Happy Breyerfest!

 

Breyerfest came up fast and I am sooooooo discombobulated due to the events of the past weeks. I had a family emergency and had to go out of town (roughly 1,800 miles from home). Upon my return I had to attend a meeting; the next day I was informed that an attendee had tested positive for Covid…and yes, I ended up getting sick. I had a slightly runny nose, a mild cough, and intense fatigue. Everything was an effort to do; I was in a constant state of exhaustion. Naturally *nothing* got done. My intention is to try to get the pre-Breyerfest blog posts up during the upcoming week. Nothing particularly new as I am running a few weeks behind, but I’d like to get them up for posterity’s sake.

I also heard the sad news that Cossaco has passed away. He was scheduled to appear as one of the guest horses for Breyerfest.  :(

The Surprise model is the Emerson mold! I totally did not see that coming, lol. Not sure of how many colors there are or what they all are, so that will be updated later. Okay then, everyone go and enjoy Breyerfest! Stay safe and hydrated!

*Pictures are all from Breyer’s website.

2024 Mid-Year Releases

 

The mid-year releases have finally been set free! A unicorn set and two portrait models are supposed to be available in late June. First up, the unicorn set:

Hurray, unicorns that aren’t pastel or in the unicorn uniform (white-grey)! Presented as golden chestnuts, Cyrus and Solana are a must have for me. Cyrus is on the Duende mold with Solana appearing on the Lipizzaner foal mold. I am super excited about these two!

The first portrait model is Quietway Spinabbey who is owned by Guy McLean. Depicted on the Latigo/Loping Quarter Horse mold, Spinabbey sports a roached mane. Quietway Spinabbey will be joining Guy to perform at Breyerfest this year.

The next portrait model is of Salvino, who has won two Olympic silver medals. This interpretation of Salvino is on the Totilas mold, and it is his second portrait model from Breyer. Salvino’s first portrait model was a 200 piece run made for the 2022 Collector Club event, Ponies and Palm Trees. Salvino was the Event model and was portrayed on the Keltic Salinero mold:

While I am loving all of the solid colors on the mid-years, the unicorns are the only release I plan on getting. I don’t really conga the other two molds, but the colors may make me change my mind…

*Photos are from Breyer’s website.

Update: 2024 Premier Club First Release

 

Breyer sent out an email announcing that Llywellyn, the first release for the 2024 Premier Club has been delayed due to production issues. Breyer has given the timeframe of his availability to be in late June or early July; and if his purchase window coincides with Breyerfest, the purchase window will be extended. Breyer also revealed full body photos of Llywellyn:

I am certainly looking forward to getting Llywellyn in hand. In the meantime, I’d best be off and order Newport before I forget to!

*Photos are from Breyer’s email and website.

2024 Stablemate Club Third Release: Newport

 

We’re halfway through the SMC offerings! Model number three is available to order:

Meet Newport, who is a customization of the G2 Thoroughbred (introduced in 1998). Here is the original G2 Thoroughbred mold:

Photo copyright Identify Your Breyer 

Photo copyright Identify Your Breyer

Franceyn Dare gave the G2 thoroughbred a mane and tail makeover along with a tucked head to become a polo pony. The tail is now braided and fancied up with yellow and blue ribbon-tie things, and the mane has been roached. And I must say, the shade of bay chosen looks absolutely beautiful in the pictures:

Now that we have this new polo pony, I would *love* to see a Stablemate polo pony set! The Classic/Freedom Series Polo Pony (mold #626) was introduced into the Breyer line in 1976. The Polo Pony was shrunk down, tacked up, and a Santa was added for the 2023 Santa ornament:

The Polo Pony would need to be miniaturized some more to be a true 1:32 scale SM, Santa scraped off, the tack removed, and a base created. Then the SM polo pony set could be a reality! I am looking forward to getting Newport, buuuuuuuut I am going to hold off and see if the first Premier Club release of 2024 will occur before Newport’s ordering deadline. Fingers crossed!

*Photos of Newport are from Breyer’s website.

