Tyrannosaurus rex (Deluxe version, Procon/CollectA)

Review and photograph by ‘Tyrannax’

What a great improvement! So far, we’ve seen countless common and unheard of dinosaur names released by Procon (Now called CollectA), but due to the large amount of toys sold each year from this company, some will claim this affected the sculpt quality. Regardless of sculpts quality, Procon has added flesh to the bone of many uncommon dinosaurs which have never been released before.

Tyrannosaurus rex, undoubtedly the most popular prehistoric animal, has been released time and time again by almost every dinosaur toy company in existence. Procon, like all the other companies, has given this dinosaur a go and released two sculpts a standard version and a ‘Deluxe’ version (The Deluxe version comes in two sizes, normal and ‘Giant’, this review is concerned with the normal sized one). The deluxe is without a doubt “more bang for your buck”. Unlike its smaller counterpart, this tyrant stands 6 inches high, and over 11 inches long, putting it at a pretty impressive size.

(Base not included)

The colors of this deluxe figure are green, with a tint of blue overlapping yellow. Running down the length of the body are gray/dark blue stripes. The belly of this figure is pale with a tint of yellow added to it. The eyes are yellow with a black pupil dotted in the middle. The teeth are white (too white when painting a creature that ate other organisms all its life and didn’t keep up with its hygiene). The head of this creature has a dark, black tint to it, distinguishing itself from the rest of the body. The entire mouth including tongue, gums, and jaw connecting tissue is pink.

The sculpt itself is quite nice. The skin, unlike most figures, is extraordinarily bumpy and rough. This feature of the Deluxe Tyrannosaurus adds a lot of detail when observing it. Although “Paleontologist Approved” as the tag says, this figure has a few anatomical errors. For one, the feet are a tad too large, and flat, the legs themselves are a bit too “stubby”, the arms are too large in comparison to its body, the neck isn’t bulky or muscled enough, and the head has a massive, Jurassic Park like crest over the eyes (it is now thought that Tyrannosaurus had little to no crest over its eyes) just to name a few. But aside from the inaccuracies it is one of the best figures for its size. The pose is one of the most conversed among hobbyists for its “Raul Martin” illustration posture – it looks as if it is a female Tyrannosaurus, hunched over during the mating process. It stands nicely on its two flat feet. Unlike most figures, it usually stands with no problem at all. Like we have seen with WwD Toyway and Battat, bipedal theropod toys that cannot stand are common.

All in all, this figure is worth the purchase, and is widely available at many online stores. The size, added with the overall details makes it one of the best and attractive tyrannosaurs on the market. 

Doedicurus (Prehistoric Life Collection by Safari Ltd)

Review and photos by ‘Itstwentybelow’

Doedicurus was a large genus of glyptodont sporting a bony carapace and a tail ending in a spiked club. These adaptations may have been for defense from Smilodon, which coexisted with Doedicurus, but the club may also have been used during confrontations with other Doedicurus. These animals could reach 12 feet in length and weigh as much as a Volkswagen Beetle. Doedicurus fossils have been discovered in North and South America where it flourished during the Pleistocene, becoming extinct at the end of the Pleistocene Glaciation roughly 10,000 years ago. It is one of the more well known Pleistocene megafauna and it is possible that early paleoindians utilized the animal as a source of food, though no evidence for this has been found.

 
It is always nice to see a new genus introduced in replica form. I think it’s great that Safari chose to give us a new animal when they could have easily gotten away with dropping the tried and true Glyptodon on us. The figure is 4 inches long and is in roughly 1:40 scale, which I think is a big bonus with a figure. The armor is painted with a metallic silver color, as are the claws. Some of this color is splashed on each foot as well, but I’m not sure if it is intentional or just sloppy painting. The fur is a rusty brown, and this color also shows between the individual scutes on the carapace. The spikes on the club are dark yellow. The bottoms of the feet have a cool fleshy look. The animal is posed in such a way that it appears to be swinging that massive club. The figure is leaning to the right, putting its full weight behind the swing. I think this was a brilliant way for Safari to give what would otherwise have been a boring figure a touch of life.

As far as glyptodonts go this figure is superb. Safari could have modeled it based off of Glyptodon and been fine, but they appear to have done a little research. The hump at the front of the carapace is characteristic of Doedicurus as opposed to Glyptodon (which had an egg-shaped carapace) and is faithfully reproduced here. The tail club and spikes are also not present in Glyptodon, and end up making for a more exciting figure, which is why I think Safari chose to produce Doedicurus instead. The head is typical of the glytodontidae with its boxy shape and large cheeks, as well as a patch of armor on the cranium. The ears may be a bit big but they’re passable.

