Review and photos by Takama, edited by Amargasaurus and Plesiosauria.
Before I begin I want to state the obvious. Yes, Geoworld does make some terrible figures, but when it comes to their many fossil and skeleton replicas, we can see that Geoworld has potential. The ‘Tyrant King Skeleton’ is just one of many skeletal models that Geoworld has to offer, and it can be purchased in two different forms. The first is an assembly kit (also distributed by B.C.Bones in different packaging under the name ‘T-Rex skeleton dinosaur assembly set’), and the second is a pre-assembled model. The assembly kit might sound like a fun way to go, but the reviews for it on Amazon.com are terrible, with reports stating that the pieces don’t fit together properly, causing the finished product to be unstable. When I saw the model kit for sale in person, I knew not to purchase it, but found the same model for sale in a fully assembled condition on the shelf above it. I bought the pre-assembled model and this is the version I will be reviewing for the Dinosaur Toy Blog.
My fully assembled version of the skeleton was sealed inside clear plastic that required some effort to pull open. Upon opening the package I noticed that the skeleton was originally in pieces due to the seams that appear in some places, but I am happy to report that the end result has no stability issues and it stayed together as I freed it from the plastic enclosure. The model does have two metal rods which serve to keep the head and tail elevated but they are glued on tightly so they cannot fall out of place. The bones are made out of a flexible material, which allows the skeleton to bend in some places without falling apart. The skull is attached without glue and can be wiggled a little by hand (although I don’t recommend it, because there is no telling how much it can handle).
In terms of accuracy, this model has few to no issues because it is a skeleton and not a fully fleshed out animal. The flexible material (which I learned is made of ABS plastic) is alright, but it is not ideal for making skeletons. Case in point, some of the ribs are warped and are too close to each another. The skull matches that of the actual dinosaur, although I think that it could be a little larger than it is, since Tyrannosaurus rex is known for having a massive head. The model is posed in a horizontal position but the end of the tail curves downward and touches the ground. This is due to the weight of the plastic, and I imagine that if I removed the rod underneath the tail, it would become a tail dragger. The arms are very tiny and have the correct number of fingers, however, one of the arms has one finger longer than the other. I do not know if this is only an error on my model or if all these models are cast like this, but it does give an unnatural appearance to what is otherwise a good model.
At 1:10 scale it is by far the biggest dinosaur model in my collection, and it makes CollectA’s 1:15 T. rex look puny by comparison. [On Amazon the Geoworld kit is listed as 21 inches (=53 cm) long, while the B.C.Bones kit is listed as 45 inches (=114 cm) long. Since both kits are also listed as 1:10 scale, someone’s made an error somewhere!]. The model does have a base, which displays the dinosaur’s scientific name on a gold colored label.
Overall, this is a fine skeletal model that anyone young or old can enjoy. The only problem is that I cannot find any online stores that sell the skeleton pre-assembled. All I can find are those assembly kits by Geoworld and B.C. Bones that have received terrible reviews on Amazon.com. There is a chance you may find it offered at a museum, although the price can vary depending on the location.
Available in kit form on Amazon.com by Geoworld here, and B.C.Bones here.
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I recently purchased an unassembled kit of Geoworld’s T-Rex from a local seller in my town to give it to my daughter on her 6th birthday. It came with no assembly instructions but each piece is discreetly numbered so assembly was a challenging yet fun puzzle to solve. Took a couple hours and I did most of the fitting & compressing together of the pieces. Definitely adult supervision was needed with this. The final assemble product is 40” long and 18” tall and looks super cool mounted on it’s plastic stone replica pedestal. The texture and patina of the T. Rex’s bones gives them a convincing fossilized appearance. Overall, a pretty impressive display. My inner 8 year wannabe paleontologist is inspired!
I need the instructions for this
The Geoworld kit is definitely a stand alone model that must be super glued together. I have bought several of these and have put them together and then donated to local elementary schools’ media rooms. The kids love the display. I also have donated the model to libraries which they put on the top of the shelf above the dinosaur section.
Because the skeleton is made of a rubberized plastic some of the pieces become warped in packaging and shipping. The secret to putting this model together is to boil a shallow large pan of water and then turn down to simmer. Place the warped pieces in the pan under water at low heat and after awhile they will return to the shape that they were intended to be at the time of manufacture and if needed lay them out on a towel and put pressure where it is needed to shape properly. This will also work on pieces that won’t fit together as well. When the pieces are heated they become somewhat more flexible then you can fit the pieces together much more easily. I find that after removing the water from the piece I fit the items together while still warm and if they fit properly I then super glue them together. The glue I use, and it works very well, is Bob Smith Industries (BSI) Maxi-Cure Cyanoacrylate (purchased from local hobby store); simply apply the glue to the pegs and then push and hold for 45 seconds. It is your decision if you want to glue the metal support rods to the base.
Another plus to this model is that because the skeleton is made from a rubberized plastic it won’t break like hard plastic models; it may become unglued at a joint but that is an easy fix.
Most importantly the assembly of this model should be done only by an adult if you use the instructions above. Considering the use of a stove, hot water and the super glue there are several safety issues to consider.
I hope this information helps someone in the assembly. Good luck.
For a cheap, large skeleton that’s pre-assembled and mass produced, this is shockingly good. I’m a little thrown by the (perhaps unavoidable) decision to fit the mandible INSIDE the back half of the skull rather than actually articulating it correctly. I’m also a little surprised that they didn’t figure out a way to include the gastral basket. But all things considered, I’m pretty impressed.
Looks like both versions come with a replica tooth as well?
Yes. I forgot that it did. Maybe I can send a photo of it and you caption that it is included
It probably isn’t necessary to show it, I just wanted to make sure it was included in all the different versions. Sounds like it is 🙂