[DrunkSmurf]

You know, you take a smurf like 2.0037 Thinker Smurf and the difference between small mold and large mold is quite enough to justify calling it a different smurf.

On the other hand, variations between like red or green swim trunks on 2.0014 are more of a curiosity.

I mean, personally, my collection seems incomplete without both versions of 2.0037, but the variations on 2.0014 amount to the same figure, just different colors. Or take the differences in small mold and large mold Black/Angry Smurf. Those are different smurfs--not really variants!

I don't know where I'm going with this.
I don't have access to DSK catalog. Does it eunumerate all these variations?

Had anyone tried to compile a "Smurf Archetype" catalog? For instance, 2.0014 strikes me as a "small mold" version of Super Smurf 4.0261. And on a different note, how many basketball smurf "remakes" are there (dribbling with one hand and holding the other hand out)? Counting the McDonalds one, three. And look at all the mileage Schleich got out of apple / pumpkin / surprise cone / gargamel gift smurf.

[Syd Smurf]

I know what you mean Tim. There is also the Smurfettes (20034) with 3 different mold variations, smaller & larger Digger smurfs, Gargamel with Potions (poiting finger & the other with test-tube & lab glass) & of course the Sitting smurf just like the Thinker smurf with 2 types of variations.....there's probably more that I can't recall off the top of my head.

I understand about different types of molds being nicer to get than just different colours. It does seem strange (as mentioned previously here by other members) that they can't work out why the Easter Smurfs/Soccer Smurf etc have 2 different Schleich numbers whereas ones like the Gargamel & Smurfette etc only have one. It's a good question to ask.

Now I'm not sure where I'm going with this but hey....I never really do

Dyar

[Fram]

To me, clearly different colours like the swim trunks are major variations as well, minor variations are all the light/dark ones, like the light green apple versus the dark green apple and so on. Also minor but fun are the markings, and extremely minor are the mould numbers.

As for different Smurfs (positions) with same number, don't forget the astro, the digger, and the money (coin) Smurf. I'm probably still forgetting some as well...

[Bunno Smurf]

I agree with Fram, any variation that is easily distinguished by sight is a major variation in my opinion...for example Black and Green St Patrick and black and red judges.

These are the variations I prefer to collect as they are visually vastly different. I'm not too bothered with the slightly darker shade of blue, green or whatever.

I tend to collect just what interests me which is probably not a bad thing as I'm broke enough as it is without collecting every possible little difference in a smurf there is! LOL

[Tor]

Then we have Schleich / Bully / Applause / W.Berrie variations.

[Guest]

The colour variations are sometimes very "dangerous" variations. For e.g. 2.0086 Present smurf: I have one at home that has a light green present and this is not painted. The material itself is light green. But in this case I think it is coming from the sunlight or something light this. And also other some lighters colors are sometimes only coming from sunlight and not from painting.
And then the smurfs were painted maybe the colour was a little bit thinner or thicker on some days.

So I think for colour variations you really need a series from exactly the same smurfs to call it a variation. I really don't know what I should think about colour variations that have the same markings and sometimes the same moldings... but slightly different colors...

so long
Cheesy

[XoioX2000]

I include the main color changes in the major variations (as long as they are real variations released by Schleich). So the sunbather with different swimming trunks falls into that category.
Any variation of the mould (thickness, shape), the accessories or even the base (by that I mean the grass under some figures - rough / smooth) I also consider as major variations.

The minor variations in my view are the various shades of blue and the various markings... although I have started collecting these now... Dyar's influence I think... and sort of not finding any more major variations to add...

The ones I'm not too hot on at the moment are the very minor variations for some of the more recent smurfs, like the eyes painted differently and tiny details. This is ususally due to the different finish of each artist/painters more than a real variations: I mean you could take the view that each figure is hand painted, hence all must be different... but that would become a never ever ending story...

:):)

[Rachel]

Hi guys, interesting discussion Tim.

I think I would have to say that I certainly consider major colour differences eg. black glasses, red glasses, yellow glasses brainy smurf as important as the major mold variations. We (like most I think) didn't set out to collect variations, then decided to go for the different markings ie. W Germany & Hong Kong as well as the different colours and really it just got out of control. Nowdays it really is any slight difference although I do still prefer to have the different markings as the main aim.

