I, EmperorDinobot, have a less than healthy obsession with the Beasts of the Mesozoic. These are the dinosaurs I wanted to own as a kid. Dinosaurs that were articulated beyond what Kenner and later Hasbro’s dinosaurs could do. And here I am, roughly two decades later, sitting in bed with my own personal computer doing what I always did as a kid: browsing the catalogs which sometimes came in the boxes, or just the back of the card for some figures, always plotting what I should get next.
Age: Cretaceous
Review: Xiongguanlong (CollectA)
4.6 (26 votes)
Discovered in China in 2006, the tiger-sized Xiongguanlong represents a “missing link” of sorts between diminutive tyrannosauroids like Dilong and gargantuan tyrannosaurids like T. rex.
The 2015 CollectA Xiongguanlong measures 10 cm long and is 6 cm tall including the raised tail.
Review: Xiphactinus (Deluxe Prehistoric Models by CollectA)
Review: Xiphactinus (Fauna Casts)
4 (6 votes)
Before there was Jaws, before there was The Meg, there was Xiphactinus.
Although sharks have been a constant nightmare in many pop culture’s films and stories, these fishes were not the only ones that have the reputation of being ferocious, and definitely not the largest.
Review: Xtractaurs (Mattel)
3.3 (6 votes)
Review and photos by Charles Peckham, edited by Suspsy
I don’t own all the Xtractaurs, and I’m not sure if anyone does, but I feel I’ve been able to amass enough to give a decent overview of the series. Anyone who wants to review an individual Xtractaur for the Dinosaur Toy Blog, included in this review or otherwise, has my blessing.
Review: Yangchuanosaurus (Dapeng) (Prehistoric Animal Models by PNSO)
4.8 (46 votes)
With 47 votes the PNSO Saurophaganax is poised to win the prestigious title of figure of the year on the Dinosaur Toy Forum’s Top 10 of 2023 poll. And rightly so, it’s a fantastic figure. One of the best theropod models I’ve ever seen, and quite possibly the best “Allosaurus” ever.
Review: Young Tyrannosaurus Aaron (PNSO)
4.8 (51 votes)
When it comes to Tyrannosaurus rex, the first image that comes to mind is that of a snarling, blood-thirsty animal. As famous as it is, unfortunately in pop culture films and images, it is often depicted as a villain, a killer that is always on a rampage killing any helpless animal on its way.
So, the description of being cute is not often associated with it.
Review: Young Tyrannosaurus rex (Jurassic Park by Kenner)
4.8 (48 votes)
Following yesterday’s look at the queen of the Jurassic Park toyline, here we present the pretender to the throne. This ‘young’ Tyrannosaurus rex (also known by the cutesy if nonsensical name of ‘Junior’) is about half the size of its big red sister, but is no less mean-looking for its diminutive stature.
Review: Yutyrannus (Beasts of the Mesozoic by Creative Beast Studio)
4.7 (92 votes)
Review and photos by Faelrin, edited by Suspsy
Yutyrannus is both one of my favorite theropods and favorite dinosaurs in general these days. I still remember coming across an online news article about it back in early 2012 and being excited to see that they finally found a large feathered dinosaur.
Review: Yutyrannus (PNSO)
Review: Yutyrannus (REBOR)
Review: Yutyrannus (Wild Safari by Safari Ltd.)
4.6 (28 votes)
Review and photographs by Tallin, edited by Plesiosauria.
Approximately 125 million years ago, Northern China had a similar temperature to today – it was cold – at least by Mesozoic standards. Indeed, the Yixian Formation of China shows that the climate of this part of early Cretaceous China would have had an average temperature of only 10°C.
Approximately 125 million years ago, Northern China had a similar temperature to today – it was cold – at least by Mesozoic standards. Indeed, the Yixian Formation of China shows that the climate of this part of early Cretaceous China would have had an average temperature of only 10°C.