Neat Acquisitions

As I said in my last post, I have gotten quite a few vintage models for my collection. So this will be a photo dominated post with some words about each one.

First up is my Classic Arabian Family, who came with their original photo box. They are in nice condition, and the stallion and foal have some neat variations. The stallion's star is crooked, while the foal has some over spray on one eye and half of a hoof unpainted. I was pretty stoked about those quirks, don't ask me why.

 

I also got the Classic Andalusian Family with their photo box too, which has a few water stains and the handle disintegrated in my hands (I did not expect that one!). Despite the box flaws the family was in lovely condition, and to my knowledge has no obvious variations. It's really nice having and seeing older models in their original release colors and with any ephemera.

 

 The two boxed families came from the same seller, who sent me a message making sure if I was fine with them putting in an extra model they couldn't sell. I agreed, and was curious. Will it be a loose classic, an uncommon Stablemate, or maybe a body quality model? To my pleasure it was the bald face black Stretch Morgan. I have a soft spot for not only Arabians, but Morgans, so he was a beautiful bonus. I understand the reason they couldn't sell him, there are a bunch of him and his more common masked star counterpart on eBay all the time. Despite that fact he's in rather nice condition, with minor ear tip rubs and hoof rubs.

 

This next guy is a proud find of mine. He is a common one, but I am still thrilled to own an albino Five Gaiter. He is yellowed, so I am attempting the sunshine treatment on him. He looks awesome as the light shines through him and the girls take care to not knock him over.

 

 

That's all for this entry! I have others I need to photograph when DeEtta isn't in my lap trying to send me to bed, but it is bedtime for this cat mom.

Summer sluggishness and looney times

Okay Mother Nature, the constant 80 degree weather is getting very annoying! Granted it is nice for me priming a bunch of bodies, but it isn't fun working in a fast food restaurant in this weather. Not to mention how hot vehicles can get....ugh. Once the summer solstice hits I will be eagerly counting down to winter.

 

Bengal babies have been liking it.

One plus side to the warm weather is being able to catalog my models when I'm not at work or being lazy. It's nice knowing that I'm three quarters of the way done, and that much closer to getting a number of how many horses I have. I have found some I even forgot I have! Storage has taken its toll on at least one of my larger models, which I am really attached to. Goffert, my first Traditional scale model, has developed seam splits on his back and where the plastic holds the metal stand in his leg. When I packed everyone away last summer he only had a hoof rub, so finding him in this new state has had me bummed out of photographing the others lately. I have decided that once finances are kinder to me that I will look for another and give this old friend of mine a new life to the best of my abilities.

If that happens sooner than later, I might end up overloading myself. For some silly reason I thought it was a good idea to multitask with projects. So far the count is at Bengals Find Me Tasty (acrylics), a G3 Arabian Stablemate (acrylics also), a G2 trotting Stablemate foal (who I decided to do in pastels), a cantering Stablemate foal (who is being done in eye shadow to see how different it is from pastels), a G1 Arabian Stablemate (in resculpt stage),  and G1 and G2 Thoroughbred mares being primered for who knows what. I might have lost my mind. Big. Time.

 

And I don't know why I am using this to represent my loss of sanity but I'm going with it.

Survived the sickies

Okay, that last cold I got was evil. I actually was out of work for a week, and I now have gunk in my lungs again. I do have some exciting things to share though. My Patriot came in the mail, and so did my dapple grey foal. In the midst of having a fever over 102 for two days I thought cleaning my desk was a good idea, took me this last week of feeling better to remember where I put everything but it is nice having my workspace back. Clumsy Gizmo knocked horses off my desk so I had to touch up the works in progress and finish them up to keep them safe. Believe it or not that includes Stonewall Lee!

I still can't decide what to call his color, but I think I know what my next experiment will be. I see this one being a possible black with a brown base coat.

 

Bengals Find Me Tasty is coming along well with her layers of white. She's almost done before I move on to the details and mohair.

