Breyerfest Day -1: Calm Before The Storm (Kind Of)

Hello everyone! I don’t have much of an update, but I wanted to let everyone know we’re set up in Room 409 and will be open for business sometime tomorrow. I saw plenty of rooms open on a quick jaunt through the halls, but I didn’t do too much shopping - I don’t want to blow through all my money the first night! 

Our trip down had a few tense moments, but nothing too bad - I was afraid we’d miss our connection in Chicago, but we made it with a few minutes to spare. Hopefully we make better time on the way back!

As for today’s post title, my husband tells me there’s a hurricane bearing down on the Gulf right now and the remnants may hit us later this week. I say some rain is a good thing, but maybe not tropical storm rain...Hopefully Breyerfest doesn’t get rained out!

That’s all I have for now. I’m excited to see the artisan’s gallery tomorrow so I can see some special run models in person! It won’t be long now!

Not Throwing Away My Shot

The second Premier Club release of the year is revealed! Meet Hamilton:



I'm relieved we got to see him yesterday - I was afraid they'd make us wait until Friday for the reveal!

While it's too early to say I love him yet (I'll save that for whenever I get into the Collector Club tent to see him this weekend), I'm definitely leaning in the "buy" direction. He's just so beefy! Like I said, I know they're supposed to look like that, but still!



The beefiness is especially evident in the off-side shot. I like his tail better from this angle, though.



I do like his head, though. Another question - will Breyer's painters be able to pull off that paint job? It doesn't look terribly complicated, so I'm optimistic about it. Can't wait to see him this weekend!

Speaking of this weekend, I would have had this guy posted yesterday, but we were up until midnight packing and loading the car, so I just didn't have the time. My husband started the drive this morning, and my daughter and I are flying out tomorrow, so I probably won't be able to update again until Thursday. Fortunately, that's when the action starts! I won't make any promises, but I'm hoping to be able to provide updates all weekend for viewers at home. As usual, we're staying in room 409 (giddyup!), so stop by and mention the blog and you'll get a free (RR) Stablemate, while supplies last! See you all soon!

Second Premier Club sculpt revealed!

Good news, everyone! The second Premier Club sculpt of the year has finally been revealed on the Premier Club blog! Check out his head:



Wow, look at the detail! I'm guessing this is the clay master, so it's anyone's guess how much of that detail will end up on the plastic version. I'm a little hesitant to say I like it just because he's so beefy, but Saddlebreds tend to look like that, so I'll have to get over it. Here's the front view:



I'm hesitating to reserve judgement until I see the whole sculpt, but I like his head at least. I'm a little perplexed as to why they'd make a new Trad in the same pose as last year's Classics Mason, but it's good to have a new Saddlebred. I imagine they'll wait until Friday morning at Breyerfest to reveal the whole thing, but who knows, maybe we'll see it tomorrow! I hope so.

Featured Model - 7/6/2019, Glossy Palomino Pinto Pop the Cork

Hello and welcome to yet 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 Breyerfest being a week away, this week's model is...the Glossy Palomino Pinto Pop the Cork!



This shiny fellow was a run of 155 and was item #711181 on the Nokota mold sculpted by Kathleen Moody. He was one of the possible colors that could be obtained as part of that year's Pop the Cork surprise run.

Although I like palominos, I'll admit there are some shades of that color I don't like. Fortunately, this guy isn't one of those shades. He looks like caramel! Mmm. And his blue eye is so striking! If I'm going to be nitpicky, I'd like to see a little bit of darker shading on the mane and tail (to set them off from the white markings a little more), but it's no biggie. He almost looks good enough to eat!

The Nokota himself has been used in many ways, but we haven't seen him at Breyerfest since his 2014 appearance as the surprise model. He was the big cat Java in 2017, as well as the limited edition Illumination, and was the event model at the 2018 Scottsdale Stampede, so I wonder if Breyer's giving the mold a bit of a rest? Honestly, I wouldn't mind seeing a new regular run on him, despite his odd shape negating a wider-than-usual box. More regular run Moody molds is never a bad thing!

Anyway, I hope we see a new Nokota soon - as long as it's one I can get my hands on!

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!

Premier Club sneak peek and silent auction Valegro!

Finally, a clue as to the second Premier Club release of the year! Breyer posted a portion of a sketch on the Premier Club Blog (probably never to be updated again) today!



Ooh, it looks like a Saddlebred! Breyer is definitely overdue for a new Trad Saddlebred, although it might be a little bit weird to get one in pretty much the same pose as last year's Classic Mason. Maybe it's a TWH? I might be able to get behind that, or a Morgan. Saddlebred is definitely my first choice, though! Good thing we only have to wait a week or so to see it, eh?

In other news, photos of one of the Breyerfest silent auction lots went up on the Breyerfest Blog today!



Ooh, a glossy black Valegro! He'll go high, although I kinda wish they'd found a different stand to put him on. Black horse, black stand, not enough contrast. Speaking of contrast, I think he needs a little white - maybe a snip or a small star, Friesian-style.

His costume is amazing, though!

Created by the amazing Didi Hornberger, who made last year's racing tack set for the OOAK Carrick in the silent auction. So how much will this set sell for? I'm guessing at least $3,000 - possibly more, since Valegro is a popular mold. More importantly, this knocks Valegro out of the running for this year's surprise model. It's looking more and more like the Moody Andalusian is the way to go this year, and if that's the case I hope the volunteer model is something I don't want, so I don't have to try to get both!

Even more auction models!

More auction models were posted on the blog today - observe Lot 19:



He's described as a Pearly Golden Cremello, but I'm not really into him for some reason. If I had to pick a Totilas auction model, I'd pick the palomino from 2014, which I was heartbroken to learn wasn't the volunteer model that year.

Next, Lot 20:



Hmm, we hadn't seen these anywhere yet. They're cute enough, although none of those molds have ever really caught my fancy. Rare Sea Stars are few and far between, though, and Misty does have her fans out there, so I'm betting this set will go pretty high.

Next, Lot 21:

Wow, I bet this guy will go pretty high too. Although I can't help but think he would have been a showstopper in gloss.

And lastly, Lot 21:



My weakness for rainbows strikes again! I love this one, even though I'm not really into Croi models. Rainbow can make pretty much anything look good, I guess. Though it doesn't hurt that she's glossy and has that gold mapping to boot (though I'd rather see silver mapping, personally). I'm betting this one will go high as well, since I'm not the only one with a weakness for rainbows, judging by Prism's popularity.

That's all I've got for today, and I think all of the auction models have been revealed in one way or another by now. I can't believe Breyerfest is only a little over a week away, and I haven't even started packing yet!