A shipment of unicorns!

 Greetings, readers! I hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving - I know I did. And now I have some new unicorns to show you! I'll start with Altair: 

These photos don't quite do him justice, but he's definitely a stunning boy! 

I love the hint of pearl in his coat, and his blue eyes. 

Unfortunately, he does have some quality issues that I'm not terribly happy with. I'll start with his horn - clearly this model wasn't intended to have a horn added later, as his forelock covers the part of his forehead that the horn would come out of (not a knock on the sculptor, just an observation). So they clearly just stuck the horn onto his forelock. The base of the horn is somewhat skinnier than the rest of it (maybe other molds have a hole added in the forehead for the horn to slot into?), so this could make it easier to break off. I've seen a couple of these guys show up with broken horns on Facebook, so I'm sure there are probably more. The horn on mine is crooked, too, which is irksome. 

The bigger issue is this: 

It's somewhat hard to see in this photo, but the model has a seam line that forms an almost perfect square around his shoulders and across his withers/back (it's visible below the gloss drip on the horse's withers - another groanworthy issue). I've never seen this line on any of my other Shire B models, but it's probably a leftover seam from doing the switcheroo to the Shire B's lowered head. What's going on in the factory right now?  This is a fairly large prep oversight. Someone else posted about these lines on Facebook, so clearly mine isn't the only one with the issue. 

They also could have bothered to paint the model's ribbons, but that's a fairly minor issue compared to the things listed above. I'm not going to bother returning this guy, because I just can't be bothered right now (and would risk getting a worse one in exchange). I mean, it's kinda cool being able to see how they change out the heads on the models, but...I'd rather he have properly-cleaned seams. 

Oh well. On to Ceres and Minerva! 

I was happy to see that this pair is glossy! I don't think they were advertised as such. 

As described on the website, Ceres is a blush-pink color with gold mane and tail, whereas Minerva is more uniformly golden. They have a pleasing glittery sheen, too. 

I didn't see any quality issues with the foal, but the mare does have this unfortunate spot on her hip:

It's underneath the gloss, so somebody really screwed up there. 

Otherwise, though, they're both pretty nice.

The foal is for sale, so if you're interested in buying her, send me a message! 

That's all I have for today - I'm still waiting for my holiday Stablemates and the three Poppy & Ollie sets to arrive, so let's hope we get some exciting reveals in the meantime! 

More exciting reveals!

 Ooh, shiny! We've got some new reveals for the holiday season on Breyer's website - check them out! Let's start with this new Cantering Welsh Pony:

She's this year's A Pony For Christmas special run - I guess that's a yearly thing now. Her blanket is so cute - it looks like a candy cane! She even has her own gift box! 

Next, here's this year's holiday mare and foal set, Ceres and Minerva! 

What's this? A unicorn Bluegrass Bandit? Sign me up, even if it is pink! Must have her! The foal is cute too, but I'm still trying to sell off my Ambers and Ashleys, so I'll have to split up this set if/when I get my hands on them. Let's hope they don't sell out too fast! 

Next, take a look at this stunning new Rearing Mustang! 

Will we ever stop collecting plastic ponies? This one has the answer to that in his name - NEVA! Anyways, that's a pretty cute design - reminiscent of Black Forest from this year's Breyerfest. Interestingly, he doesn't look glossy in the above photo, but the description says he's glossy and he's glossy in the other two photos as well. Maybe they were playing around with finishes and used that photo by mistake or something.

Lastly, here's Altair, the galaxy unicorn that was previewed in the Collector Club tent at this year's Breyerfest! 

A rare appearance on the elusive Shire B mold - I gotta have him too! 

Let's hope they give us some notice before these come in stock - I have to have them for the collection! I hope we get even more reveals soon! 

Breyerfest Closeups: Altair

 Hello everyone, and welcome to another edition of Breyerfest Closeups! Today I'm going to show off the new Classics Unicorn release, which was officially revealed in the Collector Club tent! 

