Cataloguing and the mystical modern chalky

I got the crazy idea of photographing and cataloguing all my models. Have found out a few things, like I have over 100 Stablemates and way more micro minis than I expected. Also found out the two times Gizmo and DeEtta toppled over my box holding the little fellas, it damaged and scuffed them more than I initially thought. Not only that, my phone doesn't tell me that it's overheating, unless I try using the flash on the camera.

 

I also had these fellas for 10 (left) and 2 (right) years and didn't realize they were identical!

Can see the difference in painting methods over 8 years with these guys.

And onto the damage...two horses that broke and I repaired back in my "carpet herd" days broke again, in the same spots, and a third one lost its ear. Most of my white horses and leopard appaloosas got scuffs on them, and one blanket appaloosa that came with the Hidalgo Buffalo Bill play set has a boatload of scuffs that make her look like a poorly executed pintaloosa (yikes!).

 

I don't remember the white going that close to her shoulders, and the other side is worse.

My old customs fared well, one stallion yellowed, but back then I was using shellac that my dad also used for his woodworking projects. Mohair fell off of a Classic sized model I had in there also.

 

Had a random butterfly photobomb my micro minis from Grand Champions.

This is the only one I saved, where he wasn't whapping them with his wings.

 Then there's this guy. When I packed everyone away he was in PSQ condition. I was appalled when I pulled him out at the damage, and then was curious at what was underneath.

 

This is his pretty side, but you can still see alot of scuffing on his ears and back hooves.

And underneath the gray....

 

IT'S

 

WHITE

 

PAINT??!!!

Obnoxiously opaque white paint under the steel gray topcoat! Only thing I could think was why??? It is something I only heard of with vintage chalkies, or white horses (duhhh), but this is neither. Granted he's from 2002 which some people call vintage which I strongly disagree with. He isn't vintage or white, so why.... I dug around and found out about modern chalkies. The people I have asked say he has the characteristics of a modern basecoat chalkie. I was floored. Never knew there was such a thing until today, and would have never known his little secret if the kittens weren't destructive. I almost wonder if I have any others, but I'm not about to hand my unscathed models to DeEtta to chew on!

 

 

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.