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. 

An early morning reveal today!

Huzzah - the last special run was revealed today! We didn't have to wait until Monday - it's a miracle. Say hello to Banner!



From the blog:

For a fun twist this year, we decided to use Kathleen Moody’s stunning American Saddlebred Stallion (mold #571) for our 30th Anniversary Special Run decorator model, too! Done in an eye-catching glossy red and black Tortuga clearware, this guy is sure to get your heart racing!

Not that I don't like him, but...did they run out of ideas? What's he a reference to? His name is Banner, but red and black aren't generally associated with the Hulk. It kinda sounds like they tossed a bunch of ideas together to create him and then decided to just go ahead and use him in the special run lineup.

Also, it's a bit odd that they're using the Moody ASB when he's already being used elsewhere - but it's not like I'm terribly likely to get my hands on a Cap, so I won't complain too much. Sheesh, they've been using this mold a lot lately - two web specials, the early bird model and now this guy? Maybe somebody found a ton of bodies in the warehouse they're trying to use up.

So there you have it, folks - all eight (well, seven) special run line models are revealed! As usual, I didn't predict them very well, but that's nothing new. Looks like I'm going to be looking for three of them for my own collection - possibly four, depending on what the surprise is. And my guess for the surprise is still the Moody Andalusian!