Custom Mini Model Horses

New Stablemate molds are popping out of the Breyer factory faster than ever. Darley is an Egyptian Arabian Stallion sculpted by Tabitha Pack that debuted as the sixth 2018 Stablemate Club model. He has a beautiful head. His pose is a little odd with one front leg tucked way up and his tail is a bit wing-like, but he has loads of customizing potential. Breyer Darley by Tabitha Pack 2018 Darwin, or "Mini Dundee" is the new Stablemate mold from the 2018 Priemer Club. Sculpted by Kelly Sealey , he is a chunky boy performing the Pesade, a movement where the horse rears to a 45 degree angle and holds still. He will make a great Lipizzaner, Fjord, or pony. He'll be a 2019 Breyerfest Single-Day ticket horse.

I'm excited to have some handsome sport breed molds in my body box of Breyer Stablemates. My show string is always a little light when it comes to the thoroughbred class—but not when I finish up these new molds! Walking Thoroughbred (L) sculpted by Heather Puleo and Warmblood Stallion (R), a Kristina Francis sculpt with a re-sculpted mane and tail. (info from Identify Your Breyer ) Both models boast gobs of details, beautiful muscles, and long tails. The manes are on the shorter side and easy to remove, but the forelocks wrap over one eye to make room for the horns. (The forelocks are easier to remove than some.) The Thoroughbred tail is super for heating up and bending into a swishing tail. The Warmblood tail gave me a little trouble when I tried to remove it... the tail was sturdier than the leg (oops!) Technically, the thoroughbred is a stallion and the warmblood is a mare, but I feel that the warmblood has a wonderful, cresty neck and a nice...

Most days when I start a new custom mini model, I get out my saw and cut off the tail and Dremel off the mane with the intent of sculpting new hair from scratch—but upon closer inspection, I’ve noticed that it isn’t that the original tails are all terrible, it’s just that I’m tired of seeing them on that particular model. My first tail swaps began with Valegro’s tail. Here it is on a TWH: And again on Mirado, but rotated: I thought I’d share a little bit about my process for those of you who want to experiment. If you are keeping the mane (and it isn’t braided) find a tail that matches in sculpting style. For example, the G3 Peruvian Paso and the G4 Driving Horse (now sometimes called the Walking Warmblood) both have hair with many detailed sections—a perfect Jane Lunger match! Carefully cut the tails off of both models with a small saw, always being mindful of your fingers and using a vice to hold the towel-wrapped model if possible.  When the tails are of...

This little mule sports a roached mane and a bell tail—both made with soft hair. I think I might’ve started with Native Dancer (my favorite G1 mold). He’s been airbrushed and sprayed with Krylon. He was painted on my patio in San Diego where the weather was almost-always perfect for airbrushing outside. Vintage CM Native Dancer to mule custom mini by Sarah Tregay from late 1990’s

Another chestnut model... I might have been working on a theme. This is a G1 draft horse with some customizing. I would have heated up his little legs with a paint-removing gun—which was very hot and impossible to aim because it had a wide opening like a hair drier. His mane, tail and feathers are sculpted from Gapoxio (which got a bit lumpy and awkward in some places). He has a peg in one hoof and painted-on shoes. Vintage G1 Draft mini custom by Sarah Tregay from the late 1990’s

I use masking tape to keep my white socks clean. Blue, green or just the plain kind all work. I rip the sections of tape off so my markings have irregular edges, not scissor-straight ones. It can take several small pieces to get the shape I want. Then I cover the leg and hoof with tape and trim off extra. This gives me a finger-hold while I'm pastelling. After my final pastel and spray has dried, I peel off the tape. Then I sand the pastel-primer edge with fine (320 grit) sandpaper to remove the line. Then I'm ready to paint the marking with acrylics.

Model Equine Photo Showers Association Contest: If you are looking to help a good cause, you may be interested in the MEPSA contest. The mini custom contest can be any model. The entries are due March 15, 2019. Winners will be selected by majority vote on MEPSA’s blog. Your model will become  property of MEPSA and will support the organization. There is no entry fee, you simply provide your own model. http://mepsa1.tripod.com/pages/contests/index.html Aves Studio 1K Give Away: If you sculpt with Aves Studio products such as FixIt Sculpt or Apoxie Sculpt you can enter a photo of your work on Instagram to win a prize pack of Aves Studio goodies. Please note that you must be 18. Deadline is January 11, 2019. Be sure to read the details: https://www.facebook.com/Avesstudio/ National Model Painting Month: Looking for a little nudge to finish painting a model? Join Braymere Custom Saddlery and the hobby community as you work on a model this February with NaMoPaiMo. The Facebook gr...

My little trail scene Trina Houser hosted a lovely show for models classic size and smaller earlier this month. The custom mini division was small but fierce—the first snowfall of the year made travel difficult and a few showers didn't make the trek. Karen Zorn brought out her collection of beautiful mini Alborozos: Dapple Gray Andalusian Buckskin Mustang Grulla Criollo in pinto And with an Appaloosa blanket pattern Bows were the in thing: Clydesdale or Shire Suffolk Punch A pony by Karen Zorn A few Djangos in color: Georgian Grande   And an Appaloosa Cross