HOME | DD

Custom MLP Tutorial 1 — Description
This is tutorial #1: Prepping. For this tutorial I am showing how I made my Baby Moogle pony.

This is just how I do things- some people will find using different tools or methods works well for them as well. So, just use this as a guideline. Parental supervision may be required!

**************

1. Set out the things you will need for the prep work. You will need a pony (here I have a G3 baby), An X-Acto knife, Needle-nose pliers and/or hemostats (I use both), q-tips, scissors, and Acetone. Other things you should have on hand is an old towel/something to cover the surface you are working on (not pictured), surgical gloves (also not pictured), and a well ventilated area. Also, sometimes I use a respirator since Acetone isn't the best to breathe in. And of course, if you are younger, please have adult supervision if need be.

2. Give your pony a lovely new mow-hawk haircut!! Some people keep this hair but I threw this hair away since it was rather beat up. Try to cut as close to the head as you can, it will make yanking it out easier.

3. (Note: generally I wear gloves while doing this step and I recommend you to do so as well!) In a well ventilated area (and if needed, wearing a respirator) use acetone (I bought mine at the hardware store) to remove all paint from your pony. Do NOT get this stuff on you, your clothes, your kitchen counter, or really anything. I am using q-tips on this one but I also sometimes use paper towels or cotton swabs.

4. LOL BLANK FLANK! Your pony is ready for its "pony spa!"

5. Prepare your "pony spa!" (aka, boil some water. Sometimes I add a few drops of soap if the pony is dirty to help clean it).

6. Once you start getting bubbles in the water, drop your pony in. Let her sit there for awhile to loosen the plastic (I generally let them sit anywhere from 5-10 minutes, but be sure to keep an eye on it so all the water doesn't evaporate).

7. CAREFULLY remove your pony from the boiling water. I am using some old pliers to do so, but hemostats work fine, as to tongs. (Note: I have burnt myself several times doing this so be careful!)

8. Using an X-acto knife or similar razor blade, carefully remove the head from the pony. Some ponies are nice and with some pulling the head will come off. This pony I had issues with and was very glued onto its body- and had to end up cutting the neck ring off as well. Since I was planning on gluing the head back on the pony, it wasn't a big deal. As always, be careful and be sure to put away from yourself!

9. Using pliers or hemostats, remove your ponies tail through the neck hole. Most ponies also have metal washers inside with the tail, be sure to remove this as well.

10. Boil the pony's head for a few minutes to continue to loosen the plastic and the glue inside the pony's head.

11. Carefully remove the head from the water. See that purple hair covered in glue on the inside? Thats what you want to remove. So take your pliers or hemostats and remove all the glue and hair from inside the pony until you pony is completely bald.

12. And heres the bald pony! She's now officially ready for the fun part of sculpting and painting!

More tutorials to come soon!

Please be sure to check out my gallery for my custom ponies and other toys. Comments and faves appreciated!