Featured Model - 6/29/2019, Once Upon a Time

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! In honor of the too-fast-approaching Breyerfest 2019, this week's model is... the matte Once Upon a Time!



This guy was one of the special runs from Breyerfest 2011. He's item #711130 and a run of 375 (with an additional 375 glossy versions) on the Show Jumping Warmblood mold sculpted by Sue Sifton.

He's one of my favorites on this mold, despite being near-identical to Star-Studded from the previous year...and Naomi/Wynonna, for that matter. And Sixes and Sevens and Bonne Fete to a lesser extent...hmm, somebody at Breyer must really like bay appaloosa. To be fair, it's a nice color! But I'm glad they've laid off using it the last few years.In any case, the SJW wears it well! The glossy version looks even nicer, but that one continues to elude me. Maybe this year I'll find one at Breyerfest? I hope so. That or the $200 glossy perlino Quelle Surprise from a couple years back that I've been kicking myself for not buying ever since. Ahem! Anyway...

As for the SJW, where will we see him next? It'd be pretty crazy if he showed up as this year's surprise model, but I don't think he will. He was just used at the Scottsdale Stampede event last fall and was a limited edition release in 2017, so I wonder if Breyer will give him a rest for a while. I hope it's not too long of a rest, though, and he's only been a web special once. Maybe he'll make a reappearance this year? I hope so!

More auction goodness!

Exciting news - we got more auction lots on the blog today! Check out lot 16!



Wow, he's stunning! The blog says he was inspired by Labyrinth, the raffle model from 2005 - but in blue! I love his silver mapping and hooves.

Next, lot 17 - a Semi-Rearing Mustang!



The blog says he's yet another liver chestnut. Sheesh, this has to be the fourth one in the auction so far - what's with that? He is really nice, though - I could see him going really high. It's going to be hard to predict this year's top seller with so many great models, though!

Lot 18 is the Live Show Reserve prize Triumph, which we've already seen, so I'll skip to Lot 19 - a Legionario!



I think that's one of the nicest red dun paint jobs I've ever seen. The blog says he was designed by Sommer Prosser, so that would explain why he's so nice. Now if Breyer could figure out how to put that color on a larger release without mucking it up!

Those are all the auction models for today - I wonder if we'll get more on Friday? They have to save something for next week though, don't they?

Greyson is here!

Greetings, readers! Good news - my Greyson model has arrived. Observe!

So handsome! I really like him, although if I had to nitpick something, I'd say he needed a little less white. Here's his other side:

He has an amazing amount of detail for such a small model. Too bad he's so narrow through the withers, again...seriously, someone needs to ask Breyer about this at Breyerfest.



Quality-wise, he's excellent - I didn't see a thing wrong with him other than an area or two of blurred edges to his markings. I was afraid I was going to snap off one of his little legs while I was trying to get him out of the box, though - can we please go back to the satin bags already?

That reminds me - I thought Breyer's awful new shipping company couldn't sink any lower than shipping stuff in bubble mailers, but it turns out that bar could be lowered after all. Now people who ordered 3 or fewer blind bag Stablemates with their SMC models have been receiving them with the blind bags crammed into the tiny SMC shipping box! This didn't happen to me personally (nor did I get my Greyson models in bubble mailers, thankfully), but again - if I ordered a blind bag with mine and it turned out to be the chase piece, but was broken due to these terrible shipping practices, I would be LIVID. Get it together, Breyer!

Anyway, that's all I've got for today. One thing I can say for sure, though - I'm going to be on the lookout for the PYO sets in the Breyer store at Breyerfest! I can't wait to see where they use this guy next!

Splish Splash, I was taking a bath...

Happy Monday, everyone! We've got four more auction models listed today and I have to say - Breyer is really knocking it out of the park with the auction models this year. They've all been stunning so far! Let's start with Lot 10, North Star:

I know we've already seen him (he's the Saturday Raffle), but I couldn't remember if I'd seen him from the off side yet or not. Oooh, I hope I win one...

Anyway, on to this incredible Giselle/Gilen set:



The blog describes them as a "chalky Soft Dapple Palomino Splash Pinto" and a "chalky Silver Black Splash Pinto." As usual, I'm not really a fan of the chalky look on these - the white is just too stark. But I really like that palomino Giselle! Not sure why they don't just say they're basecoated white rather than chalky - probably to make them sound more exotic.

Next is this amazing Forever Saige!



I think she's my favorite of the auction models we've seen so far. Look at her! The blog calls her a "fantastical Dark Bay Splash Pinto with White Zebra Stripes." Those stripes don't look white to me (and they resemble brindling more than zebras), but who cares? She's incredible! I want this color on everything! Please don't let this be the only time we ever see it, Breyer! Although I'm sensing a pattern with all the splash pintos...

