Gwaine's Schleich Review

A Drunk Knight is going to try it again~

I aspire to review every schleich item in my collection. This is not a walk around topic, I am going to give some info about the model and my opinion, some pro's and cons.
I am going to kick off with my very first schleich figure ever.

I will post once a day [unless I am on holiday or have my misfits over] and if you want to see a specific figure, you can request.

This is schleich's first shire foal, which debuted in 2003 and was retired in 2008. This specific figure is made in China. I got it in 2003, when I was 9. I remember we were on holiday with my grandparents, aunt and uncle, to Texel, the largest of the dutch isles. My grandmother allowed me to pick something from a souvenir shop and I picked the shire foal.
As the photo shows, he is very loved on and teenage Gwaine tried to fix the rubs on his nose with black permanent marker, because I had no idea at the time. I have played a lot with him and wasn't always as careful with my schleich as I am now.


Overall Opinion: This figure has a special place in my heart, because his were the embers that slowly lit the flame of what is now a raging wild fire of collecting passion. I had amazig adventures with him and have great memories.
As for the model itself, it is a very charming and natural model, he is a tad chunky, but one that surely belongs in the collection of those passionate about classic schleich.

This is Schleich's first Tinker foal, which debuted in 2005 and was retired in 2014. This specific figure is made in Germany. I got her in 2005, when I was 13. It was in Regensburg, over the summer holidays. I remember seeing her in the store and she reminded me so much of my favorite horse from the stables I had riding classes at. I had to have her and I didn't even have to badger my mom for her.
She is my second ever schleich figure and as you may see a lot less played with than my first. When I was 13, I was already past playing pretend and more into books. She has always been proudly displayed on my teenhood desk.


Overall Opinion: Another models with deep emotional value, because it is a reminder of the first horse I totally fell in love with, but inevitable had to lose. At this point I had a bit more of an understaning of the value and I preserved her rather well, considering I was a teenager and she survived four moves.
She looks so adorable, so young and so vulnerable. There is expression in her face and althought he brown of her spots is a bit flat, but the rest of her paint job works very well.

This is not Schleich's very first friesian, but she is Schleich's first friesian mare. She debuted in 2006 and was retired in 2013. This specific figure was made in China. She has a few rubs, but is mostly well preserved. She has spend most of her time on my teenhood desk or in the glass display, where she still stands, on the shelf with my other friesians.
This figure is not with a story of how I got her. I don't remember the year and there is no great emotional attachment to her. I simply got her on a shopping spree in Utrecht with my then best friend.


Overall Opinion: An old friend. The start of a story, the start of my imagination. She does not quite live up to some of the other friesian's schleich has, but she is far from the worst. She weathered some uncareful handling and the four moves. She is a good girl.
She looks strong, like a matriarch. Strong and stern, she has a story, the first story I opened myself to. She doesn't quite have breed comformity, but she makes up for it aplenty with the dimples in her rump and hardened face.

This is schleich's first friesian foal. It is actually a filly, but when I discovered that I had already developed quite a story and wasn't very keen on changing it. This foal debuted in 2007 and retired in 2013, alongside the mare. This particular figure was made in china. The figure has some rubs and scratches, but is most definately not the worst off.
I got the foal along with the mother on a shopping spree in Utrecht. It has stood on my desk and in the glass display, but I have also been uncareful with it on several moves and holidays. But it is a model that never really loses it's charm.


Overall Opinion: A great figure, so great Schleich doesn't even bother updating it. I have four versions of it already, two repaints, a limited edition and this one. It is a good mold, with a good percentage of breed comformity and quite some charm.
This little one has a story, is ready to charge into the world and make it it's own. I like models with stories. And although this model has long since told me it's story, it invigorated me to the stories other models have to tell.

This is schleich's very first regular collection horse. It is an Arab gelding and he was debuted in 1985 and retired in 1995. This particular figure was made in Germany. The figure looks played with, but not damaged.
In my first entry, I sort of lied. This figure was my very first schleich figure, ever. I have had it since I was a little kid. But I never had any contiouse thoughts on it until I moved out for the second time. I sorted through my old toys and found this one and the first foal. So there is not much of a story here, except that I have had this old man for a long whole without really realising it for the greater part of the time.


