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I agree with what etruscan has said. Test paints generally don’t get turned into production pieces. I honestly view them not as “test paints” but more like an individual creation. In the same way forum members create pyos, no one would ever expect them to create the same one twice. That’s how I view “test paints”.
The test paint I have (as I mentioned, I think he’s call Purple Fire) was painted by Melody. And I do believe that if I were to sell him I would never get near the amount that I paid for him. So if you’re going after ebay pieces, go after them because you want them, not because it looks pretty but you might sell it later down the line (of course no one knows if they might need to sell something, but I have seen people win ebay auctions then a month later have that piece up for sale).
I do have a laying cat from ebay as well (I think he was called that?), painted by Melody. I might be able to get what I paid for him, but I’m always doubtful with any ebay piece.
Wow, I was actually able to find photos of them. Not very good photos mind you hah… and the dust in that one picture is horrid. It’s things like that that make me glad I DON’T have my collection out of their boxes displayed.
This one is the cat I mentioned.These were two houses and like 8 years ago. It’s been that long since my collection has been displayed.
Kujacker: that’s a tabby cat, I have an orange tabby one myself….
4 things I'm looking for:
1. Mother Meerkat
2. production color Sitting Young Oriental dragons to be made in more colors besides VF, Brimstone would be awesome!
3. Female Griffin – Siamese with White
4. September Raffle Prize 2022 AHD Male GriffinI just have to say that kirin is gorgeous (I’ve always had a thing for purple and black).
I’ve always treated ebay test pieces as a “I’m going to keep this one forever” sort of thing. Always gotta ask myself if I like the piece enough to pay the price or if I should just wait and see what pops up later. Though that’s not to say I wouldn’t try to get one for a steal; that’s how I got a test paint Old Warrior for below Windstone’s normal price.
Kujacker: that’s a tabby cat, I have an orange tabby one myself….
Oh yes, I know. It’s just the topic was ebay and test paints and how they don’t become production pieces, and just how you can’t always sell them for what you paid for. I mentioned him because if I ever decided to sell him, the cat might be able to be sold for the price I paid for him… but the ki-rin, not so much.
So, question for you all! I’d love to hear a little more about the “test paints” that appear as auctions on ebay. What’s the likelihood that the color/sculpt combo will be put into production? I imagine there isn’t a formula, but does it generally tends towards one way or the other (being put into production, or remaining the only sample)? And, if they do end up getting produced, are test pieces generally worth more on the second hand market than the regular production pieces?
If a test paint color becomes a production color, I think values for test pieces tend to fall. How much will depend on the sculpt, and the popularity of the color/how long it runs, as well as whether the test paint piece has any significant differences from the production color.
My special Old Warrior was a test paint for the “Black Violet Peacock” color, which did become a production color later! I own a production-run BVP Lap Dragon as a friend for the Warrior.
He would probably still sell for more than a regular BVP Warrior, due to his being a special sculpt (he’s the “Prototype Old Warrior,” not the one that is used for production pieecs! He has more scars, and a slightly changed head & wing position) and small differences in color – his version of BVP does not include lime green, which was added to the production version of the color.  But I probably couldn’t ever make back what I spent on him. Which is okay with me – I’m not looking to sell him! He’s too sentimentally valuable to me, because of his being my very first test piece, my only Prototype Warrior, and the mental agonies I went through to acquire him (I bid on, but lost the auction for, one before getting him, and I was running out of chances; only 15 were made, and mine is #13!)
Windstone auctions for test paints always mention in the auction text that the color could be put into production (or more test pieces could be made) in the future, as a sort of warning to buyers.
Interested in buying or trading for: GB Pebble Sitting Red Fox in dark grey, Lap Dragon Test Paints (Water Sprite, Glacial Pearl, Opulence, Pastel Rainbow, and many others - see my Classifieds ad), Blue Morpho OW, GB Pebble Loaf dragons in blue/aqua/teal, and Griffin Test Paints (Black Rainbow or Frosted Jade).
