Safari ltd Gray Whale Monterey Bay Aquarium with strange paint job. Is it original?

Hello friends I need your help.

I bought this safari grey whale last week.
It was cheap, and in a box along with the Invicta Blue Whale, the Monterey Bay Killer Whale and 2 Dino Riders Dinosaurs.
I saw the painting of the gray whale and first I thought it was a repaint, or something like that.
But then I looked around the internet and I found a picture of this safari Grey Whale, which is very similar to my one.

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Now I need your help, does anybody know if the paint job of my Whale is original or a repaint.

I find the "normal" painting that that wie know on the safari gray whale so much more beautiful.
But I would like to find out, what's up with this Grey Whale and his paint job.
Thank you very much for your help.

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Thank you very much for your help.

As far as I know, the shiny model is much older

Thank you for your help Susanne,
but do you think the paint job on this whale is an original safari painting?

zirkoon wrote:

Thank you for your help Susanne,
but do you think the paint job on this whale is an original safari painting?

Hmmm, hard to tell, but some of the white paint stands out seen close up, doesn't it ?

I have never seen a other whale figure with this painting.

I totally agree with you. My first thought was that it must be a repaint.
But it is already mysterious, to find a similar painted whale in the interent.

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zirkoon wrote:

I totally agree with you. My first thought was that it must be a repaint.
But it is already mysterious, to find a similar painted whale in the interent.

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VERY interesting

Yes, Safari used to have some models that were very strangely painted !
Just look at this horse
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NB : We surely need a picture of your whale on TAI [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

The older Monterey Bay Aquarium models usually do have unusual paint jobs they are just not as common and easy to find. I had a whale just like this one and several others NWT that I sold a couple years ago and that was exactly how I had purchased them originally. Tough to believe as it seems, this whale you have is not repainted but a factory paint original. 

Just look at all the drastic paint variations Safari LTD jas had through the years with their standard tigers and VW wolves. It's a very common practice with this company in general.

WhiteLightning Wolf wrote:

The older Monterey Bay Aquarium models usually do have unusual paint jobs they are just not as common and easy to find. I had a whale just like this one and several others NWT that I sold a couple years ago and that was exactly how I had purchased them originally. Tough to believe as it seems, this whale you have is not repainted but a factory paint original. 

Just look at all the drastic paint variations Safari LTD jas had through the years with their standard tigers and VW wolves. It's a very common practice with this company in general.

WhiteLightning Wolf wrote:

The older Monterey Bay Aquarium models usually do have unusual paint jobs they are just not as common and easy to find. I had a whale just like this one and several others NWT that I sold a couple years ago and that was exactly how I had purchased them originally. Tough to believe as it seems, this whale you have is not repainted but a factory paint original. 

Just look at all the drastic paint variations Safari LTD jas had through the years with their standard tigers and VW wolves. It's a very common practice with this company in general.

Thank you

WhiteLightning Wolf wrote:

The older Monterey Bay Aquarium models usually do have unusual paint jobs they are just not as common and easy to find. I had a whale just like this one and several others NWT that I sold a couple years ago and that was exactly how I had purchased them originally. Tough to believe as it seems, this whale you have is not repainted but a factory paint original. 

Just look at all the drastic paint variations Safari LTD jas had through the years with their standard tigers and VW wolves. It's a very common practice with this company in general.

I think you have solved the mystery!!!
Thank you very much for your help!

SUSANNE wrote:

NB : We surely need a picture of your whale on TAI [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

The pictures can be used for TAI. If you still need other pictures, just let me know.

zirkoon wrote:

SUSANNE wrote:

NB : We surely need a picture of your whale on TAI [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

The pictures can be used for TAI. If you still need other pictures, just let me know.

Thankyou