Overall Opinion: A forgotten relic of a bygone age of my life, haha. Poor thing, being all forgotten in a box in the attic in the shed. I will probably have played with it when I was a kid, but I have no memories of him, the way I do of the shire colt.
He is not spectacular, made before Schleich's golden days. Not that he is bad, but he is certainly rather low on my list of models I love.

This is schleich's very first foal, sold as 'brown foal'. It was debuted in 1987 and retired in 1992, my birthyear. This specific figure was made in Germany. It is also a very damaged figure, because todler Gwaine bit the tail off. I wonder if it tasted as good as it looked....
This figure has been, like the arab gelding, laying forgotten in the attack, in the shed, in a box for a long time. Forgotten before I actually started collecting schleich, but recovered before I moved out of my parent's place for the second time.


Overall Opinion: A Relic of my youth, bearing the marks of it, like I do. We have a bit in common, this little thing and I. And maybe that is why I decided to keep it and not replace it with a figure that is whole. It is a bit of a reminder of what I had to do to grow.A reminder to stay true to myself.
It is a bit of a clumsy figure, really, the start of something great, but a clumsy start. I appreciate it for all it is and which it is not. It is still a cute little thing and I value it a lot, certainly more than I used to.

This model is a grazing brown cow. She was debuted in 1987 and retired in 2001, which makes her quite a long standing figure. This particular figure was made in Portugal.
This is a bit of an heirloom. My grandmother bought two cows for me to play with when I was over at her house. My brother and cousins played with them when I grew out of playing with animals. But when my grandmother started to clean out the toys, because my cousins has grown out of them two, I laid claim to these two cows, of which this figure is one. I kept them on the shelf ever since. At the moment they are carefully stored and I hope I can soon display them again.


Overall Opinion: What a special figure. It is a connection back to the grandmother I love. She understood my path in life then and she most definately contributed to it. This figure had emotional value as well as intrinsic vallue.
It is a classic and pleasing figure, not in the way the more natural figures are pleasing, but in a sentimental 'ah the good old times' way. I like the pose and the anatomy is very reasonable as well.

Gwaine wrote:

13205 Brown Grazing Cow

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This model is a grazing brown cow. She was debuted in 1987 and retired in 2001, which makes her quite a long standing figure. This particular figure was made in Portugal.
This is a bit of an heirloom. My grandmother bought two cows for me to play with when I was over at her house. My brother and cousins played with them when I grew out of playing with animals. But when my grandmother started to clean out the toys, because my cousins has grown out of them two, I laid claim to these two cows, of which this figure is one. I kept them on the shelf ever since. At the moment they are carefully stored and I hope I can soon display them again.

+ The veins on the udders
+ The muscle/bone countours
+ The colour gradation

- Weird ankles
- Clinky hooves
- She is a bit wobbly

[size=33]Overall Opinion: What a special figure. It is a connection back to the grandmother I love. She understood my path in life then and she most definately contributed to it. This figure had emotional value as well as intrinsic vallue.
It is a classic and pleasing figure, not in the way the more natural figures are pleasing, but in a sentimental 'ah the good old times' way. I like the pose and the anatomy is very reasonable as well.[/size]

I like it, when a model has such a good background story.

Megaptera wrote:

I like it, when a model has such a good background story.

Thank you, a lot of my models have a bit of a backstory ^^

This model is a Holstein-Friesian cow. She was debuted in 1990 and fully retired in 2000, however, in 1995, she was recoloured. This particular figure was made in portugal.
This was the second of the two cows my grandmother, on my mother's side, got for her grandchildren. As for now she is stored safely and when my house is coming together a bit more, she will be proudly displayed again, a relic of a tumultuous but still happy childhood. She is, as you can see, very well played with, but will spend the rest of her days on a shelf.


Overall Opinion: A deep connection to my childhood. I somehow like her better than the grazing cow, but I don't know why. I am grateful that my grandmother gave them to me rather than giving them away to a church yard sale or something.
She is a gentle and classic model, with a sweet and old charm. She is a pilar of the good old times, which I cannot go back to, but have relics of.

This figure is Zahor's horse. It is one of two intruigely styled mountain knights, who are nothing like the old World of Hystorie knights and nothing like the newer Eldrador range either. He was debuted in 2009 and retired in 2011. This particular figure was made in China.
This was my very first knight. I bought him in Lienz, Austria. It was the first holiday that my boyfriend joined up with my family and the only summer holiday we all went on together. My parents and little brother went to some cave walk, while Boyfriend and I went to the town. There I found this mighty creature and was sold at once.


