2022 Vintage Club First Release: Cooper

 

The email for Cooper, the first release of the 2022 Vintage Club, appeared a couple of days ago:

Hahahaha, I had been trying to hold off purchasing my second SMC Dax so I could combine him with Cooper. The deadline for ordering Dax was yesterday, but I broke down and ordered Dax on 2/20 so I would not forget about him (he’s still showing unfulfilled). I ordered Cooper yesterday so I don’t have to keep reminding myself to order him before the deadline (which is 3/10/22), plus I should get him sooner. I have always liked the Appaloosa Performance Horse (APH) mold; he’s standing, looking dependable and alert, and ready to spring into action in a moment’s notice. As a kid, he was a horse I wanted to ride. I found his tail fascinating, especially since he looked so much like an ancient black and white photo of an Appaloosa I had from an old horse magazine (which I think may have been from the 1960s). 

I’m glad that Breyer decided to include the bridle and bareback pad as a nod to the Brenda Breyer Gift Set (produced from 1980-1985). It may also inspire me to finish up yet ANOTHER one of my unfinished projects, which you have already guessed are bareback pads. I have a chronic problem of starting projects but never quite getting around to finishing them. I haven’t forgotten the Operation Faux Zugspitze project, but it’s been a tad cold to spray him outside. The few days that were somewhat decent didn’t work out because I would not have had the time to rinse and scrub him the next day, and I don’t want to leave the oven cleaner on him for days on end. The weather should start warming soon, meaning more opportunity to spray one day and scrub the next. Hmmm, maybe I will try to finish at least one bareback pad before Cooper arrives…

*Photos of Cooper are from Breyer’s email and website.*

Bonanza of Breyer Announcements

Wowza, Breyer went wild with announcements Monday! I checked my email late that evening to discover three emails with exciting Breyer news! Actually, it was more than three emails because one of the announcements came from various Breyer dealers. The announcements from the dealers were for Old Glory, Breyer’s Spring 2021 decorator.  Done on the Esprit mold, this clearware decorator is patterned after the U.S. flag, complete with Stars and Stripes:

I like him, and will see if I can get one. The next announcement was the second Test Run Model lottery of 2021. It is the saddlebred weanling mold, with a test color...which is supposed to look like a vintage paint job but not quite there. I think she’s cute, and the test color came out odd-not a bad thing for a test model. After all, that is the purpose a test model serves. The color idea isn’t terrible, it’s the execution of the paint job that is the issue. I get that the painter was going for the old Appaloosa Performance Horse look, but it didn’t quite work out. Take a look at the old APH:

His splatter dapple pattern fades into the rest of the coat. Now compare with the test run model:

That boundary line from the splatter dapple pattern into the grey smudge is weird looking. There are some of the sharpie dots from the back half of the weaning that travel onto the shoulders and front leg splatter dapples if you look closely, a clear mimic of the APH. This test model is priced at $850, down from the last test run model’s price of $1,100. The saddlebred weanling is petite, which may account for the lower price. Good luck to anyone who is entering for her!

And now the best for last. The second reveal of the Premier Club, Astrid:

I almost fell off my chair when I began reading the email. A fjord, and a mare to boot!  I had been wishing for a new fjord; while I think the old Henry mold is cute, it was high time Breyer popped out a new fjord mold. Breyer did not disappoint, and I love the color. PC members may choose a glossy or matte finish. I have chosen a matte finish as I am more of a matte girl, but I think she’d look stunning in gloss.  It would have been nice if Breyer had shown an actual picture of a glossy Astrid instead of this cartoony photo shop gloss.

Too bad she’s still some time away. I want her now! It is also going to be exciting to see what the last PC model will be for 2021, since I really like the first two. 

*Old Glory photo from Breyer released to dealers*

*Appaloosa Performance Horse photo from the Identify Your Breyer website*

*Saddlebred Weanling photos from Breyer’s website*

*Astrid photos from Breyer’s website*