August Newsletter, Halloween Web Specials Revealed, Vintage Club's Kirk!!

The August newsletter had the reveals for this years halloween lineup which the shop opened back on the 5th and I have already gotten what I needed. It was good timing too as I had the day off as part of my bereavement and I came back really late from a flight and slept for 10 hours after that. Before I talk more about the halloween models after I finish talking about the rest of the newsletter and it contents. There was also mention of the Labor Day sale, didn't need to take advantage of it this time around, was waiting and saving for the halloween sale. BOO! entries were due, then an article about learning to brightening white models, especially older ones, using sunlight. Kinda learn about this long ago from other hobbyists. The giveaway was a left over copy of the halloween model Apparition from 2020. I'm not entering again due to already having the model. Then for the sneak peak!

When I first saw it I wasn't sure what to make of it. Don't know if its a fall deco like Leif, or the next release in the Animal Series. Many believe it is as many have drawn comparisons to it and the pattern on a poison dart frog which would be a cool deco. One other suggestion was an Orca but Orca's don't have blue, if anything my second guess would be a butterfly or bird like a parrot or macaw of sorts. But poison dart frog seems the most likely though. Gonna have to wait and see!

Now for the halloween web specials for this year. The first one I am going to go over is not Beowulf as I covered him in another and previous post, so instead it will be...

Draftula:

Draftula is a vampire, but mostly bat, inspired deco model that is this year's classic/freedom series scale model done on the Brabant/Drafter mold. This is the third deco done on this mold, the first was Greenman from Breyerfest 2020 and the other is the recent Terran. He is named after Dracula, but his name does seem a little closer and similar to Dragula almost. He is a black and white pinto with red interference and bat shaped markings. I do like him, but I do have one critique, reversed the marking colors so that way the bats are black and easier to see as only 2 are easy to make out while the rest are too unrecognizable. I do think some of the other markings are supposed to represent blood dripping and spilling form a vampire sucking out blood. Regardless, I had to get him anyways. Next up is...

Spooky Surprise Blind Bags:

This year's lineup is inspired by and mini versions of Ratsputin, Goblin, and Salem. I do like them but I find myself liking and hoping for the mini Goblin the most. Salem is pretty nice too, but Ratsputin is my least favorite. I feel the mold doesn't quite suit him. Well I guess I'm just going to have to wait and see who I get. Lastly but not least is...

Stitch:

He is the second halloween plushy to have stitching, the first was Hermie from 2021. Stitch seems to be reminiscent of frankenweenie to me, maybe even slightly zombie like with a hint of the living dead. She also has red ears a two red legs for accent. She is definitely very ghoulish. So glad I got her, her eyes also slightly remind me of calavera's. 

Also of course along with these I got the glow in the dark enamel pin of Beowulf which I also can't wait to add to my collection and pin board. The sweatshirts are currently unavailable despite being marked as sold out on the site. Breyer said they'll be available next week, which works for me, I think I will get one this time especially since I like wolves and werewolves, plus it sone has more detail than just a picture of the model slapped one, it also has slash marks and a full moon silhouette. 

Lastly for now, my Vintage Club model Kirk came a few days before Breyerfest and now I finally have pictures of him.

Kirk is done on the Geronimo mold in a resist dark dapple grey with a blaze and a sock. He is inspired by the old models that had a lightbulb in them via cutting a whole in their side or sometimes stomach to insert the large bulb and cord. This one is a bit more modern as his bulb is inside, no cutting out a hole, his cord is a plug in so it can be removed. Theres also a switch to turn him on and off while plugged in. He's still super cool, though I sadly didn't have the chance to plug him in and turn him on while home. Oh well, there's always Christmas. But my Geronimo is growing a lot as they keep using it, though they have switched breeds for the ideal series so he may not be used as much now, but we'll see.

That's all I have for now, or at least for this post. Will make a Breyerfest haul post for the remainder of my haul next and hope to have it out soon. Planning for tomorrow but it maybe another day or two.

