Featured JAH - 11/4/2023, Sept/Oct 1995

 Hello and welcome to another edition of Featured JAH! Can't believe it's already November - seems like the time is going by too fast. But I guess the people that remember when these magazines were newly published feel even worse...so let's get started. Here's Sept/Oct 1995! 

On the front cover, Big Ben and Ian Millar take a jump from a unique viewpoint. On the back cover, the same pair take a jump from a more conventional viewpoint, along with a teaser sketch of the upcoming Big Ben mold. 

In the Editor's Desk, Stephanie talks about Big Ben, along with the porcelain Saddlebred and a few other things. On page 3, Dear JAH contains some information about how Breyer portrait models are chosen, which is probably still accurate today. There's also a dramatic photo of Docs Keepin Time (barn name Justin), who played Black Beauty in the 1994 movie and also played the Black in the Adventures of the Black Stallion show (which I remember hurrying home from school to watch on Wednesday afternoons). 

On page 4-5 we have an article about Big Ben, with a title that should be familar to most collectors by now. Maybe we'll get some kind of Big Ben reissue at Breyerfest next year? Doubtful, but you never know. 

On page 6-7 is the conclusion to the Big Ben article (making his groom Sandi look tiny next to him), along with a Who Am I? featuring some type of Proud Arabian Stallion. 

On page 16 we have photos and information about various Breyer collectors, and on page 17 we have a Blast From the Past featuring the SR black Pacer, and the Just About...Breyer Animals features the rare white Boxer.

This issue's Vintage Point focuses on the Hanoverian, another victim of the shelf space shortage. In 1995 Art Deco was the newest release on this mold, and I got him for Christmas that year. He was one of my favorites, but I eventually sold him due to the aforementioned lack of shelf space. Sometimes I wish I hadn't sold him, but that's how it goes, I guess. Side note: the real Art Deco died 10 years ago at the ripe old age of 30. 

That's it for this week - tune in next week for Nov/Dec 1995 and an exciting update concerning Peter Stone, Breyer Man! 

Nimbus is here! Also this year's JAH!

 Good news, everyone! My Nimbus came today - behold! 

What a pretty guy! His shade of blue looks a bit like cotton candy, although the gold mane and tail (and glitter) take away from that a bit.

I like how the blue of the mane and tail fade into gold. It might just be overspray but it looks intentional to me. Very pretty! Personally, I'd have skipped the mane and tail glitter, but that might just be me. 

Quality-wise he's pretty good - I didn't see any flaws. His eyes are even painted neatly! That doesn't always happen these days. 

Lastly, my JAH is already here! Seems like it used to take a lot longer for things to get here - I could get used to this. 

There are nice articles about Cody's Wish, Kylee Parks and more, but not really anything we hadn't already seen - I was hoping for at least one new reveal, but no luck. However, I did spot something interesting - the distribution of Tuxedo variations is not what I'd assumed it to be. In a run of 1,000, I thought it would be a (somewhat) even split of 333 each (with one remaining, which could explain the solid black Tuxedo with a star that popped up on Blab recently), but it turns out the solid black is a run of 100 and the other two are each runs of 450. Interesting...let's hope it's not a trend. 

That's it for today - I hope we get some more exciting reveals next week! 

We have a Celebration Horse! Also Tuxedo!

 Well, I should have known it would happen on November 1 - we have our 2024 Celebration Horse! They've been announcing the Celebration Horse in November for the last few years, so I don't know why I didn't expect it today. Anyway, here she is! 

Ooh, a Dundee Celebration Model! Looks like I'll be keeping a Celebration Model for the first time since 2020. Unfortunately, this means the glossy one will be about impossible to get ahold of. And it seems like a fitting horse to give the honor to! Very pretty - both the real horse and the model. I can't wait to see what else Breyer has in store for us for next year! 

In other exciting news, two of my Tuxedo models have arrived- behold the first one! 

It's the star-with-socks version! Woohoo! 

What a beauty! 

And here's the second one! 

I was a bit disappointed when I saw this one because it's the bald face version and I already have one coming from someone else - oh well. He's still handsome! I left him in the box because I'm hoping to trade for the solid black - no luck yet. 

