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--

By W.DeBord on Thursday, November 18, 1999 - 08:21 am: Edit

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!

By Panini (Panini) on Thursday, November 18, 1999 - 08:56 am: Edit

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.

By momoreg on Friday, November 19, 1999 - 06:30 am: Edit

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?----------

By philippe on Tuesday, December 07, 1999 - 03:51 pm: Edit

Hello,

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

Spam Deleted

By momoreg on Tuesday, December 07, 1999 - 10:55 pm: Edit

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------------

By W.DeBord on Wednesday, December 08, 1999 - 08:20 am: Edit

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.