SUMMER 2012 thru 2013
Back around 2008-2009 I did a run of 250 brown horses, I offered them with western tack and cavalry tack. For a couple of years I have been trying to get a new project off the ground. White Thunderbolt Horses with Black Saddles. These could be great mounts for your custom Ranger or Indy figure. When I first started looking into the project it seemed impossible, the molds were in danger of being shipped to Mexico so I had to act fast but I missed the boat and I though the game was over. The Thunderbolt mold and both western and cavalry tack molds went south. After a couple of months of looking, I got offered a deal on the second Thunderbolt mold... and a second western tack mold. I had just paid off a credit card and it felt weird not being deeply in debt, so I bought the molds. NOT CHEAP. Plus, they are MASSIVE... the size of a desk, solid bronze with a berylium core, weighing a few hundred pounds each and each fills up a shipping pallet. To my knowledge I now own the only US based Thunderbolt and Western Tack mold.
Thunderbolt Mold OPEN, you can see the automatic part extractors.
Other half of mold.
Extractor pins! ACTIVATE!
These require a 450 TON press!!
So then I had to start a conversation with a very nice lady named Denise at the plant where they are to be produced. Since I am not a plastics guy it took a LOT of questions. Denise was very patient with me and all my rookie questions. For about 2 months we emailed back and forth, samples were made, colors chosen, and finally I paid for the first run of WHITE MOLDED Thunderbolt horses EVER made in the US! First I had to remove the old trademark stamp from the mold because someone else owns that particular mark, but not the rights to the horses. Then I had my own professionally machined and fitted S brand mark placed in the mold.
S Stamp on horses flank.
From Arrival at the studio to boxed horses.
5 PALLETS of HORSES AND SADDLES!
BAGGED WESTERN TACK SETS!
These are taped together, I have to take them apart and glue up.
FULL CONTAINER!
Container emptied!
fresh off the truck
dust cover
glue line.
Horses waiting to be glued.
test fitting the box inserts
packaging
packaging
Packaging
Nosy!
John is helping wrangle these beauties into the boxes!
Here's your saddle old feller!
Don't forget the instructions!
Taking a break!
Stock Room!
Finished Thunderbolt with saddle set in studio for his glamour shot!
BLACK HORSES!
SHIPPING CONTAINERS FULL OF THUNDERBOLTS!
FIRST GLIMPSE OF THE BLACK HORSES
FIRST 100 or so black
FIRST CHARACTER INTRODUCED, SATAN!
