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  • Wild Mane
  • 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
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​catriona@chestnutridge.co.uk

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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.

Marwari Ears

This tutorial was written in 2015. The model used is a commercial resin (they came free with magazines I believe).

This tutorial will show you how to remove a model's ears and replace them with turned in Marwari or Kathiawari style ears.

This is a fun tutorial if you've got a model that you want to look a bit different. If you have a good base to work from you can also do it without removing the ears. I used Amazing Sculpt for the sculpting in this tutorial but any two part epoxy putty will work.


Estimated Cost: ​£30.00​​
Difficulty Level: ​Medium

Shopping List

The Basics

Model Horse
You'll need a model that has Marwari style conformation if you aren't going to completely resculpt.
Dremel
Sculpting Tools (I prefer silicone but metal will work)
​Super Glue
Rubbing Alcohol

If not using a dremel:
Hot Knife
​Hand Drill

Sculpting
​

Wire
Epoxy Putty (e.g. Milliput or Amazing Sculpt)

Prep Work

Picture
Step 1
The first step is to remove the ears. Use a dremel or a hot knife to carefully cut them off.
Now use a dremel or hand drill to drill two small holes where you want the ears to go.
Picture
Step 2
Take two small lengths of wire that are both equal in length.
Stick the wire in the holes and then trim down so they are the same length as the horse's ears would be.
My wire was around 1cm long with most of it in the hole.
Picture
Step 3
Fill each hole with a strong adhesive glue and place the wire in.
Don't worry if they aren't the perfect shape just try to get the right angle for each ear. You may need to hold them whilst the glue starts to set.
​Once your glue is perfectly set you can move on.
Picture
Step 4
​Once they are set use a pair of pliers to gently bend the wire into more of an ear shape. Your horse should now look like a cute little bug.

Sculpting

Picture
Step 5
​
We will now sculpt the actual ears.
An alternative is to sculpt them around the wire on your workbench and then stick them on after. We are going to sculpt on the horse.
Start by making a small cylinder of epoxy putty, this should be just longer than your wire supports.
Push the cylinder gently down over the wire.
Picture
Step 6
Use a flat sculpting tool to smooth the putty onto the horse's head around the bottom of the ear. This will create the join between the head and the ear.
Picture
Step 7
Start to create the basic shape of your ear. Use either your fingers or tools to carefully bend the putty around so that it is curved towards the other ear. Then flatten the front of the ear.
The back of the ear should still be rounded. Smooth this down so it creates a smooth slope al the way from the top of the ear to the head.
Picture
Step 8
Use a sculpting tool to push the putty in the centre of the front of the ear inwards. The shape of the inside of the ear should mirror the contours of the outside. Use two tools to pinch together the sides of the ear and then carefully bend them in front of the hole. This should create a good ear shape.
Picture
Step 9
We will now adapt the ear to give it the characteristic Marwari curve.
Pinch together the top of the ear to create a very pointed triangle and then gently bend it over to create the curve. You may need to extend your inner ear dent upwards to follow the length of your new ear.
Picture
Step 10
Repeat steps 5-9 for the other ear.
Picture
Step 11
Use rubbing alcohol and an old brush to carefully smooth down your putty to a good finish.
Picture
Step 12
Once the putty is dry add some primer and check for any lumps and bumps. You can always use sand paper to lightly sand down if you are unhappy with the finish. Or if you're really unhappy just snap them off, dig out the wire and start again!

Finishing Your Model

You may need to add some new mane around the horse's ears if you've had to remove some for sculpting.

Once you are happy with your horse you can go ahead and paint him!

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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  • 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