Therizinosaurus (The Great Dinosaurs Collection, Galaxy Toys/Safari)

The feathered Therizinosaurus from ‘The Great Dinosaurs’ collection (produced by Galaxy toys, distributed by Safari Ltd) is quite spectacular. Well, its a spectacular dinosaur. The feathers differentiate this figure from the ‘Dinosaurs of China’ Therizinosaurus figure (also by Safari, available here), which, in contrast, is smooth and green! The figure stands on two legs leaving the huge cawed and winged arms free – however, I dont see this beast flying. The tail also has a tuft of feathers. The brown and black striped pattern is a bit dull though. Available here

Tanystropheus (Carnegie Collection, Safari)

This extremely long-necked reptile isn’t often found as toy – I know of only one other (in the Jurassic Park series, let me know if you know of any others?). The neck of the Carnegie Tanystropheus is very flexible and contains wire so that once put into position, it stays in place. The feet are webbed – this was a semi-aquating animal. Available here

Iguanodon (Invicta)

For comparison with the new Iggy from Toyway, this is the original Iguanodon from the Invicta line. This is the plain colour one. The thumbs up position and the heavy tail dragging along the ground are outdted but nicely nostalgic. Available here

Iguanodon (Toyway, BMNH Collection)

Toyway, (the company who also produced the Walking with dinosaurs toys), created this new collection of dinosaur toys for the Natural History Museum, London. Although they are nicely packaged and generally more accurate in posture and anatomy than the old invicta plastics line they replace, they simply don’t hold a candle to their predecessors. They don’t have the same quality of moulding (the details are crude) nor the fluid realism of the invicta line – very disappointing in most aspects. The Iguanodon is in an accurate quadrapedal pose, but I’d rather have the outdated kangaroo-like original any day.

Available here

Protoceratops (Toysmith)

Protoceratops, the ‘Cretaeous sheep’, might be considered one of the more boring dinosaurs – no spines, spikes, horns, long neck or sharp teeth. Consequently, despite being one of the best known dinosaurs, Protoceratops are quite rare as toys – perhaps they just dont sell. This chunky Protoceratops by Toysmith is one of the exceptions to the rule. There is a ball-and-socket joint between the head and neck so the head can be tilted in various positions, the jaw is jointed and each of the legs is jointed in two places. At less than $15 the toys in this range are great value – also comes with a display base! Available here

Brachiosaurus (Carnegie Collection by Safari)

A tiny head on top of a very long neck! The Brachiosaurs in the Carnegie collection. This model is even larger than the Invicta Brachiosaurus, but not quite as gracile and fluid in appearance. The animal is not dragging its tail on the ground and looks quite dynamic for  a 50 ton sauropod! Available here

Tyrannosaurus (Toysmith)

The Toysmith range includes colourful reflicas with multiposable joints and bendable tails. This makes the dinosaur models great play toys for kids, but also gives great flexibility for display poses. They also come with a display stand, in this case a large T. rex footprint. Each dinosaur in this range is also larger than typical toys. Available here.

Triceratops (Kinto)

A flesh restoration of the three-horned Triceratops by Kinto. The model represents an accurate 1/35 scaled version of the mighty ceratopsian. Another one for serious collectors only. Photos of other views of this replica are available here.

Available here

Stegosaurus (baby) (Schleich)

In addition to a line of fully grown dinosaurs, schleich contains a line of baby dinosaurs. These are nice because they are small and cute, and as a bonus they are not so expensive. The Stegosaurus shows typical baby features: a stubby tail and poorly develoved armour plates.
Available here

Apatosaurus (‘Great Dinosaurs’ Galaxy/Safari)

Apatosaurus, formerly known as Brontosaurus is a giant sauropod from the Jurassic Period. This ‘Great Dinosaurs’ Safari version accurately portrays the tail in the air, not dragging along the ground as in traditional replicas and dinosaur toys. The gray colouring seems to have been based on large mammals of today. As is the case for most figures in the ‘Great Dinosaurs’ collection, the figure is very large an cosists of two separate pieces joined in the middle.

Available here

Edit – October 2008 – A more detailed review of this figure can now be found here:

http://dinosaurcollector.wordpress.com/2008/10/28/apatosaurus-galaxysafari-great-dinos-collection