(info comes from breyer, first set of photos belong to Breyer, last photo belongs to me.)

Catching Up From July, Premier and Stablemates Club Horses, Petra, & Newsletter.

 Llywellyn was made available around the time of Breyerfest so that meant we got an extra week extension due to it. I ordered mine a few days late so others got theirs long before me, but during that time it was found that many Breyerfest models and even Llywellyn glow in the dark more than likely due to the use of left over glow in the dark plastic in the factory. So far mine doesn't appear to glow sadly. Guess I'll have to check my Breyerfest models when I get the chance. Love his coloring and his little spot under his chin. Fairly long and weighty too.

Speaking of premier club horses, the second release, the Criollo, was revealed and a finish preference was given out due to how long it'll take for him to arrive, almost one month before the final release. As always, when they do these finish preferences, I choose glossy. I find glossy makes them look a bit better plus glossy Premier Club models aren't done very often and used to be extremely rare when the club was first introduced.

Also the newest Stablemates Club release Dylan has arrived. He's a nice chalky dappled grey thoroughbred, he makes a fine addition to my stablemates herd, especially with my other TB models. I also decided to get a couple of pins to accompany him during travel and start filling up my second pin board. They are the chestnut appaloosa Geronimo of the ideal series and of the dark bay lonesome glory that may be based off the the Seattle Slew model.

I also submitted my entry for the essay contest, really hoping to be chosen. i think I will withhold who I submitted until official winners are announced in September.

Petra was the fourth and most recent release in the Exotic Destination Series. Sadly was not chosen him, nor were my parents and we have not been pulled from the second. So I am hoping to find one for close or at original cost, but he's proven to be very popular so far out of all the releases. Would really like to continue the series as I really like it and have the first three releases first try so far. Petra is done on the Altynai/Akhal-Teke mold in a light red dun. Named after the "rose city" in Jordan, know for it's rock cutout architecture and the nickname coming from the color of the sandstone used. They were possibly built as early as the 5th century.

Petra was featured in the newsletter amongst other things like photo shows, new Collector Club exclusive workshops, national fun day in October, plus articles and the monthly giveaway (which is the new unicorn set Cyrus and Solana), then of course the sneak peak!!

Can't wait to see what it will be!! That's it for now, will try to post more in a few days or so. Either when I am home or when I get back, it may end up being at least one post while I'm home and then the rest when I get back. See y'all later!!

(first set of pics are mine (except for Criollo, that is Breyer), the rest belong to Breyer. Information comes from Breyer.)

Breyerfest Recap and Start of Haul Posts

 This very late in the making. I was going to make this long, but since so much time has passed and I still don't have all the photos of the models I got, this will be a little shorter than I was originally planning. 

Friday was pretty bad, all the square systems for Breyer were so overloaded that it was the slowest it had ever been. It got to the point where it said my card was charged and was pending to clear the bank so They decided to just let me go but first get my info so if it doesn't go through they can charge me as I was in a bit fo a time crunch to meet someone to trade a ticket before my Spookology workshop and my dad drove me and my aunt to the horse park and he needed to be somewhere in Indiana and north east kentucky before the evening show. My mom stayed back at the hotel due to not feeling well in the morning but she decided to do the online store to get Blue Zeus and Wild Things. The card thing got resolved the following monday with the start of a new business week. But at least I got all the items I wanted from the store including the backpack which I think I'll use from now on. The evening show and workshop made me feel better after a bad start, especially after I found that the unopened Breyerfest 2020 model Thorn I got in the NPOD was the glossy variation. Though I will quick note for the evening show they opted to not scan the QR tickets and were literally told, "we're just gonna trust y'all on this." So what was the point of them then?

