Featured Model - 10/9/2021, Glossy Gypsy Vanner

 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 Gypsy Vanner! 

This handsome guy was one of the prize models at Breyerfest Live in 2013. He was a run of I think 50 (though IDYB doesn't have that listed for some reason). He's item #1497G and was issued on the Brishen/Gypsy Vanner mold sculpted by Kathleen Moody. 

Brishen and his Andalusian alter ego have had a pretty popular run in the years since they first debuted. Brishen, especially, has had a new release almost every year, so he must be popular with somebody! His most recent release was this year's Halloween Horse Thriller, with Obsidian the Unicorn Stallion debuting at the start of this year. He's a popular guy! Sadly, I don't have a glossy Gypsy Vanner in my collection - sometimes I think back to when they could be had for $400 or less and kick myself for not buying then, because they're way more expensive than that now (if you can even find one for sale). Oh well - maybe someday I'll find one, or the prices will go down - or both! 

Brishen is pretty popular, so it's hard to say where we'll see him next - though I note he still hasn't appeared as the Breyerfest surprise model like I thought he would have by now. I imagine next year's Breyerfest will have a lot of drafters with its Gemany theme...so, let's just say ol' Brishen is a front-runner for surprise model right now. I guess we'll have to wait and see! 

What a tweest!

 More exciting news today, readers - we finally get to see the final Stablemates Club release of the year! If you're a member of this year's club, check your email for more. And say hello to Twist! 

His name seems kinda low-effort- I'd at least have named him Twister. Oh well, I don't make the rules. 

He's definitely a beauty! I can't wait to purchase mine. He's apparently still on track to ship in December, and evidently we'll be able to order the bonus foal set with him (which is good, because I want those as well). It just kind of hurts that they're twisting (heh) the knife with today's reminder about the Stablemate drafter foal, after just revealing yesterday that the new mare and foal set for this year are NOT drafters. Maybe next year, eh? 

The news is coming fast and furious!

 More exciting news today, everyone - firstly, there's going to be a Breyerfest second-chance sale for All-Access ticket holders after all! Huzzah! 

According to the email, the remaining SR horse are the 7 Arts Surprise, Gran Cavallo, Peche Merle and Tassili. But quantities are limited, so if you want to buy any of these models, you'll have to enter a lottery to have your name drawn. I'm hoping to buy another 7 Arts Surprise model just for the heck of it, so hopefully I get drawn to buy one. Especially since my VIP second chance Ansel came today and was the regular blue roan one...bleh. Good luck to everyone! 

Secondly, and possibly more excitingly, this year's third Premier Club release has finally been revealed! Say hello to Firefly and Hawkeye, sculpted by Morgen Kilbourne: 

I wanted to like them, but...as I've said before, I'm not really into stock horses...

I like the foal more than the mare, but not enough to want to split up the set. For reasons I don't want to get into here, I need to be looking for excuses to keep the herd from growing, if not outright shrinking it, so these guys are going to have to move onto another home. 

I guess I was really hoping this set would be a draft mare and foal instead, so the poor Clydesdale Foal could finally have a playmate after 52 years (going on 53 now, since we're not getting one this year). But, it's good that I don't feel the need to add these to my collection - my wallet will thank me. 

Lastly, the same email that announced this pair said Astrid is going to be available to ship shortly! I can't wait to see mine! I ordered a glossy one, so I'm sure I'll be on the hunt for a matte one eventually. Let's see her, Breyer! 

Dahlia!

 Well, at least some things aren't delayed! Behold - the 2021 Stablemates Club gambler's choice model, Dahlia, is available to purchase! 

Not sure why the image is so tall...but anyways. If you're a SMC member, check your club home page to purchase. Those are the four colors we can expect to receive! I have to admit I'm partial to the blue one. But I'm not a Croi collector, even in Stablemate form, so this one will be heading down the road. I hope everyone gets the color(s) they want! 

2022 Vintage Club!

 More good news, everyone - the 2022 Vintage Club is now open for enrollment (if you're a member of this year's club, that is)! 

Ooh, an Appaloosa Performance Horse! I can't remember if I've predicted him to be part of the VC yet or not. Which reminds me...I haven't done a predictions post for next year yet. But anyway...