Overall Opinion: This figure has no relevant emotional weight, he is just my first knight horse. A briliant figure, a work of art, really. It seems to have been a trial model, to see if this type of model has a market. It seems not to be so, as it was retired within two years. A pity, because this is a strong and detailed figure with a lot of interesting sides to discover.
There are so many intricate details about this model that I absolutely love. I can just take him in hand and stare at him for several minutes, discovering new little things every time. This is a figure who has a story to tell and I love that. He is currently in storage, but I cannot wait to display him again.

This is one of the figures of the first generation bayala line. She is a resculpting of the 2004 Tinker mare. She was debuted in 2007 and was retired in 2014. She was the third horse in the Bayala line. This particular figure was made in China.
I bought this big girl in Haarlem, when I was out there with my boyfriend. Boyfriend and I were only just dating then. The shop that I bought her from had my loyalty for a long while. I barely come there now, because my boyfriend and I live a while away from there now, but it is still a great store that I try to visit when I am in the area.


Overall Opinion: Not a really emotional journey to this one, but certainly the start of my passion of Bayala. And the start of my loyalty to a retailer. She is a bit loved on, due to careless storing. At the moment she is in storage, more carefully this time and awaiting reinstatement when I got my shelves.
The figure is very well made, very gentle and very pretty. It is a very pleasant model and such a tender art piece. Schleich poured love and care into this model that are so remiss lately. A good sculpt and good use of colours. A very loved model and very cherished. I cannot wait to display her again.

This figure is schleich largest animal to date. He is from the 'New Heroes' line. He was debuted in 2011 and retired a year later, in 2012. An unfortunate short run for such a massive and wonderful beast. This particular figure was made in China.
This is a massive figure, who I found on ebay for a surprisingly low price. I still need to find him a place of honour, because he is such a magnificent creature. This is an amazing piece, with great details, I am very disappointed that he only ran for one year.


Overall Opinion: One of the gems that I will always be strangely attached to, even though it is not a grail. There is not a special journey to it, but I got very lucky in the aquisition of this figure. I hope I find a good spot for him, a special little place.
This is an intensely handsome model. He is huge and through this, details can be worked in much easier. The wrinkles work, the stance, the decoration, the magnificense. I admire this wonderful beasts. He is so grand!

This figure is schleich's first Pegasus Foal. This foal has not been given a specific sex. It was debuted in 2010 and retired in the same year.  The following year it was republished, but the the wings turned the other way around. This particular figure was made in China.
This figure I acquired in Austria, though I do not remember how old I was. I found this little one at a large Spar store. It is my very first mythical figurine.


Overall Opinion: Not a figure with an epic tale behind it, but one with a background I at least still remember. I think i did buy it before I knew my boyfriend, so over eleven years ago at least.
It is a classic and well made figure. A bit girly and a bit froufrou, but none of the over the top stuff we get the past decade. It is a figure with a simple charm. I have a few version of this figure and I must say that I like it a lot.

This figure is the parasaurolophus. This figure was debuted in 2012 and retired in 2014. This particular figure is made in China. Not a very long standing figure, which is a shame, because it is a very beautiful model.
I do not remember where I got him, but I know that I was having a bad day and he was my friend, he comforted me. Which is why I named him so.


Overall Opinion: This is one of the more charming dinosaur figures Schleich has made. He is gentle and well balanced and the colours are not too shrill. I like the structure of his skin and his build. A very good figure.
This one has no true story, just a bit of a comfort buy, really. For now he is in storage, but soon he might be displayed.

This figure is a Grizzly Bear Cub. It is the second version in schleich's collection. This figure was deubted in 2004 and retired in 2012. THis particular figure was made in China. It had quite a long run and is a very well made figure.
I got him in Lienz, on the only vacation I went with boy my parents and my boyfriend. He was one of the first none horses I owned from schleich.


Overall Opinion: He is a nice and well made little thing. With an oldfashioned and simple charm to it. I don't think this one is as good as the newer version. This one does have a more Disney feel to it, which I don't mind, of course. The colours are little faded, but still work well.
He has no big story behind him. At the moment he is in store, but I hope to soon bring him back to the shelf.

