[André]

Hi,

I have a question to you regarding the black and blue dots.

Do anyone have a mold made after 2000 with black dot?

Just like with the black dot, which replaced green, yellow and red dots. I think the black dot was replaced by the blue dot.

What I mean is that when the black dots were used, ONLY black dots were used.

And when the blue dots were used, ONLY blue dots were used.

Another question is the thing about that new PVC formulas were used.

Was these dot placed on the ones made out of the new formula?

Then I assume all smurfs would have got that dot??? Or did they only used they new PVC formula outside EC???

I mean it still seems the dots were used on smurfs painted outside the EC??? But on the other hand Portygal joined the EC in 1986, and I think they still painted the smurfs with black dots after that?? But maybe the ones painted around 1987 were that last ones from portugal getting a black dot??? Are there any Portugal CE with black dots?? So this could be wrong.

What are your guesses about this?

[Tintin]

Hi Andre

I just had a quick look.
The ones with a black dot 99% of them Made in Germany.
Only one China the 20466 but that's maybe because his black flippers.
You could be right after the snowboard and the singer from 1998 no more black dots.

The blue dots...... the first one are Made in Germany but the last ones Made in China.
Just two from Portugal. 20130 and 20452.

Tintin

[André]

Yes,

I think you are correct Frank!

It seems the dots don´t have any direct countryconnection. We know from the SCCI-letters that black dots were used both in Portugal and Tunesia. But I also have noticed that I have not seen any black dots on any smurf marked made in China. For example Yoga, which was made a short while never got a black dot.

So maybe the black dots only were added to smurfs painted in Portugal or Tunesia, like the SCCI letters tells us in late 80s.

When they started with the blue dots the black dots dissappeared. The blue dots I also have found on both germany and China. And also like you say on for example portugalmarked graduationsmurf with large CE on the hand, I have that with blue dot also.

[Tommo]

I've been looking at the smurfs on Dyer's and Christy's sites and was wondering if they, or anyone with the same smurfs with the black dot markings, could post a picture of the markings with the dot so I can see what they look like?

The ones in question have black footwear, so I just want to see how clear the black dot is against the black shoes. The ones are 20465 Fire Chief and 20466 Scuba Diver.

Also, does anyone know if 20462 Caretaker or 20468 Climber ever had a blue paint dot marking

[André]

Hi Tommo,

I don´t think I have any smurfs with black dot on black shoes?? But I have a vague memory of a grey dot??

Generally though black footwear should have white dot and that means the same as the black dot. In this case it could be that it has been a mistake and it should say blue dot on these smurfs??

[Tommo]

Hi Andre, thank you for your reply. It's just on Dyer's and Christy's sites they have them listed with both blue and black dots. Maybe the painters got confused, I've got a double blue dot Adventurer

Do you know if either the Caretaker or the Climber came with a blue dot marking? I can only presume that they did as the others in the group did. I recently got the sandwich one with the shiny skin with a blue dot which I have been looking for the last couple of years. I have found so far that that years release of smurfs came in both shiny and matt skin, both with and without blue dots.

[André]

I think you are correct Tommo.

And that would mean that the shiny blue skin paint most likely were used approximatly the same time they began with the blue dots?

[Tommo]

Hi Andre,

from what I can see they may have started the blue dots around 1998 or earlier? I have a Lead Guitar smurf, 2.0449, with a blue dot and also an Inline skater Smurfette, 2.0443, with one. I think there are a few smurfs from this time with shinier skin, but the really shiny skinned ones seem to be from around the 2001-2002 (2.0461 to 2.0478) initial releases.

Tommo.

[Tommo]

Just thinking about it, the inline skater smurfette comes with a white dot, which came before the blue dots?, and the guitarist with the blue dot could have been painted a couple of years later after it's release when the they started with the blue dot? So when they started with the blue dots they used shiny paint for either the skin, but also on other parts, the Tourist's camera?

[André]

Interesting thoughts Tommo,

and you are probably correct. It is always hard to get the exact years and therefore I can not say exactly. But as you say we have to look at the new releases to get the correct years, since old molds many times were produced for many years from the 80s and into the "00s".

So for example if no new molds got the black or white dot after for example 1998 they probably stopped around that time. But when getting the years for the blue dots you have to check smurfs removed from production around 1998-1999 and see if they got a blue dot. If it is possible to find them with a blue dot then they started with them before those years.

I will check a few tomorrow.