Cooper and his little tack set there are referred to as a throwback to an old Brenda Breyer release, according to the renewal email. Let's hope they put some plastic in between the horses and the bareback pads, eh? Wouldn't want any red stains on the models. And it looks like Cooper is basecoated, too. I wonder if they'll advertise him as chalky? 

In other interesting news, the size of the club memberships has been increased to 750 - not really a surprise with how fast the club has been selling out in the last few years. Especially since they kept anyone from having more than two memberships this year. Seems like an increase in club members was inevitable - after all, we all know Breyer doesn't like to leave money on the table. 

Not only that, but evidently there's a Smoky in this year's VC logo. Seems like a fitting addition to the club. There won't even be that much left for me to predict now - guess I should have written that post a little sooner, huh? Oh well. Let's hope the club takes a while to fill up, so we can see the rest of the releases ahead of time, eh? It's not very likely that I'll need to join, but you never know...we could get, like, another Adios, and a mold I collect for the modern-sculpt-with-vintage-paintjob release, and then they could pick a Stablemate I collect too and at that point I might as well just join. Throw in an alabaster Thoroughbred Mare/Nursing Foal and it's a deal! Though that isn't very likely, I'll admit. Anyway, I hope we get to see the rest of the releases soon! 

There's also a surprise relating to the 10th anniversary of the club, according to the email. Hmm, I hope that means the 2022 Premier Club will have a surprise too! Er, wait...well, I hope it's a surprise we all get, rather than a micro-run or something...But anyway. 

If you're already a member of this year's VC, you only have 6 days to renew your membership, so don't forget about it! Who knows how fast the additional memberships will sell out this year.

A wild Halloween shipment appears!

 Good news, everyone! My Halloween order arrived today. Behold - it's EEK! 

I've seen a lot of reports of these models with broken or damaged legs, but fortunately this guy survived his trip to my doorstep. 

I like his subtle green sheen, and the intricate little spiders in his pattern. I've seen a lot of complaints about the spiders too, but fortunately they're all pretty nice on this one. 

He does have an oddly warped left hind leg, but I can deal with that. 

Next, the single Spooky Stablemate I ordered arrive as well...so check it out! 

That's right, the drafter...just the one I thought I'd get. Fortunately, it's the only one I wanted, so I'm happy with it. He does look like a pumpkin patch under the night sky, though it looks like someone went a little overboard with the glitter.

I thought about ordering that Thriller hoodie, but if I had, I suspect I'd still be waiting for my order to ship, so it's probably best I didn't order it. 

Lastly, here's Thriller himself! In the interest of full disclosure, he did arrive a few days ago, but I thought it was fitting that all my Halloween models arrived around the same time despite massive disparities between when they were ordered.

His green tint is much more apparent than EEK's, which I like. I'm also a fan of his Bride of Frankenstein hair! 

I like the details in his bones underneath the skin, too. Appropriately ghoulish for this time of year! 

That's all I have for now - let's hope we have more exciting news and reveals soon! 

Featured Model - 10/2/2021, 2008 Roan Auction Bluegrass Bandit

 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 2008 Breyerfest Live Auction Strawberry Roan Bluegrass Bandit! Whew, that was kind of a mouthful. 

This pretty girl was a OOAK offered at the 2008 Breyerfest Live Auction, as stated above. She was released on the Bluegrass Bandit mold sculpted by Kathleen Moody and Sommer Prosser. According to IDYB, her original sale price was...$1,000. That price makes me wince. Okay, all of the auction model prices from that year make me wince, honestly. If only they were still that price now...oh well. For what it's worth, that $1,000 for this model would be $1,200 now when accounting for inflation. So... there's that, anyway. 

ANYway...Bluegrass Bandit certainly looks nice in strawberry roan! She's like a precursor to the I'm Yours release from 2012, but slightly darker from the looks of it. Actually, she almost looks more like a bay roan with those dark points. Either way, I definitely wouldn't mind having her in my collection! Kinda wish we had an in-hand photo of her, as the one from IDYB looks like one of Breyer's promo photos - she's a little washed out. 

As for Bluegrass Bandit, I think it's high time we had a new release on her - the last one (not counting auction models) was Stella in 2019, and that was a TSC release, so we could do with something more widely available. Maybe a new RR? Or a brick and mortar release? Perish the thought...but we definitely need some kind of new BGB! Make it happen, Breyer! I mean...as soon as the shipping issues get straightened out, I mean.