May 2024 Odds n’ Ends Part 2

 

Starting off this second round of miscellaneous Breyer information will be the exclusive models that were available for the Spokes and Spurs event. In addition to both of the event models, there were six Special Run models made for Spokes and Spurs, along with 25 centerpiece models that were raffled off. As a recap, the traditional event model was Wimpys Little Step, a portrait model and a run of 200 pieces:

The event Stablemate Ned was also a portrait model and a run of 200 pieces as well:

Onward to the rest of the models offered at the Spokes and Spurs event! First up is Oklahoma Rose, a run of 104 pieces:

Faded Love, 96 pieces:

Guthrie, 60 pieces:

Ozark, 52 pieces:

Redbud, 45 pieces:

 

Biscuits and Gravy, 40 pieces:

And last but not least is the centerpiece raffle model, Route 66, a run of 25 pieces:

I found it very interesting that the newest mold chosen for the Spokes and Spurs lineup was the Bobby Jo/Working Cow Horse mold which debuted in 2015 (9 years ago). I am excluding the Clydesdale SM mold as he is a miniaturized version of an already existing mold and not a new sculpt. Good to see some of the older molds being used for a special event! I do need to comment on the names of the Misty and Sea Star set. Biscuits is okay, but Gravy? Um, no thank you. I think Biscuits and Jam would have been cuter. But then I have no control over such things so I have my opinion, lol. Names aside, I would love to add that set to my collection. They are gorgeous! 

The May 2024 Collectors Club newsletter has been released. The feature story gives a rundown of the Spokes and Spurs event, plus quick mentions of Breyerfest virtual workshops, the Collector Club workshop on casting medallions,  and Rio (Exotic Destination series). The model giveaway for May is Gilded, one of the Spring 2024 releases:

And naturally we got a Sneak Peek square of an upcoming model:

I know what it is! It is a chocolate bar, lol! It looks like there are tiny white speckles, so maybe it is supposed to be roaning? Time to go and hunt down some chocolate while we wait for the reveal (so chocolate is necessary every day until we know what it is).

Breyer made an announcement regarding Blue Zeus, one of the Limited Edition models for Breyerfest:

Blue Zeus is available to all Breyerfest ticket holders, but he can only be ordered online. Initially he was supposed to be a run of 3,000 pieces… and we all know that the Fireheart mold would create a firestorm once sold out. Breyer smartly made the decision to give ticket holders the option to backorder Blue Zeus, with the backordered models shipping in December. I hope hope hope hope hope that Breyer gives the option of ordering a matte or glossy finish. If they do, I will need one of each. I am generally a matte finish person, but I think Blue Zeus would look stunning in gloss. I think that’s about it for now…

*Photos are from Breyer’s website and email.

Exotic Destinations Series Third Release: Rio

 

The third model in the Exotic Destinations series has been revealed! We’ve landed on the continent of South America, and are visiting Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Meet Rio (# 712531), a Mangalarga Marchador stallion. This sooty buckskin is representing Brazil’s national horse breed. He is available to members of the Collector Club through a lottery draw. Members can enter for a chance to purchase Rio from May 22 through May 27, 2024. His cost is $185 plus shipping and handling and is a run of 600 pieces.

I absolutely love the paint job on this model, but unfortunately I don’t love the mold. Therefore I won’t be entering the lottery draw. I do hope to see Breyer use this color again. Good luck to all who enter for him!

And of course, here is our destination on the globe:

And a bonus close up since Rio de Janeiro is hard to see in the above photo:

Be on the lookout for our next stop!

*Photos of Rio are from Breyer’s website.

2024 Americana Plush: Maverick

 

This year’s Americana plush was designed to resemble the flag of the United States. Available just in time for Memorial Day, Maverick can do triple duty for Memorial Day, Flag Day, and the Fourth of July. Memorial Day is considered the unofficial start of summer; folks gather together for an assortment of activities. One of those activities is the ever popular cookout. Now, this blog is subject to random weirdness, and I believe I have something worthy of that weirdness. Look what I came across:

Yep, for real. Corn on the cob and BBQ scented candles. Hahahahahahahaha, this is just too funny. Of course there were also some fruity scented candles in the collection to round it out. Honestly, I do want to buy them because I am curious about the scents. If they go on sale I just may purchase them. Although I haven’t purchased any Slatkin candles in awhile, I will say that Slatkin’s candles are pretty good. I guess if your barbecue gets rained out, everyone can sit inside, light these candles and enjoy the smells of a cookout while indoors, lol! 

*Photo of Maverick is from Breyer’s website.

*Photos of candles are from Slatkin’s website.