Perplexing

Good 'ol eBay knows how to drive me crazy. Here's the recent confusion.

Flocked Rearing Stallion. Says that it's the Classic scale (aka Rex). The problem is to date the two rearing stallion molds made by Chris Hess have only been confirmed to be flocked once. And it was King (the Traditional scale) as a white circus horse. So I'm having trouble wrapping my head around this black flocked Rex as a circus horse. I almost want to get him to see in person what the blazes is up with him, maybe a possible custom....

I also have acquired one thing that is a few different weaknesses of mine in one. He's rather beat up but I love him because a) he's the vintage style dapple b) a Maureen Love mold c) an oddity. Behold a mislabeled Arabian stallion!

I got him with scuffy alabaster Arabians from the same time period, a mare and stallion (in his proper mold). Plus side to getting vintages is that DeEtta isn't too interested in eating them. I also have a dapple PAF on it's way to my mailbox; sad part is the cutie got shipped with standard shipping so we are on day 6 out of possibly day 8-12 for the journey through Canada. Also eagerly awaiting some reference books for vintage Hartlands and Breyers. Finally got my first Traditional scale Peter Stone horse! He's the older morgan mold in a seal bay coloring and is nearly flawless. At the price I paid I thought I was getting a Chips scale, so it was quite the surprise. He came with his tag from live showing with the name Dracula, so I decided to keep that as his name.

In the subject of names I have someone who will be needing one soon. Since it is the first day of working on her I'm not too worried, I have hopes of her becoming a pretty appy.

Little this, little that

Okay, that was a longer than expected hiatus. Got bit by a cat, had to get a tetanus shot the next day, then a couple days after that the doctor decided to take a bit of blood from me (different reason). All of this happened on my right arm, so it is a little sore. I also got involved in redoing a fanfiction I was working on a few years ago, never got too far in it so there isn't much to tweak. Those things along with being on an antibiotic that my body doesn't take kindly to kept me from opening my laptop-the fanfiction is on my phone so it was in easier access.

First things first, I told y'all that I would show off my childhood holy grail. Here he is!

 

Northern Lights was the first decorator I was introduced to back when I was eight, and my mom would only buy me Stablemates, so I was out of luck. I now have him, 14 years later, and he is still in his box, fat white zip ties and all! DeEtta has already tried to nibble at the box, so I'm definitely keeping him in there for now. He sits on my dresser where I see him when I wake up and giggle at my fortune. If only it was that easy to find all my childhood holy grails...

I also got around to photographing my little Hartland foals.

 

They're so darn cute!

They are both the Arabian foal mold unpainted, but they have a few differences. The color is the most obvious. Little pale fella's head is also facing downwards more than its darker companion. then there's these mold marks I know nothing about.

 

"D"

 

 

"A"

I know nothing about Hartlands, so it might be something simple. For now I don't know. In a way they do remind me of the youngest and most rambunctious kitties of the house, and I managed to get a picture of them together without them moving. They are both alike, but have their own unique quirks.

 

DeEtta is quickly catching up to Gizmo. 

I have other things I've been working on, but will save for another time when I don't have hormonal kitties crawling all over me. (Gizmo is in heat, and Bear is acting like she will be soon also...)

 

One crazy week

Well life threw a few twists. The weather has been causing my nerve endings and other neurological tweaks to go haywire to the point of my non medical remedy for my sleep seizures to not work. I've thankfully gone three nights without one, but very exhausted nonetheless. I ripped my pants picking up Snoopy (the 18 pound bundle of ornery at the shelter), and he seemed to find it amusing.

 

Here he was telling me that he had nothing to do with it.

