grails

I have my Grails. Some of them are:

-Mansfield, Peter Stone Pebbles Arabion, Equilocity 2013 Special Run
-Peter Stone 'Gold Rush' Foundation Quarter Horse 5 Piece Special Run
-Breyer Wimpys Lil Chic
-Breyer Glossy Big Chex to Cash 
-Breyer 'Winter Haven' 8 Piece Silver Bay Sunshine Celebration SR
-Peter Stone SoCal Live Special Run Sorrel Pony, minimal Sabino, w/ one blue/one brown eye
-Breyer Gunner

There are plenty more. In fact, the list probably totals 1,000 if I would go to the trouble of digging through every site and alcove of the hobby and picking out which delectable  plastic delights I found tasteful. I know of about 400 Peter Stone One of a Kind and 5 or under piece runs that I have a passion for. I mean, really, really, passionate about. I shouldn't go into details, except to say that no matter the passion, the money wasn't there. I sometimes cry about it. I can recall several times when I watched such hard to find grails fade away for three digit price tags that were unjustifiable for me.

Some of my grails (not listed) are grails not because of their piece run, but because they're hard to acquire. I've wanted a Cedric and Wind Talker for a long time, but I've never been in the right place at the right time.

one of my grails, Gunner

Other grails are customs. Yes, customs. I often dream that at Breyerfest I walk into a room with all the beautiful customs I had ever dreamed of, bid on and lost, or couldn't afford all on one table, waiting for me. I often cross my fingers that such a miracle will take place, but the odds remain against me.

Grails aren't supposed to be easily acquired. Sometimes they are but most times they aren't. I have three of my grails, though I decided they were 'grails' when the term was still new to me, and could be used loosely. Not to say that my 3 grails are none the less special to me (actually, they all have profound meaning to me), just that they aren't as true to the term 'grail' as I once considered them to be.

One of those grails is Flame, the Traditional on the Running Stallion mold. On my... 8th Birthday... I received him. The Island Stallion was my most favorite book in the whole world, and having a horse like Flame? Epicness! (epic is my favorite word, btw) I was still in the carpet head phase of my hobby career then, but Flame? No, Flame I couldn't take out of the box. That glistening pony was something to show off and stare at. Besides, I could have never role played his story as well as Walter Farley had told it.

it's a stock image, don't worry

To this day he is still in his box, though he might be more special than the average Flame. He's in a box... in the garage... some where... but I have a hunch he may be glossy.  I packed him up quite a logn time ago, and can't remember his exact level of shininess. But even if the hunch is wrong, it won't effect his level of specialness. His level of specialness.. is one for the books. 

The Best of All

I have to say, Bozeman is lovely. Definitely the nicest paint job so far, if the pictures don't lie.  He's my first choice for the SR line, followed by Sheila. The second time in the line I'll aim for Furano and and Namid. (Namid's been growing on me... really growing on me.) My whole family got 3 Day Tickets, so if one of the Special Runs isn't in stock at one ticket time, well then I have 3 more chances.

I haven't really decided if  I want Mamacita Y Chico yet. They're nice but they just aren't doin it for me. I have time to decide. 

And yes, in case you were wondering, I am saving up money for Breyerfest. I don't want money to be my restriction in the Special Run line, and taking a break from buying ponies till then will be well worth it.

Let's talk more about how beautiful Bozeman is.

 Sporting a coon tail, blue eyes, and tobiano markings, his paint job is beautifully bold. I really just love everything about him, he makes a statement. I can't wait to see him in person- if he looks even better than he does in pictures, I'll be amazed, as he looks pretty darn fabulous in digital image. 

Pretty Things

Seems Breyer figured out last week that

A) The Early Bird Deadline was approaching fast
and
B) They have a lot to unveil

In the past, what, 9 days, 3 models have been revealed and another sneak peek. How exciting! The early bird deadline has also arrived, but luckily I bought my tickets a while ago. Few!


As for the sneak peek, I feel like a total moron. Word spread that it was on the Wyatt mold (duh). I feel like such an air head it's not even funny. I mean, it's obvious from the photo.

Raised head, lowered hind quarters, the little flick at the top of the tail. And that exes blur? Obviously a stand. See? I'ma moron. Not to say that Carrick wasn't hard to fathem, given the picture, but still.

I am excited. Don't think for a moment I'm not. I like blue roan tobianos and big white noses and Quarter horse types. (how about that? Two Rodeo molds in one Fest! A gaming-stock-horse and a cutting horse! Whoo!)

I am intrigued by the mold choices. Three of the Special Runs are on the Premier molds from last year. The only molds out of the 13 models revealed so far that are older than 10 years? The Brama and Buckshot (Zebu and Pele). Quite odd, I think. I can hope that that the 'Brio of Rio' is on a Hess mold but it feels unlikely. I can't wait to see the Souvenir Shop special runs though. (a tiny Christle Latigo? I can dream!) There are three molds I hope will still appear, but not as super limited anything. Those molds are:

Idocus
Weather Girl
Hess Trekhaner

I could survive if any one of those was the Volunteer model. Just not a show prize, auction piece, ect. If they were Store Specials, that would be awesome.

