Performance Props Tutorials: Logs Obstacle

This simple tutorial today is on creating model horse scale Logs obstacle for Trail Competitions.

First thing you need to do is find some very straight sticks that are roughly 1/2" in the diameter. Next, you need to measure the length with your longest walking model in whatever scale you prefer (mine is Wintersong - he really liked this project). Make sure that the pair of sticks are a little bit longer than the model on both ends.

Now, you need to cut the walking-over-logs. The width of the obstacle should be approximately two horses wide. Cut 6 of those and arrange them with even spacing. Make sure that the model's hooves have the right amount of space to move freely as if he were a real horse. Mark on both parallel logs the placing of the width logs with a pencil or marker.

Now you need a file that is round or has a rounded side. You would be using this for getting the indentation started before you use a rotary grinder dremel bit to make them deeper. These indentations are where the width logs are going to sit.

You could do this if you want to, but I wanted to make the raw cuts look like they'd been out in the weather all its life. I used a mixture of grey and earth brown paint, watered down to create a wash.

Careful, the paint gets everywhere. So, make sure that the logs are sitting on something that would protect your table.

And the end results!

(Quite a difference between these two. Wintersong is so gentle and patient, to Speck's Peanut's determined behavior to get to the lady off-camera who is unknowingly holding a bag of his favorite treat: Apples! Speck's Peanut would be up for sale after Labor Day).

(These were among my performance entries for Virtual Breyerfest this year. Neither placed, but it was fun to make!)