It's been a while since Breyer has done a galaxy-themed horse (though the star bears and starry glow-in-the-dark Stablemates from a few years ago come close), so this is a welcome surprise. And it's always good to see a new release on the Shire B! I bet this one will be popular. I really like his purple/blue color scheme and the white on his face. I hope they don't all have a curve in their horns, though! And it would have been nice to see the mane and tail ribbons painted - not sure what color they should have been, though. Silver and white maybe? That would have been pretty cool. 

Let's hope his release comes sooner rather than later! I'm looking forward to getting this one in hand. 

That's all I have for today - check back again soon for more Breyerfest Closeups! 

Featured Model - 9/19/2021, Buckskin Test Shire B

 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 Buckskin Test/Auction Shire B! 

This model was a OOAK produced for the Breyerfest live auction in 2003. He was produced on the Shire B mold sculpted by Kathleen Moody. 

I remember seeing this model up for sale a few years ago, but I don't remember what the sale price was. Probably more than I wanted to pay at the time, but still less than it would be in today's crazy market. Or maybe not, since Classics aren't as popular as Traditionals. Anyway, I like the Shire B in this color - he has a lot of shading and it looks like his ribbons are fairly detailed. This guy is a bit of a rarity anyway since you don't really see Classic auction models anymore. I wonder if anyone has ever used their Design Your Own Breyer lot on a Classic mold? That would be interesting to see, if probably a waste of money (especially now that it costs upward of $5,000 to buy). 

I feel like I've posted about the Shire B (and/or A)a lot in recent times, so I'm not sure there's much I can say - I doubt he'll have any special run appearances since he was Callahan in 2018, but you never know. Maybe he'll get a new RR release next year? Both molds are sadly neglected, so it would be good to see a new release on one of them. Ooh, I have an idea - they could do a set for Halloween in some type of realistic color, with orange/black ribbons! Buttermilk buckskin, maybe? Orange and black ribbons for one, and purple/green for the other? I'd buy that! 

Featured Model - 12/5/2020, Yankee Doodle Dandy

 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...Yankee Doodle Dandy! 

This handsome guy was a contest prize for Breyerfest 2007, though IDYB doesn't list which contest. I want to say hat contest? But I'm not sure. Anyway, only 30 of these guys were produced. He's item #711437 on the Shire B mold sculpted by Kathleen Moody. 

I decided to feature this model because auction or test models, and contest prizes, are rather few and far between on Classics molds these days, though a number of tests were sold at the live auction in the early years of Breyerfest. Other than the yearly glossy Classics model offered at live shows (usually a glossy version of the previous year's Classics Horse of the Year), we don't really see a lot of rare models done on Classics, probably because the Classics line is far less popular than the Traditionals. 

As for Yankee Doodle Dandy, I really like him, though I think his ribbons could have done with a little more detail since his run was so small. I'm not sure if you'd call his color splash or more of an extended sabino - either way, I like him. The white area makes a nice contrast with his shaded bay areas, and the blue is a nice complement. Another model I'd love to have in my collection, if one ever comes up for sale! Hopefully he'd be less expensive, too. 

The Shire B is one of those molds that doesn't get used very often - he's like the rare variant of the Shire A. He's been a regular run exactly twice, and has been used as a website special run twice - that's it for him outside of rare releases. Unfortunately, this makes me think we probably won't see another release on him for quite a while, but I think we're due for new Classics models next year, so you never know. I certainly wouldn't complain if he got another new release! Callahan needs some new friends! 

Featured Model - 6/27/20, Palomino Callahan

Hello and welcome to another edition of Featured Model, the weekly blog event where I pick a model from my collection, give some stats on it and provide commentary about it! This week's model is...the palomino Callahan!



This handsome fellow is item #712261, issued in 2018 on the Shire B mold sculpted by Kathleen Moody. Official production numbers were never released for this model, or for the other two colors he was issued in. Seems to be happening more and more lately...

Anyway, I picked this guy because he's a sunny, summer-ish color and he's glossy to boot! He's a smaller version of the Pamplemousse release from back in 2011. Palomino isn't always my favorite horse color,  but our buttery Callahan here is definitely a looker! The only thing that gives me pause is his purple and yellow braids. Turquoise and silver, or even purple and silver, would have looked a lot better, IMO. But it's a small nitpick.

