Breyer Models - Step 1 - Buying

As part of my Third Year self-directed project, I have decided to try my hand at customising Breyer Model Horses. I will add to this blog write-ups and photos of my progress, including priming, painting, decorating bases and adding details. Using my DSLR camera I will take photos of them against plain backgrounds during the painting process, and once they are finished I will take photos of them in outdoor scenes. Usually I would take time to edit photos but in this case they are simply to document my progress. For the final photographs I will take much more time and care.

A quick overview on the models from the official Breyer website:

"Breyer model horses, which begin as artist’s sculptures, are handcrafted and hand-painted with airbrushes and paintbrushes – a process which is still done by human hands, not machines. Even today, no two Breyer models are ever exactly alike! Every Breyer model is an authentic horse breed, from its bone and muscle structure to its personality, color and marking. Sketches help determine the model’s correct composition."

There are also different model sizes:

Traditional Series 1/9th Scale Approximately 30cm L x 23cm H

The Largest and most popular Breyer model size available. Traditional Series models are for play, collecting, showing and more. They are packaged in window boxes.

Classics Series 1/12th Scale Approximately 23cm L x 16cm H

Classics are designed to appeal to junior collectors with a variety of breeds, complemented by accessories, and action figures.

Stablemates Series 1/32nd Scale Approximately 10cm L x 8cm H

Stablemates are just as detailed and authentic as all Breyer Models. Stablemates horses, rider sets, horse and foal sets, play sets and accessories provide hours of play for the young horse enthusiast.

Mini Whinnies Series 1/64th Scale Approximately 4cm L x 4cm H

You're in for a surprise each time you open one of these Mini Whinnies Surprise packs! There are 18 different horses to collect, including the special golden "Treasure" horse! This item ships blind, meaning you cannot choose which surprise model you'll get!

I used to collect these Traditional and Classic models when I was younger, however I didn't want to customise my own models first, in case they went badly! So I searched the internet and found a couple of cheap models - they were cheap because they all had things wrong with them.

First of all I bought this Classic model of a Saddle Club horse called Starlight, a Buckskin variant of the Flash mold - from eBay. This horse was actually in fairly good condition except for some scuffs on his ears. He has some lovely angles and a fun shape, I have a feeling I might paint him differently to all the others...

The next model I purchased was also from eBay. This model is called Secretariat. The mold was sculpted by Susan Carlton Sifton and is Breyer mold #586. There are over 43 official variations of this mold, this does not include custom models. The Secretariat variant described as being "chestnut, slightly darker chestnut mane and tail, shaded muzzle, hind stockings, off fore sock, brown soil base."

I managed to get him at a lower prince than others for sale as he is quite scuffed around the face, and as this one was missing it's base. I thought that this would allow me to create my own base, either out of clay or wood. However, when speaking to a model painter, she informed me that you could contact the company and they would send out the base you need for free! At the time of writing this, I am waiting for mine to arrive! I made a temporary base out of air dry modelling clay so that I could photograph him while I waited for the proper base.

This model is based off of a racehorse, and some official variants are also painted to look like a real race horse. I shall have to make a decision as to whether I paint him to look like a real race horse or whether I make him look unique. Photographing him outside shall be quite fun as I can experiment with making him look like his is really running.

The next horse I bought was one I found on the Facebook 'Buy and Sell' from Taunton. I fell in love with this mold, tried to win one on eBay but did not succeed. The one I found on Facebook was perfect as he was in what they call 'body condition'. This means that the model is not suitable for collecting as it has either been damaged, sanded down, primed or cut up. This particular one had been sanded.

The mold was sculpted by Kitty Cantrell and is Breyer mold Lonesome Glory #572. There are 55 official variations. From the remaining paint left on the model I pour chased, I can only assume that this was the Akhal-Teke 2007 Limited Edition Golden Buckskin variant, due to the visible dark mane and tail, the dark muzzle and legs, and the bronze body colour.

One of the variants of this horse, known as Zenyatta, also comes with a foal or a colt. Down the line I might look at purchasing one of these models as this would make a lovely pair. I can then research genetics for breeding colours so that they can remain realistic.

- Nikon D200