Splatter Dapple Grey? Sign Me Up!

One of my favorite vintage colors is Breyer's splatter dapple grey.

The first splatter dapple grey piece in my collection was the Old Timer (left). Years later, if I see one in a thrift shop, I will rescue it, either for myself or to pass on to someone else.

The early Clydesdale Stallion also came in the color so of course, variations!

It's a lovely color that suits many molds.

So, when Breyer announced Riah yesterday, a splatter grey Vintage Club special run, you can bet I didn't wait to order it.

Splatter dapple grey on the Anamar sculpture looks lovely. (Photos of Riah by Breyer.)

There is some speculation that the model may be glossy, and I can see why that is - the legs in the above photo do look like they may be glossed. However, Breyer says the piece is matte.

Adding to the excitement, 75 pieces will be the black point splatter grey variation that was found on some Proud Arabian Stallions, Mares and Foals from 1983.

I'm hoping for the black point version, but I'll be happy with the other as well. (I'm also crossing my fingers for some halo spots, too!)

Guess we will all find out when Riah begins arriving at collectors' homes.

Stay 'tooned!

 

1988 Small World Cantering Welsh Pony

 The Cantering Welsh Pony is a vintage mold that is still very popular among collectors.

An early version of the CWP.

I only have nine in my collection so the mold is one of my smaller congas.

I used to have one of the rarest versions, the 1987 Small World special run in dapple grey with gold ribbons, but I sold it years ago. Only 97 pieces were made and it is highly sought after. I still regret selling that piece. (Photo by Beth Dickinson.)

The following year, and after having seen the demand from the previous year, Small World offered four different colors on the CWP mold and made 500 of each color. This is the fleabitten grey; there is also red roan, dark chestnut, and red dun.

I saw the fleabitten grey at the October Great Lakes Congress show and snapped it up.

She is in excellent shape for being 34 years old - whoever has had her took care of her.

She is just a smidge shorter than two more recent counterparts, so she passed the shrinky test. (Some models from the mid 80s - 90s were made from a plastic that tends to deteriorate over time.) 

Of course, now that I have her, I am on the look out for the other three from 1988. And if I could only find my dapple grey with gold braids, I would be over the moon.

1997 Sears SR Field Hunter

I found this gorgeous vintage Jumping Horse for sale online a week ago and am so glad I purchased him. (Photos from the seller's ad.)

 It's the 1997 Sears SR Field Hunter in semigloss dark dapple grey.

Only 1,650 were made, and they do not come up for sale very often.

 It reminds me of Rumbling Thunder, who is the same gorgeous semigloss color. 

 Rumbling Thunder was much nicer in person than he was in Breyer's promos!

He was produced in 1993 - 1994, and Breyer used his coloring on the Field Hunter, although they added white socks to him.

I'm excited to have finally found this piece!

New Ponies!

Breyer's 70th Anniversary may be a tough year on my pocketbook. (I doubt that I am alone in that!) The evidence is on my craft table.

Not only does it have my NaMoPaiMo project and supplies, but some models that are out as I prepare for my first live show of the year and several new models as well. I put the new ones there until I could get them photographed, tagged, entered into my database, and then finally, put on the shelves.

 The 70th Anniversary  Indian Pony is STUNNING! This sweet mare is one of my favorite molds.

 Surprise! I bought a new mold! But who could resist this gorgeous Hamilton in palomino?

My 2019 Vintage Club freebies, Stablemates Misty and Stormy, have arrived. (I wonder why Breyer did not give Stormy her own blue ribbon?)

Yep, another new mold - Carter, Breyer's first web special of 2020. Photos do not do his color justice.

I saw this sweet Cantering Welsh Pony listed on eBay for only $8. I did not have this piece in chestnut, and this girl, although a little yellowed, is lovely.

Breyer made their annual Christmas blanket in red, green, and black. Unfortunately this black one is a duplicate for me, so I will see if I can trade it for a green one.

Finally, a new clinky (and a non Breyer) - Lone Star, a special run for Lone Star Live in 2002. He has nice detail.

If this is just a taste of what Breyer will be offering this year, then I can hardly wait to see what else is coming for collectors!

HR SR Bay Lippizaner

My absolute favorite breed is, of course, Appaloosas, but I also love Lippizaners and Tennessee Walkers. 

So, when a friend posted that she was selling her Hagen Renaker Lippizaner in bay, I quickly sent her a message and ended up purchasing it. 

 A 2009 special run for BreyerFest, it came in two colors - black and bay.

 I love his blaze - it looks a bit like a tornado or a lightning strike.

I bought the black about ten years ago and have been looking for the bay ever since. (I have found one or two, but their prices were not in my budget.)

 The blazes on the two pieces are different.

 Their bases differ, too.

A close-up of the bases. In person, the differences make it seem as though two different molds were used for those bases. I need to do some research into that.

Both pieces are marked to identify them as special runs. If I remember right, 50 were made of each color.

I am thrilled to add this piece to my collection!

TSC Stella - a Glowy!

Teacher Daughter Lisa bought me a TSC Stella for Christmas. 

 She bought the last one in stock at our local TSC, but she really got a good one.

 It's a semi gloss  with lovely shadings,

 clean seams, and no rubs or flaws that I can find,

and it's a glowy - one that was made from the glow in the dark plastic by mistake!

With that kind of luck, I sure hope Lisa buys me more model horses!