FINALLY!

 Good news, readers! We finally got something Breyerfest-related today - the reveal of the last few live auction models! Insert grumbling about how there used to be more auction models here. Anyways, here they are! Some of them are still weirdly cropped. There are a few lots still to be revealed, such as (presumably) the raffle models and the live show grand and reserve prizes. But anyway! 

That's a Strapless done as a sooty palomino with, well, puzzle-piece dapples. At least that's what they look like to me. Pretty, though! 

This one is a wild bay frame overo Lonesome Glory - it's a popular mold, so he'll probably go high. Still, I can't help but wonder what he'd look like in gloss. 

This one is a Semi-Rearing Mustang in a grullo tobiano with cat tracks. Cool, but it'd be nice if we could see the whole photo? 

Ooh, now these are interesting, even if the mare's face is marked like a giraffe. The mare is a pearly chestnut leopard appaloosa and the foal is a pearly black leopard appaloosa. It'll be interesting to see what these sell for - they're a bit odd-looking, but cute nonetheless.

Ooh, I really like this one, especially the two-toned wings! The blog says he's a glossy metallic blue overo, but he looks like there's some green in the mane, tail and wings. Can't wait to see this one in person so I can get some photos! I wonder if the wings are removable? Usually they are, and it does look like they slot into his back. Someday will we get a more attainable winged release of this guy, since they've done at least one test like this before? I can only hope! 

Well, this knocks a few more molds out of contention for the surprise - I'm going to guess it's Goffert at this point, unless he pops up as a raffle model or something. Speaking of raffle models, I can't remember if I've posted my raffle predictions yet, so here goes: Georg and Cancion. Would Breyer use two standing molds in the same year? Who knows, but that's what I'm going with. Guess we'll find out eventually! 

In other news, this year's mid-year releases are now available to order on Breyer's website, though the new Strapless won't be shipping until August. I thought about ordering a Mojave, but I'm going to take my chances and hope they have him in the Breyer Store at Breyerfest since that's what I did last year. Here's hoping! 

Edit: the rest of the auction models and the raffle models are now posted on the auction website! Check them out here. Looks like I was right about Cancion as a raffle model, but the other one is Fireheart! Gah! 

There is a Georg auction model, though:

Along with the German Riding Pony, Carina and Selene, Anamar and the PAM. Notably, there's no Goffert...but also no Hamilton, so the speculation will continue. I'm sticking with Goffert, though! Hamilton is way too popular and doesn't need the surprise boost. 

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! 

New Arrivals: Matte Appy Slainte, Brighid and Beltane

Welcome, everyone! I'm still working through my new Breyerfest arrivals - today I'll be looking at the matte Appy Slainte Surprise and the Brighid and Beltane set. Let's start with the Slainte! 

I was super-happy to be able to trade for a matte Appy Slainte, along with the matte palomino I already featured. The addition of this girl means I'm only missing the glossy Appy to have the full set! Her spots are nice and brown, too  - a lot of these appear black, though the intent was for them to be a bay leopard. She also has a lot of nice pinking! She's chalky, too, although her quality isn't the best - but I was expecting that, honestly. With all the masking it would take to paint this run, it's inevitable that there are some blurred spots/slipped masking. But I'm not complaining - at least I found one! Giselle is definitely pretty as an Appaloosa! 

Next, let's look at Brighid: 

 This set was incredibly popular too, and I feel lucky to have gotten my hands on one. And I love them in these colors! The mare does have some quality issues, but I'm just glad to have gotten her. I've seen one or two sets out there where the masking apparently was flipped, so it'll be interesting to see if those pop up at shows eventually. Let's take a look at Beltane! 

Beltane is a cutie too! I wonder if Breyer will eventually give us another Trad pony foal so he can have someone to play with! I hope so. 

Well, that's all I have for today - tune in later for more new arrivals! 

Huzzah! A mare and foal set for Breyerfest!

Amid all the doom and gloom, we got a special run reveal from Breyer today!



Say hello to Brighid and Beltane! (I foresee a lot of name-butchering later when it comes time for people to sell their extras...) As I thought, it's a Rhian and Cadell set! From the blog:

Brighid, named after the ancient Irish goddess associated with springtime, fertility, and healing, keeps a close watch on her little foal, Beltane, named for the festival marking the start of the summer pastoral season in the Celtic calendar. These two cuties look poised to take a dance around the Maypole together, don’t they?  Happy Spring!

They certainly are cute! I love the color on the mare. As usual, I can take or leave the foal, but I do like his two-tone tail. Let's hope that if Breyerfest is canceled, we can at least buy these on the website afterward, because I like them a lot...

On the subject of Breyerfest, the first ticket mailing has now been delayed until April 13. I don't think this is a good sign for the event going forward, but I suppose they could just be trying to be cautious... All the same, I have a feeling we won't be heading back to Kentucky until 2021 (or never, if the country goes into another depression...).

The last few auction models!

