Taking Flight: Air Travel With Your Breyer Models

By Leah Peretz & Katie Jares

Photos by Leah Peretz

Whether you’ve just found your grail model at BreyerFest or have the show string of your dreams and are ready to take them on the road, there’s one obstacle that most showers and collectors face at some point: travel. Packing up and traveling with your models can be intimidating, especially when traveling by air. We caught up with two international collectors and showers who are pros at flying with models to share their tips and strategies for a smooth flight.

Leah Peretz

In 2018, I put myself and my entire model horse collection on a plane headed across the Atlantic Ocean when I moved from rural North Dakota to one of the biggest cities in the Netherlands. That was the first time I ever flew with models. I was biting my nails through the eight-hour trip to Iceland, the transfer, and final two-hour flight to the land of cheese, tulips, and Friesians. The first thing I did when I reached my new home was unpack all of my models (and finally exhale), happy to find that they were just as I had packed them. After that, I was confident enough to fly them back to the US for a live show and return home again.

The challenge: fitting all of these Breyer models safely into suitcases!

I've flown my show string of 60 Breyer models all the way to Kentucky to show at the BreyerFest Open Show in two large suitcases. They made it through two flights and a 13-hour drive to the Bluegrass State, showed successfully, and did the same return journey safely - with enough new friends to bring the total model count flown to over 75! (I added a small carry-on for the trip home.)

It may seem daunting trying to transport that many models on an airplane, but it is completely doable as long as you set yourself up for success. I wrap each model in non-dyed fabric, then their pony pouch. If they are fragile or have risky areas such as thin tails, I also add bubble wrap. Stablemates models go in shallow organizational bins that protect them and don’t take up much space.

Shallow organization bins are perfect for safely transporting Stablemates and other small models.

General advice:

• Fly direct if you can. The less time your bag has to be moved around, the better.
• Use your clothes as padding. Pack snug and tight; nothing should be shifting!
• Don't put fragile models in a spot where other models will be weighing down on them.
• Pack breakables in a layer of satin fabric to protect the finish, then wrap them completely in bubble wrap and use a pony pouch. For the most fragile of models, you can use a foam-padded gear case.
• Watch your bag's weight. If you go over the airline's limit, you may be charged extra or asked to remove weight right there at the check-in counter. To avoid this, weigh your bag at home with a portable luggage scale and make any necessary adjustments before heading to the airport.
• Colorful suitcases and large tags are easy to spot and hard to mistake at baggage claim, making it easier to reunite with your ponies as soon as possible after landing.
• In general, I've had more issues with hard-sided suitcases cracking and sustaining damage than with soft-sided bags. If you're concerned about particular models, use flattened cardboard boxes to create a DIY "shell" inside a soft-sided case.

Bonus tip: If you’re planning on bringing home more than you left with, such as after a shopping spree at BreyerFest, you can nest a second suitcase inside another one. This way you only have to check one bag on your inbound flight, and then have another bag to use on the return, without paying for it twice or buying a new one!

Arrived at the destination and happy to report that everyone was safe and sound in their pony pouches, just as they were packed.

Katie Jares

In 2016, I moved from the United States to Brisbane, Australia – and my model horses came with me. I have been very fortunate that I am able to come back to the U.S. and visit once or twice a year, and try to organize these trips so that I am able to attend a model horse show. My trips home coincided with events such as BreyerFest’s Resin Renaissance and the North American Nationals show, and I have brough a show string of about 40 horses with me. This has gotten tricker as the number of bags included with international flights has been reduced.

This suitcase full of models is ready to travel at the baggage check. See you on the other side of the ocean!

I’ve done this journey five or six times now, and there are several ways to make the trip with your models easier:

Checking in domestically? Spring for the upgrade. No, it’s not just for the additional free drinks. People in business or even economy plus get to board the plane first—and consequentially you’re less likely to have to give up your roller bag. You also usually get extra time to board, which can be helpful if you encounter the unexpected.

International flights, in my experience, always have heaps of overhead space (and are less restrictive on your number of carry-ons). As such, the international leg of my flights to BreyerFest tend to be the easiest!

Be patient with security officers. My models still set off an alarm every time I go through security. When my bag gets flagged, I explain to the officers that I have art or sculptures in my bag, that they are made of resin, and may have wires in them. I also will ask if it’s okay if I open the bags as the models are very delicate. Usually this is okay, but listen to the officers. The security swabbing does not hurt the paint (there is no liquid on the cotton pads; they’re checking for trace amounts of explosive substances). Make sure to arrive early! Security lines are airports are getting longer and being stopped can be extra stressful. 

Meet your gate agent. I like to introduce myself to the gate agent as soon as they arrive. Especially if no upgrades were available (or were too expensive), I introduce myself, explain I am carrying breakable art, and ask if they know how full the plane is. The plane’s capacity determines if gate-checks are likely to happen. If it is a full flight, I will go ahead and transfer my models to the tote and gate-check the roller-bag. Gate agents can help you as well, either allowing early boarding or suggesting ways to consolidate carry-on items. Remember, they’re experts at packing and rearranging at the gate! 

Once you have safely arrived at your destination, unpack your horses. If any of them have damage, that is okay! It's the worst feeling to see a model that has damage, but we are very fortunate in this hobby to have a number of very talented and able restoration artists. As one of them once told me, “Pretty much anything can be fixed with enough time!” Take stock of any damage, no matter how minor, and set up an appointment with your friendly restoration artist. 

Also remember that if your items were damaged because they were gate checked, you can apply for compensation from the airline, regardless of if you had travel insurance or not. Having an invoice (from a restoration artist) helps. The US Department of Transportation offers a full overview of what damages airlines are required, by law, to cover and maximum liability.

With these tips in mind, your models will be well on their way to becoming experienced world travelers!