Kotinga Layer 11: Finished

 

Quietly, but with brimming delight, I made the decision Wednesday afternoon the 11th to declare victory.  The eleventh layer, the pure PearlEx one, was the last before the peeling of the tapes.  I was satisfied.  I was also out of time;  a 3-week family trip loomed in mere days (packing) and other demands (taxes) were fast approaching.  Normally I hate deadlines but in this case it was a blessing.

Layer 11 after

 The tapes, put on more than a month ago, could now come off.   The process took  more time and care than I'd thought needful.  A few little spots had turned coppery with the pastel filtering through, but they were easily wiped clean -- that's glossy OF plastic under there.  For contrast, here's a view of Kotinga when they first went on, Janaury 9th:

 Here's the only picture taken 'mid-peel:' 

  

This shot (below) is the one I posted to the FB group.  To quote: "I hadn't originally intended for this to be the first completed glimpse, but it is the first time I saw him finished myself, and in the end I couldn't resist.  The official photo is in the album but this is the one that tells a story."   Official = bridled, album = NaMoPaiMo completion.

 In case you're wondering whether I'm PhotoShopping the color:  Of course I am -- reducing the saturation, amoung other things --!!  My lamps and camera just don't take his real color into account,...

 Here's my traditional shoot spot, out on the back deck railing, Feb. 12th.  This is honestly the first time anyone could go out on deck;  it was snowbound during all 11 of Kotinga's days.

Now at last we can start seeing close ups and faces.  I'd put a swatch of white where I wanted a forelock.  However there was no 3D material there and right now it looks like part of his blaze, a curious but not unknown tobiano effect.  I'd forgotten the tiny 'kissy spot' on his upper lip;  that is genuine Original Finish.

 Switching to indoor photography (a foregone conclusion, it was on-and-off snowing that day), I first documented the end results of his various 'adventures.'  Here's the Amazon scratch.

Offside hip scratch

 This is the final shoulder pit:

Near shoulder

 And this is how the chest area turned out.  I was particularly pleased with the PearlEx here.  The whole area nearly disappeared under that gold and I decided that was beautiful.

 Since this is NaMoPaiMo I want to drop in a word about signing one's model.  (I haven't done Kotinga yet.)  I unfortunately don't know the painter of the original Stone Jingleheimer Schmidt.  I will try to squeeze abbreviations onto his hoof bottoms or somewhere to indicate that that was what he started as;  I can't take all the credit.  Fret not they would wear off;  I tattoo my NaMos with drafting ink.  Signing

Now, of course, I turned to tack.  Oh baby.  Trigger lives.  I care not how corny it must be to hold to an ideal set so long ago, the palomino in a silver saddle chosen because he looked the best on black-&-white TV.  I simply love this horse.  I have tried so hard for him, and here he is.

As it happened there were only 2 silver Parade saddle sets on hand that were good enough for the job.  And one of them wasn't by me--!!   Cary Nelson's so-called Russian set will be seen here, a treat for you patient readers.  (I will get around to blogging about it,... some day...)  The first bridle on him had to be my own TSII #400, built in 1997.  This is the one in the official NMPM finish photo.  Here we can catch just a suggestion of the prism tape colors.

Number 400's browband was too large, and I turned to the Russian.  This portrait came out well:

 The pose I'd had in mind all along, Kotinga wearing only a silver bridle, was a challenge with this piece of tack.  One reason I didn't use this shot for the official one was because I didn't want to be forever explaining about the tail.  The reins are so long that winding the romal through it was the only way to keep them positioned.

 Here's a nice close up.  The bridle is more delicate than TSII #400's, and takes more care to put on; but those throatlatch conchos (along with the rest) really pop.

 Finally, I went ahead and fitted the entire saddle to him.  The puffiness of the corona blanket is quite obvious.  Cary stuffed it thickly on purpose, because real ones are like that.  It's a way to help distribute the weight.  The cinch, hiding behind the fender here, has a little black tassel.

 We will end this stretch of palomino indulgence with a classic view.   (Then I think he should go off on his honeymoon with Sassy...)

My thank you list, in addition to all the usual suspects listed in my previous NaMos, includes Kathy Bogucki who sculpted this fantastic horse.  I have really come to know this model intimately!  Cary Nelson is to be commended for an amazing piece of tack (as well as Christie Partee who let me have it).  Fellow bloggers old and new deserve mention:  Lynn Isenbarger, Anne Field, Melissa Grant, Bobbie Coulter, Teresa Rogers, 'fabala' and Lesli Kathman.  Ryan Morrisey is an unknowing accessory to the crime:  She sold me this horse without any idea I was going to destroy him,.. and then resurrect him.  Erin Michelle of Stone Horses should be on this list, as she was instrumental, though indirectly, in my decisions to attempt him.

Finally, an unending round of applause for the original instigator of NaMoPaiMo, Jennifer Buxton, and those who support it;  and for George my husband.  You have helped my dream come true.