Hatzegopteryx (CollectA)

4.1 (14 votes)

Review by Dan, photos by Boki

The CollecA lineup continues its tradition of introducing exotic species to the mass-produced figure market, admirably calling attention to animals that many have never before seen. The 2011 Hatzegopteryx may sound odd, but the appearance of this animal is quite familiar. One quick glance recalls the azhdarchid pterosaurs, known for their lengthy necks and… well, Quetzalcoatlus above all else. Quetzalcoatlus is of course famously known as the largest flying animal ever known to exist. The more recently described Hatzegopteryx achieves notoriety by virtue of its size, which is comparable to ol’ Quetz, possibly even surpassing it. Fragmentary remains make this a difficult competition to judge, much to the chagrin of size fanatics, caught up in some pseudo-Freudian obsession.

Fortunately, we of the Dinosaur Toy Blog are nothing if not mature intellectuals. To be fair, this figure is 15 centimeters high, which seems generous among the company’s standard-size range. Perhaps just as striking is the upright “walking posture,” rarely seen in pterosaur figures which are presumably designed with children’s action-oriented play in mind. There has been recent interest in possible feeding behaviors from this stance as well, so perhaps all is not lost for the little kiddies.

"Scavenging" a carcass

Sometimes the original artwork “inspiring” the figure is all too obvious, but that doesn’t seem to be the case for CollectA’s Hatzegopteryx. Someone has observed the similar “red and blue head on a tan body” design used on Sideshow’s Tupuxuara, but I’m willing to give CollectA the benefit on the doubt on this one. The body has a nice fuzzy texture, and the fenestra pops prominently with that bright blue. The coloration is striking, but not so cartoonish as to completely void the credibility of the figure. Most standard-sized CollectAs utilize this sort of simple design, and given the low price point, most collectors apparently are pleased with it. In fact, the Hatzegopteryx happens to be one of the most popular CollectAs of the year.

CollectA does have an Ornithocheirus coming later in 2011, but despite the WwD-stardom of that species, it would not surprise me if Hatzegopteryx held onto its popularity among collectors. The design is friendly and appealing, the pose is memorable, and the price is hard to argue with.

 

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