I agree with what etruscan has said. Test paints generally don’t get turned into production pieces. I honestly view them not as “test paints” but more like an individual creation. In the same way forum members create pyos, no one would ever expect them to create the same one twice. That’s how I view “test paints”. The test paint I have (as I mentioned, I think he’s call Purple Fire) was painted by Melody. And I do believe that if I were to sell him I would never get near the amount that I paid for him. So if you’re going after ebay pieces, go after them because you want them, not because it looks pretty but you might sell it later down the line (of course no one knows if they might need to sell something, but I have seen people win ebay auctions then a month later have that piece up for sale). I do have a laying cat from ebay as well (I think he was called that?), painted by Melody. I might be able to get what I paid for him, but I’m always doubtful with any ebay piece.
Building on what Kujacker has said here: I think that the test paint expectations have changed over the years! It used to be pretty common for Windstone to do multiple test paints for a specific color. There were 25 test paint Old Warriors for the Black Emerald Peacock color, 15 for Black Violet Peacock, at least 18 Sunrise Lap Dragons, 2 families (so 2 males, 2 females, 2 Sitting Babies) of Collie Kirins, 2 Black Ice curlies, at least 3 Males done in Sand, etc.  There could be pretty significant differences between versions of a color!
Nowadays Windstone doesn’t seem to do this anymore; instead they tend to do one “family” of test paints (so 1 mother, 1 male, 1 Lap, 1 Warrior, etc.). If it seems popular they sometimes expand to another family.  For example, “Snow Fire” was done on both the Kirin family and the Griffin family, plus a Flap Cat.
Interested in buying or trading for: GB Pebble Sitting Red Fox in dark grey, Lap Dragon Test Paints (Water Sprite, Glacial Pearl, Opulence, Pastel Rainbow, and many others - see my Classifieds ad), Blue Morpho OW, GB Pebble Loaf dragons in blue/aqua/teal, and Griffin Test Paints (Black Rainbow or Frosted Jade).
I agree with whats been said on the test paints. Buy what catches your heart and what your pocket book will allow.
And yes, everyone at Windstone and on the forum can be a wonderfully fantastic enabler! This is just one of those rare places where people really do go out of their way to try and help each other.
Keep in mind that this is a forum with real people behind the posts. So there are ups and downs here as with any family. Everyone I have dealt with has been wonderfully supportive of each other, way above and beyond anything I have come across in any other forum.
Once again, enjoy and welcome!
Looking for:
"COSMIC SHIFT DRAGONS and KI-RINS" and the "OCTOPUS TANUKI TEST PAINT #1"Hi Zexious! I’m a longtime collector also; I bought my first pieces on layaway with the pay from my first job back in ’86- they were the old green male, mother and hatching dragons. I still have them too- they’re almost old enough to start going grey! I happened to walk into a gifts/collectibles shop in the tourist trap area I was working in while waiting for my ride home, and the rest is history. The shop also had the brown dragons and some of the old animals on the display table- wish I’d gotten some of those animals, but I’ve always had a thing for dragons and dinosaurs. I spent the rest of the ’80s, ’90s, and early 2000s hunting out shops that carried them, not such an easy thing once the Wicks ‘n Sticks started disappearing. I still managed to get all the production old green dragons and was very sad when that color was discontinued; I replaced it in new purchases with emerald. I now own one of all the Western dragons except for the Secret Keeper and Hearth Dragon; all the old greens that have ever been made and the balance in emerald (except for the Spectrals which are in peacock). I’ve been with the forum pretty much since the beginning and was with the Yahoo group before that.
This is for the most part a very friendly and helpful bunch, and the company is unbelievable in the level of helpfulness and kindness- they get to know us and will go far above the call of duty to assist us, sometimes even with non Windstone things. Be sure to sign up for Ms. Melody’s Christmas card this year- sending us Christmas cards is just an example of what this company is, and they’re truly beautiful works of art!
Windstones aren’t cheap, but you’re getting what you pay for. I’ve had many people and animals think they were real creatures- if you get some and have pets, watch their reaction if you put it on the floor when you get home! They’re solid, heavy and yes very fragile- gypsum is used for its detailing abilities over resin or ceramics, but it is easily marred or broken. As a group, we collectors have learned the hard way never to put them on glass shelves. And though they tend to hold their value better than many collectibles in my experience, get what you love and plan on keeping, not for resale, or you’ll probably end up burned.
