The first Breyerfest 2019 special run has been released! As they are released, I will update this blog post, so stay tuned! I will also post any store specials that are released. Zipped in Black Magic is a store special released on the Zippo Pine Bar mold. He is a grey blanket appaloosa. This horse himself makes me want to go to Breyerfest this year! I love this guy, he is so flashy. Although he looks very similar to Shakopee, also on this mold, he is much more detailed. Store special #2 is named Rico and he is an Arabian/Andalusian mix that performs with Sylvia Zerbini in her spectacular show that she's performed at Breyerfest in previous years. This horse's coloring reminds me a lot of Old Ironsides from last year, so I'm not real thrilled about this one. Store special #3 is another real life horse hero named Hal and he is a Quarter Horse that has performed with Jonathan Field. Now this horse is rather plain for his $75 price tag (for a chestnut horse with a blaze, Breyer? Really???) but he's also on the popular Dundee mold, and that in itself will make lots of collectors want him. For me, he looks a lot like a horse that I owned as a child. She was very similarly colored with a blaze, although she had a white hind sock. "Pepper has no need for billionaire playboy inventor-types – she’s the star of her own show with her beautiful coat and commanding posture. After all, who doesn’t love a confident, sassy redhead? Pepper is a chestnut overo paint on the popular Clydesdale Mare mold, who is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year!" At first, I didn't really like this horse, however the more I look at her, the more I kind of like her. She's flashy, that's for sure, and those are the kind of horses I collect. That bright mane though... yikes! I really hope it isn't that vibrant in real life. "Susan Carlton Sifton sculpted this handsome fellow, Quill, and for this year’s BreyerFest he’s been decorated in a fun silver grulla blanket appaloosa pattern that is sure to rule your galaxy!" Of all the special runs, I think this is my favorite. Quill looks like the twin of Gideon, who was also a grullo done on this same mold, except he's a pinto whereas Quill is an appaloosa. I might have to get him second hand. "Diana was sculpted by Susan Carlton Sifton and for this model’s latest BreyerFest release, we thought this glossy dapple bay mare with her loose mane and tail looked ready for action! Charging always forward, we knew this dark-haired horse (our hero!) would be fit for even the most discerning collector – even a prince or princess!" Not a big fan of this one. I think she's rather plain. Yes, she's dappled bay, but does that really make her worth $65? Since she's the glossy model of the bunch, I'm sure there will be collectors out there who can't wait to get their hands on her. For me personally it's an easy pass because just simply being glossy won't make me purchase a plain bay horse. "Natasha is a bright bay pinto on the Trotting Arabian Mare mold, #720, sculpted by Brigitte Eberl. Natasha is sure-footed, agile, and graceful – and if she could talk, we bet she’d be witty and smart, too." This is my second favorite of the bunch. Although described as "bright bay" she looks more like a buckskin to me, at least from the stock photos. I don't know how she'll look in real life. I heard this mold was tippy (never had it before) but that's the only reason why she's second instead of first. "Introduced in 1972, this adorable pooch was sculpted by Chris Hess and is named Bucky. The use of St. Bernards as rescue dogs in the Swiss and Italian Alps dates back to the late 17th century and these winter-loving soldiers saved thousands of lives over the course of hundreds of years. Though their use as rescue dogs has fallen out of practice in the alps, they are still an iconic breed and we salute their years of service." Not big on Breyer's non-horse sculptures so I'm definitely going to pass on this one. They did a really good job at portraying a St. Bernard though, I'll hand it to them. "You know we can’t show you this one – the infamous Surprise Model – you’ll just have to wait until you’re in Kentucky to see this handsome fellow! We hope you'll give him the Hero's Welcome into your home that he deserves!" I haven't the slightest idea what this could be but I'm sure it'll be good! There aren't many surprise horses I didn't like. "This sassy fellow named Rocket is on mold #741, was sculpted by Susan Carlton Sifton, and has been done in a beautifully-shaded dapple buckskin coat that is sure to get him noticed." Like Pepper, this horse is one that I'm just not sure about yet. I love his buttermilk buckskin color, definitely unique since most of Breyer's buckskins are more of a bright yellow color, but I'm not particularly fond of the Emerson mold. I like "action" molds, not standing poses. "Say hello to our final special run model for Breyerfest's 30th Anniversary Salute to Horse Heroes - Banner! For a fun twist this year, we decided to use Kathleen Moody’s stunning American Saddlebred Stallion (mold #571) for our 30th Anniversary Special Run decorator model, too! Done in an eye-catching glossy red and black Tortuga clearware, this guy is sure to get your heart racing."
