diff --git a/lib/models/make.js b/lib/models/make.js
index <HASH>..<HASH> 100644
--- a/lib/models/make.js
+++ b/lib/models/make.js
@@ -53,9 +53,7 @@ module.exports = function( environment, mongoInstance ) {
     },
     thumbnail: {
       type: String,
-      es_indexed: true,
-      required: true,
-      validate: validate( "isUrl" )
+      es_indexed: true
     },
     author: {
       type: String,
[#<I>] Thumbnail no longer required.