Chopping up Ponies

[DumansArk]

There is such a thing as a Model Horse Hobby, where people collect plastic or resin horses. They show them in classes that mimic real horse shows. Competition in the plastic arenas can get just as fierce as it gets in real horse showing too.
Some people repaint their horses. Some people make tiny little accurate tack and riders. And some people like to cut their horses up.
It's called Customizing. With that preamble out of the way, this is a commission, to make this Breyer Model Proud Arab Mare into an Arabian gelding.

Plastic Surgery, anyone?

The mouth is heated and opened to allow room for my fingers to shape little teeth, a tongue, and gums.

However, after looking through my reference photos of the real life horse, I found a pose that I really liked and his mouth is closed. No worries. TAPE!

__________ Wed Dec 03, 2014 7:25 pm __________

The Mummy Horse may work for a future creepy Halloween sculpture, hmmm.

__________ Wed Dec 03, 2014 7:30 pm __________

Now we get to the hard part.
The eyes.

Make them too big, they look weird. Make them too small, the face just isn't right.

And my problem with this model... I think I made the eyes sit more "in front" of the head, instead of the sides of the face.

Yep. They need to be dropped down and slid over a bit. Going to have to Dremel them off and start over. Shucks!

 

[CochinBrahmaLover]

Woah.


You'll have to update on this!!!

Looks good.

 

[DumansArk]

Thanks CBL I can't wait until I get to the part where I post the IT'S FINISHED photos!! =D

 

[CochinBrahmaLover]

Ooh yay you added pics!

It really looks great. I wish I had that talent it looks good so far!

 

[JenerationX]

I'm liking the flare of the nostrils and the indent on the upper lip so far.

 

[DumansArk]

Thanks JenerationX! I like the lip too.

 

[akane]

Hmm... Can you do repairs? My fox trotter fell off the display shelf and broke the leg at the top of the sock with the bottom tail piece getting lost. It's missing the chunk of tail below the connection point in this picture and the leg was glued back on.

http://www.identifyyourbreyer.com/images/00945.jpg

The tail wouldn't have to be restored but put in to some shape that isn't obvious damage and painted.

If I went and got my truly old models out I could keep someone very busy and well paid. :lol: I have some stuff like the first style model of the texas longhorn bull mold in 1961. 1968 charcoal running stallion which I just found listed on ebay for $190 right now but mine is far from mint condition. 2 generations of children playing with them so there's some scrapes and the occasional leg repair in the ~1960-1990 models until my sister and I got old enough to be collecting them instead.

 

[EnglishSpot]

This is really cool! I hadn't known Breyer models had a second life beyond a shelf!! You do a great job and are a sculptor of miniature!!!

 

[Featherhoof]

What you are doing is super cool.

 

[DumansArk]

Hmm... Can you do repairs? My fox trotter fell off the display shelf and broke the leg at the top of the sock with the bottom tail piece getting lost. It's missing the chunk of tail below the connection point in this picture and the leg was glued back on.

http://www.identifyyourbreyer.com/images/00945.jpg

The tail wouldn't have to be restored but put in to some shape that isn't obvious damage and painted.

If I went and got my truly old models out I could keep someone very busy and well paid. :lol: I have some stuff like the first style model of the texas longhorn bull mold in 1961. 1968 charcoal running stallion which I just found listed on ebay for $190 right now but mine is far from mint condition. 2 generations of children playing with them so there's some scrapes and the occasional leg repair in the ~1960-1990 models until my sister and I got old enough to be collecting them instead.

Ooooh I love talking to other Breyer collectors! I love RT. So many people, so many shared interests!

Aww Akane, I am so sorry about your Trotter taking a dive off the shelf What a pretty model that one is.

With the advent of the Internet, sharing tips and tricks for fixing plastic ponies shot the Restoration business in the foot. With so many people learning how to "DIY", prices for fixing ponies dropped. Good for the consumer, not so good for artists. Shipping costs are the killer though. And at the end of the day after inserting hidden support wires, resculpting missing parts, matching paints -- often times you can still spot the repair.

Although I love to work on Breyers, I found I can't compete with the low fees the kids can charge. Yes, kids. Teens with an incredible skill set and no overhead costs. I used to be one of them (And there is always the fear element of a client's model falling and breaking at *my* house - I have a story about my Breyer Mentor's one-eyed-cat knocking a SOLD $300 piece into shards.) But!! If you have the interest, fixing up a broken model is more labor intensive than it is difficult; Breyer even offers photos and descriptions on repairing broken models at home now. It looks a little scary but is really is a lot of fun. Start on a model you WON'T miss, practice to your heart's content.

And you can always make them into something new

 

[JenerationX]

I have old ones... 80s and 90s. I've got the Black Stallion set (3 horses from The Black Stallion Returns), and the USET set with Might Tango, Jet Run, and Keen... those are my favorites. Plus a few singles. Oh and Legionario III and Man O War... and... ok, yeah.. I had a Breyer problem.

 

[Zass]

This is all super cool. I had no idea people showed their collector horses. :shock:

I'd always wondered why the things were so pricy, even at yard sales.

 

[Phacelia]

Oh my gosh, that burro is adorable!

How cool is this? I had no idea this sort of thing was going on. Learn something new every day.