Quality-wise they're both pretty nice, other than minor factory flaws. Huzzah! Now if I can just get the bald-face one traded for a black, I'll be happy! 

Another test run to enter for!

 Exciting news, readers - the last test model of 2023 is available to enter for! 

It's a very pretty chestnut on the Classic Black Beauty mold. What a looker! 

The price is still too high, considering Classics molds don't tend to sell for that much, especially older ones, but he'd still make a nice addition to someone's collection. Nothing I need, but good luck to everyone entering! 

Featured JAH - 10/28/23, July/August 1995

 Hello and welcome to another edition of Featured JAH! This week's issue is July/August 1995, so let's get rolling! 

On the front cover, a donkey does his hee-haw thing to amusing effect. On the back cover, Willow and Shining Star, the latest JAH special run, make their debut! 

On the inside cover, Riddle Passing Through Time and Eagle and Pow Wow (wow, indeed) make their debut. Pow Wow may be an early example of Breyer doing a splash pinto paint job. 

In the Editor's Desk, Stephanie intoduces the Dapples line (now known as Ponies), and in EquiNews, Peter Stone, Breyer Man prepares to appear on QVC in August (more on that later), a new Götz doll with two Stablemates models makes her debut, and Breyer portrait horses Ruby, Wildfire and Starfire prepare to attend Pyallup Breyer Day in Oregon. 

On pages 4-5 we find an article about longears and artist Bonnie Shields' work, along with a sneak preview of the upcoming Brown Sunshine model! 

On page 14 we have an article about how to position models in action photos, and page 15 has a useful graphic about Presentation Models, still hard to find today.

Page 16 contains results of a survey by...someone? Not sure who actually wrote this one, but anyways. Obviously a lot has changed in 28 years, though the woodgrain category is still pretty much the same. Page 17's Blast From the Past features the Donkey with Baskets set, still sought after today, and the Just About...Breyer Animals! features the Kitten, which...for the most part isn't too sought after.

 

This issue's centerfold features the Dapples, including a little storybook. I can't remember if I wanted any of the Dapples models back in 1995 - I probably would have if I knew they existed, since I had a lot of Grand Champions around that time. The little book's story is cute, if a bit simplistic. 

This issue's Vintage Point was about the Balking Mule - fitting, given its "longears" focus. The Balking Mule is surprisingly large in person - maybe she's a draft-type? Haha. 

That brings this issue to a close - this one was kinda light on interesting stuff, but there'll be more next week! Tune in for Sept/Oct 1995! 

Vintage Club preview and Nimbus!

 Sheesh, I guess I wrote today's earlier post too early - the news wasn't done yet! Firstly, we have an amazing sneak peek for next year's Vintage Club, Kirk:

Whoa, a night light! That's super cool. Looks like some kind of glossy splatter dapple gray on Geronimo? Can't say I had "night light" on my bingo card, though I'm starting to think I should have. Despite having been burned in the past, my inability to secure any Thunderbirds (so far) is making me regret not joining the club this year. Must resist! Most of the releases don't resell for issue price, and I don't collect most vintage-themed stuff! Must resist! 

Anyway, our second bit of late-breaking new is that Nimbus is available to order! 

Naturally I had to order him as soon as possible. I guess I could have waited to order Wintergreen along with Nimbus - she's still available on backorder. Oh well, not like I haven't wasted money on shipping before. 

That's (hopefully) it for today, unless Breyer comes out with something else unexpected in the next few hours! 

October Collector Club Newsletter!

 Greetings, readers! Well, it's another fall day here in Kentucky, and this month's Collector Club Newsletter is here! If you're a Collector Club member, check your email to read it. This month's feature story is a show report from Ponypallooza Germany, and there's also a link to the various replays of Fun Day activities if you missed those. The October giveaway is a palomino Ideal Quarter Horse, and the newsletter closes with this tantalizing hint! 

I had no opinion one way or the other as to what this is, but the prevailing opinion on the Internets is that this is Totilas. Looks like the Benasque colorway is making another return! I hope we don't have to wait too long to see what this is. The newsletter also says we're getting a 2024 Vintage Club sneak peek "soon," so hopefully we don't have to wait too long for that either!