Tuesday, June 28, 2016
Birthday Week: Footnotes - Generation Two Customs
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| Legolas G2 Andalusian By Amanda Tolleson | G2 Clydesdale By Scrappy |
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| Fizzy Pop G2 Cantering Foal By Emily Miller | Achilles G2 Warmblood By Heather Wilkendorf |
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| G2 Warmblood By LeeAnn Bachman | G2 Andalusian By Scrappy |
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| G2 Clydesdale By LeeAnn Bachman | Galileo G2 Stock Horse By Heather Wilkendorf |
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| G2 American Saddlebred By Scrappy | Twilight Cookie G2 Warmblood By Billie Campbell |
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| G2 Paso Fino By LeeAnn Bachman | G2 Rearing Arabian By Scrappy |
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| Romeo G2 Andalusian By Horsing Around-England | Vertical Horizon G2 Mule By Unknown |
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| G2 Andalusian By Scrappy | Greek Upon the Stars G2 Warmblood By Kim Swanson |
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| G2 Shetland Pony By Scrappy | Allejandro III G2 Andalusian By M. Hildebrandt |
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| G2 Stock Horse By Scrappy | Me and My Monkey G2 Shetland Pony By Heather Wilkendorf |
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| Monkey Butter G2 Shetland Pony By Heather Wilkendorf | G2 Stock Horse By LeeAnn Bachman |
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| G2 American Saddlebred By Scrappy | G2 Shetland Pony By Scrappy |
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| Out of the Box G2 Thoroughbred By Bev Manderfeld | G2 Rearing Arabian By Scrappy |
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| G2 Warmblood By LeeAnn Bachman | Monkey in the Moon G2 Shetland Pony By Heather Wilkendorf |
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| G2 Paso Fino By Scrappy | G2 Prancing Morgan By LeeAnn Bachman |
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| MV Suprise Dream G2 Frolicking Foal By Mel Miller |
Many thanks to Emily Miller, Scrappy, Annmarie Pottrell, LeeAnn Bachman of Misty Star Studios, and Tess Carson for providing pictures for this post!
Monday, June 27, 2016
Birthday Week: Variation Spotlight - G2 Thoroughbred #5981
Gift Set #5981 Stablemates Horses Gift Pack 2002-06
The G2 Thoroughbred from the #5981 Stablemates Horses Gift Pack is a particularly fun model as so many of them stray from the catalogue image. Variations in shade, quantity of roaning, patch placement and shape can easily be found. The only hard part is not snapping them all up.
Sunday, June 26, 2016
Birthday Week: Not My First Rodeo - Collectibulls, Horses, & Riders
Not Stablemates, but Stablemate-scale, in 2004 a new collection appeared in the Breyer catalogue - the Collectibull Collection. There are six molds, sculpted by Carol Herden and Jane Lugner, in the first collection which depict famous rodeo bulls in dynamic bucking poses. Each bull was supported by a clear acrylic rod which rested in a base made to look like a churned up arena floor; a small name plaque is nestled in the "dirt".
Saturday, June 25, 2016
Birthday Week: Stable Storage
The early 2000s were a time of experimentation for the Stablemate line. Play sets, gift sets, and activity sets flourished.
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| From the Breyer 2002 Mid-Year Catalogue |
Friday, June 24, 2016
Thursday, June 23, 2016
Birthday Week: What's Yellow, Squashy, and Stamped All Over? - Production Issues
Mass-production doesn't mean problem-free and when you're working with plastic and paint, production can be rife with issues.
Yellowing
Rapid yellowing models seemed to be most common in 1997 and 1998, but these 2000-01 models obviously have the same issue. This doesn't seem to be a problem with later models, but for those produced between 1997 through 2001, keep them well away from the sun. The usual technique of sun-bleaching is not effective with these models.
Smooshed Shetlands
Starting in 2004 the forelock of the G2 Shetland Pony began to go a bit limp. This issue became worse over time and current models look very much like they've been hit with a hammer.
Stamp Swapping
The first of the G2 models were released with a small stamp with a 1998 date. In 2000 this stamp was replaced a 1999 one which was larger and the orientation was flipped.
