Rounding out David’s acclaimed line of 1:72 models is this 3 inch long reconstruction of Stegosaurus stenops. The upright posture will be one of the first things to draw the eye. It’s a refreshing twist on what is otherwise a very traditional dinosaur. Some may be skeptical as to whether this pose was anatomically feasible. What can be said for certain, is that it demands strong faith in your choice of adhesive – or at least a good quality of adhesive. The bulky herbivore definitely needs your help in order to maintain this position on his hind legs, and an unexpected collapse is particularly risky for this animal, given the delicate nature of his plates.
As always, the base comes with guide prints for easier placement. The feet, like much of the body, may require some careful cleaning to remove excess resin. This will allow a more snug fit on the base, and you really don’t want any resin rods stretching between the plates, do you?
Of course, if you are planning to paint your Antediluvian Stegosaurus, that is something best done before base attachment. Since the base is fairly open, it allows installation of various habitat elements, such as water, dirt, and leaves. For buildup king Martin Garratt, dried crushed leaves work wonders for a base, and he likes to introduce new flora as well. In this particular buildup, he has provided a Walking With Dinosaurs coloration for the animal, which can be seen in many restorations of the species today.
David offers further fluidity to the animal by curling its neck and tail to the left. It’s not hard to imagine this is a primal response to an incoming threat, so this is certainly an option for pairing with the Antediluvian Allosaurus. As far as accuracy, this is about the best you can get with Stegosaurus. His hind limbs are appropriately larger than his front limbs, the signature spikes are nice and pointy, and the plates appear to number a proper 17 (counting the tiny neck plates is a rather tricky task, but possibly part of the fun). And yes, the back feet have three toes each.
At this scale, it’s nearly impossible to see if the throat pouch is included. I think it would be a forgivable omission for a three inch replica, but Martin has actually painted a few ossicles on the neck anyway. It’s worth noting most Stegosaurus figures in this price range don’t have the accuracy to hold up to a model like this. They typically have greatly reduced tails, plate problems, or something weird with their proportions. This is a great, affordable way to introduce your current collectibles to a proper Stegosaurus.
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[…] glimpse at a Stegosaurus that stands perfectly on its hind legs, a trick that has only been seen in one other place that I can recall. The base contains trackways that help guide the feet into position, and if you […]
[…] talents often present the animal in a new and exciting light, such as the rare uplifted Stegosaurus or surprisingly common closed-jawed […]
Hmm, I detect the influence of T. R. Karbek’s classic 2002 publication.