I usually post about CollectA’s new figures towards the end of the year preceding release, so better late than never! However, in this case, the delay has been rewarded, because since revealing most of their upcoming 2015 releases at the end of 2014, CollectA squeezed a few more figures into their lineup in January 2015. So, let’s start with the newest announcements!
Spinosaurus (2015 deluxe version)
Spinosaurus (2015 standard version)
These last-minute additions to the 2015 lineup reflect new research published in 2014 (just a few months ago) which has impacted of the appearance and behaviour of this infamous genus. This dedication shows how CollectA is at the forefront when it comes to incorporating the latest scientific findings into its toys. Going by these publicity shots they are impressive, and according to Everything Dinosaur, three new CollectA Spinosaurus are scheduled for release in 2014 with this new short-legged design. One deluxe version in a quadrupedal walking pose, one in a swimming pose, and a third as yet unrevealed Spinosaurus figure. The former are pictured above and I’ll add a picture of the third when it is announced. Note that these late additions are not in the 2015 CollectA catalogue.
The other new figures represent a real mixure, including dinosaurs, pterosaurs, and marine reptiles, are equally exciting. We will take them in alphabetical order.
Acrocanthosaurus (deluxe)
Hump-backed theropod.
Daeodon
An entelodont.
Daxiatitan
A Chinese sauropod.
Feathered Tyrannosaurus (deluxe)
A T. rex with full plumage! Sure to divide collectors.
Guidraco (deluxe)
A beautiful pterosaur, described in 2012, in a quadropedal pose.
Medusaceratops
A new(ish) ceratopsian, named in 2010.
Moropus
An unusual prehistoric mammal from North America.
Nasutoceratops
Another new ceratopsian, named in 2013.
Pliosaurus (deluxe)
A battle scarred pliosaur. [Edit, the features on the flank are not gashes as I thought at first, but parasites]. I’ll be adding this one to my collection and will have lots to say about it when I review it.
Smilodon
An old favourite.
Temnodontosaurus
A large ichthyosaur species in the process of giving birth.
Xiongguanlong
A theropod described in 2010.
So, this brings the total number of new releases from CollectA for 2015 to 15. Most of these represent species named within the last five years. To be honest, CollectA have so many figures in their line now they don’t have much choice other than to select new or obscure taxa, but that’s all good from our perspective! Can CollectA really keep this up in years to come?
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They look awesome. I just added them to my wishlist from The Dinosaur Farm
Collecta’s ability to produce two, possibly three examples of the “new” Spinosaurus so quickly is quite commendable, though a number of paleontologists are still not convinced this may be an accurate representation, and Spino may have actually looked like the oler reconstructions. The problem lies in the fact bones from several different animals of different sizes were used and some paleontologists believe the rescaling may be off, particularly in the diminutive hip and hind legs. Nevertheless, I will still buy them all as they are beautiful models! I do wish Collecta would make movable jaws on these larger models as Papo and Schleich have done.
Really? I was under the impression that most of the critics (specifically from what I read, Scott Hartman) still agreed that the legs were smaller than in other spinosaurids, just not to the extent as currently laid out.
It is true that Hartman and others have conceded Spinosaurus did seem to have somewhat smaller legs and pelvis than ‘typical’ spinosaurids, but they still don’t agree it was an obligate-quadruped like in the Nat. Geo film and full scale model (as well as the collectA figure). Another intriguing point is the claim of the Moroccan fossil hunter that he has found a spino pelvis twice as big as the known specimen used in the new research. If this is true it would mean they either got the scaling wrong, or there were 70 foot plus super spinos! Supposedly, this and other significant spinosaurus bones are going to be donated to a museum soon, and this will change the current understanding. But talk is cheap, so we will have to wait and see if the new fossils come to light.
Couldn’t find anything about that larger pelvis. Link to source? Just want to check it out.
It was in one of the messages on the Hartman site. It seemed to be from a local Moroccan collector, but there has been no follow up yet as to its validity.
My friend I have good news for you. The both will have a movable jaw and the “swimming” one has a clear stand to display it.
That’s good news! Thanks. I hope they will be the same size so they could represent the same animal, but I believe the swimming one will be smaller since it is not a ‘deluxe’ model. Can you confirm that? Wasn’t there something about a third Spino this year as well? Any news on that?
All 3 2015 CollectA Spinosauruses can be seen here: http://dinotoyblog.com/forum/index.php?topic=2718.0
The Spinosaurus’ poses look like they’re almost whole-cloth from some palaeoart I’ve seen floating around, though I could be wrong.
All I have to say is WOW – I am a Carnegie faithful, but Collecta has been producing wonders. A credit to their leadership, especially considering where they were just a few years ago…
Then the standard spinosaurus be with movable jaws and when available in the market? At least in the online? I look forward to them.
Can I post pictures here somehow?
Very nice! And I could not help noticing the pliosaurus is showing some very accurate resemblance with some illustrations I made in 2012, for a book about sea reptiles (called Monsterøglene på Svalbard, it is in Norwegian, and soon published in French, called “Minus”).
http://esthervanhulsen.deviantart.com/art/Pliosaur-393883657
Wow! Collecta has improve a lot.Lovely models.
Manuel me encantan tus comentarios! eres un crak.
Oh, and the Spinosaurus too!
I’ll definitely be adding the T. rex, the Guidraco, the Pliosaur and the Ichthyosaur to my wishlist!
They’ve knocked it right out of the park this year.
So far no one else can touch them.
Interesting that Safari’s recent sauropods are smooth with neck at nearly 45 degrees while Collecta, more in line with recent thinking (I think?), has scaly sauropods with dorsal spikes and upright necks.
I’m astonished by how quickly the new Spinosaurus proportions were put into production. Plus the first 1:40 toy feathered T rex. The birthing ichthyosaur and parasitized pliosaur show creatures situated in a life cycle and ecosystem rather than just isolated specimens.
The company said it Collecta is constant and titanic effort to bring to market each year always new species unknown to the general public of dinosaurs. It’s a big year for Collecta, but maybe I stay with what is with the spinosaurus in its different versions both luxury and the others that have begun to reveal especially aquatic.
A great year for Collecta.
Incredible! Thanks for the full list.
The birthing ichthyosaur, Temnodontosaurus, is clearly based on the famous fossil of a smaller ichthyosaur, Stenopterygius, giving live birth. http://ichthyosaurs.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/organetal2012_stenopterygius_quadriscissus_birth.png
The pterosaur (Guidrco) is enormous, nearly FULL SCALE.
Enough has been said about the likely dubious data gone into “creating” the new-and-improved (at least over their previous efforts) Spinosaurus.
And those “battle scars” on the pliosaurus are lampreys, (or their ancestors.)
Cheers,
PLB
Oh, I thought they were gashes! Thank you for the correction, I will update the post…