Thankful for...2024!

[Saarlooswolfhound]

It is late here and I need to get to sleep. But I wanted to open this up for anyone to post in! I have done these topics for a few years over on STS; this is just a topic to look over any 2024 acquisitions and get a second chance to show them off a little and enjoy them. Here is my posting on social media so I don't have to type it all up again...



Happy New Year to all! Where I live it is about 30 minutes past midnight- and I'd like to share some special posts with you. For the last few years on collector's forums I am a part of I start a topic for anyone to present any new models they got during the previous year; its an opportunity to reflect and revel in models you acquired. Whether those be expensive or cheap, artistic or photo realistic, rare or common- just as long as they are something that brought you joy during the year. I have a few posts prepared to share here over the next few days and do just that; relive some of the happy moments I enjoyed.

To start off- I finally caved earlier this year and started splurging on a few WIA horses and it very quickly became an excuse to get them all. Here are the 6 I acquired in 2024, with another 2 due to arrive any day now! They are really well sculpted, thoroughly painted in rich hues, and they capture such personality that a lot of figures today lack. Even though I resisted them for far too long, they have become cherished acquisitions. Especially Bella Rose, she was not a model I intended to search for given her special edition status and the amounts I have seen her go for previously. But, while discussing the acquisition of one of the other horses, the fellow collector selling her offered her to me for a fair price, stating she wanted her to go to a home where she would be appreciated. Given the nostalgic and sentimental creature I am, I could hardly resist. And even though I don't have much display room in my new home, I made a special spot for the WIAs and for my now dear, Bella Rose.

Stay tuned each day for a new post! And here is hoping for a marvellous 2025 for all!

[Saarlooswolfhound]

With this group we go back in time a little. Back in the spring I had a very special package delivered from a very dear friend, Christophe/Kikimalou. Little did I understand the true value of the package at the time BUT even then I knew what I had received was special. It wasn't until this year that I finally caved on not collecting so called "vintage" figures. They still make me very nervous given their age, historical significance in the toy industry, and fragility; but my mind has been opened to collecting some of these aging beauties for myself. Christophe showed his generosity and trust in me by mailing me the Lineol common eland, sable antelope, amd striped hyena. Each model produced between 1940 and 1960 by sculptor Albert Caasmanns, these toys could be as old as my own mother or even my grandmother. And they certainly will sell for a healthy amount to the right bidder! These three have an honored spot on my limited display shelves where I can ensure they won't be damaged and more importantly where I can see them every day. I cannot express my gratitude or thrill everytime I marvel at them.

But now Christophe owes me in wallet damages.

[Saarlooswolfhound]

Next batch- you all knew it wouldn't be long until I showed some wolves, right? Here are some gray and Japanese gray wolves spanning a variety of brands and quality.


Firstly, I'd like to thank my Bulgarian friend for the Wenno wolves as they add 2 color variations to my conga of now 4, then the Colorata running wolf and Kaiyodo NT Honshū wolf for the rarities they are; and also to a good friend in the Netherlands who graciously messaged me about locating a grail figure in the AAA mother with pups. So I cannot thank you both enough! For gray wolves, some oldies in the form of the Preiser-Elastolin wolves in 2 colors, a brand new release in the shape of a splendid Bullyland wolf (a huge improvement over their others). And lastly, my other Honshū wolf from Colorata expanded my lonely one member pack on the shelf to 3!

Once again, huge thank you to close friends who have helped me in 2024 with wonderful opportunity but also amazing friendships and connection!

(And if anyone would like to- feel free to post any treasures you managed to obtain this last year!)

[Saarlooswolfhound]

Every year it is sort of fun to  see what kind of animal was  a predominant theme for new acquisition- this year it might have been birds!


These are valuable to me for a wide range of reasons. Tje Archie McPhee novelty set is just a good size and great selection, the Science and Nature Galah was a long wished for species while his cousin the Australian magpie is just rather handsome! The AAA toucan completed my set of perched birds, the Papo macaw was an embarrassing lack of tracking on my part (retired without my realizing and then surprisingly difficult to find), and the hornbills were special surprises I stumbled upon and are just gorgeous in person.

But of course, good friends helped as well! The miraculous Maria also found the eagles set for me early this year (another fumble of waiting too long on my part), as well as the ural owls, raven, and quail more recently. Then an American friend, Dan, also blessed my shelves with his sharp eye for rarities in the form of these brown pelicans and barn owl. I can't thank you both enough for brokering these marvels for my collection!

2024 might have been the year of avian flight for me with these acquisitions!

[Saarlooswolfhound]

I think I only have a few more photos to share before that wraps up 2024 for me. Again, of you'd like to share anything more here- please do!

This year was a good one for my prehistorics too it seems. Looking at our extinct friends:

I splurged on the Rebor dire wolf as it certainly is a milestone figure if not my favorite representation of the species. I also had to get the Eofauna Sue as she holds a special place in my heart from childhood. I tracked down several rarities this year including the Safari Beipiaosaurus, Plesiosuchus, and Arsinoitherium, and a baby spinosaurus, 4 treasured Eikoh in the form of Gigantopithecus, Megaloceros, Synthetoceras, and Meiolania, and additionally the Schleich Tawa I slept on, the Alexiornis from the WWD Movie, Nemicolopterus mini by PNSO (only missing one from the set now!), and even a few "weirdos" from the Cambrian such as the two Opabinia and even a Hallucigenia! I included a few more recent extinctions here with two Oenux Quagga and a pair of thylacine from Science and Nature and Colorata.

