Custom Model Horses

YouTube is your friend. There are so many videos out there on how to approach this art form (and also all the others quite frankly!). Research, research, research!

Some people paint horses with pastels, fixing each layer with Testor's Dullcote, and then adding on. I think the people that have perfected this technique create the most beautiful horses, but I found it to be very tedious. My favorite approach was to use fine liquid acrylic paint in a spray gun and paint the details with acrylic paint. Even with the finest paint though, my spray gun would often become clogged. But when it worked, it worked well. 

Find yourself some models that have little worth because of scratches or rubs, and work on those. I tried to keep the cost per model down by buying larger lots on ebay. Then I had many to practice on. You can also look in your local consignment tack store. They sometimes sell Breyers on consignment. (You can also find some real treasures there! Make sure you are not sitting on a treasure before you start tinkering with it - some old models are valuable!)

If the model has bent legs you can often straighten them by soaking the legs in hot water and gently bending them back to where they should be. If you need to reattach legs, epoxy sculpt was recommended. It works well for me and can be sanded down after it hardens.

I saw some videos that recommended soaking the model to remove the paint. I found it much easier to spray paint the models white and start from there. I used Rustoleum 2X Ultracover Primer in flat white that I purchased off Amazon. 

There are all sorts of clubs and even part of the Breyerfest festival that happens each year that is dedicated to customizing Breyers. Don't be afraid to experiment and have fun!