Featured Model - 5/29/2021, Glossy Bouncer

 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 Bouncer! 

This shiny pony was one of the Breyerfest Live Show prizes back in 2007. He's item #707G, and a total of 28 glossy Bouncers were produced on the Cefnoakpark Bouncer mold sculpted by Kathleen Moody. 

You really don't see glossy Bouncers up for sale very often - I think I've seen maybe one for sale since my return to the hobby in 2010. Of course, this is the type of model that changes hands in private sales, so I'm sure some have been sold since then. One wonders what type of price he would bring in today's inflated sales market, though I imagine he'd be worth at least $1,000 even prior to that. In any case, gloss suits him well - it really brings out the undertones in his paint job. 

As for the Bouncer mold, we haven't seen anything new on the mold since last year's Bilberry. He's a mold that doesn't tend to get used very often, for whatever reason, so I don't anticipate seeing any new releases soon, but you never know - maybe they'll come out with a new pony for the mid-year releases - we should be seeing those soon. Or maybe they'll come out with some type of scrubby children's pony for one of this year's TSC releases? That could be fun. In any case, I hope I can get my hands on the next release! I still haven't managed to find a Bilberry for my collection - but I'm sure I'll track one down eventually. 

May Collector Club Newsletter!

 Greetings, readers! The Collector Club newsletter for May is out for perusal - check your inboxes! Among other exciting items, there's a recap of the True Blue Breyer collector event from last weekend, including an official photo of True Blue, the raffle model: 

She's pretty, but nothing I need. Congrats to the winners! 

Also, I have to admit that bingo card gave me a chuckle. Spider sighting indoors...I had one of those the other day! Fortunately it wasn't an Australia-sized spider, or I'd probably still be running away screaming. Anyway...

There's also a quick survey about the newsletter itself, so be sure to fill that out (I mentioned I'd like to see more fan-written content - one thing that always irks me is the plethora of art-related contests Breyer runs all the time and at Breyerfest, but the comparative dearth of writing competitions - give some of us writers a chance to win one of those spectacular prize models! But I digress...).

This month's newsletter giveaway is for a Breyerfest All-Access ticket! Enter for that here.
 
The newsletter sneak peek for this month is the next Vintage Club model! Behold:

The general consensus online is that this is the glossy dapple bay Terrang on the presentation base. Also nothing I need, and I'm kinda wondering why they bothered to do a sneak peek with this one, since they already told us what it was in the Vintage Club welcome letter. Guess they didn't have anything else they wanted to tease us with this month...sigh. Oh well - hopefully they give us something juicy next month! 

Featured Model - 5/22/2021, LSE G2 Rearing Arabian

 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 G2 Arabian from the 2009 Lone Star Experience collector event! 

200 of these beauties were produced for attendees of the LSE, produced on the G2 Rearing Arabian sculpted by Kathleen Moody. 

I've always thought this was a cute design- I love the little white curlicues amid the blue. Was this the first time this pattern was used? I can't remember. We've since seen it (or something very similar) on Liberty and at least one Design Your Own Breyer, but I feel like there's one more I'm forgetting. Anyway, it's a very desirable color on a very desirable model! There are 200 of these guys, but they seem to be a pretty hot commodity - you don't see them for sale very often. Hopefully someday I can get my hands on one! 

The Rearing Arabian has had a healthy number of releases over the years since his 1998 debut, so it's hard to say where we'll see him next. I believe he's due for another Breyerfest appearance, though - maybe next year? Or perhaps as some kind of holiday or Halloween blind bag release? Perish the thought - I'd rather just cut to the chase and have them make sets we can buy like in the old days. Remember those good old days? Here's hoping, anyway. 

New test model!

 Well, it's May, everyone! And you know what that means - another test model from the Breyer archive, fresh for the purchasing! Check this guy out: 

From the website: 

This unique mule was created in the process of developing our portrait model of Dressage superstar Buckeye! The Saddle Mule (also known as “Brown Sunshine,” #484) was sculpted by Bonnie Shields and was first released in 1996. This test run model is painted as a leopard/near-leopard appaloosa with speckling, dynamic shading, and of course, lots of spots! Appaloosa patterns in mules are often “skewed” and appear a bit different than the appaloosa patterns found in horses – they are typically very loud with larger spots.

