An unknown Safari variant?

[Saarlooswolfhound]

Found this guy on ebay. Has anyone seen it before? 




same stamp




same manufacturing fault

[bmathison1972]

Doesn't look like a custom, does it? And bootlegs usually obliterate the original information on the bottom of the figure.

I am sure if it's Safari, @Shane will know

[Saarlooswolfhound]

That's what I wondered when I saw it on ebay but the photos were convincing enough for me to take a chance and buy it. To me, it looks like proper factory paint and not a customization. The only added marking is a metallic letter to identify it's owner. The tails are identical even (maybe they used the same paint scheme/colors etc. for this separate "part" and used it for both versions?). I hope someone has some info on it, I have never seen it before and I have very few early brand catalogues.

[Shane]

This is interesting. Unfortunately I don't have a solid answer. I did dig out some old catalogs, and checking back from 1999 (the figure debut) until it was replaced by the current sculpt, it's never shown as fully brown. Granted, back then the catalogs used paint guides or prototypes for photos sometimes so it might not reflect exactly what was accurately being produced.

My guesses are either:
- It's a factory error that slipped through the QC process, or
- It's an early pre-production sample during the creation process

More than likely it's the former, but I can't say for sure. It doesn't seem like it would be an intentional variant.

[bmathison1972]

either way it sounds like an interesting find!

[Shane]

There are some odd things going on, like the masking on the face being less clean, and the paint on the claws, which makes me actually now lean more toward it being a pre-production sample. But I can't be absolutely sure.

[bmathison1972]

But Shane you are pretty sure this is a factory product and not a custom? It doesn't look like a custom to me, unless the artist was really good ad copying Safari's style.

[Shane]

But Shane you are pretty sure this is a factory product and not a custom? It doesn't look like a custom to me, unless the artist was really good ad copying Safari's style.

The paint looks fairly professionally applied. It's tough to tell from photos, but the main brown color of the body looks to be sprayed on, judging by the edges in some photos. I think it's rare for customizers to use spray applications. But again, it's tough to tell for sure.

[Saarlooswolfhound]

I am confident this is NOT a custom job. Take a closer look at both of the models: the left ear on BOTH models has the same pattern trait. The black paint for the inside ear is dragged to attach to the left ear. As for the claws, the toes are pretty well rubbed from play, as is the nose. Does this change any thoughts for anyone? I will try to upload some better detail photos soon...