2019 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
(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.

Custom Finish

Custom finish model horses are those that have been altered in some way from the original. This may vary from simply repainting the model to extensive remodelling and even the adding of mohair manes and tails.

You may see custom abbreviated to CM (not CF that would mean Copperfox)! You may also see the abbreviation FCM this refers to factory custom models and are usually regarded as original finish as they are still produced in a factory.

Custom models are mass produced models that have been altered or repainted - they should be distinguished from artist resins that although custom painted are not regarded as custom but instead have their own category 'artist resin'.

Most commonly custom models are plastic but you also see customised commercial resins and chinas as well as other finishes such as pewter. If a company has made it usually somewhere an artist has attempted to customise it! A customised commercial resin is not an artist resin, it is simply a custom, no different than if the original had been plastic.

Some shows may choose to split up the custom section. Common splits include repaint (where the model has simply been repainted) and drastic customs (where the model has been dramatically altered from the original). Most show schedules will explain in detail any split but if you are unsure ask the show holder.

Nearly all customs will be signed, there are a few guides online to help you identify signatures if you are not sure who painted your model. As an artist it is important to sign your work so that others know you painted it and the model can be identified as a custom in future.
Picture
A customised Breyer G3 Drafter

Repaints

The most common form of customising a repaint involves simply repainting the original model. Most original finish models can be primed and then painted straight over the original paintwork.

A descent artist will still do a certain amount of prepping and altering of the original model. This will usually involve sanding off the seal (makers mark), filling any holes and sanding down heavy seams to give a smooth finish. Minor work such as carving out ears and hooves and moving the air hole from the mouth to the belly may also be done.

Repainted models may not even be done in paint! Although acrylic paint is a common medium so are pastels, pencils and oils. Each artist will have their own preferred technique and the different mediums can create vastly different effects.
Picture
A repainted Breyer G2 Shetland

Resculpts

Resculpted models will have been altered in some way from the original mould. This could be something really simple such as adding a unicorn horn or a new mane and tail but it could also be something very drastic. Some drastic customs may not even be recognisable from the original!

Good resculpting takes a huge amount of practice but it can completely change even the worst moulds into something beautiful. Being able to rectify the original mould faults is a great skill and is worth its weight in gold as a talent.

Even the simplest of alterations such as a new mane and tail can completely change the look of a mould. It is always interesting to look at resculpts next to the original to see how they have been changed. Some changes can be so minor that unless you put the original mould next to it you wouldn't even know it had been altered.
Picture
A resculpted Breyer G3 Warmblood Jumper to a cob

Rehairing

There was a time when nearly every custom had a mohair mane and tail added but disappointingly for aficionados of the rehair like myself that is sadly no longer the case.

Reharing a model involves adding a synthetic mane and tail, usually out of mohair but occasionally out of other substances. These are then styled to give a realistic finish. A good hairing will have a multi-tonal finish and styling that suits the stance of the model.

Mohaired models are slowly making a come back and more and more artists are having a go at hairing. Often haired models will also have had other resculpting work done (well if you are going to chop off the mane and tail you might as well alter other stuff too).
Picture
A customised Breyer Arabian Mare with unicorn features and a synthetic mane and tail

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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 IV
      • Herefordshire Live 2019
    • Photo Shows
      • Introduction to Photo Showing
      • Entering a Photo Show
      • Running a Photo Show
      • Gallery of Champions
      • 2019 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
      • Generic Colours
        • Airbrushed Grey
        • Airbrushed Bay
        • Bay Blanket Spot
        • Bay Foal
        • Bay Pinto
        • Black
        • Black Pinto
        • Black Leopard Spot
        • Blue Roan
        • Brown
        • Chestnut Pinto
        • Cremello
        • Dun
        • Faded Black
        • Fleabitten Grey (Pencil)
        • Grey (Pastel)
        • Grulla
        • Grulla Pinto Foal
        • Leopard Appaloosa
        • Light Bay
        • Light Palomino
        • Mulberry Grey
        • Palomino Foal
        • Red Roan
        • Roan
        • Silver Dapple
      • Humbrol Colour Forumlas
        • Bay
        • Chestnut
      • Citadel Colour Formulas
      • Sculpting
        • Carving Ears
        • Fairy Horse
        • Feathers
        • Hogged Mane
        • Marwari Ears
        • Pink Unicorn
        • Plaited Mane
        • Wild Mane & Tail
        • 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
  • 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
    • 2019 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