[André]

Hi everyone,

I would like to help Tommo figure out which smurfs are possible to find with blue dots and the shiny blue paint used in China. Here are how they were sold when they just had been released.

[André]

In 1999 only one smurf was marked made in China. It was the tourist and this one was the only one with the shiny blue paint. But the shiny blue paint was used probably almost from the start when the smurfs were painted in China. The first figurine marked with the combination Schleich and China is Scruple with the moldyear 1993.

I start in 1999 just so you can see which years they made the changes in China. I also think that the snowboard smurf sold this year was the last one marked Portugal??

[André]

In 2000 the shiny paint was still used. But no dots were added yet.

These were the last ones made without a blue dot. Meaning pre 2004.

So this is exactly how the new smurfs looked when they were sold the first time in 2000. Molds marked 1999. Shiny blue paint and no dots.

[André]

I am showing them like this because I brought out my old bags and these are the ones I bought when they were just sold.

Here are the smurfs sold 2001 with the moldyear 2000. These are the first ones sold with a blue dot. But at this time they still used the shiny paint. The reason the Safarismurf is not shiny is because it is not painted. It is blue material.

[André]

Here are the first bandsmurfs sold. This was the first year they stopped with the shiny blue paint. But they still used the blue dots. Also the first year you could get a displaybox. Moldyear 2001 and sold 2002.

[André]

The first releases of the new genarationsmurfs. Moldyear 2002. Sold in 2003. All blue dots.

[André]

These are my soccersmurfs I bought just when they were released. And they were the first ones without the blue dot. After this no more blue dots. Moldyear 2003 and sold 2004.

[André]

So here you can see exactly how they were sold and when the paint and dots were used.

But then you have the combinations which are harder to find. For example all the smurfs sold in 2000 when they used the shiny paint but no blue dots, could theoreticly and probably have been painted in 2001 also when they used a blue dot. So therefore these smurfs can be found shiny paint and blue dot also.

But basicly all smurfs painted in China and sold 2001 had shiny blue paint and a blue dot. This however do not necessarily mean all are possible, since some smurfs maybe not sold that good and they had enough in stock and had no need to paint new ones that year? Just like when they added the clock- and addressmarkings. Some smurfs took a long time before showing up with that marking.

But this will limit the possibilities alot I think.

[André]

So Tommo regarding your leatherpant-smurf.

First it was sold with shiny blue paint without dot and the next year with shiny paint and blue dot. Only sold 2 years then before sold again with the magazine, Je collectionne les Schtroumpfs with matte paint a few years later.

[André]

Unfortunatly I can not tell you exactly which smurfs were sold with which combinations, because that would mean I would have to buy the exact same smurfs again the year after they were just sold.

Theoreticly Climber is also possible Tommo.

[André]

Tommo,

this would also tell us that the black dot you have on your chimney is most likely not an intentional dot?? Such dots were not used when the chimney was sold.

I would like to see more of them though.

[André]

And just like Frank( Tintin) wrote in the other thread these 2 molds made in 1997 and sold in 1998 were the last ones getting a black dot.

And are probably the first releases of these smurfs in 1998.

[Lia]

Interesting topic! I had to read it several times to absorb all the info:))

I have a basketball2 nr. 20518 with and without blue dot, so the one without dot is painted later? ( I`m not talking about the address marked latest version)

Lia

[André]

Hi Lia,

that is correct. The Basketball with blue dot was only painted with the blue dot the first year, then they stopped with the dots.

It seems I have a couple of unopened displayboxes also. Maybe it is about time to open them.

[André]

Luckily it was smurfs inside.

regarding the displayboxes, I did not buy these myself when they were released. I bought them afterward. Same with the marchingbanddisplay with all the smurfs. But the complete loose set in front I bought directly when they were released. Same with the other ones. At that time I only bought one complete set directly and was not interested in any boxes.

The displayboxes I started collecting later.

Though I still miss 2 displayboxes, New generation and Soccer. If anyone have any empty ones of those 2 I am interested.

[André]

Lia and Tommo,

regarding the years of these smurfs there are 2 variations we can put a year on.

1. New Hiker with the grey paint between the shoelaces. I t was the first release. Blue dot and shiny paint. This means it was sold in 2001.

2. The laptopsmurf from the new generation with grey font on the LCD. This one I also have with blue dot, just like Dyar and this also means it was a variation made the first year. You can see both variations in Dyars complete box also. Blue dot on that one.

[André]

Tommo,

if you compare what the seller wrote it matches 100% with the smurfs I bought those years!

Sellers words:
"In 2000, there are more and more smurf "Made in china" in the trade. There are reconnaisables their extremely bright paint.

In 2001, The Smurfs have always paint extremely brilliant, but a blue dot is added under their feet.

Then in 2002, the blue dot is kept but the paint exchange, and the colors are duller. This will remain so until 2003.

Finally, from 2004 to 2008 all smurfs "Made in china" are matt paint, and WITHOUT blue dot".

Here are also the variations I wrote about.

[Lia]

Just this weekend I ordered a complete new generation set, I`m curious if they have dots or not.
And I started ( a little) to collect displays, sooooooo nice!
Last month I got the soccer display

[Tommo]

Great information Andre, thank you. The one with the grey screen is on my list for ones to get I think Christy has the New Hiker with the shiny skin and the grey between the laces, but without the blue dot. Where do you think this would fit in the time line or do you think that they just forgot the dot? The ones with the black dots, like the Chimney one I have, on Dyer's and Christy's sites (Diver, Fireman and New Hiker) I have kind of given up on. It's too much effort at times to ask sellers to check for black dots on black shoes. and, as you say, they shouldn't be any with black dots. I've seen on Christy's site that she has a Basketball 2 with a white dot

[André]

Great information Andre, thank you. The one with the grey screen is on my list for ones to get I think Christy has the New Hiker with the shiny skin and the grey between the laces, but without the blue dot. Where do you think this would fit in the time line or do you think that they just forgot the dot? The ones with the black dots, like the Chimney one I have, on Dyer's and Christy's sites (Diver, Fireman and New Hiker) I have kind of given up on. It's too much effort at times to ask sellers to check for black dots on black shoes. and, as you say, they shouldn't be any with black dots. I've seen on Christy's site that she has a Basketball 2 with a white dot

I also use Christys and Dyars site alot when checking smurfs. They are fantastic. But there are smaller "misprints" sometimes. For example I think Dyar has forgotten to add China on his tourist-smurf?

We have to check with Christy. Does your New Hiker with grey laces and shiny paint have a blue dot Christy? If not my guess would be this.

This was just when they started with the blue dots and it could be that some where sold before this without the dot?? This was pre ebay for me and at that time I bought the smurfs in Sweden and just like today we have to wait a few months before we see them in the toystores here. So when I write first releases I mean the first ones you could buy in Sweden, not like today when I buy them from Germany and get them as soon as they are available.

Regarding dots I have many smurfs with "dots" that I just think are mistakes by the painter( meaning not meant to be a dot). I think, if you were to check that you could find a blue dot under one of the new smurf also if you checked enough smurfs???

But there could be dots I don´t know of. We are all in the learning-stage and I just recently added the yellow dot to possible ones. But just like with that one I would love to see at least 10 different ones first. Or see a pattern which match with the other smurfs.