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Model Horse Repair

June 13, 2003

How to Fix a Breyer Model

Please conduct the repair in the presence of an adult.
These instructions are based on information provided by Reeves, International. If you can think of any ways to improve on the following, or have any suggestions that you feel might assist others in repairing their Breyer models, please e-mail me.
Fixing a broken tail or leg
Straightening Bent Legs on Breyer Models
Mending a Broken Ear
Whitening Yellowed Breyer Models











Fixing a broken tail or leg:


Breyer models are made of Cellulose Acetate. The composition of cellulose acetate will not allow it to be glued with everyday adhesives like Elmers, model cement, or even Crazy Glue. For best results, you should use acetone, or an adhesive high in acetone to repair breaks. Nail polish remover, which is a dilute mixture of acetone and water, is usually too dilute to work well and should not be attempted if it contains skin softeners or moisturizers such as aloe or lanolin.

Acetone can be found at hardware stores. Acetone is flammable slightly toxic and reactive to other chemicals that you may have around the house (for example hydrogen peroxide or bleach). It should be only used in a well-ventilated area and skin contact should be avoided.

The following will make your broken model almost as good as new. The break point will have almost the same strength as it did before the break if the following steps are performed properly. If one of your favorite models needs surgery, it might be wise to first practice on a less favorite model to gain experience and confidence. Follow these steps to insure a good bond:

  1. Make sure that the surface of the break is clean.
  2. Put a small drop of acetone on each part and allow it too stand 10-30 seconds. Do not over apply the solvent or you risk over-softening (melting) the pieces and destroy the paint.
  3. Carefully put the two pieces together and hold for at least one minute.
  4. Let the bond set for at least an hour. Make certain that there is no pressure or strain on the broken area.

The break in a leg can be strengthen by putting a small pin in it. Drill a small hole (slightly smaller than the diameter of the pin) in one face of the break and insert the pin. Align the two pieces and press them together so that the pin makes a indentation where you should drill the hole in the in the second piece then drill the second hole.




Check the fit of the pin and two pieces before applying the acetone.




Then follow steps 1 through 4 above.


Remember to let the finished repair sit undisturbed for several hours to harden. If possible, brace the model so that gravity will hold the broken piece in place. In this photograph, I'm using a small vice with a cloth to protect the model to hold it upside down.

Straightening Bent Legs on Breyer Models

Legs can become bent due to the following reasons:

If a model does slip past both Breyer's quality control and our final check, please contact us about a replacement at no charge. If you purchased the model elsewhere or are experiencing bent legs for any of the other reasons given above, the following may correct the problem:

Hot air method:

  1. Hold a blow dryer about 2-3 inches from the bent leg with the dryer set on High/Hot.
  2. In approximately one minute, the leg will soften. Check the leg periodically by gently pushing it.
  3. When the leg is soft enough, gently move it into the right position.

Hot water method:

  1. Bring a pot of water to a boil and reduce the heat slightly.
  2. Immerse the bent leg and gently move the horse in a circular motion not allowing the model to touch the sides of the pot.
  3. Remove the model after 45 seconds, and, with an oven mitt, slowly bend the leg back to its proper position. Do not grip the leg too tightly as the fabric of the mitt may leave a imprint.
  4. If the leg does not bend easily, repeat steps 2 and 3.
  5. Stand the horse on a level surface to make sure that it stands squarely.

 

 

Mending a Broken Ear

Portions of this article by Sheryl Leisure were reproduced from the March/April 1998 issue of "Just About Horses" with permission of the publishers, Breyer, Div. of Reeves International

If the tip is missing, the ear must be resculpted using an epoxy such as Martin Carbone Epoxy or Gapoxio. They can be purchased from several large mail order retailers. It can be formed like clay when the two bars are mixed together and in 24 hours, will dry so hard that it can be sanded. It will adhere to just about any surface so can be placed on the plastic horse, molded in shape and left on. When dry, it will have bonded to the plastic so that no gluing is necessary.

For an area as small an ear tip, use very small amounts of parts A & B. Pinch off two tiny balls and make sure there are equal amounts of both. Knead them together for five minutes, keeping your fingers wet to keep them from sticking to you. Place a ball of it on the broken ear, form the new ear tip with your fingers, paint brush, a dull pencil or any item that will give you the desired shape.

Be sure to keep the item wet with water or alcohol. Do not touch the body of the horse with the epoxy on your hands as it will leave a fingerprint. Unless it is removed right away with a rag, it will dry and become permanent. Use an unbroken horse as a sample to guide you to the correct original shape of the ear.

Smooth it out as best as possible with the rubbing alcohol on your fingers, and let it dry for 24 hours.

Once the epoxy is dry and hard, you may sand it with fine sandpaper and paint it to the desired color.

Happy mending!

 

Whitening Yellowed Breyer Models

 

Over the course of time, the chemical stability in all types of plastic will degenerate to some extent. In Breyer models, the result is most easily seen in white or mostly white models, as they have a yellow appearance. Models that were originally solid white can be brightened up by the following method: 

1. Wash model gently, using warm water and a lemon based dish detergent, such as Sunlight.

2. Wearing rubber gloves, mix 1 cup of bleach with 4 gallons of hot tap water in a large bucket, in a well ventilated are. Avoid breathing fumes.

3. Completely submerge model.

4. Watch the model closely during soaking, as less yellowed models need less time. More yellowed models will need more time. An hour is usually the longest time needed.

5. DO NOT use this method for Pintos, Appys, or models with gold decorations, such as the Western Horses.

6. For spot bleach, you may wish to submerge only part of the model, or you may also mix a higher concentrate for a scrub, using 2 cups of bleach in 4 gallons of water. Scrub yellowed are gently with an old cloth or soft toothbrush dipped in the mixture. Always wear rubber gloves. This method works on most, but not all Breyer Models. Models which have been exposed to cigarette or other smoke may not brighten up. 

An Alternate method is to place model in bright, direct sunlight for up to a week. Reports state that this method sometimes brightens models; however, it also speeds up the degeneration of the plastic agents in the Cellulose Acetate.

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