Regarding the shiny paint I wrote a few things about it on my blog earlier this year. My guess then was that they started with that paint around 1997?? I do not remember how my brain worked then and I get a bit dizzy reading what I wrote then today, so I read it through later. I hope I had gave it a lot of thought though!!

http://smurfblog.thecursedcountry.com/2 ... dot-boxes/

http://smurfblog.thecursedcountry.com/2 ... -in-china/

http://smurfblog.thecursedcountry.com/2 ... g-strange/

.

[Tommo]

Hi Andre,

really love the blogs information It's funny the amount of paint and paint dot variations for these smurfs. I have the New Hiker with both shiny and matt skin, with no grey between the laces and with blue dots. Also most of the smurfs I have from that year I have with both shiny and matt skin all with blue dots. I agree that the shiny skin with the blue dots were the first ones. You are a fountain of knowledge Andre!!!

Tommo.

[Tommo]

Hi Andre,

I thought I would wait until I won this one until I posted the pictures sent to me by the seller of the markings. This is the new Chimney Sweep smurf with a black paint dot. It's on the left foot by the tip of the toe.

[Tommo]

Another pic.

[Tintin]

Hi

Looked at mine ( got 3 ... 2 shiny ( one is a keychain ) and one dull paint )
but non with a paint dot.......
Will look next week on the Dutch fair if i can find one

Tintin

[Tommo]

I was recently reading what a seller had written about the 2000 and 2001 smurfs (2.0461, Leather pants, to 2.0478, Reporter) and it mostly makes sense:

"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".

I've finally now got the Leather pants (2.0461), Caretaker (2.0462) and also the Sandwich (2.0463) with shiny skin and a blue dot marking to go with the others I have. Not sure if Climber (2.0468) ever came with the blue dot marking, but may not have if the production was limited and didn't continue into 2001 when they started with the blue dots. The information from the seller doesn't explain a few exceptions when you look at the 2001 smurfs. On Dyer's and Christy's sites you can find New Hiker (2.0473) and Reporter (2.0478) with shiny skin, but no blue dot marking which should only be possible, from the sellers information, if they were painted at the same time as the previous years smurfs when they were released




What do we all think???

[Tommo]

Accept my apologies Andre as I realise that I am repeating a lot of the information that you have already given. I just thought that it would be interesting to share what a seller had written. This is also a way for me to try to get my head around what variations could be available for these 2 year's releases. I never thought that I would find the Caretaker with the blue dot, it has taken me about 2 years to find one. I just need to track down the Climber if it exists with a blue dot marking. As far as the black dot markings are concerned, on the black shoes my quest continues

[André]

Accept my apologies Andre as I realise that I am repeating a lot of the information that you have already given. I just thought that it would be interesting to share what a seller had written. This is also a way for me to try to get my head around what variations could be available for these 2 year's releases. I never thought that I would find the Caretaker with the blue dot, it has taken me about 2 years to find one. I just need to track down the Climber if it exists with a blue dot marking. As far as the black dot markings are concerned, on the black shoes my quest continues

I do the same thing all the time Tommo, so no apologies needed.

I will check my chimneys and see what I can find out.

[André]

I was recently reading what a seller had written about the 2000 and 2001 smurfs (2.0461, Leather pants, to 2.0478, Reporter) and it mostly makes sense:

"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".

I've finally now got the Leather pants (2.0461), Caretaker (2.0462) and also the Sandwich (2.0463) with shiny skin and a blue dot marking to go with the others I have. Not sure if Climber (2.0468) ever came with the blue dot marking, but may not have if the production was limited and didn't continue into 2001 when they started with the blue dots. The information from the seller doesn't explain a few exceptions when you look at the 2001 smurfs. On Dyer's and Christy's sites you can find New Hiker (2.0473) and Reporter (2.0478) with shiny skin, but no blue dot marking which should only be possible, from the sellers information, if they were painted at the same time as the previous years smurfs when they were released




What do we all think???

Hi Tommo,

I can explain exactly how it was since I bought the new smurfs just when they were released.

And what the seller says is basicly all correct. But I will start a new thread where you can see all the new releases from 98 to the soccersmurfs sold without a blue dot.

The thing you then "only" has to figure out is how they where painted after the first release.

[Tommo]

Hi Andre,

thank you for that. One I would love for you to check, and anyone else if they can help, is the Climber (2.0468). Did this one ever come with the shiny skin with the blue dot marking?

I'm look forward to seeing the list from 1998 onwards Andre!