Review and photographs by Paleona, edited by Suspsy
No childhood collection of dinosaurs is complete without a large sauropod, and Tyco’s Diplodocus certainly fit the bill during the late 80’s. Originally sold among the Dino-Riders toy line as Diplodocus, it would later be remarketed under the Smithsonian line as Apatosaurus. To avoid confusion, I’ll be reviewing him as Diplodocus (though my particular model is from the Smithsonian collection). While not up to modern standards, this big guy is full of personality and old school charm.
While appearing very hefty, the toy is made of hard, hollow plastic and is actually very lightweight. Still, its 21″ (53cm) length gives the impression of a giant, and it is only dwarfed by the Tyco Tyrannosaurus and Apatosaurus. The murky green color scheme brings to mind retro paleoart–it’s easy to imagine this beast stomping its way through a prehistoric swamp. I’ve always thought this particular dinosaur seemed displeased with something, with its mildly grumpy frown. Perhaps they’re upset that only their face has sculpted scales, while the rest of the body is relatively smooth with large wrinkles. The golden eyes are really lovely, though, and give the toy a lot of life.
If you’re looking to find Diplodocus‘ trademark whip-like tail, or small delicate skull, you’ll be disappointed. In terms of anatomy, it’s very much a generic, outdated sauropod. The neck is held in the old, upright swan position, and there’s hints of nails on every toe. The body is low and long, but at least you won’t be mistaking it for a brachiosaurid. No nostrils are present, just a bump roughly in between the eyes. I think this very retro look adds to the nostalgia factor, but I can see where this would be uninteresting to many collectors.
Curiously, the tips of three of the feet have a curl to them; my only guess is that this is to give the impression of it walking when posed correctly. In terms of articulation, the legs can swivel and the neck can be rocked backed and forth. Not terribly exciting, but it helps make the toy less static. The sides of the belly have some strange indentations that I never noticed as a kid; these are probably to assist with keeping the Dino-Rider battle gear in place.
While not the finest of Tyco’s offerings, I can’t help but still like this guy. If you’re as prone to nostalgia as I am, maybe you will like him, too.
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My grandparents bought me this guy when I was a kid!
It’s worth noting the original Dino Riders version of the toy was motorized, like most of the large dinosaurs from the line. The neck, for example, is jointed the way it is so it would sway back and forth as the toy moved
(it’s also a big weak point, as I unfortunately learned the hard way as a kid).
I really like the photos!! ^^
Thanks! I always have a good time photographing toys :’)
Glad somebody finally reviewed this important piece of dinosaur toy history! Well done!
Happy to assist 🙂