Interesting! Here's the Buckeye that found its way to production: 

 

Well, there's definitely a clear, stark difference between the two. But well...his price tag is $1350. Price jump much? I mean, sheesh. This isn't even that popular of a mold. Yes, I know the Breyerfest auction models sell for more, but those tend to be far more detailed, or come with truly one-of-a-kind mane and/or tail customizations. This test model doesn't look too dissimilar from something we could get as a regular run, or collector club special run. 

Oh well - I'm sure Breyer can find at least one person to spend that much money on this guy. Good luck to everyone entering! 

Stubbs reveal and Crane selections!

 Our sneak peek from Friday has been revealed - huzzah! Here's Stubbs at long last: 

I have to admit the Hanoverian isn't one of my favorite molds, though I had three of them back in the day (Art Deco was one of my favorites as a child), but dang, this guy is pretty! His tail looks weird, though - I think usually they're lower? I wonder if that was done on purpose so he looks like he's flipping his tail a little bit. Either way, that color is beautiful! 

Also, the selections for Crane are out! I don't think I've been chosen for this one, yet again...sigh. Maybe I can find one for sale for a decent price? Congratulations to the lucky winners, though! 

Looks like a glove to me...

 Greetings, readers! Sadly, I missed posting about a new sneak peek on the Breyerfest Blog that was posted on Friday - behold! 

Not much of a clue, but the consensus (that I saw) was that this is Stubbs, the Diorama Contest prize model, and it's on the Secretariat mold by Chris Hess. Seems like as good of a guess as any, considering the diorama prize tends to be on less-popular molds. I'm excited to see what it is - hopefully we don't have to wait too long! 

Featured Model - 5/15/2021, Breton

 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...Breton! 

This little heartbreaker was the runner-up prize for last year's Breyerfest Best Customs Contest. Only 11 of them were made! He's item #711393 and was produced on the Darwin/Lipizzaner mold sculpted by Kelly Sealey. He's an alternate version of the original Darwin, but black instead of dunalino. 

What a heartbreaker, indeed! 10 of these were awarded in the contest last year, with an 11th auctioned off with a Cornwall, the grand prize model, in last year's online Breyerfest auction. He looks good in black - fortunately I have the much-easier-to-obtain black one from the Deluxe Horse Collection. Maybe someday we'll get an actual greyed-out Lipizzaner on this mold! We can only dream - after all, we still haven't gotten a black Django, either. Excuse me while I suppress rolling my eyes...but anyway. 

Where will we see Darwin next? He's a pretty hot commodity at the moment - he was used in four different releases last year and is getting at least two this year, so I'd guess they'll let the mold cool down for a little while after that - but anything is possible, right? Probably another regular run release if anything, since he's been used for just about everything possible in the last few years. I guess we'll see eventually! 

Fireheart Delayed

 Welp, it looks like the first Premier Club release of the year, Fireheart, has been delayed per an email I got from Breyer this afternoon. They don't expect to get Fireheart in stock until mid-June, so we can all put our pocketbooks away for a while (only to get them right back out for Crane, if drawn). Darn it, that gives the model more time to grow on me and possibly find a place in my collection. Nooooo....

Wow!

 Wow, I didn't see today's Breyerfest reveal coming at all. Check this out! 

Kaleidoscope, indeed! I don't think anyone thought they'd use the same Stablemate mold twice (he's also in the Best of Breyerfest set), but I guess I'm not going to complain - he's beautiful! Kinda reminds me of Technicolor, the color-shift filigree Huck from a few Breyerfests back. I don't think this one is color-shift, but he's beautiful all the same. And they're making 6500 of him, so it shouldn't be too difficult to get one (famous last words?). What a beauty! 

Crane!

 Exciting news today, readers - the latest web special has been revealed! Behold, Crane:

Ooh, he is a pretty one - and on Emerson, as a lot of people guessed. Dang, I guess that means I've gotta enter for him. Fortunately, we only have to enter once!

I hope his dapples look nice...but anyway. Is it bad that I want to nickname him Ichabod? Although a horse with that name should probably be black...but I digress. 