Can't tell for sure but it looks like this guy will be another clearware, of which I don't collect. I get asked this question a lot, and honestly it is hard to answer. I guess it depends upon how serious of a collector you are. If you are a casual collector that only buys a Breyer once a year, or if you can't afford $65+ for a model, or if you don't plan on being in any of the specialty clubs, then I'd say probably not. *You do NOT get a free Breyer with your membership fee. A lot of people don't understand this. Breyer has given each member a Just About Horses magazine once a year since the inception of the Collector Club and just started giving a calendar and membership card as free gifts with your membership (although they did raise the price of the membership a bit to compensate) but that's about it. Again, unless you join the Kids Club Deluxe in which you get a Classics sized horse, you do not get a free Breyer with your club membership. *Breyer offers six models a year FOR PURCHASE. Again, no free models. You do, however, get the chance to purchase rare and limited edition models that aren't available to non-members. These models are often offered anywhere between $65 to $150 for special runs and last only until they sell out, so you have to be quick to purchase. Sometimes they offer Classics for $35 each and Stablemates for about $25 to $50 each depending upon how many were made. *They also offer a few raffle models each year. These models are only limited to 350 pieces and are often between $125-$185 each. They are the rarest of rare, and they are raffle models, meaning don't get your heart too set on one or else you may be in for disappointment because only those chosen to purchase them from the many that enter will be able to. *You get access to exclusive sales and website discounts. Sometimes, especially around the holidays, Breyer will offer Collector Club exclusive sale items (surplus models that were available through the Collector Club or the specialty clubs at one time) that are available for purchase to members only. You also get 10% off your order of anything on Breyer's website, minus the club models. *You do get ONE FREEBIE near the end of the year... but again you have to make a purchase in order to get the freebie. Breyer offers a Collector Club appreciation deal in December each year in which they offer a FREE glossy regular run with a purchase of $125 worth of products. This year they'd only made 500 glossy models divided up in 5 different horses (Paint Me A Pepto, Cobra, Peace of Mind, Shire and Kodi) so you can only imagine what one of those would be worth on the second hand market. *You get a surprise on Christmas day. Again if you're expecting a free surprise, you will be disappointed, but once a year Santa brings something special to Collector Club members only to purchase. The past few years the price was $95 with free shipping. This year, however, the price jumped to $150 with free shipping because they used the popular - and large - Othello mold. Quite a few people were unhappy about the price jump, especially those that'd been saving up for it, so it makes me wonder what Breyer will do next year. However enough people thought that it was a good deal and it was sold out within only a few hours of being posted. *Specialty clubs are a big reason to join. If you want access to the Stablemates Club models, the Vintage Club models or the Premier Club models, the only way you can do that outside of paying the inflated second hand market prices is to join the club yourself. In order to do that, you have to purchase a Collector Club membership first, then join the specialty club of your choice by paying the deposit to hold your place in the club. Deposits are $30 for the Stablemates Club and $100 for the other two clubs. Signups start in December and end the first of the year. The clubs run January to December so you cannot join a specialty club in the middle of the year. *You get discounted Breyerfest tickets. If Oliver isn't reason enough to go to Breyerfest, having discounted tickets is even better! Granted, it isn't much of a discount but it's something, especially if you regularly attend Breyerfest or would like to go. Collector Club members also get the option to purchase tickets to other events offered through Breyer. *You get to converse with other collectors. Feel like you have nobody to talk to about your hobby because not everyone understands plastic ponies? The Collector Club forums are a good place to get information about showing, customizing, tack making and even the first to know about upcoming releases.
If you're going into the Collector Club expecting freebies and discounts, you will be disappointed. The main goal of the club is not to save money, per se, like many paid memberships, but to be able to access special runs that otherwise wouldn't be possible to purchase. As a forewarning, the cost of the models are a bit steep so saving ahead is a good idea. If you have a hard time paying for regular runs, then you'll probably want to avoid the Collector Club. On the other hand, for those like me who would rather pay original prices than the inflated prices of the second hand market, then you might want to join. I used to be a JAH subscriber back in the day and would purchase the yearly special runs (10 years ago those models were around $50 so an inflated price of $65 isn't unreasonable in the least in my opinion) but couldn't afford the connoisseur models. I still have a limited budget now that I have five children, however even though I can't buy the expensive raffle models, I still find the club worth the money just by purchasing the special runs and being a part of the Stablemates Club. |
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