Paint Problems
Breyer has released Stablemates in rubber tack without issue, but some times, whether due to paint which isn't completely dry, humidity, and/or heat, the tack causes damage. The paint can be completely lifted away, grooved, or just smeared.
The paint on some of the rapid-yellowing models could go a bit odd, looking pale and slightly green; later models were affected by a similar paint issue specifically those painted chestnut or "yellow", such as this #5601 Appaloosa.
Like the rapid-yellowing models, the paint goes pale and slightly green-toned though, with these later models, the white plastic is unaffected. I have models produced some time between 2006-08 with this issue as well.
Translucent Plastic
While this type of plastic was most common in 1997 during one of Breyer's obvious periods of plastic experimentation, translucent plastic still pops up now and then. I have several examples from the 2000-2006 period. The coloured areas on translucent models often look pearly or just extra shiny.
This translucent #5904 Palomino Pony has a smooshed forehead which means he was likely produced sometime between 2004-06 or may be a Target Special Run #720116 Shetland Pony from 2006. The regular run and special run are identical, the only change is in the run number, though translucents seem to be more common in the special run packaging.
Yellowing
Rapid yellowing models seemed to be most common in 1997 and 1998, but these 2000-01 models obviously have the same issue. This doesn't seem to be a problem with later models, but for those produced between 1997 through 2001, keep them well away from the sun. The usual technique of sun-bleaching is not effective with these models.
Smooshed Shetlands
Starting in 2004 the forelock of the G2 Shetland Pony began to go a bit limp. This issue became worse over time and current models look very much like they've been hit with a hammer.
Stamp Swapping
The first of the G2 models were released with a small stamp with a 1998 date. In 2000 this stamp was replaced a 1999 one which was larger and the orientation was flipped.
Paint Problems
Breyer has released Stablemates in rubber tack without issue, but some times, whether due to paint which isn't completely dry, humidity, and/or heat, the tack causes damage. The paint can be completely lifted away, grooved, or just smeared.
The paint on some of the rapid-yellowing models could go a bit odd, looking pale and slightly green; later models were affected by a similar paint issue specifically those painted chestnut or "yellow", such as this #5601 Appaloosa.
Like the rapid-yellowing models, the paint goes pale and slightly green-toned though, with these later models, the white plastic is unaffected. I have models produced some time between 2006-08 with this issue as well.
Translucent Plastic
While this type of plastic was most common in 1997 during one of Breyer's obvious periods of plastic experimentation, translucent plastic still pops up now and then. I have several examples from the 2000-2006 period. The coloured areas on translucent models often look pearly or just extra shiny.
This translucent #5904 Palomino Pony has a smooshed forehead which means he was likely produced sometime between 2004-06 or may be a Target Special Run #720116 Shetland Pony from 2006. The regular run and special run are identical, the only change is in the run number, though translucents seem to be more common in the special run packaging.
Wednesday, June 22, 2016
Birthday Week: Gift Sets - BreyerFest Store Models
At first the only special model available at BreyerFest was the celebration model and the test run auction models. Then they tried out a few surprise special runs which sold out very quickly and caused quite a bit of bitterness in those who had missed out.
Later special runs were usually announced in advance and sold in the Breyer store, but some things found may be surprises such as samples, test, and assorted warehouse extras.
Later special runs were usually announced in advance and sold in the Breyer store, but some things found may be surprises such as samples, test, and assorted warehouse extras.
Tuesday, June 21, 2016
Birthday Week: Variation Spotlight - G2 Clydesdale #59197
Play Set #5910 Medieval Play Set 2003-05
While variations aren't as prevalent in these days, they can be found; I purchased the bottom model as a body, but had to keep him OF as he was so different from my first model. He's a little battle-scarred, but look at that shading!
Monday, June 20, 2016
Birthday Week: Arts N Crafts - Ornament Kits
Arts and crafts activity sets have been a part of the Breyer line since the early 1970s, but in the early 2000s Breyer kicked it up a notch. Included in this increase in craftiness were several Stablemate-scale offerings.
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