The (Not) Ideal Series Paint

This vintage girl loves a few of the newer molds - Giselle, Lippizaner Mare, Dundee, and the Welsh Mare are just a few.

Then there's Geronimo, the Orrin Mixer Quarter Horse.

This mold didn't speak to me at first, but when Breyer began the Ideal Series in 2020, I took a closer look and bought him and Bandero. 

I just finally bought the second horse in the series, the Paint Horse.

But before I even opened the box, I spotted a paint flaw on his neck.

And when I unboxed him, I was disappointed to find many more paint flaws as well as several scuffs (top arrow).

In two places, yellow paint peeks out from the edge of the brown paint.

There's an odd yellow stippling on his neck as well. 

But paint flaws are not the only issue; there are some mold problems, too. Can you see how his forelegs turn in?

Here's a better photo - look how close together those two front legs and hooves are.

Now compare them to the width between Bandero's front hooves and legs. See the difference?

There is the same problem with the hind legs; it's like they have been squeezed together.

Bandero's hind legs and hooves.

I do like his mane - isn't it pretty?

I'll be honest, at first I was really, really disappointed. I'd hoped to show this model in Paint classes but no judge would place him with these flaws.

But then I got to thinking - I only go to a couple of live shows a year. Showing is not my focus, collecting is. And I love the mold and I think he is beautiful in this color.

So rather than focus on the issues and the fact that he is not showable three or four times a year, I am going to focus on how much I love the mold and how very handsome he is in this color.