It is good to know your limitations. I have learned through experience that I am not a model tack maker, painter, remaker, or restorer. So, when I have a broken piece in my collection, I send them out for repair. That can be dicey - I've also learned to make sure I send them to someone reliable who will do the work in a reasonable amount of time as well as do a great job on the repairs themselves.
Sheryl Leisure is one who has done some work for me, and I have been very happy with her. So, I have just sent four Hagen Renakers to her fix. Some have been languishing for years (one, decades)!
My DW Head Down Pony has a leg break - it was there when I bought it from Cindy Neuhaus years ago. (Actually, this one has been broken for at least a decade, too!)
The DW Lippizaner that I bought from Joanie Berkowitz earlier this year had a broken leg when she listed it for sale. I don't know how long it has been that way.
The original, early Performing Misty came with its led glued to the stool, and sadly it was discovered that that caused a lot of breakage. Mine is one of those early pieces that bears witness to the stress gluing the leg to the stool put on the piece.
And finally, there's my poor DW Adelaide!
I bought her mint in the mid 1970s and broke her shortly after purchasing her. She's been languishing for decades!
She has three broken legs - left front...
... right hind (her original stickers are on her belly as you can see)...
... and left hind.
Her ears are a mess and a piece is missing out of one.
A better shot of her stickers - I removed them from her belly and am storing them in a safe place until her restoration is done.
Even her hat has a couple of chips and needs work!
Sheryl has a form to fill out for each piece you send her - poor Adelaide's had a lot checked off!
I nearly chucked her all those years ago when I broke her since she was such a mess, but I hung onto her, just in case I found someone who could restore her and I could afford that restoration. It's been a long wait, but her time is now.
I can't wait to see how she looks when her restoration is done.