All in all, this figure is a very faithful reproduction of a prehistoric mammal which is quite well known from the fossil record. If you like expanding the genera in your collection or are a mammal enthusiast, this is for you.

Available here for just $3.49

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Andrewsarchus (Prehistoric Life Collection by Safari Ltd)

Review and photos by ‘Itstwentybelow’

Andrewsarchus was a large basal mesonychid which existed roughly 45 million years ago during the Eocene epoch. It is known only from a large skull measuring more than three feet long and a few bone fragments, so most reconstructions of the animal’s postcranial anatomy are based on its smaller and more well known mesonychid relative Mesonyx. If the proportions of Andrewsarchus were similar to Mesonyx in life, then this animal may be the largest terrestrial predatory mammal known to science. The name means “Andrew’s ruler” and was named for the famous American paleontologist Roy Chapman Andrews, whose team discovered the skull during an expedition to Mongolia in 1923.

Andrewsarchus is rarely depicted in toy lines and this model is the only currently widely available version. Luckily it is also the best. The figure is about 4.5 in. long and is in roughly 1:40 scale which is always nice to see, just like Hans there in the photos. The animal is in a striding position, snarling with its ears pulled back as if sizing up prey or a rival Andrewsarchus. The predominant color is a yellowish tan which is darker on the back and lighter on the belly. The figure is detailed to look like it is covered in fur, which I think works fine here. The cranium and snout are a chocolate brown color. Faint brown stripes are present on the sides and legs, with some spots on the “cheeks”.

In terms of accuracy, it resembles a typical mesonychid. It’s anyone’s guess as to what it really looked like but I’m sure it wasn’t too far from this and the sculptors did a great job. Mesonychids, unlike modern Carnivora, had hooves instead of claws on their feet and it was nice to see these not only present on this figure but also a different color from the rest of the foot. It was, however, odd to see paw pads on the bottom of each foot but hey, who knows I guess. They add nice detail. This is the first reproduction of this animal I’ve seen with the tassel of fur on the end of the tail, but more details are fine. The eyes have individual pupils. The canines are large and prominent. The entire skull for that matter is very faithful to the holotype.

Overall I think this is a great figure and one that anybody interested in prehistoric mammals, or paleontology for that matter, should have. This is like the mammal T.rex here! It is cheap, accurate (as accurate as it can get!), dynamic, and 1:40 scale. What more could a collector ask for?

Available here for just $4.99

Procynosuchus (Bullyland)

Review and photos by Stefan Schröder (alias Libraraptor)

Today I want to introduce to you an extraordinary Bullyland figure that is not available that easily: The Procynosuchus from the “Korbacher Spalte” in Germany (“cleft of Korbach”). Also called the “Korbach dachshund”, this ‘mammal-like reptile’ has been found in a cleft where Permian layers outcrop, about 256 million years old. The cleft is now canopied, being a popular place for tourists interested in the history of life.

Procynosuchus (“Pre – Dog – Crocodile”) was about 60 cm long; not much is known about his mode of life. Some scientists suppose it had an otter-like lifestyle while others think it lived like a modern wolf. So be it –Procynosuchus has become a hallmark and a mascot of the town Korbach in Hessen, Germany, who dedicated this animal a small museum that´s really been arranged quite lovely. You can find a big diorama, cabinets on fossilisation and much more.

As far as I know, the museum in Korbach has been dedicated the Bullyland version of the animal exclusively, so it can only be bought there, which I find is very enthralling. A German animal reconstructed by a German company, only available in one museum shop. That´s fascinating, isn’t it?

The reconstruction itself is very detailed. It is 10 cm long, 4 cm tall, a light brown colour with darker stripes for camouflage, a somewhat doleful mien, the legs erect and the tail lift off the floor – everything has been made quite correctly and authentically. I especially love the topview because it shows the animal is being depicted in an elegant forward movement, maybe fleeing an predator or even predating itself. The skin pattern does not show any scales but mammal – like folds, it’s a pity that the supposed whiskers cannot be reconstructed in a rubber model of this size.

I recommend you to try to order this rare figure at the Korbach Museum in Hessen, Germany. You may wish to contact them, I am sure you will be welcomed!