Thursday, October 22, 2015

Dimples

The one actual nice piece from that box of horrors: a mostly lovely Woodgrain Five-Gaiter!


Woodgrains are almost as hard to find as Blue and Gold Decorators in my part of the world, which I find odd; near as I can figure, retailers either didn’t sell them in this area, or buyers weren’t interested. Any time I bring home a Woodgrain that isn’t a Family Arabian or Fighting Stallion, it’s usually cause enough for dancing. Or cake.

I described this Five-Gaiter as mostly lovely: he does have condition issues. Some are the usual minor condition problems that show up with most vintage models found “in the wild”: eartip rubs, hoof rubs, a few high point nicks and dings. Nothing significant or out of the ordinary.

He also has two factory condition issues. The first you can’t really make out in the photos, but his graining coat is slightly pixilated. Basically, that paint/stain was either a little too wet, or the conditions in the factory were just a little bit too humid, causing the paint to bead.

It’s not the same thing as the bubbling that sometimes occurs on Woodgrains, but it is probably related somehow. I’m not planning on testing the theory: I plan on keeping him cool, clean and dry as long as he’s an occupant of this house.

His other problem is a little more amusing:


He has matching butt dimples! More precisely, these are sink marks: indentations in molded plastic that sometimes occur in thick-walled or solid areas of plastic, primarily due to uneven cooling rates. Basically, the plastic starts to cool before that section of the mold is completely filled, pulling it away from the mold wall.

Sink marks are not an uncommon thing to find in Breyer models, especially in the 1970s; just about every Proud Arabian Mare that I ever owned had them on their hooves. Sink marks this big – and matching! – are a little less common.

Both sides of the mold are molded simultaneously, so the fact that they “match” shouldn’t surprise: each side has a similar wall thickness, and experienced the same amount of heat, pressure, and so on. It’s the degree and the placement of those sink marks that surprises, and amuses.

Many naughty euphemisms come to mind. I’ll be good and leave those to your imagination.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

He's lovely!

Woodgrains are extremely hard to find "in the wild" here in Arizona too. I used to think they were so rare and special, and still do. I was shocked to see some horses that I thought were pretty rare going for cheap prices on eBay.

Where I am, even woodgrain FAS's are hard to find.

I am also surprised at some of the reasonable prices on eBay of some of the old glossies.

Like the glossy bay Two-Bits QH with halter, I have NEVER found one. And when I finally found a glossy charcoal running stallion I was over the moon! So imagine when I discovered eBay only to find these horses don't bring that much. Weird!

I have actually found two decorators "in the wild" though. So I am not complaining. But some of the things that are rare in Arizona are apparently common elsewhere.

Corky said...

The first time I saw a woodgrain Breyer, I didn't think it was a Breyer! I'd never heard of them or seen one before then. And it was a Five Gaiter, too!

LostInAn80sFog said...

So that's what's behind those divots in the PAMs feet. Thanks for clearing up the mystery :)

Bostonmom said...

I have this horse . What year was it made? Do you have the name of it by any chance ?
Thanks Kathy