Help making saddle

[Prosedragon]

Good day everyone,

 

The rest of my Christmas present came in, and so Saturday morning when I get home I will begin working on my wolf lord on thunderwolf mount. I have two questions. First, the figure will require a fair amount of sculpting, which I have no talent for-does anyone know of a matrix-like program that I could download, so I could come up with a proffessional looking figure with no actual talent?

 

Second, how could I go about making a saddle for the thing in the woods from the mordheim range? I don't really even know the different parts of a saddle or what they do, so for instance, the bit that fits in the horse's/ferocious bloodthirsting wolf's mouth, what does that do? Is it necessary for a marine riding a wolf? Howcan I model that or something similar so the wolf could still bite? What all straps and such are going to be necessary, which maybe not so much given that it's a superhuman warrior riding a wolf? Any other general modeling suggestions?

 

I'm out of town right now, but I'm hoping that with your help I can hit the ground running and get this bad boy substantially finished before school starts Monday.

[Grey Mage]

The part in its mouth isnt part of the saddle- its part of the reins, and its called a "bit". The animal is told what to do by the tug of the metal bar in its mouth, wich is connected to leather straps "reins" that are gently pulled on by the rider.

 

The saddle itself can vary wildly, but all have a couple things in common-

Girth Strap- this is a band that goes under the belly of the creature to hold the saddle tight to them so the rider wont fall off.

Saddle Back- this is the peice of material, usually leather, that you sit on.

 

Most also have a raised front peice, called a pommel or saddle horn that gives you some extra purchase and allows you a place to hold on to.

Other common additions include a stirrups, especially one fighting saddles, and chest peices that help further secure the saddle to the animal.

 

If you need to good set if diagrams you should probly google "western riding saddles", youlll get some decent pictures.

[Lumdin]

I thought the marines had a power cord that plugs into the wolf's tail for the mind link.

 

So no reins needed.

 

 

:cuss

 

yea saw avatar last weekend.

[Tybrus]

Grey already gave you a good answer to the parts. As for the bit, for a Horse YES, for a Wolf NO. Wolves would have helms more like War Dogs, and are more of a Helm then a true bit. They would cover the right and left side of the muzzle with a ring or connection pint at the bottom (Near the front lower Teeth of the Wolf) where the Reins hook up. Then the wolf can open its mouth (Nothing under its "chin" but the reins can still give direction.) Also remember that these Wolves are very "smart" at least as smart as a Wolf here. I have raised Wolf Hybrids and they are SUPER SMART. I had one that could open doors with his Paws by hitting the nob with one paw going up and one down to turn it. So verbal commands could also be used. The Saddle is really only there to help the rider hold on when fighting , and to carry stuff. Think light, small controls(reins) if any as the wolf will more then likly be highly trained (Look up what a trained warhorse could do and then times that by like 10) so really all you need is something to keep the Marine in place as he Fights.

 

I have even thought about for some of mine having no Saddle or reins at all, and letting the riders ride Bareback, Much like some Natiave American Nations did in the past.

[Grey Mage]

Well bare-back PA would probly chaffe a bit I think.... *shrugs* dunno, its all fantasy anyways.

 

But thats a really good idea on the helms instead, as frankly a wolf in a combat situation is going to want to bite, and Im sure that a bit would seriously hamper that.

[Lumdin]

Does the Canis model even have reins?

 

I know he has both hands full with weapons.

[Grey Mage]

Yes, his reins are tied off on the sadle, and the bit is a soft bit *wich basicly just means its flexable* as its a actually a chain from the look of it.

[Prosedragon]

Thanks for the responses guys. What I gathered from the discussion was that a bit wouldn't really be needed, as I don't think I could sculpt a helmet on the thing in the woods (or anything for that matter), and the idea of an actual bit would be silly, as I want him to be able to bite. I think y'all are right, between voice cues and other potential forms of guidance that should be enough.

 

Down to a technical level, can anyone think of anything to make the saddle-making process easier? My current though was get a ball of GS, slightly oblong, then smush it with an appropriate sized ball. I think it would then get something similar to the right shape for the saddle. Then let it dry a little while, press the legs onto it so itll fit more naturally, and be done. I think I need a pomel as well, because a wolf going break neck speed would probably be hard to hang on to.

 

I have some thin polistyrene strips that I think I can make work for straps and the tops of the stirrups, so I think I can fudge the rest of that whole assembly with stuff around the house.

 

Does the above brief rundown sound workable? I'd really appreciate any comments or criticism.

 

As to riding bareback - ive seen them done that way and they look fine, but it would bother me. Every time I looked at it I'd wonder how he doesn't just slip off.

[Grey Mage]

You ever had a pringles chip?

 

You want the saddle to be about the same shape as that, to craddle the pelvis... in a position the pelvis really wasnt designed to accomade for long periods.