This guy is a run of 375, so there are slightly more of them than the previous Birds of a Feather releases. He's probably the last of the series, too, unless they do more next year   Oops, counted wrong there. There should be one more in this series this year! Good luck to people entering for him! 

Finally, a sneak peek!

 Wow, we finally have a new sneak peek on the blog! Check this out: 

I was totally flummoxed by that at first (how the heck would they paint a believable kaleidoscope pattern on a model without screwing it up?) until someone on Facebook said the kaleidoscope was done on the photo (d'oh!). Anyway, the best guesses I've seen are that this is the G4 reiner or perhaps Cassidy. I'd be happy with either of those, since I wouldn't need to buy them. Here's hoping! 

Featured Model - 5/8/2021, Tortuga G3 Friesian

 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 Tortuga G3 Friesian! 

This model was produced as part of the Three Ring Circus Stablemate set from Breyerfest 2006. 1,200 sets were produced, with item #711066, and the Tortuga was issued on the G3 Friesian sculpted by Jane Lunger.

1200 of these sets were produced, but it might as well be more like 200 for the ones I've seen for sale since 2006. I suppose things disappear into collections pretty well over the course of 15 years - and the ones I have seen for sale were way too expensive...at least, for my tastes. Anyway, this mini Tortuga is a small version of the Connoisseur Tortuga issued on the Moody Andalusian. That model tends toward the more expensive end of the scale when it comes to Conns, so I suppose it makes sense that this smaller Tortuga would also be expensive to find. 

Where will we see the G3 Friesian next? He last appeared in 2020 as one of the Spooky Stablemates blind bags, so we may not see a new release for a while, but I wouldn't say no to something new for this year. Speaking of which, are we EVER going to see the Breyerfest Limited Edition Stablemate? Come on! Maybe it'll be the Friesian? Whatever it is, I hope we finally get to see it soon. 

Well, that's a load off my shoulders!

 Good news, everyone! The special runs for the True Blue Breyer event have been released - behold! 

So that's Croi, the Old Timer, Rejoice, the Clydesdale Mare, Ruffian and the Mangalarga Marchador. Some of those are kind of odd choices...but I'm totally happy about it, because I don't need any of them except the Ruffian. Of course, I'm probably not going to find her for less than $2,000, which means I probably won't ever find her, but I can always hope. The color on the Rejoice is nice, but I sold off all the models I had on her mold a few years ago - same with Croi and the Marchador. The color on the Old Timer is interesting too, but it's more interesting that he doesn't have a hat or blinkers. I wonder if he was made from old warehouse blanks? That would explain the missing hats and blinkers. Anyway, I'm just glad I don't need to seek out very many things from this event! I hope everyone that was drawn has good luck getting what they want. 

In other news, some new Stablemates singles were revealed today out of the blue. Are they a mid-year release? Must be, I guess. I wondered about that in my latest Featured Model post - too bad one of these new ones isn't the G3 Rearing Andalusian, eh? 

The colors are pretty, but I don't need any of them other than the Alborozo and the Django, and I guess the Charleston to go with my other two. Hope I can find them soon! 

Featured Model - 5/1/2021, Hermes

 Hello and welcome to 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...Hermes! 

75 of these beauties were made back in 2011 for an ASPCA fundraiser. Donors of at least $100 received a Hermes as thanks. He was issued on the Rearing Andalusian mold sculpted by Jane Lunger. 

Hermes is certainly a rare fellow - I very rarely see them up for sale. It's funny how things change - I never would have spent $100 on a Stablemate back in 2011...but now, for a run of 75, I might just consider it. Doesn't seem likely that they'll do another release similar to this one anytime soon, but you never know. 

The Rearing Andalusian is a popular mold, but he hasn't had a special run for a few years, and his last regular run appearance ended in 2019. Will he get a new release soon? I sure hope so! Since we still haven't seen this year's Limited Edition Stablemate for Breyerfest, maybe he's it? I'm not sure where else he could show up in the near future. unless they do a Stablemates mid-year release - are those a thing? Maybe one of the blind bag things they do at the end of the year? Ugh, I hope not. But I do hope we get a new Rearing Andalusian soon!