Saturday was better because we were able to take it more easy. We quick got breakfast at First Watch (highly recommend), got out celebration horses and special runs. Was able to trade for a wild card so I could get another surprise horse since I got one ticket and wanted more. I luckily got two different variations and were two of my top three fav variations once they were revealed. Then my mom and I did the workshop we signed up together for and both our mosaics turned out great. We ended up trying a new restaurant for dinner as we wanted to take it more quiet, also my aunt went there before us and when we wanted to meet backup after doing our own thing she said she was there and behind the hotel just down the road within walking distance. Never knew it was there before as we usually don't go the back way at that hotel but we tried the Cattleman Ranch, it's kind alike Texas Roadhouse/Logan's Roadhouse and decided to go back when we go t back together at some point. We then went to the Clarion for shopping. Found some good things for good deals.

Sunday was also quiet but also doing last minute shopping at the horse park. tried to do the in person second chance sale, all teh suprises sold out, so I found a person selling the last variation I wanted for close to original cost as they wanted to at least recoup what they spent. So now I have all the ones I wanted. Went back to the Clarion one last time and got a few more things for good prices. And then that's pretty much it. Said goodbye to my family as they were heading home the next morning.

At the end of it it was ok, could've been better. I think the QR codes made it worse as it used a similar system to other things, also I noticed wifi modems being used by Breyer employees and volunteers but regardless reception and what not is horrible there, especially once you get multipole people there as it overwhelms the systems. Also a lot of the employees and volunteers were pretty rude this year and online it seemed a lot of others agreed plus agreed that by trying to make things more online it makes it take longer for things to load and read which makes things take even longer. Also those using QR codes on their phones/electronic devices vs printed (my family printed as we felt it would be better), it was found they could be scanned form a distance and someone else's code would be read vs the one trying to be scanned and they are all one time use, save for VIP for certain things), there fore causing confusion.

Photo dump of haul:

Hoping to get the rest of my haul next week when I go home for a few days. Was really picky with what I got this year due to costs and space. I got more shirts/apparel and plushies this year than I got models.

(all pictures belong to me)

New/Updated Guesses List for the Surprise Horse!!

 So with all the new releases and reveals leading up to Breyerfest, this means some changes have to be made to the list for surprise horse speculations. so with all that in mind and having to update my initial guesses list, this is now what it looks like and what I think could be the surprise horse for this year's Breyerfest:

• Just A Dream/Make A Wish
• Forever Saige
• Ruffian
• Strapless
• Marabella
• Fell Pony
• Zafirah
• Goffert
• Rain
• Rejoice/National Show Horse

The rest are either too new and/or used for something else, or are vintage and are unlikely to be used as Breyer always uses a fairly new mold or at least one that is very old. So far I am now stumped on what else it could be as everything else has been crossed off due to new releases/reveals and other aside form that are extreme hypotheticals, those being:

• Desatado
• Salinero
• Emerson
• Misty
• Missuori Fox Trotter
• Othello
• Boomerang
• Clydesdale Mare
• Silver
• Gaming Stock Horse/Wyatt
• Gem Twist
• Idocus
• Smart Chic Olena
• Zippo Pine Bar
• Galiceno
• Huckleberry Bey
• Brishen/Gyspy Vanner
• Lipizzaner Mare
• The extreme reach being the new mustang mare, that will come with a foal, from this years premier club that has yet to be released and I believe it will be the last release for the club this year.

That's all I could think of of my top initial releases fail. Mostly hoping my top 5 are correct. Below you can see how much my list has changed since the start of guessing and the start of the year with all the releases and reveals coming out since then.