Work was bustling like crazy, I thought I was going to have dreams of all the customers who were saying "We're from Fairbanks!" "Do you have a Fairbanks special?" "Why don't you guys open an Arbys up in Fairbanks?" (There was an Arbys in Fairbanks, but it got no business at all so it got shut down), and then the good 'ol "I'll have (insert multiples of 10) roast beef sandwiches/sliders." I'm still not sure what in the world was going on to have alot of people from Interior Alaska down here, but it was nuts. With how often we get asked for a Fairbanks special, which is something we stopped doing 8 years ago, I have strongly considered doing a group of decorator custom stablemates and call them "The Fairbanks Special."

I have also managed to create jeweled Egyptian Arabian halters, nothing too fancy but they turned out way better than I expected. Honeysuckle and Sundown really like them.

 

Honeysuckle's bald face does not like my camera at all.

Spot also gave us a huge scare. She started acting lethargic and uninterested in everything, and the Bengal kittens were watching over her intently. Because she's the leader of the little "colony" and was showing a great deal of weakness, Bear kept on attempting to attack her but was foiled by DeEtta's speed and Gizmo's size every time; so my service animal in training decided to be Spot's body guard. We started to get worried when she stopped grooming herself and was turning down the offer of treats, and started wondering if she needed a vet visit on Friday.

Between Friday night and Saturday morning things took a very bad turn. Spot had been sleeping on my bed since Wednesday by DeEtta's beckoning so I got used to sleeping like a corkscrew. Around the midnight hours going into Saturday I woke up to a very upset and distressed DeEtta who was mewing up a storm and worriedly mothering Spot with Gizmo sitting on the floor upset also. I turned on my light and found Spot bleeding all over my bed and herself and barely responding to the Bengals. Fast forward to a few hours later and we had the vet telling us she has pyometra, basically the cat form of endometriosis, and they were giving her a very small chance of survival. For those who don't know what pyometra and endometriosis are, and are too lazy to look, they are basically infections of the uterus and are very life threatening.

The vet told us the recommended choice was surgery that had a 30% chance that was out of our budget despite getting paid the day before, and there was a smaller chance with how weak she was of it being successful. She did give us the option of trying antibiotics, but told us it had just as much of a chance of being successful, but was way cheaper; so we took that route knowing that if she wasn't better in 48 hours we had to take the sad route of euthanasia. Saturday was still scary with her, but Sunday morning we found her eating and moving around. Since then she's been improving wonderfully, and is strong enough to not need a guardian kitty and swiftly reminded Bear of her place. She still seems a little tired, but I don't blame her. Here's to hoping the next week goes smoother!

 

Sunday night she was being herself trying to make Jason stop playing Division.

Unique little ponies

Why hello strangers I'm still alive! Just been busy and sick, but doing things nonetheless. Been spending alot of time on eBay acquiring horses and wishing I could get others...

 

 I am really coveting this guy, his shading is beautiful! But alas, I am already at my horsey budget for this pay period, so I had to say farewell to possibly giving him a home with me.

 And then there's this beauty that is far too above my budget. I feel honored just being able to see that he exists, very mystifying coloring for the Adios mold. Backstory included!

 

I might have missed out on some beauties, but I still have become victorious. I had two unpainted Hartland arabian foals come in the mail, each one very unique on its own, along with a couple more models en route. One is a model I identify as one of my "childhood holy grails," and I will definitely be showing him off when he arrives, and I got an older Peter Stone model coming also. Once they arrive I will be taking a respite from adding to my collection until I can get a DeEtta proof display cabinet to put them in. Something about the smell of the newer Breyers seems to scream "eat me" to the cute terror, so thankfully my vintages are safe...for now. They do have a new toy to keep them occupied for a while, I already woke up a few times last night to them enjoying it.

 

Finally a picture of all five! Sabbat at the top, Bear to the right, Gizmo on the left, DeEtta on the new toy and Spot at the bottom. The Bengal babies love it.