There were two main reasons we decided to show all our variations on a website. Firstly for ourselves, to be able to keep track of what we have but also because at the time there was no other internet resource with this information. Now Dyar is on the case and so many other great smurf websites are being made, I am sure it is going to make life a lot easier for us to be able cross reference variations.

[Syd Smurf]

I consider different colours and different markings as major variations as well as the different molds, bases, accessories etc.

I have gone a little overboard but it's only because I have bought big lots and decided to keep anything that is slightly different....I don't go out of my way to buy these but if I receive them then I keep them. I mainly chase after different markings & colours as that in itself usually provides the variations.

However it's each to their own as once I finished the basic collection it was either stop and never buy another smurf or find another way of continuing the fun of collecting. I decided to chase after variations which to me include fakes and raws as they are basically the same smurf just different colours etc.

It's all good fun but yes I know exactly how Linda feels .....I'm broke too

Dyar

[Gerda]

I find the diffrent molds and colors more interesting to collect than little diffrences, but will keep any smurf that when held up next to the others like him is diffrent in some way. I find it very interesting always to see the major diffrences in some smurfs from diffrent countries. Like how a smurf made in Hong kong is made from a diffrent material than a smurf made in Germany. You would think that in the planning stages there would be a set pattern for makeing the smurfs. If I understan the smurf makeing process then there is an artist who first draws a scetch of the smurf, then a plaster 3-d model is made and a mold from that. So why is it that you can have such a diffrence in figures for one smurf if only one drawing gets accepted as the one they are going to make.

does anyone know how many molds got made for one smurf? I know I have not seen mold numbers go past 4 or maybe 5 (can't remember now) but that does not seem like a lot of molds to use to mass produce all those smurfs... then again each country where they are being made in probably has the same amount of molds so it does add up I suppose..

Gerda

[Rachel]

does anyone know how many molds got made for one smurf? I know I have not seen mold numbers go past 4 or maybe 5 (can't remember now) but that does not seem like a lot of molds to use to mass produce all those smurfs... then again each country where they are being made in probably has the same amount of molds so it does add up I suppose..

Hi Gerda, I am not 100% sure but I think someone mentioned at least one smurf with mold numbers going up to 8 but I would certainly agree with you that the norm seems to be about 4 or 5. Also, I would agree with you that it is very likely that the different factories had their own molds and therefore this would in effect double the amount.

[Fram]

As far as I remember, Bully Smurfs had hihger mould numbers, and the McDo Smurfs have very high ones (16?), as they had to make a huge amount in a minimum of time. Most stop at 4, some at 6... One day, we will have to make a list of the highest mould number per variation

[Syd Smurf]

One day, we will have to make a list of the highest mould number per variation

Hey that sounds like fun...it could be like an auction. Gerda has 4...do I hear 5?.....5 to the guy over there in the tutu....6 anyone? 6 to the fish and the signholding smurf at the back of the room.....7? can we have a 7?

Might be interesting to see if we can break the mold number records as we go along anyway. Should we start doing it and see how it goes?

Dyar

[Fram]

Fine by me!

[Gerda]

Sure sounds like fun, and it would be very interesting to see how high the numbers go. We should start with papa and work our way up the numbers.. Would that be ok?

my highest papa mold number is...

5 on a Hong Kong smurf and
2 on a W. germany smurf

[Guest]

4 on HK and
4 on W.Germany CE
1 on W.Germany

[Rachel]

Yep my highest for Papa are 4 for both Germany & Hong Kong.

[XoioX2000]

I like that! Shall we start a new thread for that? or even a new section, cause that discussion will rapidly grow me thinks!!!!!

[Fram]

Perhaps a new section indeed, with one post per Smurf, for discussion of all varieties, mold numbers, promos, markings ... of that particular Smurf. A kind of an online forum catalogue. It may be a huge drain of resources though, but it would be terrific after a while. Perhaps we could keep it reasonably pic-free and reference Rachel's and Dyar's website for most visual info?

[Gerda]

I agree we should start a new thread. ONe topic for each smurf! It would be an easier refrence than to go through all the posts to find one marking!!


Gerda