It's happened to all of us at one time or another. While we proudly survey our Breyer collection of Midnight Suns, Might Tangos and Black Stallions, there's always one model that looks like it belongs in your little cousin's toybox instead of on a collector's shelf. Or you buy a package deal of Adios, Yellow Mount...and a funny-looking pony that you just can't (or don't want to) make room for. Maybe even that old tipsy Pacer has one too many scratches or Misty has broken her foreleg too often. We may even feel very guilty for wanting to get rid of one of our "herd", but there it is-we can't even stand looking at them. Since there's no such thing as a model slaughterhouse (I would have said auction, but that's just it-there is!), what can you do with a model you just can't keep?
1. Sales
The most obvious thing to do with an "unkeepable" model is to sell it. Unfortunately, unless you got it for free, you are not going to be able to get back the money you paid for it. Keep in mind that I mean the broken-legged Misty or the scratched Pacer-if it's an ugly Woodgrain that you're getting rid of, then you'll have a lineup of takers! I'm going to deal mainly with the "corpse" models, not the "I'm-so-sick-of-looking-at-my-FAS" sale model. It's not too difficult to sell a model like that that's in good condition.
But what about the "corpses"? (Sorry for the choice of words-but it sounds appropriate!) You'd be surprised at how well they really sell-if all you want to do is get rid of them! Even the Just About Horses magazine classifieds are filled with "Looking for your unwanted models-broken OK if have pieces". It's the next line that gives us all a kick in the gut, isn't it? "Free or up to $5, ppd". By now, most of us are rolling on the floor laughing. Let's just face reality, shall we? We're only human. And the thought of giving away a model, broken or not, that we paid $50 for....need I say more?!
Put a "corpse" on your saleslist, and almost always, you will have a taker. There's always some ambitious remaker or some bleeding-heart Breyer lover that is willing to rescue your model from a fate worse than death (ie, the garbage). Of course, don't expect to get more than about $10-$12, depending on what the problem is and what the "corpse" started off life as (Hey, I'd take a Spanish Fighting Bull in any condition for $12, wouldn't you?).
One important point to observe: when selling "corpses", please be BRUTALLY HONEST. I've bought corpses that were advertised as "Beautiful Breyer, lovely colour. Won many shows. May be good for remake!" Wake up, guys. What it should have said was "May be good for remake-not good for anything else!" You don't have to admit that you knocked him off your nightstand or whatever. Just say what's wrong with it and if it really is remake fodder, please put in your ad, "Remake Fodder Only". It will spare both you and the buyer a lot of trouble.
2. Remake and Rejoice
You've always wondered if you'd be any good as a remaker-so why not have a go at it? I freely admit that I'm not even vaguely close to being an artist. However, I just wanted to see what remaking was like! So I took my most beaten-up, scratched-up POA and grabbed some craft paint and ...voila! I had a great time painting away at my model. Sure, it wasn't a work of art, but it was a lot of fun. I used craft paint as I also took off the paint and did a re-repaint! If I was trying to make anything worth looking at, I'd have used oils or whatever. Come to think of it, I'd have used instructions or advice! If there's a model that you just don't want and can't sell, why not try making that FAM an appaloosa or make your Rearing Stallion a dark bay? One word of warning- be sure it really is unsaleable or else you may have done yourself out of a few dollars!
3. Pro Makeovers
If you still see potential in your model-you like the mold, but you can't stand the colour-why not select a pro remaker and get your horse painted professionally? Many talented remakers can make a silk purse out of a sow's ear-or in model parlance, a Live Show contender out of a corpse! With rehairing and fancy painting,or maybe just a few touchups, you might be able to have the horse of your dreams. Careful though-remakers are good at their work and it doesn't come cheap! It may be worth it, or it may be an expensive heartbreak.
But if you'd like to go through with this option, choose a remaker that suits you. The best remakers will probably have pictures on the Internet, or they may be able to send you pictures of their work. Have a clear idea of what you want done to your model in terms of markings and colouring-and MAKE SURE THE REMAKER UNDERSTANDS WHAT YOU WANT!! If you want a steel grey horse with under dapplings and you only say, "Well, you know, rocking horse grey dapple", you and the remaker are going to be confused and frustrated when the model is finished. Most of my "dream remakes" were movie horses-all I had to do was tell my extremely patient remaker friend which horse in which movie. However, only do this with anextremely patient remaker-and be prepared to wait for a while. Good quality artwork-and quite honestly, that's what this is-takes a while and most remakers have lives outside of remaking, not to mention jobs to go to.
4. Throw Away
Please don't do this. With so many people willing to take a model off your hands for $5 and postage, don't just throw away a model that you obviously liked enough to add to your collection in the first place.If nothing else, give it to the little girl next door and get her hooked on Breyers. I remember mentioning in front of a group of people that I collected Breyers. After a bit of discussion, it turned out that one of the ladies had once had a large collection of Breyers from the 60s and 70s-and had THROWN THEM OUT. Among her discards were models that would make you cry-including, believe it or not, a Decorator Semi-Rearing Mustang. I'm quoting here: "But dear, it was gold coloured-you wouldn't have been interested! There was one painted to look like wood, too-isn't it funny what they painted those models?" My heart almost broke. I never did find out what model that woodgrain was. I didn't really want to know.
So with spring and spring cleaning upon us, you may wish to clear your shelves of "corpses"-but please remember that one person's "corpse" can be another's resurrection-you'll always find a home for your models somewhere with a fellow collector. A last word of advice, which you've heard from me before-if you can't bear the thought of someone remaking a "corpse", don't sell it! And don't feel that you have to sell your "corpses"-sometimes it's nice to have a reminder of our humble beginnings in the model world-and, since most of us were quite young when we got our first, our childhoods.
Catherine (Mathewson) Scholz is starting to reenter the model horse world after a long time away... Please feel free to update her on your adventures at tezahr23@angelfire.com.