First/original list:

• Just A Dream/Make A Wish
• Andalusian Mare
• Lipizzaner Mare
• Goffert
• Forever Sage
• Lonesome Glory
• Ruffian
• Strapless
• Connemara Mare
• Weather Girl
• Fell Pony
• Marabella
• Standing Thoroughbred/Emerson
• Zafirah
• Mistys Twilight
• PAM (proud arabian mare)
• FAM (family arabian mare)
• in between mare
• gaming stock horse
• Grazing Mare
• Stock Horse Mare
• Suscesion
• Thoroughbred Mare
• Touch of Class
• Firefly
• Welsh Mare

Second/first revised list:

• Just A Dream/Make A Wish
• Andalusian Mare
• Lipizzaner Mare
• Ruffian
• Goffert
• Lonesome Glory
• Strapless
• Connemara Mare
• Marabella
• gaming stock horse
• Fell Pony
• Forever Sage
• Rain
• Sport Pony/Fjord
• Wixom
• Weather Girl
• Standing Thoroughbred/Emerson
• Zafirah
• Mistys Twilight
• Halla/Bolya
• PAM (proud arabian mare)
• FAM (family arabian mare)
• in between mare
• Grazing Mare
• Stock Horse Mare
• Suscesion
• Thoroughbred Mare
• Touch of Class
• Firefly
• Welsh Mare
• Lady Phase

What do you all think it could/it's gonna be. Guess we'll have to wait and see, only a week away now! Until the next one, bye y'all!!

June Newsletter & New Essay Contest from Breyer!!

 I realized I forgot to share what was in the Collector Club June Newsletter  at the end of last month, so I will be doing that now. Especially since I just realized I never really look at it, just only saw the sneak peak from others.

So let's take a look at what's inside.

This newsletter goes over how Breyerfest is just around the corner and how a VHS of Breyerfest 1996 has been found and has made them realize just how much has changed since then, and even the first Breyerfest. Strange to be that 1996 was 28 years ago, it still doesn't feel that long ago to me. To which then this leads into their monthly giveaway which was the Jump & Drive special run from last year, and this one will be shipped blind and the winner will not know if they got the loose mane & tail version, or the braided mane &tail version until it arrives. I guess they still have some leftover, even after the second chance sale. Maybe more will be available either at Breyerfest in the Breyer store this year, and/or put into blind bags or at least sold/gotten rid of somehow this year.

The side bar mention important ticket information as they have been sent out to everyone's emails, and at least everyone should have gotten them in their emails by now. Also around the time they were sent out they sent an email reminder if you are signed up for any workshops, they don't tell which ones you signed up for just letting you know you did. I wrote down everything I needed to know for workshops which were mostly the days and what time on those day they were as that's super important as they tell you to arrive no later than 15 minutes after start time if something causes you to be delayed. If anything I'll more than likely show up 15 minutes early just to be sure I'm there, checked in, and chosen a place to sit.

Then there is a new coloring competition for the month, I sadly don't have a printer nor do I know how to draw and color well online even if I had a good app or something like that to do it. I haven't done a coloring contest in awhile and I hope to do one again in the future when I'm able to have a decent printer. I bought one for collage but all the instructions were on a disc and my laptop doesn't come with a disc reader anymore and couldn't find anything online to get it work. All I can do is turn it one but can't get it to connect to a computer also it needs wifi and my Uni's wifi was a bit shoddy, but anyways I digressed too much.

Breyer has announced a new writing contest. 3 winners will be selected for the contest, the essay will be about a horse that inspires you/you think is Breyer model worthy. They note you do not have to own the horse/own a horse to do so, but it is mentioned in the rules that the owners of the horse will have to be able to be contacted if the horse/essay is chosen. The winner will get a first copy of the horse as a model, which could mean it could slightly vary from the official release which is stated to happen next year. The deadlione is the ned of this month before midnight. My only gripe with this is if you knew/know a horse, but don't know the owners and how they could be contacted. Especially if it was a horse from a rescue or at least knew it could change hands at any given point. I thought about the OTTB I wanted to adopt, but the last I know owned him was CANTER Pennsylvania division, I found one pic of him with a new owner on facebook but that post is now hidden and the owner wasn't fully tagged, only mentioned in the caption. I may just stick to a custom of him anyways. I have thought of a few others, 2 are now sadly deceased so I don't know if they'd work. I'm hoping to think of one before the end of the month because it would be so cool to not only win a Breyer competition for once, but also they haven't done an essay contest in awhile. The last one I can think of them doing was for Breyerfest in the '90s, I think it was Clue, but I don't know if one has been done since then, like between now and then.

