I have been asked to do a showpiece for an
enormous annual Christmas event, and this year,
they've requested an English horse stable in
gingerbread. I always have trouble making
standing figures, and don't know what medium would
work best for a horse. It seems that all media
either don't set completely, or they set too fast
to give me time to work on the details. Anybody
have any helpful hints? Thanks.
Michelle--

You don't want to do the whole thing in gingerbread? I would for a Christmas display, since that would be easiest and traditional.

The only other media I would use would be purchased chocolate plastic for 3D items. It hardens like a rock. You can mix white and dark together to custom shade tone. You don't have to work too fast either. You can also add food coloring to the white choc. for a limitless range of color.

When I've been tight for time or I want to make something very difficult in shape I use cardboard as my base in place of gingerbread. Once you frost over it, no one knows what's under it!

monoreg,
good ideas from W.DeBord. if your figures are very large ie horses,dogs etc. i use two part resin molds you mix youself. available in the industry or from the hardware store for replicating moldings. 5&10 cents stores for cheap figures. plastic shoe boxes, figures,fill, cut and your off. littli costly but really cuts down in the detailing. i use3 rolled fondant or chocolate.chocolate may have a funky look that i usually respray in cocoa.
have fun with it!!chao panini
ps i usually use wire hanger cores with the rolled fondant if you have to do mulyiples.
they also paint very well. color and alcohol.

Apparently, my post from last night didn't get
here, so may I again thank you both for your
advice. I was considering modelling chocolate,
but wasn't sure if the legs would set hard enough
to support the body of the horse. Now that you
say it will set rock hard, I guess I have no
worries, but just to be safe, I CAN use wire
hangers for shaping, etc. I should be starting
this piece after Thanksgiving. Is anyone doing
anything new or fun at work for the
holidays?----------

Hello,

I'm new here..I come from Belgium and I sell molds, machines and packaging for chocolate makers.

Spam Deleted

The stable and horses came out great!! The client
liked it a lot. Thanks for the advice. I did
make the horses out of modelling chocolate, and
they looked fab.
Mich------------

Wish I could see it! I use modeling chocolate all the time it's a great product. I used it to make a mouse for my gingerbread display this year. It's so realistic even the bartenders took photos...HA.