My own collection is much smaller than most here- about 2-28 pieces; I just moved and can finally start unboxing them after having to store them for close to 10 years now! Yay! Some of us have shallow pockets and some deeper; get what you can afford without stressing and don’t worry about some others’ collections. Those of us who can only have a handful love them just as much and sometimes maybe more than some of those with huge collections. If you enjoy painting, PYOs (paint yourself blanks just as detailed as the finished pieces) are more affordable, or keep an eye on Craigslist/Kijiji, rarely thrift/antique stores and flea markets, and garage sales. They do sometimes pop up. Sometimes a cheap Buy It Now or mislabeled piece appears on eBay also, or you find a store closing that carried them. Or check the classifieds here; many sellers here are willing to work out payments, trades, what have you.
Hi Zexious! Welcome to the awesome world of Windstones, you’re gonna like it here I think!
My favorite thing about Windstone is the fantasy, detail and personality of these gorgeous creatures Melody sculpts, even the non fantasy sculpts are amazing! I don’t purchase too often as I’ve had to spread out where I spend my ‘hobby’ money, but I always have a list of Windstones I’d like to eventually buy. My favorite sculpts are the Kirin, the Unicorns, pebble foxes(as I adore foxes!), especially the Fennec and Arctic foxes, and last by certainly not least, the PYO(a.k.a Paint Your Own) Kitsune. Kitsune are my absolute favorite mythical creature, along with Kirins, and I hope someday Melody will sculpt a non-PYO Kitsune so we can have Kitsune Grabbags!
Also, if you like to paint at all, the PYOs are so fun to paint! I’ve painted a handful and can’t wait to do more when I have time! Check out the PYO gallery and PYO threads, lots of beautiful critters in there!
As for other collections, I have a small collection of Model Horses, and a ever growing collection of Pokemon plush and figures. Oh, and also romance novels, I’m a sucker for those, I have quite the collection on my bookshelf/
Btw, Zexious, your username is so familiar to me! Do you by chance hang out on Model Horse BLAB or Chicken Smoothie(or both)? I could swear I’ve seen this name before!
*Formerly meowmix101
Not currently open for PYO commissions.Ah, Windstones.
My first experience with Windstones was actually back in 2009 – I encountered a Peacock Scratcher, Male, and Mother in a pawn shop. I was so transfixed, but could not afford them in any way shape or form. I actually had the fellow at the counter take them out of the case so I could take pictures – I was transfixed by their expressions and the detail. They were the most beautiful dragons I’d ever seen.
Then in 2013 I stumbled across the website and fell in love. I fell HARD. The different array of species, colors – I was transfixed. But as I didn’t have a job and my family seemed to be financially struggling constantly, I never dreamed I could afford one. So I admired from afar. In 2014 I got some money for my birthday, and discovered a V1 Peacock Hatcher and Flap Cat in a different pawn shop. I immediately bought them, and since then, I’ve been collecting when money allows.
My pride and joy is the Early Autumn Lap, Autumn V1 and Russet Autumn Leaf Curlies, and in all honesty my whole collection! I’ll have to take pictures. Welcome to Windstone, this is one of the best communities I’ve ever been a part of, and hope to keep collecting!
Finding happiness again.
I’m late to the part as always. Hi Zexious and welcome.
I’m one of the resident Windstone doctors and I’ve been on the from since nearly it’s creation, but I’ve been following Windstone since I was a child. When I was a little girl my mother ran a booth at a local Flea Market selling ceramics and brass. I would always venture to a booth called “Dragon’s Lair” (which is still around in the form of a small family owned business that travels to different anime, furry, and sci fi conventions) They had the original Kirin family, Peacock Male Griffin, the Peacock, Emerald, and White dragon families and an assortment of gargoyles. I would literally press my face against the case and drool over the beauties until my brother finally bought me my first Windstone which was an Emerald Male Dragon. (which at the time I think retailed for only 89$ because it was back in the late 80s early 90s. Ever since then I was hooked and over the past 20+ years I’ve amassed a collection of about 300+ pieces. They have literally taken over one side of my house and some are still sadly in boxes because I just have no more space that is safe from the felines that roam my home. (hence how I got so good at fixing broken Windstones in the first place)
I good way to start a collection on a budget is to pick up some pieces with minor chips or scuffs. I’m always around if you need repairs and I can even show you how to do them yourself if you’re interested in that route as well.
