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.

2024 Mother’s Day Plush

 

Yesterday Breyer unveiled the 2024 Mother’s Day Plush, which is comprised of a mare and foal:

Meet Queenie and Beanie (# B-PL-10008), a matching chestnut pair ready for Mother’s Day:

Beanie the baby is adorned with a bow, while mama Queenie wears a blanket:

Queenie and Beanie are the second plush mare and foal set to be released by Breyer. 2023 saw the first plush mare and foal set, Truffles and Bon Bon (# 8679), a set of Palomino Appaloosas:

Undoubtedly we shall be seeing more plush mare and foal sets every year!

*Photos are from Breyer’s website and email.

Spring 2024 Releases

 

Hark ye! Spring has arrived at Breyer, and two Spring releases have made their appearance. First up is the Brick and Mortar model, Picante. Described by Breyer as a bay roan Arabian/Quarter Horse cross, she is on the Trotting Arabian Mare (Weather Girl) mold and is limited to 2,500 pieces:

Remember this Sneak Peek square?

The reveal is for the Spring decorator and not my guess of the next Exotic Destinations model. Dubbed Gilded, the gold and blue colors are an homage to the earliest Breyer decorators. Gilded is on the Geronimo mold:

I have to admit I didn’t see that coming, lol. I don’t plan on getting Picante and Gilded is currently in the “Huh, unable to decide” category. The Geronimo mold is one of those unintentional congas for me, and one that keeps growing… 

A quick edit to this post - I found another picture of Picante and Gilded that I wanted to add:

*Photos are Breyer’s, gathered from various places.

2024 Vintage Club First Release: Scorpion

 

The first release of the 2024 Vintage Club is Scorpion, presented on the Stud Spider mold. Collectors had been wondering when the Stud Spider mold would appear in the VC, and here he is!

I am highly amused that this mold has two arachnid names- Scorpion and (Stud) Spider. I am also amused that Breyer gave two different descriptions of Scorpion’s coat color. On the VC homepage, we have this description:

Now, once you clicked on the complete your order button, you were taken to Scorpion’s order page, which had this description, with no mention of the leg wraps:

I am happy Breyer decided to use Stud Spider’s blanket pattern for Scorpion. Stud Spider’s pattern was also used on the Family Appaloosa Stallion (# 859), who was available in the Breyer line from 1992-1994. The pattern appeared again on a 2020 test run of a wedgewood Stud Spider. The pattern on these models tends to be blurry, but still recognizable as the Stud Spider blanket. 

Scorpion and the Family Appaloosa Stallion side by side comparison:

Photo courtesy of Victoria Krentz

                                                 Photo courtesy of Victoria Krentz

The 2020 Wedgewood Test Run:

Photo copyright Identify Your Breyer

Photo copyright Identify Your Breyer

This blanket pattern was not limited to the Stud Spider mold. It graced the Man O’ War mold on Storm, a glossy charcoal 2016 Vintage Club offering:

Now let us take a look at Stud Spider himself:

Photo copyright Identify Your Breyer 

Photo copyright Identify Your Breyer

Scorpion’s blanket has been crisped up, and has minor spot changes. Once I unboxed him, I was a tad surprised at the bold, shimmery, coppery color of him. I was fascinated by the color of his mane and tail; it is a color I call Builder’s Beige, that standard, neutral tan color slapped on the walls of new homes.

Builder’s Beige tail:

Scorpion hanging out on the classy grill:

Overall, Scorpion turned out quite nice. I do think I need to make him some leg wraps, though!

*Photos of Stud Spider (the real horse) are from Pinterest.

*First two photos of Scorpion are from Breyer, as are both model descriptions.

The First Test Run of 2024: Black Pinto Miniature Horse Set

 

The first test run offering for 2024 has arrived:

It is a set of miniature horses in black pinto, comprised of the Merrylegs mold (# 3040ML) and the Midnight Tango mold (# 467). Breyer places their production during the late 2000s to early 2010s timeframe. Members of the Collector Club may enter the drawing for an opportunity to purchase the pair. The cost is $1,200 and the set comes with a COA.  Entries will be taken until midnight on February 28, 2024. 

The Merrylegs mold:

The Midnight Tango mold:

More photos of the two together:

Let’s fly in the clouds for no apparent reason:

These two molds have previously been paired together in a set showcasing Miniature horses. The set featured LTD’s Red Cloud, a red roan Medicine Hat, portrayed on the Midnight Tango mold and Magic Man’s Grand Slam,  a black overo, depicted on the Merrylegs mold. The set, numbered #1180, was available in the Breyer line from 2006-2008.

Here is LTD’s Red Cloud:

Photo copyright Identify Your Breyer 

And here we have Magic Man’s Grand Slam: 

Photo copyright Identify Your Breyer

We also have an interesting case of an almost doppelgänger. Take a look at the original introduction of the Midnight Tango mold and at the test model offered:

Midnight Tango:

                                            Photo copyright Identify Your Breyer

The test run almost doppelgänger:

I find it interesting that Breyer would do a test run nearly identical to a model that had already been in production. Midnight Tango was introduced in 2000, and Breyer gives a timeframe for the test run’s creation of nearly ten years later. Could the test run perhaps have been a prototype for the Midnight Tango model? Certainly there is no way for us to know. This is one of those model mysteries, lol! While it is a cute set, I will not be entering for the drawing. Best of luck to anyone entering for this duo!

*Photos are from Breyer’s website  and email.

*Photos from Identify Your Breyer are labeled as such. Thank you IDYB!