November Collector Club newsletter!

 As usual, this month's Collector Club newsletter is out! Down to the wire as usual, I see. According to the newsletter itself, this is the one-year anniversary of the newsletter. Let's hope it keeps going for years to come, eh? Lots of fun stuff again as usual, and they're doing a giveaway of Tamu and Chai! 

I hope they keep these cool giveaways going, too. Good luck to everyone who enters! 

Also, there's an interesting sneak peek, as usual:

The thought on the Interwebs is that it's this year's animal special run - perhaps the bear and cub - which would be fine by me since I don't collect the animals. It kind of looks like Emma to me, though? Hopefully it's not her. My wallet needs a break! 

Featured Model - 11/29/20, Glossy Grullo Pinto

 Hello and welcome to another edition of Featured Model, the weekly blog event where I pick a model I don't own but would like to, give some stats on it and provide commentary about it. This week's model is...the glossy Grullo Pinto! 

This handsome guy was a prize model at Breyerfest 2013, with 45 produced. He's item #1703G and was produced on the Ethereal mold sculpted by Kathleen Moody.

This mold is a little more mundane than some of the ones I've featured lately, but my collection of glossy prize models is pretty small, so he's on my wish list all the same. I feel like there was one for sale somewhat recently? Probably out of my price range (I can't really wrap my head around paying more than about $400 for what's basically a regular run with some gloss slapped on top of it). But anyway...

The regular grullo pinto gives me a good feeling when I look at him because it takes me back to Breyerfest 2013, the most recent year (to my knowledge) that Breyer did focus groups at Breyerfest, and I got to participate in one of them (I believe it was supposed to be about the Premier Club, but we ended up talking about a lot of different things). Grullo Pinto was the model I chose for compensation for my time afterward, so he'll always remind me of that special experience. And he's a handsome model to boot! He only looks better with a coat of gloss. 

As for Ethereal, I think it's high time he got a new release - the last time he was used for anything was as Calavera back in 2017. He was a web special in 2013, so enough time has probably passed that he could  be a web special again next year. Or maybe he'll make a Breyerfest appearance? That might be fun. I wouldn't say no to a new RR either, but Breyer has so many new molds coming out lately that the slightly older ones seem to be getting a bit neglected. But here's hoping! 

Huh...I thought I finished and submitted this post last night, but I guess not. Oh well! 

My Festive Filigree models are here!

 Greetings, readers! I hope everyone (in the USA, anyway) had a good Thanksgiving! It's been a slow week in the mail department for us, but my Festive Filigree Stablemates came today, at least! Check them out! 

Not the colors I was hoping for, I'll admit...but at least I was able to get them, right? And I may have already secured a trade for the gold Darwin, so that's good. 

Seeing the SCO from the off side really draws attention to how bad that left front leg looks. How the heck did it get so short? His Trad counterpart isn't nearly this bad, so I'm at a loss as to how anyone from Breyer could look at that and say, "Ship it!" Maybe they tried to fix it, and failed? Who knows. 

Anyway, yet again the blind bags are costing me more money, because now I have to pay to trade them rather than just buying the ones I want. Please stop with all the blind bags, Breyer! 

Featured Model - 11/21/20, Valour and Honour

 Hello and welcome to another edition of Featured Model, the weekly blog event where I pick a model I don't own but would like to, give some stats on it and provide commentary about it. This week's model(s) are...Valour and Honour! 

This delightful duo were raffle models at last year's Breyerfest. They're item #711358 on the Rhian and Cadell molds sculpted by Josine Vingerling, and only 26 sets were made.

Raffle models lately tend to be the sort of thing that makes you wince when they're revealed, because you want them really badly (naturally), but you know you'll probably never own them if your luck isn't good enough to win them. That's how it usually is for me, at least. And this set is no exception. They're adorable together, though! The foal I could take or leave, but I love the mare. 

As for the molds themselves, I'm wondering if we'll eventually see a family release with them paired with Bouncer. Wouldn't he make a great dad for Cadell? Breyer hasn't done a family set for quite a while, other than Classics sets, so who knows if they'd actually do it or not. But I bet they'd sell like hot cakes! 

Otherwise, I'm not sure where we could expect to see these next, other than as a regular run (which wouldn't be too much of a reach, since they got their second Breyerfest release this year). Maybe they'll make an appearance as the holiday mare and foal set next year? That would be fun, though I'd rather see Susecion and Le Fire there first. I guess we'll have to wait and see! 

More Black Friday stuff and another test run!

 So, first off, more stuff has been added to Breyer's Black Friday sale! Most of the really juicy stuff sold out pretty much immediately, but you can still get Griffin, Reuben or a candy cane zebra. None of their prices are actual sale prices, for some reason, but I guess that's just the way it is. Make sure you're logged into your Collector Club account when you try to view these. I missed out on the good stuff, but I only would have gotten a Fylkir anyway, in hopes of getting the silver black. Not sure how they still have more Fylkirs kicking around the warehouse after the amount of times he's shown up in blind bags, but whatevs.