Lastly, but not least, here is the sneak peak Breyer put at the end of the newsletter.

The coloration and way it is flowing reminds me of Mojave, but he's already been done twice so it's more than likely not him as there really isn't much more that can be done with him. It could be Huckleberry Bey, my guess is the fall Collector Club web special as they always have two year, so the last one of the year is due in a few months which can come pretty quickly.

Also beofre I forget, Happy 4th of July everyone (that is everyone in the US like me), happy belated Canada Day (July 1st) to all the canooks, whom are my neighbors when I'm back home in MN. We are also currently a little over a week away from Breyerfest!! That's it for now, see ya in the next post!!

(pic and info come from Breyer)

Last of the Breyerfest Auction Reveals!! (Part 4)

 The last of the reveals are here, so let's dive right in and take a look.

Lot #15:

Bristol/Jumper

This stunning boy is done in a delicious dapple sooty palomino. So by now you all should know I absolutely love sooty palominos and therefore wish I could get this guy. This boy has a blaze and one white sock while sporting the braided mane & tail variation of the mold. For awhile I had been waiting for a grey release on this mold, and now they have two different ones, so now I want more coats like this on him. The most interesting coat on the mold so far is the brindle coat of Josie from Breyerfest 2021. So the grey warmblood novelty has worn off for me on all their warmblood molds despite having a slight soft spot for grey warmbloods, I do want more warmbloods/sporthorses with uncommon coat colors to be represented, especially when this mold now has a mare variation instead of just gelding. Moving on to the next lot.

Lot #16:

Vanner Mare/Rhiannon

This beautiful gal is done in a gorgeous grey tobiano-sabino. So far this is the only grey coat I want to collect at the moment. It's so rare and also it all started with Beau on the Idocus mold which I am still on the hunt for, especially loose mane & tail variation. This mold is being used in the special run line up for the mare & foal set Fighter & Survivor. I do wish I could get this gal, but also considering this mod is paired with a foal, it does seem slightly unusual to get her alone instead of a pair. I still think she's cute and pretty, hopefully Breyer does more like her in the future.

Lot #17:

Cantering Welsh Cob/Llywelyn

This guy is the Sunday Raffle for this year, and his name is "You're So Vain". I believe he is named after the song of the same name by Carly Simon, I can't remember if I've heard this song before, may listen to it later. Anyways, he is done in a Red Dun Blanket Appaloosa. He is definitely the flashiest of the two raffle models this year, I may like him a bit more than You Oughta Know. I feel he slightly reminds me of an unreleased model on an unreleased mold from a poster I saw awhile ago, its a slightly older poster too, like late '90s-early 2000s, I'll have to try and find it if I can. I know of one Breyer dealer that has it as part of their stores decor. I think I will be hoping for him most out of the raffle this year, so wish me luck!!

Lot #19

Andalusian Mare & Foal

This lovely pair is done in a dapple rose grey for the mare & bay going grey for the foal. I do love a good rose grey, I think it's my favorite shade of grey next to mulberry grey which Breyer sadly doesn't do as often. If they did it more I would definitely get them in a heart beat. Also it's been awhile since these molds, especially the mare, has been seen in grey. The last was Fantasia Del C who was an all white grey, though I think the foal was never seen in grey not even fading to grey to it is nice to see as grey is a common and popular Andalusian coat color. Maybe one day I can welcome this lovely pair into my herd, but as always sadly today is not the day and this year is not the year. Though I think it is also officially safe to rule out the Andalusian mare for the surprise horse, I didn't think they would since she usually is paired with a foal, but they've done releases of her without a foal in the past like Celeste.

