Breyer Breeds

We interrupt our normally scheduled nitpicking of BreyerFest Special Run announcements to bring you this important news: Black Man o’ War!

https://www.breyerhorses.com/collections/new/products/thoroughbred-breyer-breeds

There’s a whole mess of these “Breyer Breeds” models that popped up on the web site Wednesday morning, and alas, there went one of my New Year’s Resolutions, right out the window. (Still holding fast to the other two, so far.)

I have long been an advocate of releasing older molds in simple, modern-style paint jobs, and it looks like I finally got my wish? In a way, this new series of models harkens back to the Breyer releases in the 1960s through the early 1990s, when the majority of models were meant as generic representations of certain breeds or types, and not necessarily as portrait models. 

It sometimes led to some pretty boring models, but I think that was more a function of the technical limitations of the time, rather than the concept itself. I mean, I love my #206 Bay Old Timer, but that shade of Bay is pretty bland. In contrast, look how fabulous Roemer looks in a modern style Silver Bay:

https://www.breyerhorses.com/collections/new/products/warmblood-breyer-breeds

I was tempted to buy all six, but I managed to restrain myself and only bought four: I’ll save the Sporthorse Black Beauty and the Percheron Roy for future sales promotions. 

It was my hope that a promotion like this would come with somewhat cheaper prices, and when I found them and bought mine, they were 34.99. That price didn’t last long, but my original order hasn’t been canceled or revised… yet. 

I know nothing else about this program, incidentally: quantities, duration, future releases, what have you.  I am just happy to have some of my favorite molds in new and pretty colors.

Pinto Roemer

Managed to survive Cyber Monday unscathed, as well. So far the only other item that’s tempted me in the past couple of weeks’ worth of sales and promotions – aside from the Benasque and the True North mini – was the Let’s Go Riding – English Set with the pinto Roemer, who was on sale several days ago or so.

I make no apologies for loving the Roemer mold, but I haven’t bought this set yet because it’s diggity-danged expensive – only a pittance less than what I paid for my Test Color Roemer:

I mean, yeah, the set comes with a boatload of stuff, but even this Roemer fangirl has her limits. Though if nothing else comes through for me through the end of the year, I may swing by one of my local independent toy stores and buy one as my “holiday present to myself” thing.

Incidentally, one of the few things I did accomplish over the long, lazy Thanksgiving weekend was to clean off my desk – of both crumbs and paperwork! One of the things I found in my to-do pile was a post about Roemer’s sculptor, Jeanne Mellin Herrick.

She was one of Breyer’s most prolific sculptors in the immediate post-Hess era, sculpting six new Traditional molds in the space of five years:

• Sherman Morgan (1987)
• John Henry (1988)
• Roemer (1990)
• Misty’s Twilight (1991)
• Pluto (1991)
• Friesian (1992)

In spite of their anatomical irregularities, some of them – especially the Sherman Morgan and Friesian – still have devoted fanbases. In recent years, most of these molds have also seen a second life or three in gift sets and holiday releases designed for younger hobbyists and casual collectors.

(The Friesian got two releases alone, this year: Harley, and the Let’s Go Riding – Western Set!)

What’s nice about loving a mold less desirable molds like Roemer is that he’s an easier and more affordable mold to collect. So far the only Roemer out of my reach is the Chicago Exclusive Event Centerpiece model Wadsworth.

On the other hand, Reeves’s marketing strategy with these molds has had the benefit of boosting the visibility – and ultimately, the popularity – of these molds with the general public.

Which could lead to more releases in the future, but also the possibility of more unobtainable models like Wadsworth.

(Worth it. Probably.)

(Note: yes, a longer and more detailed post about Jeanne Mellin Herrick will be coming soon.)

This Year's Trip to Chicago

So, that happened, as some of you may have guessed from the previous two posts, and from some of you actually seeing me there (or even gossiping about me as I walked by, at one point. That was weird!)

Anyway, I kept it on the down low mostly because I wanted to treat it as a vacation-vacation, rather than have it turn into the working vacation that BreyerFest has become.

It worked wonderfully as a vacation – the hanging out with friends part, especially – but as a Breyer event, maybe not as much.

There were some great parts (sipping champagne and eating fancy cheeses during the Lipizzan performances, the impromptu “product development” meeting on the Orange Bus, the kindness and generosity of some of my fellow hobbyists) and some not so great parts (being in the back of my Special Run line and getting “Double Desatadoed”, the rushed nature of the Saturday night party, no acknowledgement of how adorable we all were in our party outfits).

The griping about the centerpiece model – a pearly dapple gray Roemer – got to me enough that I had to restrain myself from yelling “If any y’all don’t want him, I’d be happy to take him off your hands.”

Even a model like Roemer has his fans; until that night I had some hopes of completing my collection this year. One of my roommates was lucky enough to win one, so I got to touch/fondle/sniff him, at least.

Ah well, I’ll always have my Bay Pinto Test.

I’ll go into greater detail about the whole thing next week; I’m still trying to sort my feelings out about it. And catch up on my sleep, too.

In My Easter Bonnet

Another disquieting thought: Reeves may have more pictures of me than my friends and family do. The most recent example:

http://www.breyerhorses.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=1859

Gah! I don’t think I’ll ever get used to seeing pictures of myself, even in costume. That’s what I get for nosing around the Breyer web site looking for fresh material to complain about.

If nothing else, it should make for some interesting news stories, lest I ever fall into sudden fame, or disrepute.

It does illustrate the conundrum I face regarding this year’s costume contests: I didn’t win last year. But they’re using me for promotional purposes. (Actually, most the photos they’ve been from promotional purposes are nonwinners - I don’t know if it’s just a coincidence, or intentional.)

I’m flattered and all, but what do I do now - do I break out Princess Beezus again, or go with a completely different idea? Because you know me, I have ideas.

Man, my life is way more complicated than it needs to be!

Due to family commitments, I am unable to provide y’all with something substantial today, so I shall present to you another photograph of another Test Color type thing from my herd:


A Bay Pinto Roemer! Yes, it’s the same pattern as the Black Pinto "Domino" from the Domino Gift Set issued in 1994. Couldn’t tell you anything more about him or where he came from; when I bought him, I forgot to ask the seller for any more details about his origins.

I don’t care what anybody says, I kinda like the Roemer mold. Like the Misty’s Twilight and the Touch of Class molds, I consider him more of a three-dimensional representation of an antiquated style of equine illustration than a faithful reproduction of an actual horse.

Showring-worthy? Probably not. I still think he’s pretty fabulous.