In more exciting news, there's another test run on Breyer's website! Looks like they're not done milking us (or a lucky one of us) for all we're worth. Check him out:

Nothing I need for my own collection, but it might be worth entering for resale purposes. They jacked the price up to $1,000, though, so it depends on if someone thinks he's worth that much or more. With the prices the auction models have been bringing lately, who can say? Anyway, good luck if you're entering for him! 

Web special selections are out!

 Attention, Collector Club members who entered for the latest web special (whose names are too complicated to type out right now!): Selections have been made! Log into your account, and if they're listed amongst the web specials midway down the page, you were drawn! Huzzah! I get to take a set of these beauties home! I haven't been drawn for a winter web special since 2017, so I may be a little excited...

Also, I can't believe I didn't notice/comment that this is the second time in a row that the Corazon mold was used for a web special. Well, there's precedent for doing that - Croi was used for Sugarloaf and then Bramble in 2015/2016, and the Moody ASB was used as Kehinde and then Muir Woods in 2018/2019. It's interesting that both Hermosa and Corazon were used in separate releases in the same year, too! Interesting to see how things shake out - though it shouldn't be surprising, since I think they're both in the regular line as Fantasia del C and Gozosa. Anyway, I can't wait to get this pair in hand! I'll have to find room on my entertainment center so the mare can go with the rest of my silver filigree models! 

More blind bags. Yay.

 Well, you’d think after my angry rant last year, I wouldn’t fall for the blind bag garbage again, but then these happened. Ugh, more blind bags. And they’re way too expensive for those paint jobs!

But, I ordered two of them, because I have to have the Darwin and Brishen (he’ll go really well with my Aspen!). At least they qualify for free shipping if you get two of them, though I was mildly irked that they don’t also qualify for the Collector Club discount like the Halloween Stablemates did. Oh well.

I’m still deliberating about ordering more of them to increase my odds of getting the ones I want, but I don’t know if I will. If we want the blind bags to go away, we’ve gotta stop buying them, but it’s hard not to buy! Bleh.

Anyway, here's a picture of the dumb things. Hopefully I get the ones I want! Good luck to everyone who orders! And Breyer, take a hint and quit doing these! 

It's Benasque's long-lost family!

 Greetings, readers! The sneak peek from the October Collector Club newsletter has finally been revealed - behold! 

Ooooh! Hermosa and Corazon as holiday decorators? Sign me up! 

They're beautiful! I had thought silver filigree was dead in the water since we haven't seen one for so long, but clearly it hasn't been forgotten! I hope I get drawn for these! Looks like they upped the piece count to 450 though, so I might have a better chance of being drawn this time. 

From the website:

In Spain’s Pyrenees Mountains, the names La Molina and Masella are synonymous with skiing and amazing winter scenery. La Molina has a stunning silver filigree coat, and her foal Masella sports blue filigree. Both are completed by a high gloss finish, which takes their coloring to the next level! Each has “Collector Club 2020” on their belly. If you already own our 2018 Winter Web Special, Benasque, then you’ll want to scoop up the rest of this filigree family!

I have still not managed to obtain a Benasque, but...maybe someday. In the meantime, I hope I can get my hands on his family! The deadline for entry is 11/18...sheesh, that's a pretty short entry window. Oh well - fewer days I have to remember to enter! Good luck, everyone!  

Featured Model - 11/14/20, Fruit Stripe Zebra

 Hello and welcome to another edition of Featured Model, the weekly blog event where I pick a model I don't own but would like to, give some stats on it and provide commentary about it. This week's model is...the Fruit Stripe Zebra! 

This amazing model was an auction model at Breyerfest 2000, produced on the Zebra mold sculpted by Kristina Lucas Francis. 

I believe I've mentioned this before, but someday I'd like to meet the person that designed this model and shake their hand, because I love it! I'm sure many of us have fond memories of chewing Fruit Stripe gum as kids (and chewing the whole pack in quick succession because the flavor was so short-lived)! I have a weakness for rainbows anyway, and adding nostalgia to it just makes it even better. Maybe someday my star will come and I'll find this model for sale! 

Anyway, before last year the Zebra mold had been released in very few colors. Now that we finally got our candy cane zebras, I'm actually kind of at a loss for what I want to see in a Christmas release this year. Hopefully it's something I can get my hands on, but that doesn't tend to be an issue these days. I guess you never know. I guess I'll settle for hoping it's something I don't need to buy, so my wallet can have a rest. That's always a Christmas miracle! 