Speaking of Bengals, DeEtta has been getting restless and wanting to go on an adventure lately to the point of trying to walk out the door when I go to work, and Gizmo has been very clingy to me. It's almost like they know that I'm struggling with this infection with how Gizmo soothes me to sleep, DeEtta wakes me up when I stop breathing, and they greet me as soon as I get home. I even have an editor for tonight's entry, but it might be because I'm extremely exhausted from the day. On that note, I better rest up and get ready to help the shelter kitties tomorrow get love until they find forever homes.

 

Yeah, Gizmo doesn't look smug at all.

Triumph and trial

Well this sickness is more than I wanted. Doctor said that I have an ear infection...on top of my respiratory infection that I thought I was done with. Awesome. Hopefully the medicine I got this time around will help, because it's no fun being drained halfway through my work shift.
Despite the not so appealing health, I have some good things come my way. My recent mail has come in, and I have been stoked since I opened them.

 

I am not a child, just child like.

My two latest Breyers came in, and I have been as giddy as when I cook myself a batch of deep fried pike bites. I have since put them down but I was holding and gawking at them for the fifteen mile ride home and the first few minutes after I got in the house. It also occurred to me that my current breed crush is Arabians, I actually only had two (not counting stablemates) until a few weeks ago. For being older molds, these guys are gorgeous, especially the proud Arabian stallion I just got. Since I'm exhausted I'll end it here with pictures of my two new beauties.

 

This is the one I referred to as Tamarisk's new girlfriend, I have named her Acacia.

And say hello to Sundown.

 

My recently new addiction

My dad has a tendency of picking on me: I talk to my cats and dachshund like they're people, I'm not exactly tall (that would come from the genetics from his side of the family), and my model horse hobby. He's always shaking his head when he sees packages in the mail with my name on them, and asks me "Really Ell? Another damn plastic horse?!"

 

"Would you prefer that I'm into drugs or a raging alcoholic?"

(-Me almost every time he gives me a hard time.)

Anywho, that's not the subject of this post. Last time I said that I would introduce a part of my collection. They aren't winning models, or anything of high value,  but I still treasure them like they are.They are my lovely little oddballs. There are some that I know none about, while there are others where I have a pinch of a clue. Here is the eye candy starring each member and a little backstory of what I do know about each

Lady Facade

 

First glance one might say "Oh that's a Breyer Western Horse" or "Hey is that a Hartland Victor mold?"

Both are wrong, it's a Ohio Plastics horse. She briefly fooled me, then sent me on a four hour internet research spree. So far she has earned her stay by teaching me something new.

Unnamed grey stallion and foal

 

I know very little about these two. I do know that they are in atrocious condition, if I clean them the paint and glue holding the halves together might dissolve, and that it is supposed to be a three horse set (the second foal is missing) from WS Toys in Hong Kong. When I search for this specific model set I get moot, but have found some other sets that put these two to shame in terms of integrity through the decades.

 

This adorable family is for sale on Etsy, I've been on the fence about getting them.

Tamarisk

 

Here's a familiar face to this blog. I know, he's a woodgrain Family Arabian Stallion wearing vintage Breyer tack, borrrrriiiinnnnggggg, but there's more to him than that.

 

He is a souvenir from Lexington, Kentucky. I had no idea this was possible, and haven't had much luck in the research realm. Again, the bit of info I do know is from a model for sale.

 

This lovely lady (who I couldn't afford) is a souvenir from Owensboro, Kentucky with the same style sticker as Tamarisk on the same side. I am pretty sure that the stickers are an aftermarket addition, but I can be wrong. The mystery shall go on for now.

 The Mysterious Moo

My last featured herd member is not of the equine type, but is still unique and worth mentioning. A coworker who knows about my hobby had this in her trailer home collecting dust and gave it to me. She wasn't sure of the material but I quickly found with a tap on my head that it's made of rubber. I will be honest-I have no idea at all as to what company made this, all I know is that there's a "Made in USA" stamp on the bottom and a sticker that says "Circa 1930's-42 Auburn Indiana." The date does explain why its made of rubber; toys pre WW2 were typically made of rubber, until the war required the manufacture of rubber soles for combat boots and other needs which largely stopped toy production for many companies. After the war plastic injection molding became king of the toy figurine industry. Definitely a unique piece and my oldest possession without a doubt.

