Last Christmas, I wanted to build a Polar Express layout similar to the TW trainworx Polar Express layout. One of the items that I spent a lot of time trying to figure out was how to model the flying reindeer.
I decided to try Hallmark reindeer ornaments from 1992. They originally pulled a small sleigh with santa, but I replaced that with the Hallmark PE santa and sleigh ornament. The scale of the deer could have been smaller, but it is OK.
Once I had the deer ornaments, I realized I could remove and straighten out the brass wire that had connected the deer together with a hook and loop. The straitened wire was then inserted into the front and back of each ornament to connect the deer. I crushed the ends of wire to make small impressions so the glue could bend better. I used crazy glue, but epoxy would probably be better.
To attach the deer to the sled I found a plastic sprue that was T shaped. I drilled a hole to receive the brass wire and glued it to the bottom of the sleigh. Probably the ideal place for Bondic adhesive.
The entire assembly is very fragile, so I connected 3 Strings to the deer ornaments to provide support. One at the sleigh eye hook and 2nd and last set of deer. I then removed the other eye hooks not used. One big warning, the cats are drawn to this like milk. It has been repaired, chewed, swatted at, etc.
I removed hero boy from santa's lap on the sleigh. That part was extremely difficult and I probably would not do that again. In the process I broke a sleigh runner and had to touch up a lot of paint on Santa.
Shining a small light up on the assembly really ads to the look of the layout. The Christmas tree with santa flying around it is one of my favorite parts of our PE layout. Beside the trains of course!
~Bill