As for the Zebra itself, I'm hopeful that we'll get a new release on it soon. Maybe a new RR zebra? The old zebra was produced before Breyer had perfected their current masking technique, so it would be interesting to see a new one produced with the current painting techniques. Or maybe they could do a blond or melanistic zebra? Either of those would be super cool. Let's hope the poor neglected Zebra mold gets a new release soon! 

More exciting reveals!

 Greetings, readers! I have a lot of exciting reveals today, but I'll start with this - most of the 2021 Stablemates Club lineup has been revealed, and the club is now open for signups! 

So those outlines are Mini Croi, Django, the G2 Appaloosa and the G1 Seabiscuit, plus the already-revealed Mini Clydesdale Stallion with a new hairdo. Plus there will be the new mold, but I'm assuming that comes later. Well, it looks like I'll only want two of the releases next year. Crossing my fingers that the Django isn't the gambler's choice! Hopefully they reveal that before the signups close. 

Next on the agenda, the new Black Beauty release can now be ordered, though it's showing up as backordered. Be sure and get your order in if you want one! I am withholding judgement about the movie itself until I actually see it - which is slightly more likely than it was before, since I recently found out Ser Jorah is in it. Mmm...but anyway. 

There's also an early Black Friday sale going on for Collector Club members, but I didn't see anything particularly exciting in it. Maybe they'll add more later? As it is now...meh. 

And lastly, my CCA box is finally here, after taking a short jaunt through Seattle to get here (that's only 1500 miles out of the way, after all). Check out my goodies! 

It's a little depressing that I only had to buy three items to get to $125 in merchandise...but anyway. I got a glossy Catch Me...which is not what I was hoping for. Well, with any luck I can still find someone to trade with, or just sell it. 

That's all I have for today - hopefully we get some more fun reveals next week! 

2021 Premier Club memberships, and more fun stuff!

 Oops...well, I forgot to make a post about the 2021 Premier Club yesterday, so here it is today instead. Membership in the 2021 Premier Club is now open! Here's another look at Fireheart, the first release in the club: 

Okay, this angle is making him grow on me a little bit...but I don't think it'll be enough to save him. I'll join the club regardless, though - can't miss out on those new releases. Anyway, you can join the Premier Club here (must be a 2021 Collector Club member). 

In other news, there's a series 4 of the Unicorn Crazy blind bag series at Walmart! More blind bags...ugh. Can 2021 be the last year of the blind bags, please? And most of the molds in it are the same ones being used as before - the G2 Clydesdale, Alborozo, Mini Magnolia and the G3 Arabian. Yawn! I don't have any photos of these I can use yet, but I'll find them eventually. However, the exciting thing about these unicorns is the chase piece! I don't have a photo of him either, but it appears to be a Stablemate version of Prince Charming, a resin from Breyerfest 2011: 

While I'm not personally a fan of Prince Charming (of the three resins from that year, I prefer Avalon), I've always wondered why those resins were a one-and-done deal - surely they could have put those molds to use somewhere else? Well, wonder no more! I wonder if we'll get a full-size version of him or the other two? I guess we'll find out eventually! In the meantime, I have more blind bags to search for...

Featured Model - 11/7/2020, Carpe Noctis

 Hello and welcome to Featured Model, the weekly blog event where I pick a model I don't own but would like to, give stats on it and provide commentary about it. This week's model is...Carpe Noctis! 

Wow! This handsome sunset decorator was a Breyerfest auction model waaaaay back in 2001, made as a sort of "companion piece" to the Carpe Diem release. He was released on the old version of the Sherman Morgan mold sculpted by Jeanne Mellin Herrick. 

I really like Carpe Noctis! He really pulls off that sunset look - at least by 2001 standards. I mean, his old tail isn't the greatest, but I wouldn't mind finding this guy in my collection either. Not that that's very likely - I heard through the grapevine that someone got the deal of a lifetime at the Clarion back in 2016 by buying this guy for the princely sum of around $40. So whoever that was probably won't be letting go of him anytime soon! But...if you're out there and you change your mind...

Anyway, I don't have many Sherman Morgans in my collection, but all of them are decorators (my kingdom for a Crescent City!). My Carpe Diem model has the interesting distinction of being the only model in my collection that I sold, then regretted selling and bought back. His colors are just so pretty! Since all of my Shermies are decorators, I'm not sure if my subconscious decided it only wanted decorator Shermies in the collection or if it's just a coincidence - he hasn't been getting any realistic releases lately, so it's hard to tell. I mean, if somebody offered me a Best Supporting Actor for a good price I probably wouldn't turn them down, but for the most part, I'm all about the deco Shermies.

So where will we see a new Shermie? I could see him being used as a web special soon - he hasn't gotten that treatment yet, and Breyer seems to like using older molds as web specials. The mold first debuted in 1987, so he could show up in the Vintage Club, depending on your definition of vintage. Well, if they put an original decorator color on him I'd probably have to buy him, so there's that! 