As for the Shire B, I'm a little sad we didn't see him used for this year's Breyerfest, considering how draft-heavy it's been. Maybe he'll get a new RR release for next year? Maybe some kind of new set with the Shire A? I hope so - he's really only been used a handful of times since his debut in 2003 (although he's been an auction model and a contest prize model in that time - if only I knew where to find those, if they were for sale!). In any case, I hope he gets a new release soon!

Featured Model - 2/9/2019, American Spotted Draft Shire B

Hello and welcome to another edition of Featured Model, the weekly blog event where I pick a model from my collection, give some stats on it and provide commentary about it! This week's model is...the American Spotted Draft Shire B!



This handsome guy was produced in 2009 as a regular run. He's item #620 on the Shire B mold sculpted by Kathleen Moody.

I've always wondered why this guy's production run was so short - he's definitely handsome! Classic models aren't always known for being hot sellers, though, so that might explain it. I finally got my hands on him a couple of months ago (two of them, actually) and they spent a couple of months in a sunny window in the hopes it would cure their unfortunate yellow tinge, but I don't think it did much. Oh well. It's a nice paint job, though! And his blue-and-yellow ribbons make me happy; they're probably just supposed to be Breyer colors, but my alma mater also uses those colors, so yay!

As for the Shire B himself, he still doesn't get much use these days, but last year's Callahan special run was definitely appreciated! I hope they use him again soon! Maybe he'll get a new regular run release. I can only hope!

Go Ahead; Make My Day

Good news, everyone! My Callahans finally came, and I just had to get them opened up. I was so excited to see this mold appear in the (Breyer) dead pool! But first, I have to torture you a little bit. Here are the three boxes!

By some miracle, only one of them was smashed. Apparently many, if not most, of the boxes for this release have been getting pulverized.

But anyway...What could be inside? What mysteries do the boxes hold? Do I feel lucky? Time to see if Breyer went ahead and made my day.

The plot thickens! I think I can see what they are! Time to get these punks unwrapped. I'd tease you more, but a good woman always knows her limitations, so I'll cut to the chase.

Drat! Breyer must have forgotten my fortune cookie - I'm SOL. I didn't manage to hit the trifecta, but at least I didn't get three of the same color. Here's a pic of one of the silver bays up closer.



I'm having trouble deciding which of these three colors I like the best, but I think the silver bay wins. He's got just a touch of pearly in his mane and tail, though, which puts him in the lead. Here's a picture of the silver bay and palomino with their Trad-size doppelgangers:



I think Breyer did a pretty good job of emulating the original paint colors, although the Callahans don't have any dapples like the original releases do. Nor does the silver bay have mapped markings like Silverado, although I wouldn't have expected that. The original Silverado doesn't have the pearly mane and tail, though, which makes Callahan unique! They almost look like proud dads escorting their kids to a show (or a Vikings game, going by the palomino's ribbon colors), or perhaps experienced police inspectors taking their rookie partners out on patrol. Just as long as the rookies don't get killed, right?



Quality-wise, they run the gamut - one of the silver bays is quite nice, while the other has a number of minor flaws that are making me consider exchanging him if I can't get him traded for a silver filigree. Maybe if I exchange him, I'll get a silver filigree! As for the palomino, he's mostly nice, but his eyes are very sloppily painted. I'll hang onto him though - with my luck, if I exchanged both of them I'd get two silver bays back and be even more SOL.

All in all, I think this was a great special run - the Shire B mold is sadly underused, and this special run was a totally unexpected sudden impact! Maybe Breyer saw my Featured Model post about the Shire B back in October, eh? Probably not, but it's nice to dream. Maybe we'll see the mold pop up somewhere else, since they put it back into production for this special run? I hope so!

Callahan, Live Show prizes and more!

Lots of exciting things happening today! Firstly, a surprise new Classics special run popped up on the website - Callahan!



Oooooh! I like them all! And I'm thrilled that they're using the Shire B for this - he hardly ever gets used! From the website (bolded by me):

Everyone’s a winner with this gambler’s choice Web Special! This powerful Classics Shire comes in three striking finishes, each inspired by special releases of the fan-favorite model, Othello! You will randomly receive one of the following Shire models inspired by Silverado, Silver Snow and Pamplemouse (sic):  

• Shaded Silver Bay with silver and blue ribbons and bobs
• Silver Filigree with a high gloss finish and red and green ribbons and bobs
• Shaded Palomino Sabino with a high gloss finish and gold and purple bobs and ribbons

It was "Pamplemousse," Breyer, but good try. I always thought that was a stupid name anyway (French for grapefruit).