Less than a week until I leave, and the last group of auction models has been revealed! Lot 23 is another hidden lot, so let's take a look at Lot 24:



It's Valour and Honour, the Sunday Raffle set! I'm not sure why Breyer decided to use the British English spelling for those names, but I'm not going to question it too much.

Next, Lot 25!



It's the SJW from the program! I'm still not really a fan of the Croi tail on him, but that gloss is incredible. I love him!

Next, Lot 26:

Ooh, we hadn't seen this one yet! That's a Dundee! He's supposed to be a "Bay Varnish Blanket Appaloosa," but he looks more like some kind of gray to me. And I'm not really a fan of those little spots around the eyes, even if it is more realistic. The rest of him is great, though!

Lot 27 is next:



Wow, I don't think we'd seen that PAF before, only the PAM in the program! Wow, that set is going to go high! The foal looks like a foal version of Polaris from a few years back.

That's it for auction models, as Lot 28 is another hidden lot. So, I don't think we got a reveal of that Bristol from the program, did we? That's interesting. All in all, though, this is an incredible group of auction models this year! I'm definitely going to have to make the effort to attend the auction this year.

That's all I have for today - only a few days left until we're all in Kentucky again! And Happy 4th of July, everyone!

Rhian and Cadell are here! And...Beau?

Great news, everyone! My Rhian and Cadell set are finally here! Behold:



They're so cute! Here's the other side:



I'm still kind of ambivalent about the foal, but he can stay for now. Is it me, or does he seem pretty small for a Trad foal? I realize he's a pony foal, but he seems tiny!

As for the mare, I love her! Here she is with a hopeful suitor:

Her only real flaw is visible in the above photo: she has a scrape on her left front leg. I'm not thrilled about it, but the foal is pretty much flaw-free and from what I hear I'd have to send him back with the mare, so I guess I'll have to overlook the scratch. But, let's be real here: I don't show, so condition and paint issues aren't as big a deal to me anyway.

She looks good with Bouncer though, like I thought she would. Here's a closeup of her face:



Her eyes are nicely painted, although they have the dreaded pink eyewhites going on.

In other news....despite my reservations about this mold, this happened on Tuesday:

That's right...I bought a Beau. Opening his box was nerve-wracking! I was repeating to myself, "Please be braided. Please be braided. Please be braided..." And it worked! I was hoping I'd get a dark variation, too, but I guess beggars can't be choosers.

I wasn't going to buy this release, but Breyer reeled me in with the braided mane and tail. He's just so handsome! I figured if I got the one I wanted, it meant I was meant to collect him...at least, this version of him. I suppose this means I'll have to get my hands on a Brunello now...and possibly Wapiti if I can get past his mane.



Poor Beau has the pink eyewhites going on, too. I hope they phase those out sooner rather than later.

Quality-wise, he's decent - he has some lint stuck in his gloss, but that's par for the course.



His dapples are sadly unsubtle too, but that's nothing new. Now I just have to find space for him on my shelves, and hope they used the braided Idocus again in the near future.

So, if anyone knows where I can find a braided Brunello on the cheap...

Rhian and Cadell are now available!

Sheesh, they aren't wasting any time! This year's first Premier Club release, Rhian and Cadell, are available on the website!



I'm excited to get this set in hand and see what I think of them! I think the mare will make a good companion for Bouncer, and while I'm not as thrilled with the foal, he (she?) is definitely a cutie. I hope Breyer gets their shipping backlog figured out soon so I don't have to wait too long to get them!

Ooh, the Sunday Raffle!

The mystery was finally revealed yesterday - the feet belonged to the Sunday raffle set!



Their names are Valour and Honour! Ooh, they're nice! I especially like the mare! But what would I do if I won this set? I'm not that into the foal, but splitting up a set this valuable wouldn't be a very good idea. First world problems, I guess - and I'd have to win the set first, which is a lot easier said than done. Maybe this year will be my year!

Premier Club welcome letters are going out!

Exciting news today - the welcome letters and sketches for this year's Premier Club are arriving in the mail!

Cute sketch! I'm still not 100% sold on the foal, but I'm pretty sure the mare will stay with me. And check out the cute sticker that came with the letter!



I think Rhian and Bouncer will make a nice pair - if they're comparable in size, I could see them being used in a performance setup as a matched pair - or, on the OF side of things, maybe we'll get a family set with Bouncer, Rhian and Cadell together. It's been a while since we've seen a family set, though, so one can only hope.

As for the letter itself, I don't remember if we already knew the information in it - namely, that Jennifer Scott and Brigitte Eberl are our other two sculptors for this year, and Jennifer Scott is designing the paint job for her sculpt, while Sommer Prosser is doing the paint job on the Eberl. This year's free Stablemate is a new sculpt by Laura Skillern Sailer. Apparently the Jennifer Scott piece is "a breed and pose frequently requested" - I'm wondering if it's something rearing? We haven't had a new rearing sculpt in the last 50 years or so, so we're definitely overdue.

Rhian and Cadell won't ship until May, so we still have a couple of months to wait. Hopefully we get a lot of fun Breyerfest reveals in the meantime!