I popped a 'troll hair' Shining Armor's head off, and his neck plug is different from the other brushables. There's a tall, curved piece on top of the center 'bump' with a strip of cloth looped over it and going down into the center of the plug. Does this indicate anything else nonstandard about his construction, and is there an alternate method I need to take for tail replacement?

-Tabby
the princess with claws

Last night was not a good night for painting, and I need to share my pain with those who will understand.

As I mentioned briefly forever ago, I got it into my head to do a few Fullmetal Alchemist ponies, starting with my two favorites, Mustang and Hawkeye. I prepped the baits, picked the colors, gave them each half a basecoat (both their heads were being uncooperative so I decided to do them later), and laid down the base for one symbol each (they're both going to have two when I'm done). And then life happened and I didn't touch them for a couple months.

Flashforward to yesterday, and I'm in an I Am Going To Get Something Done mood. Put on the podcasts, get out the paintbrushes, it's time for the fun parts. Except the painting I did last time? Not so great. Roy's pocketwatch is a bit blobby and has a bit of tackiness to it, but it shouldn't be anything a hit of dullcote won't fix (please don't be anything a hit of dullcote won't fix). But Riza's banner is a mess, and I can't possibly proceed with it like this. Some careful scrubbing should get the symbol paint off without destroying the basecoat; I've done it before.  But not this time, apparently. This time some careful scrubbing leaves her banner mostly untouched and tears up the base paint around it so much that it's going to be easier to strip her completely and start over. For what's about the fourth time. To the garage and the acetone it is, and what a trial it is this time because the paint has been sealed and left for a couple months and doesn't want to go anywhere.

I finally get all the base paint off, and as long as I'm in the garage I might as well try to repaint her. I mix up the paint, fire up the airbrush, everything is going pretty smoothly, and then...

You're kidding me. You've got to be kidding me.

Etches and pockmarks all over her plastic. I don't know if it's just the acetone, or if there was another chemical on one of the rags or tools I was using, but her body is ruined. I'm going to have to start all over again with a new pony.

Extra irony: It's worst on her right foreleg, which I could always amputate to turn her base into Ed's. Except that Riza is a pegasus and Ed isn't, and also I'm adamant that this is not going to turn into a sculpting project and Ed's automail and Al's armor will be represented with paint alone.

At least, I try to tell myself, this time her head came out all right. While I'm waiting to get her replacement and get it prepped, I can at least start on her eyes, which are going to take forever anyway. Nope. In better light and after I've put everything away her head paint is spotty and pebbled, and at this point trying to strip and repaint it sounds like a terrible idea.

So much swearing. Soooo much swearing.

But it wasn't a total loss. I sighed, pulled myself back together, and got out the traditional paintbrushes so I could at least get something accomplished.

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It's not great, and it definitely needs some touching-up, but it's recognizable. And I'm going to call that a win.

-Tabby
the princess with claws

She's a "cuddle and carry everywhere" plush, not a display item. Can you imagine how quickly a full-sized mane would deteriorate, and how badly it would get in the way of hugging her?

-Tabby
the princess with claws

Or that in the show she had brought her ponies to visit the magical ponies. I just always wanted some kind of interaction (or even acknowledgement from the characters) there.

That would be creepy. "Hey, guys! I brought your nonspeaking, nonsapient cousins to see you! They live what you would consider a life of slavery!" And if it turns out her horses are self-aware while in Ponyland, that would just raise a whole host of ethical questions.

-Tabby
the princess with claws

Doctor Whooves is hanging out with some of my tiny Doctors (but not all of them)

And with tiny Riza and Winry, I see. Awesome.

-Tabby
the princess with claws

Pop the head off, thread a loop of wire or dental floss through the tail hole into the body so that the loop sticks out of the neck hole, put the tail through the loop, and pull it all out the tail hole so the clamp catches on the inside.

-Tabby
the princess with claws

Ooh, yes, an antique ivory color would probably be perfect! And it would look good next to Roy's body color, since that's also a pretty muted shade. I think that's what I'm gonna go with!

Thank you to everyone who offered suggestions!

-Tabby
the princess with claws