This part of my collection also lay dormant for several years until I started back with collecting about 3 years ago now. The past is nothing without our future, and our future nothing without the past- its great to see so many new models added this year after having to halt it for years.

[sbell]

I also got the Rebor dire wolf! It's great, if relatively huge. Scales with GI Joe classified figures I guess.
But admittedly, I don't pick up much prehistoric anymore. Other than weird Mattel figures.

[Saarlooswolfhound]

It did turn out to be a very figure- after all of the issues discussed over on DTF. As I said, I would have preferred it to look a little more unique to other canids but it is still likely going to be a very rare representation of this species in toy form.

Next batch of mixed items:


Once again, Maria and Dan saved the day with their peculiar talent to find rarities! I completed my Naturalism set with the loris and red panda, and Dan sold the marvellous Club Earth lionfish and galago, the K&M springhare, and two seals to me earlier in the year! The rest were all lucky finds online and/or are unique poses, species/breeds, or just figures of special interest to me.

I think I have 2ish more groups to wrap this up for my collection.

[Saarlooswolfhound]

Next group is a bunch of doggos.


Once again Maria was incredibly generous with her set of Wing Mau dogs and while the set is labelled as "dangerous dogs" that's not why I enjoy them- they represent incredible breeds that are so rarely enjoyed and appreciated for what great dogs they are. I was lucky to win an auction for the darkphase Bullyland Keeshond, found the big Tibetan mastiffs and Carpathian shepherd off aliexpress, and very lastly, around the end of November I discovered a few brand new New Ray border collies I was stoked about!

[Saarlooswolfhound]

I think this is my last post for this topic (but certainly please keep posting my friends!)- the remainder of my canids!

I was again very fortunate to have great friends who made it possible to fill lots of holes in my particular interest of canines this year. From the real live superheroes I know: Maria, Dan, and Roy, I was able to knock off a lot of wild canids from my wishlist. The retired Colorata dogs maned wolf, arctic fox, and wild dog- gray wolf shown in another photo), the dark phase variant of the Nayab (Ethiopian) wolf, K&M red fox, Kaiyodo sitting raccoon dog, Mojo Fennec fox, Yowies AU Falkland Island wolf, PV dark phase coyote, Happy Kin arctic fox, newer Colorata wild dog, a surprise find of a Wenno fennec fox, mysterious Tibetan fox, Albert Heijn Dingo, unknown arctic fox, K&M wild dog, and Science and Nature small dingo! Each one is treasured and on display with their compatriots.

Again, I think this all I have to show but anyone else who may have something share- please do!

[BlueKrono]

I just had a thought: is Canis lupus the most morphologically diverse single species of vertebrate?

[Saarlooswolfhound]

I would say so, hands down. With over 400 worldwide recognized dog breeds (and even more if you consider other lesser known and accepted breeds) its the one animal on earth that has become so incredibly widespread, genetically, and morphologically diverse.    Albeit a biased opinion- but they are incredible animals! Animals that can be modified in as little as 2 generations.

Funny you bring this up as I just listened to a podcast thay was discussing how this is not just the only animal, but the only carnivore worldwide that has been so domesticated and genetically manipulated. There have been bears and other species in captivity in thousands of years- but not ONE has been domesticated like the wolf has been into the dog. Crazy to think about...

[Isidro]

Very interesting tought, and I think you're right! Due to the extreme antiquity of domestication and plasticity of genes, I doubt there is any other animal species with that diversity of physical appareances. Maybe it can be only barely rivalized - but not outcompeted - by Gallus gallus.

[Saarlooswolfhound]

I would say domestic cattle are more varied than chickens (there are a lot more distinct breeds of cattle than chickens), but again that'd depend on your parameters for this question.

[bmathison1972]

I would say so, hands down. With over 400 worldwide recognized dog breeds (and even more if you consider other lesser known and accepted breeds) its the one animal on earth that has become so incredibly widespread, genetically, and morphologically diverse.    Albeit a biased opinion- but they are incredible animals! Animals that can be modified in as little as 2 generations.

Funny you bring this up as I just listened to a podcast thay was discussing how this is not just the only animal, but the only carnivore worldwide that has been so domesticated and genetically manipulated. There have been bears and other species in captivity in thousands of years- but not ONE has been domesticated like the wolf has been into the dog. Crazy to think about...

the fall of society officially started when the majestic wolf was turned into a chihuahua       

[Saarlooswolfhound]

Haha! Sorry to any chihuahua fans out there- but there's a reason people wondered if they really descended from wolves in the first place. And as a former (not so amenable) chihuahua owner (the dog wasn't amenable- not me) I speak from experience.   

C'mon @Blaine! You can't see the family resemblance in those bared canines and fierce attitude? I could choose a few other breeds to blame for society's fall from grace... but I digress.