LENHAM POTTERY MODELS
making high-fired semi-porcelain models since 1969
Seven steps to the Shire Horse Model: Step One

This is
Step One:
the armature

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page :

Step Two:
modelling

 

Step Three:
intermediate
mouldmaking

 

Step Four:
making the
rubber model

 

Step Five:
plaster
production
mouldmaking

 

Step Six:
slip casting

 

Step Seven:
fettling and finishing

 

Making the Armature, Page Three of Three.

The wire armature is padded and bound with string.

The leg wires have now been wrapped around with soft cotton cloth, and bound with cotton string. The hip and shoulder joints were wired and glued to a piece of wood to prevent movement. Then the body was bulked out with scraps of expanded polystyrene. All this was bound with cloth and the cloth tied in place with string. This gives something for the plaster to grip onto, see below.
The padded armature in covered in finishing plaster. Plasterer's finishing plaster from a building materials supplier, (not potter's casting plaster which goes off too quickly) was used to cover the padding. The plaster must finish 3 mm smaller than the drawn outline to allow for possible modifications when putting on the modelling material.

The next page is Step Two, checking the modelling against the outline.