Yes I agree. How many times have we seen ponies on the back cards or pamplets that look different than the ponies sold in stores. I think maybe originally fully assembled prototypes were created and as time went on artists who were designing new ponies may have taken to their own methods to show the exact coloring of what they wanted the pony to be, rather than take a base color already available. and then either paint or print on the symbols for a finished result to present to hasbro. I have noticed that the ponies in the pamphlets or MIP look glossier than the actual ponies produced so airbrushing could have been a valid technique for the initial process before mass production..

Its seems that some ponies were originally produced in clay and then translated into plastic. I wish we had a hasbro expert here. they might be able to give us some reasoning for certain ponies being airbrushed and others created in ceramic....


Here is the arena link i found about baby gusty

www.mlparena.com/Forum...art=0.html

The ceramic (sorta) starlight baby definitely belongs to Lancer - I think she brought it to one of the Cons, but I would have to check my pics to be sure! She very much reminded me of one of the prototypes they had at the US Fair that year, that had been rescued from the bin. I'm pretty sure I have some pics of that:



The painted ones I've seen don't always seem to match with backcard pictures and promotional pictures though. My current theory is that they were sort of art-tests, painted to check out designs, colours and generally how they would look on a pony. That would explain any discrepancies from the final issue as well as why the base bodies don't necessarily match (they could have use whatever plastic bases were around).

The schooltime ones were definitely found at a carboot sale, I think somewhere down south (I want to say High Wycombe, or at least Buckinghamshire? Although Hasbro did have headquarters in Wokingham, Berkshire - my home town - at one point, which isn't a million miles away, that was only until 1987 or 1988, but the schooltime ponies were later than that)

Unfortunately I don't have any pics of my friend's seaside babies, though I can't fathom why! I'll have to ask her if she has any around... I guess I didn't take my camera with me last time, though lipstickcat was there as well for one of the occassions, so she might remember them as well

*edit* Lol, reading the thread Ember1 posted the link to I see I thought Buckinghamshire then as well! I'm fairly positive that it was someone who lived in High Wycombe, but not sure where the car boot sale was.

My Goodness how cool is that.. Is that a blue sundance?
I think your right LG..

Maybe during the creation process there were several prototypes of each pony created, almost as an artist would go through many sketches before deciding on a composition

My guess is that is why Hasbro tried to scrap or contain them all and why we have so few around today.. maybe the employees took their protos home with them to work on them at night and a few escaped oblivion

When we asked Hasbro about it, I think they've always said most were thrown away. It seemed to be standard practice? The one pictured there was rescued by an employee. I do have a pic that shows the symbols as well...



I think you're right there would be several of each made. I have no doubt that a few more made it out safely

This Painting-Time with paler body color is so neat!

Wow just look at that blue cotton candy.. She is sooo neat looking.. A pity more of the ceramic molds haven't turned up.. Does someone in the community own this girl?

No, she was owned by a Hasbro employee But they let us hold her (carefully) and take pics

I think they should do more than just let us pony lovers hold her. They should release all those imprisioned protos into our loving hands.

Here is a site I found that gives some prodution information. Apprently the molds were cast out of bronze.Wish we could ask that guy what all the different stages are in pony design and creation.

mountaincai.blogspot.c...types.html

Does anyone notice anything about the G1 lineart at the bottom on embers link? Look similar to all the G1 items that are suddenly turning up at the moment [H&M bags, etc]??

Very nice that someone picked them up...

Aw, I only caught the end of his talk - looks like I missed a lot! It was really interesting listening to him talk actually, but it was very crowded, which is why I missed some of it I took some pictures as well, though not as good as those ones

http://s166.photobucket.com/albums/u90/ladyguinevere83/Rhode%20Island%20MLP%20Fair%202008/#!cpZZ5QQtppZZ24

I do remember asking him about the BnG brushes he had there.

Very interesting to see that the collectors pose blank pony looks very much like the mum and baby set I have.. What do you make of them lady G?

And another question. Do you remember if that guy said what the ceramic molds were used for? What did he say about the white blank collectors pose pony?

Y'know, there's so much detail I've forgotten from that trip I'm not sure I was there for the bit about ceramic moulds (or if I was, I've forgotten all of it ) I don't recall anyone asking about the white collector pose pony at that point, but I think people did ask Hasbro about it on the tour day (they were there on the table as well - in fact it's on the edge of one of my pics above!). I think they said it was some kind of test? But I really can't remember that much, which is a real shame! Come on brain, it was only three years! They really do look like your set!