It is currently a small portion of my collection (introducing all my Stablemates would be the death of me) but the one that I talk everyone's ears off about. I might be the type of  person who talks nonstop when excited or intoxicated, but then how else will I express all my thoughts?

Oh, and happy leap day!

My new pretty and ideas abound!

So much for posting my new addition the other night! (The bengals can be very demanding and giving me no choice but to step away from hobbies.) I've always had a soft spot for palominos, and finding this family arabian mare from the 70's-early 80's in rather decent condition didn't help. I think I'll name her Honeysuckle, not fully decided on it yet.

 

Not too scuffy, and a lovely color.

Also got around to picking up one of my ongoing projects last night, an alabaster unicorn on the running stallion mold. I'm on the fence about if my modifications will make him look better or worse...

(I would put a picture here, but the ways he looks right now is a bit creepy and also constitutes as nightmare material, no joke. I recommend not cutting off his mane and ears and placing him in a spot where he's constantly watching you.)

Some mornings start earlier than I would like, so I use the time to rake up ideas. Today's inspiration was a scene for a performance class, but not your typical "this horse is a badass winner in the arena." More like the riding academy horse who isn't in the mood to run the course, or the stud who breaks his form while being judged in halter because there's an irresistible smelling mare nearby that he wants to meet. That's right, the arena bloopers. For some reason my brain exploded with ideas that would be easy and amusing to replicate, and it is something I sure wouldn't expect in a show if I was a judge. Not only that, but it can be a drag being serious and trying to replicate something and achieve 500% success. Got to find humor and keep lighthearted in life to try and rise above the negativity.

 

Not gonna lie, that's another nightmare piece.

In the next installment of this mess of my thoughts, I will introduce a part of my collection that always interests me and keeps me learning new things!

  

Everything and nothing

Well it's been a couple busy days for sure, with work and responsibilities. In the model horse aspect I have gotten one of the many "Holy Grails" of my collection: Hidalgo on the Silver mold!

There is one flaw he has that I will have to keep a close eye on, a seam split at the base of his tail. Other than that he is in beautiful photo showing condition!

Very tiny, but still bad news...

Speaking of photo showing, I fail at using lighting but still somehow have models that have placed in an online show I participate in. When I entered in the first show, I figured it would be simple-pull out my boxes of models, snap some pretty pictures, enter them then put my horses up with no problem. How wrong I was! When I started setting up my appaloosa foal on the Ashley mold, DeEtta (who was fast asleep in the other room until now) hopped up, sniffed the model, then grabbed it by the head and ran off to chew on the ears. Lil' Ditty escaped with no scuffs or breaks thankfully, and the Bengal bundle of terror left the others alone for the rest of the session.
A couple nights ago I pulled the boxes out again to find models to enter in the upcoming show. Other than the battle with my photography nemesis -the shadows- and not so awesome background choices/materials, it was running smooth. DeEtta was behaving herself and was happy in the box I supplied for her. I set up my stablemate who I fondly named Hazlenut Latte to photo and the peace was gone.

 

No DeEtta she's not edible!

It was supposed to be a picture of a pretty stock horse mare. Nope. I captured the mighty Sasszilla going for plastic prey. After that I tried chasing her away so I could finish but had to hold her in one arm while photographing a couple more horses before giving up.
Today I had better luck after purchasing basic colored poster board and stealing the desk lamp to try again. Bear was a huge help by distracting DeEtta for me, so nobody was traumatized this time around.

 

 

Today I found out I am capable of making tiny tassels (yay!), the next step is mastering the rest of the components for an Arabian presentation set, which I am more than eager to acquire my newest herd member to use for general sizing. Will definitely be sharing her when I get her home.