As for what the 'Samba Surprise' might be, I'm leaning towards the Marwari or Moody Andalusion. Or even the Esprit. I would love if it was randomly thee lovely Idocus but I don't think there's even a chance there. 

It might be something random and unclever, that doesn't adhere to the name that well. Until then I'm sure we'll all speculate our brains off.

super duper shortish

I was gonna write a long, dreamy eyed post about the newest and bestest Breyerfesty stuff but I couldn't focus on finishing that particular draft. I'll finish it in a moment, but since I didn't blog much last week, I'd rather catch up with you first, in a casual, hip-happy little prep-atory post.

Big things are happening down here. Certain meadows still need water and sunshine, but new meadows are blossoming. One of those new meadows I can't quite talk about yet, except to say that it's fantastic.

I have photos to show you but I'd have to upload my camera and that takes time.

Anywho.

I've jut been cruising the internet lately, visiting such dangerous web stores as 'Ebay' and 'Gap' (don't ask.). So long as I have the time, I'll discuss that weird space-time-other-dimension-vortex sneak peek Breyer posted today.

It's either a blue roan or black pinto. This sneak peak is rather obviously for the North America special run, hinted at in Breyer's wording:

                                                                                                                
Another week, another BreyerFest Carnival Special Run! We’re journeying closer to home this time.
                                                                                                                

Since the Clock Saddlebred has already come in a roan pinto, it won't be him, I don't think.  Zippo feels unlikely, although he'd be delicious in that color way. It might be the Icelandic Horse. Latigo and Idocus feel like options. Carrick seems like a particularly good option, with his high held head, gently flicked tail, and large amount of leg. But only time will tell. Until then, my newest bet is on the Carrick mold. Or the Cantering Welsh. (don't ask.)

8 Years Away

Let's talk something plain, simple, and beautiful. Stud Spider.

Wait, did I just say Stud Spider????

...Hmm probably not what you think of as beautiful.

But he is.

He's just plain, simple, beautiful.

Isn't he?

I know for a fact that Lady Phase is quite popular and rather adored. Think of it like this; Stud Spider is the equivalent of her in stallion form.

A handsome (or pretty) standing stock mold that is simple, under stated, and elegant.


He's been gone from the Breyer line for 8 years.  8 years, man, 8 years. I discovered this when I was paging through the Identify You Breyer Traditional Section, looking for a Hess mold that has been out of circulation for a very long time. It wasn't hard. The question became rather, what is a long time? 10, 8, or 6 years? What is a long time?

Breyer has a lot of molds to choose from when it comes to creating production runs, now after all. (There's 151 Traditional horse molds alone.) So some molds are going to be... left out of the production line for a spell. There's a generous 50 (ish, give or take) Traditional Production-Type runs (AKA, more than 25 are made). Those are the Collector Club and Vintage Club Special Runs, (new) Regular/Mid-Year-Release models, Breyerfest Special Runs, and the tractor Supply/Mid-States/Brick-and-Mortor Special Runs.

But some molds end up being used twice in one year, which we also must factor in. Even if there's 50 or so Production Runs there's  only going to be around 45 molds in use (roughly). But even so, within five years, every horse mold should be used... once. In six years. This is not the case. This is not Reeves strategy. Some molds are understandably less popular than others (Midnight Sun and the original Black Stallion molds come to mind) but others? I don't know if there's a good explanation for why Stud Spider has been gone from Production-Run-Hood for 8 years. He seems like a great choice for a Vintage Club Model. He's handsome, well built, hasn't seen a lot of different colors... What's the down fall?

Anyway, I love Stud Spider dearly. I will cross my fingers that one of the mid year releases is a flashy Stud Spider.

And also, I think 8 years is a reasonably long period of time, long enough that a mold might-as-well be considered broken if it hasn't appeared as a production run within 8 years. (Remember in the 'old days' when The Sherman Morgan mold was out of production for 8 years? Everyone decided the mold had been wrecked, and/or destroyed. The mold had been damaged, but they had fixed it and given the mold a new tail. It reappeared in 2000 as Carpe Diem.) As for Stud Spider, the same case could apply, with the few micro runs on the mold being made from old warehouse bodies in the mean time.

Oh, The Worthless Things I Spend my Time Thinking About

Spent the day eating left over Easter candy, hoping for some last minute miracle with Persimmon, and the usual agenda. Not an exciting day, just the norm.

I haven't done the Breyerfest Planning yet which should make tomorrow... interesting. But I have put some more thought into what the Breyerfest Special Runs could be.

What if there was a draft? Oh, but where would he fit into it? I'm not sure. I don't think it's likely. But if it was, what about the Belgium? I love the Belgium mold, in all its chubby cuteness.

If there was a draft something like the Othello or Cleveland Bay would be the choice, though.

I like the Cleveland Bay, but it was recently a Special Run and shouldn't merit another this recently. That SR was Turnbridge Wells, that red roan thing with the roached mane. I'm not really into the Wells as much as I used to be. I'd like a Limerick, (another rather recent BF SR on the mold) but I don't like the Roached Mane on something that splashy. It worked really well on the regular run Trooper, in that deep seal-bay color, the only other release with the roached mane. I own Trooper and have to say he's rather lovely.