Lot 13 is another hidden lot, so here's lot 14:



I guess Breyer must have decided they need to try to get their investment costs back after letting this mold sit unused since its 2014 introduction. First there was Espresso, then there was Peplum, now this? Well, she's not my favorite mold, but that's an excellent color on her! And another splash pinto...is Breyer trying to tell us something? Maybe we'll see one of these patterns on a regular or special run next year? If so, I hope it's the one on the Forever Saige. She's a beauty!

Featured Model - 6/22/2019, Glossy Fall

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. In honor of our local draft horse show happening this weekend, this week's model is...Glossy Fall!

This model was part of Breyer's "Four Seasons" treasure hunt in 2010. Item #1417G, he's a regular run on the Othello mold sculpted by Kathleen Moody.

All of the colors in this treasure hunt were nice in matte, but Fall was the best glossy, with Spring a close runner-up. Whenever I see photos of him, I'm amazed at how nice they all look and how well they photograph. Although bay admittedly isn't my favorite horse color, this one was done really well. He has beautiful shading and almost mirror-like gloss. Definitely a winner!

Othello is one of Breyer's most popular molds, despite the fact that the sculpt is now so old it probably qualifies for Vintage status (he celebrates 20 years this year!). His most recent appearance was as the volunteer model Churchill at Breyerfest 2018. Where will he appear next? The prospect of him being the Breyerfest surprise model haunts my nightmares, but it doesn't seem likely; he's been used in almost every color, and I can almost guarantee fistfights in the special run line, at the Clarion, and anywhere else models are exchanged if he shows up. Such is his popularity! I hope Breyer stays well away...for my pocketbook's sake, if anything else. And don't shrink him down to Stablemate size, either! It's hard enough collecting the Traditional size version of him as it is!

LaFleet - I mean, LaFitte

Just when things couldn't get any crazier, there's another new web special - LaFitte!



Now, the Old Timer does have his charms, and I like how his hat color matches his body color really well, but he's not going to be able to charm me, sadly. I've never been a fan of molded-on tack, no matter how whimsical the mold.

That said, his color is beautiful (he'd make a nice boyfriend, or maybe father, for Pepper). I hope his tack is well-painted - there's a lot of room for error there, even on a run as small as 350. And heavens to Betsy, I hope none of them arrive at buyers' houses with broken blinkers or missing hats!

This guy is also being release crazily close to Breyerfest - usually they wait until afterward to reveal the next web special. Maybe they have something extra-special planned for the post-Breyerfest doldrums this year? Or maybe they need a big infusion of cash, fast. It's probably the cash.

Alas, could this be the last of the America the Beautiful web specials? It's been an excellent theme for the last three (!) years, but I can't see them continuing it for another year. If so, kudos to Breyer (and Sommer Prosser) for coming up with a series in which every model was more stunning than the last!

THE PROGRAM IS OUT! AHHHHH!

Holy crap, I am SO excited right now! The Breyerfest program is available to view, and I just got the most incredible surprise when I looked through it! They're making a 10-piece Stablemate set of all the Celebration Horses since 2010, to continue on from the 2009 set! I can't believe they're actually doing it! They'll be in the Hero's Salute Shop!

So, I'm pretty sure Breyer's intention was to have this song going through my head while I stared at these models in the program (language warning).



So, let's take a closer look at the photo. Here they are:

1. Pecos (2011) on the Mirado mold
2. Brass Hat (2018) on the new Walking Thoroughbred/Greyson mold
3. Oliver on the G4 Driving Horse mold
4. Simba (2015) on...I can't tell what mold that is
5. Gooitzen fan Teakesyl (2014) on...I think Django? I wonder if he's glossy.
6. Imperador das Aguas (2016) on the G2 Paso Fino mold
7. Smart and Shiney (2013) on the G4 Reiner mold
8. Nazruddin (2017) on the Darley (!) mold
9. All Glory (2010) on the G2 Morgan, I think?
10. Mariah's Boon (2012) on the Tushar mold

I am completely blown away - I don't think I've ever been this excited about a Breyerfest release in my life! Kill me now...or at least let me be first in line to buy one on Friday! Fortunately, it looks like they're making 2000 sets, so I don't have to be desperately clawing my way to the front of the line to get one. Not that I would, or anything...

Ack! Now I'm more excited for Breyerfest than I was before! Friday the 12th can't come soon enough!

There are also several never-before-seen auction models in the program! Behold - there's a rainbow Croi with gold mapping!

And a red bay PAM!



And a star dapple rose gray braided Bristol!

And a silver dapple bay pinto Lonesome Glory!

And a glossy dapple liver chestnut Show Jumping Warmblood with Croi tail!

And lastly, a pearly cremello Totilas!



Wow, that Bristol is to die for! And the Croi - that knocks her out as the surprise or the volunteer model. I'm not sure I like the Croi tail on the SJW, but his color is really nice. Wait, another liver chestnut? That makes three now. Is liver chestnut going to be the color of choice for Breyer's regular run line next year? Sheesh! Well, anyway, I can't wait to see these models in person IN THREE WEEKS! AAHHH!