An embarrassment of riches!

 ...Or maybe just an embarrassment. No? Hmm, probably not. 

Anyway, I got a ton of stuff in the mail today! Not my CCA order, unfortunately, but everything else I've ordered lately is here, unless I'm forgetting something. Let's start with the new Unicorn Magic wood carry barn: 

This was the only photo I took - didn't have time to get individual photos. They sure are cute lined up in their barn, though! I'll probably save the barn itself and the Stablemates I don't want for my kids. Anyway, there's two each of the G2 Andalusian, the G2 Saddlebred and the G3 Standing Stock Horse. Each one is a different color, despite the fact that some of them look the same in the photo. The G2 Saddlebred on the far right is actually an interesting little green blanket Appaloosa, which is kind of fun. I wasn't expecting that, since these paint jobs seem so basic. 

And yes, they're molded from some type of slightly more flexible plastic - their legs started warping inward a little as soon as I took them off the cardboard inserts holding them into the barn. I wouldn't say they're as bendy as a Schleich, but there's definitely more give there than a typical ABS or cellulose acetate model. Still, the colors are fun and I'll still add these to my collection.

I also ordered the Breyer Farms carry barn, but that still shows as backordered, so I'm guessing I'll get that later. Let's move on to Bellatrix and Spica! 

Interestingly, the foal doesn't quite match the mare, as you can see in the photo. I'm not sure if I've seen that happen in any other photos or not. 

People have been saying the dapples on these are pretty subtle, but I don't think mine have any dapples at all. Which is what I'd expect for the foal, but I couldn't see anything on the mare. I'll have to take her out in some better light later.

Quality-wise, they're pretty good, except the mare's horn is unfortunately misaligned, and their silver hooves could have been painted a little more neatly. I really like this pair, especially the contrast of their silver hooves and horn against their dark coats. More of this, please! Spica needs a father! 

Lastly, here's my Troubadour! 

This one is a big boi! I love his coloring, too. 

He definitely didn't get hit with the skinny stick like so many new Breyer molds have. I love him! And he doesn't have a lot of flaws, either.

I've seen a lot of complaints about the masking on his mane, but I think that's about as good as a person could hope for. I'm excited to see what other colors Breyer puts on this guy! I'm sure he'll be a raffle model next year, and probably two or three other things, so we won't have TOO long to wait! In the meantime, I hope Breyer gets this year's PC Stablemates shipped out a little earlier - I want to see my Lyric up close! 

Speak of the devil...sort of.

 Well, there's at least one good update today - my JAH is here! I'm surprised I didn't have to wait another week or two for it to arrive, but at least it's here, right? So, here's the cover! Sorry if the quality of these photos is poor - I upgraded to a new computer in June and still haven't figured out how to make my scanner play nice with Windows 10. But anyway...

The inside cover says this is the new Ideal Orren Mixer horse for 2021. He's a beauty! Now I'm conflicted about deciding to sell all my Geronimos. Gah! I still have all but two of them, so I suppose I could keep them...but that's a decision for later. 

According to the full rules and entry form (found here), they're giving away BOTH of these test models to two lucky winners. Woo! I collect both Desatado and Esprit, so I'd be happy to welcome both of these models home (though I've been thinking about selling off the Desatado models more and more lately). Anyway, good luck to everybody that enters! I haven't gone through and looked for the pictures yet, so I can't give any hints as to how many there are. The deadline to enter is 11/30, so don't wait too long to get your entries in. 

Lastly, here's the purple Mason unicorn from yesterday! 

Isn't he pretty? I've been waiting for a new Mason release for quite a while, so I'm glad he's finally getting his chance to shine. And he's listed in the TSC/Walmart section right next to Serafina, so it's a safe assumption that we'll find him at Walmart. Hopefully he starts showing up in stores soon! Kinda wondering why he doesn't have a name, though. 

That's all I've got for right now - my CCA shipment is still MIA, but I do have something else showing up tomorrow! 

This year's JAH is out in the wild!

 Attention to Collector Club members: this year's JAH is starting to show up in people's mailboxes. Nothing here yet, but from what I've seen online, they're doing another test model giveaway (find all the hidden images, again), and there's a purple rainbow Mason in the Walmart section. Ooh, I've been wondering when we'd see another Mason! He's been sadly neglected since his debut in 2018. I hope this means he'll get a regular run release next year, too, because he's just too handsome to sit unused.

I'm a little irked today because my Collector Club Appreciation order was supposed to arrive yesterday, but hasn't gotten here yet, and the tracking hasn't been updated since last Friday. What gives, UPS? Important things are at stake here! I want to see which glossy model I got before all the trading is wrapped up and I'm stuck with one I don't want! Hurry it up already! Sheesh. 

Well, hopefully my JAH and my CCA order both show up quickly, or I'm going to be a grouchy collector over the weekend.