Hmm, but what about the Surprise Model? What will the mold choice be, I wonder? Something Exotic (the Marwari)? Something new and popular (The Idocus or the Weather Girl)? A Mare and Foal (unlikely, but the Gisselle and Gilen would be splendiferous)? Something Performance Friendly (Smarty Jones, Strapless, Show Jumping Warmblood)? Something paradey (the ASB or the Moody Andalusion)? I really have no clue. I'd love if it was a Hess, (Justin Morgan any one?) I'll grow up and stop wondering, but first I'll narrow down the options.

-Marwari
-Idocus
-Weather Girl
-Gisselle and Gilen
-Smarty Jones
-Strapless
-Show Jumping Warmblood
-American Saddlebred
-Moody Andalusion
-Justin Morgan

Smarty Jones and the SJW have bases which makes them a 'risky' choice. A Mare and Foal set overall feels extremely unlikely (and would cause pandemonium and a higher price tag for the Surprise Model). The Marwari is too far out there, I think. And Justin Morgan is a Chris Hess.


-Marwari
-Idocus
-Weather Girl
-Gisselle and Gilen
-Smarty Jones
-Strapless
-Show Jumping Warmblood
-American Saddlebred
-Moody Andalusion
-Justin Morgan

And then there was five. Strapless or Idocus feel like the most likely. There's already an Arabion mare in the line up. And I don't see the Moody Andalusion 'happening'. We'll see, it could be the ASB. He's a rather popular boy, and hasn't come in a wide aray of paints/pintos as of yet. A lilac roan pinto, two Chestnut pintos, and a black pinto. There's always room. 

Whatever it is, it will be pretty. But what? What will it be??? Gah, I really don't have tiem to be pulling my hair out about this.

I personally am in denial over the fact that there isn't a Hess Trakhener (with the new tail) in the line up yet. Poo. 

Not Perfect

I thought the contents of the 'Kids Easter Grab Bags' were rather inappropriate and... un-wowing.

Mine had:

Autism Benefit model
Pet Sitter set
Show Jumping Accessory kit
Stablemates Warmblood Family Painting kit
Wind Dancer (the red roan)
Horse Crazy Stablemate (green saddlebred)


Anybody buying this for a younger kid (that can read) had to introduce their kid to the very devastating disease that is Autism yesterday when the kid read the back of the box.

I like the model a lot. He's adorable, loveble, so darn cute. His name is undecided upon as of yet, but I'm thinking about it. My favorite thing about him is the Puzzle Piece star on his forehead (her forehead?). But when your promised a Traditional in each Grab Bag you end up kind of wishing it wasn't a smaller one. Whatever, though, moving on. 

I'd wanted the Autism model since he came out, but I don't think Kids Grab Bags was the place for Breyer to drop the after stock. I kind of knew he would turn up- he and Jubilation had been on sale for a long while- but was hoping that they'd drop these models else where. Maybe in the Collector Club Grab Bags that will come up for sale eventually.

I was kind of thinking that the left over Frankels that recently went on sale would be in these grab bags. I guess they will be in the Halloween ones...? I'll have to avoid getting a Frankel, just in case. I quite like that release, actually, so he'll be welcome whenever he turns up. Hopefully in the next Grab Bag. 



So the Easter Grab Bag wasn't aimed at adults... wasn't aimed at kids...

I get that it's a grab bag, but Reeves over all decides what to put in them.



I love the benefit model, but I would have out-right bought him the next time Reeves had a sale. I'm guessing part of the profit from the grab bags didn't go to Autism Benefit Charities and that bugs me.

Ok, that was awfully complainy. Anyway, the Pet Groomer paint foal is adorable. The masking could be a little crisper, but other wise.... He's merited a place on the desk,  on top of those old Walter Farley books I won at the Live Show, and next to my Custom Scheich. (The Schiech is just gorgeous: a black splash pinto with lots of pinking and blue eyes. He's painted on the rearing Stallion mold.)

I already had the Horse Crazy Stablemate but after removing the new one from the backer board it became quite apparent that she's much different than my original. The plastic is much lighter, so that the details in her face aren't so obliterated. She's a very soft green, while the former is a bit richer green. Yep, neither are going anywhere. The new girl takes up very little space on the shelf, anyway.

I already had the Wind Dancer, too, so her fate is undetermined. If I'm feeling edgy I might clip her of her wings and tail, and make her a realistic horse figure. The wings could be used elsewhere... The mohair gets old after a while... yeah, why not sculpt her a new tail and stuff? Could be interesting, next time I'm... feeling twisted...

Oh, and an update on Persimmon. It's gonna almost for sure be a no. Still super duper bummered out about that.

Also, has anybody else seen that Blue Roan Appaloosa Flash on ebay? He is sweet. I hope he'll be an actual production run, not just a sample that escaped the factory. It's not a cull, but it's dinged up pretty good. It might be the second Collector Club Special Offer (like Abdul) or the next release in the Special Run series. Crossing my fingers it's the former, which would make him easy to get and easy on the wallet.