This is something I could totally get into. When I was a kid I decided to re-paint all my toy horses and My Little Ponies. Let's just say the end result was nothing like your creations.

Definitely want to see your Arabian when it's finished. Are you just using regular modeling clay?

 

[MamaSheepdog]

You are just so-o-o talented, Duman! You never cease to amaze me!

I can't wait to see the finished work of art!

Fellow RT'ers- you should visit Duman's Etsy store- she has some adorable things for sale, at insanely low prices. I keep telling her she is selling herself short, but will she listen?

Sadly, no.

So, QUICK! Go buy something before she comes to her senses! :twisted:

 

[DumansArk]

I have old ones... 80s and 90s. I've got the Black Stallion set (3 horses from The Black Stallion Returns), and the USET set with Might Tango, Jet Run, and Keen... those are my favorites. Plus a few singles. Oh and Legionario III and Man O War... and... ok, yeah.. I had a Breyer problem.

Have you seen the Eggs are Sides?

I was thinking of that when I began to write: There is no such thing as "Breyer Problems", only Breyer Solutions... And Solutions... Andalusians?
I am happy to report that there are only Breyer Andalusians :lol:

__________ Sat Dec 06, 2014 12:47 am __________

This is all super cool. I had no idea people showed their collector horses. :shock:

I'd always wondered why the things were so pricy, even at yard sales.

If you ever want to see KRAZY, search Breyerfest. It's beyond a hobby at that point, I think. But keep wondering why they are pricy at yard sales. The first thing you're told getting into the hobby is to beware of inflated models at yardsales & antique stores. Breyers only fetch good prices if they are incredibly rare, or in incredible condition. Broken tails, broken legs, broken ears? Kiss the value good by. Scratches, rubs, paint peeling? Most models are go for about $10 each if they are entirely intact. Otherwise, they go to the Body Box. Body Boxes are a big hit at shows. All the beat up ponies you could want, as long as you don't mind repairing them. Most of these end up going in lots for $1 a piece.

__________ Sat Dec 06, 2014 12:52 am __________

Oh my gosh, that burro is adorable!

How cool is this? I had no idea this sort of thing was going on. Learn something new every day.

This is something I could totally get into. When I was a kid I decided to re-paint all my toy horses and My Little Ponies. Let's just say the end result was nothing like your creations.

Definitely want to see your Arabian when it's finished. Are you just using regular modeling clay?

Ha! Are anyone's childhood "beautician attempts" ever good? I had some damaged little My Little Ponies too!
I use Magic Sculpt artist's epoxy. It's fantastic stuff, and finishes as smooth as glass or as textured as a pine tree; all up to you and how much you want to work it. The only downside is the limited work time (once you mix part A and B, the clock is ticking on how fast it cures into the equivalent of rock) and the mess. It's some sticky, gummy stuff sometimes. <br /><br /> __________ Sat Dec 06, 2014 12:59 am __________ <br /><br />

You are just so-o-o talented, Duman! You never cease to amaze me!

I can't wait to see the finished work of art!

Fellow RT'ers- you should visit Duman's Etsy store- she has some adorable things for sale, at insanely low prices. I keep telling her she is selling herself short, but will she listen?

Sadly, no.

So, QUICK! Go buy something before she comes to her senses! :twisted:

:giraffe:
I try to find the perfect smilies, but I often get side tracked with ones as adorable as this. Was it the one I was looking for? NO, but it will do! THANKS MSD!

 

[Honorine]

This is neat, I still have some of my Breyers horses from my childhood- and one of them is the Arabian Mare above in Alabaster.

 

[JenerationX]

I am happy to report that there are only Breyer Andalusians

:lol: Works for me.....

I've had my family tell me many, many times that maybe I should sell them and make some money. You see them at garage sales way over priced, but realistically anyone who knows Breyers isn't going to be paying more than $10 each in near mint condition. Some of mine have love scuffs... and they're worth more to me in sentimental value than I'd get for them.

 

[DumansArk]

This is neat, I still have some of my Breyers horses from my childhood- and one of them is the Arabian Mare above in Alabaster.

The Alabaster Proud Mare is a lovely model, Honorine!

I am happy to report that there are only Breyer Andalusians

:lol: Works for me.....

I've had my family tell me many, many times that maybe I should sell them and make some money. You see them at garage sales way over priced, but realistically anyone who knows Breyers isn't going to be paying more than $10 each in near mint condition. Some of mine have love scuffs... and they're worth more to me in sentimental value than I'd get for them.

You nailed it: it's like anything else. Money is money, it's true, but an item that reminds you of cherished memories... sometimes it just isn't worth selling. I have sold off a good chunk of my Breyers. I always felt disgruntled at the resale price when I did keep many models in their boxes, in their leg zip tie straps. I decided if I wasn't going to make anything on them either, way, then I might as well enjoy them on a shelf. Yes they get dust that will never quite leave the crevices in their manes. Yes they fall. But the ones I have left make me happy to look at.
And when they break I have other uses for them :twisted:

Ironically, people who don't know the hobby aren't stuffy and zealous about checking over rubs, and sticky wax mars when you give them away as a gift. Some of them recognize the name and they see this "antique" toy and they take it on as a collector piece. I don't walk away and regret that I parted with those.