You have a great collection , and take beautyful photos

Thankyou for sharing

SUSANNE wrote:

You have a great collection , and take beautyful photos

Thankyou for sharing

Thank you so much SUSANNE!!!

This figure is Schleich's very first Rhinoceros Calf. It is an Indian Rhino. This figure was debuted in 1996 and retired in 2005. This was quite a long standing model, with 9 years under it's belt. This particular figure was made in Germany.
I bought this little one from a member of this forum and let me tell you, I do not regret that. It is a wonderful little thing. It has no grand story to tell, but a story of connection, from one collector to another and that is story that matters too.


Overall opinion: He is so adorable and so precious. He is far from perfect, but I love how this one is still so well made. Yes he is very loved on, but he is also rather old. Despite his age the model quite holds up. He is not as clean as the new version, but at least thrice as cute. I love him
At the moment he is still in storage, but I hope that he will be on the shelves again very soon.

This figure is Schleich's Eagle Ray. It is the only one of this species in Schleich's sealife range. This figure debuted in 2005 and was retired in 2009. This is quite a short run time for such a good model, which is a real pity. This particular figure was made in China.
I am not quite sure anymore how I acquired it, it could have been ebay, or marktplaats.


Overall Opinion: Such a nice and rare species. The sculpt is rather smooth and quite well done. It is quite a nice coloured model as well and even though it is obviously loved on, it is not damaged. It is a shame that Schleich did not update this model in their high time, or kept this one in their range longer.
I believe this was one of my first sea life creatures as well. I have it in storage at the moment, but I hope soon I get to display him again.

This figure is the Pentaceratops from the Schleich Mini Dinosaur line. This figure was debuted in 2015 and retired in 2016, this is a very short run time and an absolute shame. This particular model was made in Germany.
I believe that this was my actual first schleich dino. I am not a 100% sure, but I remember picking this one up and kinda falling in love with it. This little one just has so much charm.


Overall Opinion: Honestly such an under appreciated model. It is such a tiny figure, but so well made. All the protoscales and the wrinkles and the grooves work so well. I love this little critter so much and I think this one is better made then the one in the big range. It is a shame it was retired so quickly.
She is at the moment still in store, but I hope I will soon give her a spot on the shelf again.

This figure is an unspecified species of wolf. It is the third version of the grey wolf. This model was debuted in 2009 and retired in 2014. This is the same run time as it's predecessor, but only half as long as the first schleich wolf. This figure did have a longer run time than all wolves that followed it. This specific model was made in China. It was recoloured for the wolf Gregis in the Arelan series.
This was one of my very first non horse schleich figures. This is a Lienz find, so I have had this figure for over 10 years now.


Overall Opinion: She is not a flawless, but she is a strong figure. The anatomy is quite alright and the colour works well. Her eyes are very well painted and she looks overall plausible. She is quite pretty and has a story to tell, which I really like. I am very pleased with this simple yet effective she wolf.
She is in storage at the moment, but I hope I can soon display her again.

This figure is Schleich's Dalmatian puppy. It is the first of this kind. This figure was debuted in 2007 and retired in 2015, so had quite a good run time. This is a figure in the old range of dogs, which are made to scale. Because of this, this figure is out of scale with the newer dogs. This specific figure is made in China.
This puppy I found in Lienz, on a holiday. I have had it for close to 11 years already.


Overall Opinion: She is very cute. She is a bit bigger than most pups in my collections, which makes her stand out a little. She is quite nicely done, but does not have the x-factor that some figures have. I used to love this one a lot, but now I am pretty neutral about it.
She is in storage, but she may soon grace my shelves again.

This is Schleich's Unicorn Colt Amuti. He is the very first Bayala Magazine limited edition, published by Blue Ocean. He was published early 2012. This colt is smaller than the regular unicorn foals and this version has not been brought into the regular collection. There have, however been used four more times in the Bayala magazine range and once in the Advent Calendar.
I found this one on ebay. I remember how this little fellow invigorated my collection urge tenfold. I had to hunt down all these little critters. At the time I did not have a subscriptions and hunted them all down via ebay.


Overall Opinion: Oh my god! This is one of my little diamonds. He is such a wonderful little gem and I absolutely love him. He has so many lovely little details and the colours, the accents and the well shaped anatomy. And he has such a lovely story.
He stands proud on my unicorn shelf, beside his siblings, in the conga!