But anyway. I love all three of these guys, although the palomino one doesn't look like it quite matches the original Pamplemousse's color. Maybe it'll look better in person. Either way, I want them all! I don't even know which one I like the best - the silver bay, probably, even though silver filigree is supposedly my favorite Breyer colorway. I think it's the bobs - red and green, really? It's not Christmas, you guys.

But I digress. These are randomly shipped and we ordered three of them on our accounts, so with a little bit of luck I'll get all three colors! If not I'll have to find someone to trade with - no biggie. It was refreshing to be able to order these after not one, but two Koh-i-Noor fiascos.

In other news, the Breyerfest Live Show Grand and Reserve prizes were unveiled today - Cloverleaf and Hot to Trot. First, here's Cloverleaf, the Live Show Grand prize!

Great, another super-limited Geronimo I'll never get my hands on. The blog describes him as a silver bay, but...that doesn't look like silver bay to me at all. More like a shaded chestnut? Someone must have gotten confused. It's a nice color, though - too bad I'll never be able to afford him.

Next, we have the Live Show Reserve prize - Hot to Trot!



I'm not as disappointed with this one, because I don't collect the mold, fortunately. I'm surprised they used this mold when they're already using it for the glossy Foiled Again release, but they've been on a kick of using less-popular molds for the live show prizes for the past few years - which is good for my bank account, so I'm not going to argue with it. That color is nice, too! His paint job looks like an older style, although that probably wasn't the intent.

I actually did think about trying my hand at showing this year, but then I made a reservation to see the stallions at the Darley at Jonabell farm, and the only available time was Friday afternoon. Maybe next year!

Ooh, and apparently the glossy prizes have been announced (no photos yet): Brunello and Hwin in glossy. Drat! That just makes my Brunello quandary even worse! And Hwin? I want that, too! I must be getting too far ahead of myself in predicting the glossies - they used to use new releases from the same year, but now they've shifted to new releases from the previous year (or older). I guess they couldn't get too predictable.

My last bit of news is that Rialto came today! But I'm going to save his pictures for tomorrow, since this post is getting long. Stay tuned!

Featured Model - 10/7/2017, Delivery Wagon Shire B

Hello, readers, and welcome to another edition of Featured Model, the weekly blog event where I pick a model from my collection, give some stats on it and provide commentary about it. This week's model is...the Delivery Wagon Shire B!



This handsome guy was produced in 2003-2004 as part of the Delivery Wagon with Clydesdale Team set. This set included a very pretty blue delivery wagon, two harnesses and the Shires A and B in a nice bay color. It was item #2405, and the Shire B was sculpted by none other than Kathleen Moody. I believe this set was a regular run, which makes one wonder why it's so expensive to obtain now. I don't think it was particularly popular at the time of its release, so that may be why.

In last week's Featured Model, I think I said Make a Wish was the first mold to have interchangeable body parts, but clearly I forgot about the Shire B! Although I'm pretty sure the Shire B is its own mold, distinct from the Shire A, but I don't know for sure. Either way, everyone knows the Shire A and the Shire B are the same mold, but the Shire B has the tucked head to distinguish it.

I wish the Shire B would get used more often; the Shire A has had a healthy number of releases and is in the current line as the Best of British Shire Stallion and was used as the Sharpieloosa Triton last year. Shire B, though, hasn't been used since his unexpected appearance as Frosty in 2014, and had only two wide releases before that.

I like this mold because he looks like he's showing a little more attitude than the Shire A. There's the Shire A, looking all happy and obedient, stealing the limelight again. Shire B tosses his head in frustration! He wants to be the star too! But there's the Shire A, that goody-two-shoes jerk. Shire B will show them someday! He'll show them all! Er...you get the idea.

So, anyway. The Shire B definitely needs more chances to shine - hopefully this happens soon! I'm always down for more releases on molds I like!