Lot #20:

Totilas

This guy is in a stunning glossy blood bay overo. He is quite nice, but I think it would've suited a different mold or him in a solid bay. Also Blood bay is another shade Breyer doesn't do often and I wish they did, especially since they could do another book horse with it. In the black Stallion series, the black has a sulky colt, a standardbred, that is born blood bay and is named Bonfire. He would be perfect for a blood bay release. So nothing I wouldn't mind ever owning, it's rare but this is the second model in the lineup I've felt this way. Also maybe one Totilas, and even Salinero, can be the surprise horse for a year. This year is not the year where they'd fit anyways.

In the post it also mentions that there will be 2 releases that will not be revealed till the day of Breyerfest/opening day. I assume one is a complete set of a surprise model/special run set. Though I could be wrong, will definitely have to wait and see. That's it for now. May or may not post tomorrow with it being the 4th and I want to check out the local festivities and finally catch the parade. Until next time, bye!!

(pics and info come from Breyer)

Breyerfest Auction Model Reveals Cont. (Part 3)

 A day late, but I at least I am more on top of it than before. Let's take a look at some more of the auction lots as a fourth post has been released by Breyer. So let's get started and take a look at more of this year's auction lineup.

Lot #10:

Wixom

This big gal is done in lovely bay blanket appaloosa. From the picture, it looks like she has a very small star and snip and the tail bows are purple. She's a very nice appaloosa, nicest one I've seen in a while and I wish this was more of an official release as Wixom hasn't been used in a bit, last time was the start of the Birds of a Feather series as Puffin in 2021. Also there hasn't really been many appaloosas on this mold, only other OOAKs, she deserves a good full on appaloosa release after many pinto releases. Though this also takes another mold off my initial surprise horse guesses list, definitely need to make a new one soon.

Lot #11:

Connemara Mare

This girl is a glossy dapple dark bay. I like the shading, but the dapples do feel a little off. I've seen very light dapple son a dark bay, but not this light and it still flowed with the coloration of the horse. So she is the first I don't have to get too upset over if I never am able to somehow obtain in the future. Though there's another original surprise horse mold guess that bites the dust. So many mold are off that list now, though hopefully this means it can be narrowed down and take a guess.

Lot #12

Constantia/Standardbred Trotter Mare

This racy gal is in a beautiful chalky dapple grey. I absolutely love the shading on her, partly because this same type of coat was used for Anamar which he looked fantastic in. She's another I wish was a more obtainable release as Breyer has not done many grey Standardbreds, I know there aren't many in real life but the only grey Standardbreds I can think of them doing are limited editions or OOAKs sadly. She could be a nice contrast with Via Lattea from last year too. Also this mold was tentatively and at the very bottom of my Surprise Horse Guesses list so I don't mind her being taken off as she was used for last year's Breyerfest and she did just get a regular release this year too.

Lot #13

Rhenish German Draft/Georg

This handsome boy is "You Oughta Know" the Saturday Raffle model for Breyerfest this year. I will also use this as my overall opinion of him too. He is done in a very nice dapple bay sabino. I believe he is named after the song of the same name by Alanis Morrisette which I do like her music and other similar artists from that era and genre. I do plan on entering for him and hopefully winning him as I have barely come close to winning one. I don't recall entering for any in 2016 aside form the automatic early bird back when Breyer did that but because it was my first Breyerfest I didn't know what all entailed with that so I was either not chosen or was but you have to be present to win. So wish me luck in obtaining at least one of these.

Lot #14

Carrick/Walking Thoroughbred

This boy is done in a stunning chestnut sabino. I love this shade of copper chestnut on him, I think it's the same one they used for Justify's Breyer model. Also quick note, Breyer mostly does and seems to love doing OOAKs and other models in a sabino coat, probably because it's not too overly complicated to do like other pinto coat types. Anyways, he has a near bald face with speckling that goes up to it along with four tall stockings on all fours. His tail seems to have a slight flaxen tinge to it. He has a very cute pink nose, wish more sport horses were released on this mold. I'm still waiting for a grey to be released on this mold.

That's it for this post, will try to cover the rest tomorrow. Until next time!!

(all pics and info come from Breyer.)