Advent Model Horse Photo Challenge: Day 31

 

First of all, happy New Year everyone!

Second of all, the reason why I didn't make a post yesterday was because I was finishing up all (or at least, most) of my remaining 2022 projects. The FB group, Monthly Model Horse Painting Challenge's November/December Theme was "Finishing Up Projects" - so, I did just that! However, I had been in an art slum for the majority of November and didn't regain any urge to create art until the middle of December. Thankfully, I was able to finish up a bunch of projects that were much needed to be off my plate....aand am still finishing up loose ends. Oh, well, I'm just calling those New Year Projects. I'll hopefully remember to make a post about that later.

Anyways, here's the last installment for the Advent Model Horse Photo Challenge!

Day 31 - Mold You Conga:

13 Complete Families in the TR/CL/PP Section of the Herd.

L-R: Dustin, Amanda, & Lou; Cloud, Feldspar, Mato Ska, & Encore; Heartland High Tech, Sgt. Reckless, & Starfly; Wild Spirit, Raindrop, & Lightning Bolt; Mango, White Cherry, Strawberry, & Rosie Sunshine (adopted); Esteban, Fantasia, & Amazing Grace; Seabiscuit, Cupid, & Arrow; Wintersong, Groovy Girl, & Shadow; Fleck, Speck, Speck's Peanut, & Chip; Orient Wonder, Hwin, & Kyla (adopted); Wapiti, Ponderosa, & Little Bear; CuChulainn, Ellenora, & Ellie; and Silver, Wild, Mary Jane, & Swirl (Wild's brother).

As you may already know from a previous post, I don't collect in congas. Instead, I collect in families.

Thank you all for bearing with me through this photo challenge. I look forward to adding to this blog!

Hence The Reason I Don't Collect In Congas

Many people collect in different ways.

Some collect only one color

(I do not actively collect black horses, by the way)

Others collect only one type or breed

(I don't actively collect Decorators, either, but if one strikes my fancy, then I'll actually consider it).

And yet, the current popular way to collect model horses is to have every single color created on one mold. These are known as Congas.

Sure, it's pretty cool seeing how each color pulls out a different characteristic in the mold.

I mean, if I actively congaed anything, it would be the Classic scale Mesteno mold.

(I have a rule that I cannot do a custom to sell on this mold, because I would want to keep every. single. one. of. them!!)

Stablemates and Mini Whinnies are super easy to conga, due to being small, inexpensive, and the variety of molds (until recently) tend to be limited.

(I have tons of the same molds in the G2 Stablemates!)

(Yes, I absolutely love the SM G6 Magnolia, too!)

But, when it comes to the big guys....

They're all in doubles.

(Except for the TR Shetland Ponies! And we all know why that is!!)

So, how do I really collect?

Tariq & Omaira

Well, in families.

Blue-Eyed Bandit & Bev

Tyfon & Dungaree

Faith & Anthony

Rainfest & Lakota

Partly Cloudy & Sato

Some Couples have been around longer than others and are still waiting on a foal.

CuChulainn & Ellenora

Another long-time couple and they're going to be getting a foal this year!

Cascade & Drizzle

So, yeah, there's the family completion with a foal issue. There's also the stallion missing problem. For some weird reason, I have a ton of TR Pony and SM Mares.

Misty & Stormy

I know who I want to have as Wings, Stormy's dad - it's the Breyerfest 2013 SR Chincoteague Pony, Buckaroo. I've come close to getting him a couple of times, but it's either the model is no longer available, I'm out of money, or I don't have anything worthy of a trade.

Brighid & McKay

Brishin

But, the biggest problem I have, is the multitudes of Stallions.

Why?

Well, it's kind of obvious.

I like hair and action.

So, I tend to gravitate towards all of the macho looking stallions with their hair flying as they're just all vin' 'n' vinegar. 

(By the way, Brishin would be an awesome match for the TR scale Epona draft resin. I can totally see her standing there, looking behind at him and their foal, with the expression of: "Seriously? You're going to do that now?" While the foal is acting like the father).

Brighty

I do have plans for a perfect family photo for Brighty....but that means I need to another brighty mold to customize.

Xavier

Santiago

Khalid

Ansel Adams

Yeah, I knew what I was getting into when I got him. "I've already got so many studs who need mares and foals! I don't need another one!"

But, it was for sentimental reasons. And I'm glad I got him!

I do get sucked in and get the already family sets, only if I really like the models in the set.

(I'll talk about Buckeye in a later post).

But, this family is entirely pieced together by myself.

And, boy! Wintersong waited a long time for his family - I got him the year he was released in 2007!

(I had actually got Shadow before Groovy Girl, who I got last year).

In all of this, I know for sure that it would be an eerie day when every single family is complete.

I also know it won't last long!!

A Bit of a Different Scenery and Sun Angle

June 19, 2021 - Breyerfest Prep

Back in June, I did a photoshoot at my grandparent's house. I needed to take some new photos for the Breyerfest Photo Show, but was unable to do it at home since my contractor brothers were helping our parents replace the waterline to the house (it sprung a leak - big time. Good thing there was no flooding in the basement). However, due to my health condition at the time, it was wiser for me to stay at my grandparents' house during the project.

In spite of feeling like crud and having zippo energy, I still managed to get some photos done - especially of my new Etchie, Dungaree (Above)!

I had repainted her eyes after I got her several years ago, because they looked kind of scary. However, showing her as an OF was out of the question now that she had nice custom eyes. I decided this year to try my hand a etching again - and had better success this time round.

Much, much better! She even has some Roaned Patches! (I LOVE adding Roaning to my Customs!)

Obviously, I don't feel like cropping any photos at the moment.

The lighting angle was really interesting. It's amazing to think of just a mile North, the angle of the sun is at my back, rather than overhead as you can see in these photos.

I now have a hole in my grass mat from Ballynoe's base. I still want to get a beach photo of him with better lighting.

Other than the lighting angle issue, Lionheart behaved - FINALLY!!! 

No muddy or hidden hooves this time!!

Yeah....Still working on getting the best photo of Paint Me A Pepto....

However, I did finally figure out how to get a decent halter photo pose of Wapiti. YAY!

I wasn't really impressed with the results of this photoshoot, but it's always good to try new locations to find what works and what doesn't. This one absolutely does not. It probably would have worked better if the sun was at the right angle. That is, if it was, it'll be behind the house as this is in the front yard. Oh, well.

Stay tuned for more sporadic out of order updates.