Welcome to the community and wave goodbye to your money. LOL! Windstones are worse then potato chips. You can’t have just one.
Got a busted Windstone?
drag0nfeathersdesign@gmail.com
*OPEN for repairs**SEEKING GRAILS*
Arc-en-ciel Emperor
Siphlophis Male Dragon
Calypso Hatching Empress
Ivory Moss Sitting Baby Kirin
Tattoo Mother Kirin
Emerald Tabby Male Griffin
Tie Dye + Orion Hatching Royalty
Indigo Rockfish + Flame Tabby Little Rock Dragons
Dragon Quail + Obsidian Frost Old Warriors
Betta Sun Dragon + Male Dragon
Dreamscape, Orion, Poison Dart, Fireberry, Spangler + Tigerberry DragonsMika – Probably wise words!!
Kujacker – What stunning pieces! I especially love the little Ki-rin! (What exactly is a ki-rin? They’re just beautiful!)
Nightcrow – Very informative! Thank you! Isn’t it fun to look back and see where companies have come from, and where they’re going?
Storm – I’m a longtime member of several forums of varying sizes and activity levels, so I’m familiar with the wax and wane, and the general dynamics, of online communities. To me, that’s half the fun; I don’t think I’d be involved with any of my hobbies (except maybe reading and writing, since that’s my job xD) if it weren’t for the wonderful online resources and communities that go along with them!
pipsxlch – In model horse collecting, we call finding models in unexpected places “sightings in the wild” xD I’d be thrilled if I found a windstone by chance!
Thanks for the clarification about gypsum; I’ve collected a variety of finishes (? the word I’m looking for escapes me /die) (resin, china, traditional plastic, etcetc) but never this! And so funny you say that about pets! I’ve got two kitties, a bunny, and a horse. My ‘heart cat’ has a personality like you wouldn’t believe, so I’ll test it out on him!Landipan – Yes ma’am, I’m on both sites under the same username! I have probably in the realm of 400-500 model horses (some of which I’m trying got sell, but that’s a huge endeavor!), and CS keeps my taste for collection and acquirement sated when I’m trying to be “good” xD So great to see you here, as well! What a small world it is! 🙂
Celestial – The array of colors and species really is incredible! It’s one of the things that’s really captivated me, as well. Please take pictures when you have the chance–I’d love to see your beauties!
drag – A windstone doctor! I love the moniker <3
Tell me a little more about that! How did you get started? Was it just lots of trial and error, or did you have some guidance?_______________
Again, thank you all for your words of wisdom! I’m having a great time perusing the site, exploring the various species, and going back and forth over what I’d like to purchase first. (Am I the only one who thinks the first piece needs to be extra special?)
For those of us who are in other hobbies, isn’t it interesting how we consider the price differently from hobby to hobby? I don’t bat an eye spending several hundred dollars on clothing, a piece of tack, or a model horse… But I’m like $80? Should I? Should I not? I realize they’re 100% worth it, given the obvious time and love that’s put into each piece; I think it’s just a cognitive dissonance I have when I’m new to something. Anyone else?
A ki-rin/kirin is best known as an Asian Unicorn… but it’s not actually a unicorn lol. Also the word “ki-rin” just means “giraffe” in Japanese. It’s pronounced more like “key-den”.
In regards to the other hobbies… yes! It’s odd what I feel is worth a hefty price tag. You mention model horses, so I have an example. I also collect bulls/cows (they are my favorite animal along with ferrets, which I also collect). I go to antique shops and once in awhile I find a Breyer bull. I really, really want them but people are always asking $50+ for them and I’m like uh no (I do understand that Breyer is a pricey company). Meanwhile I’ll spend $80+ on a garage kit (these are model kits that you have to assemble and paint yourself. Generally anime characters but you can find animals as well. They involve a LOT of time and work).
But that’s how hobbies work. You find value in what others might not.
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