Play Visions Maned Wolf and Red Fox - Color Fading or Paint Variation?

I picked these two figures up from a lot on Ebay, and the seller's photos really did not convey the condition they were in. Besides coming with old glue caked to their undersides (now removed), I believe both of them are severely faded from being left in the sun for a long time. I think the fox is the paint variation that came with the Play Visions Predators 3 piece blister set, which was originally red on the top, so it stands to reason that the same process caused the maned wolf to turn gray over time. That being said, the maned wolf was clearly a different paint variation from the other one I own, just based on the facial markings. I have never seen a red figure turn completely gray like this, so I thought it would be interesting to share it with you guys. They were sent to me with a business card for a model railroad supply company, so that combined with the glue residue makes me think these were possibly attached to a model railroad as part of the scenery, and maybe displayed in a shop window or something similar. They very well could have been there since this set was made back in the 90s, and that would certainly explain the severe fading. Like I said, I'm about 99% sure this color is due to being left in the sun, but there's always the off chance that these are some strange color variation. If anyone has anymore info, please let me know.

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

I saw the original listing for these and I'll definitely have to confirm that they are severely sunfaded. It's interesting though that in the original listing the maned wolf still showed some of its original orange/red paint but is completely grey in person.

But...I had a PV Brown Bear once that was completely sunfaded to that same grey color from being left in a terrarium for many years in direct sunlight. Although sunfaded those two are still very cool looking. ^^

Here's how the maned wolf should look:

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

And the fox (Both from the blister card set)

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

To sad with the color

It has the same problem on both sides? I thought it only happened with parts on direct exposure. It is also a mistery for me that the black color is not as damaged once black retains the heat. To be fair, the maned wolf have a pleasant looking effect.

Roger wrote:

It has the same problem on both sides? I thought it only happened with parts on direct exposure. It is also a mistery for me that the black color is not as damaged once black retains the heat. To be fair, the maned wolf have a pleasant looking effect.

Yes, there's no red left on the maned wolf at all, but the black is intact. The fox is a little patchier because of the gradient, but it is still pretty much the same color on both sides. And yeah, I think the silvery effect on the maned wolf is pretty cool looking.

widukind wrote:

To sad with the color

It's a shame to lose the original color, but I think they're both pretty interesting looking for being so faded.

WhiteLightning Wolf wrote:

I saw the original listing for these and I'll definitely have to confirm that they are severely sunfaded. It's interesting though that in the original listing the maned wolf still showed some of its original orange/red paint but is completely grey in person.

But...I had a PV Brown Bear once that was completely sunfaded to that same grey color from being left in a terrarium for many years in direct sunlight. Although sunfaded those two are still very cool looking. ^^

Here's how the maned wolf should look:

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

And the fox (Both from the blister card set)

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

Thanks for the photos, that helps a lot! And yes, the listing photos for some reason made the maned wolf look much redder than it does in real life. In real life there is not a speck of red on that figure, it is completely gray and black, except for a few rubs where the cream base shows through. I was shocked when I pulled it out of the box, but I do agree that it creates a cool effect. I've never played Pokémon, but I know enough to recognize a Shiny when I see one.

VexVamp wrote:

widukind wrote:

To sad with the color

It's a shame to lose the original color, but I think they're both pretty interesting looking for being so faded.

That's right :)

Here's one I recently found...
[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]
It's more like your original unfaded one.

Lovely wolf!

VexVamp wrote:

WhiteLightning Wolf wrote:

I saw the original listing for these and I'll definitely have to confirm that they are severely sunfaded. It's interesting though that in the original listing the maned wolf still showed some of its original orange/red paint but is completely grey in person.

But...I had a PV Brown Bear once that was completely sunfaded to that same grey color from being left in a terrarium for many years in direct sunlight. Although sunfaded those two are still very cool looking. ^^

Here's how the maned wolf should look:

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

And the fox (Both from the blister card set)

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

Thanks for the photos, that helps a lot! And yes, the listing photos for some reason made the maned wolf look much redder than it does in real life. In real life there is not a speck of red on that figure, it is completely gray and black, except for a few rubs where the cream base shows through. I was shocked when I pulled it out of the box, but I do agree that it creates a cool effect. I've never played Pokémon, but I know enough to recognize a Shiny when I see one.

That last bit had me dying from laughter.   Unique finds nonetheless. Interesting how the color faded. Nice catches/rescues!