Author: DinoToyBlog

Dr Adam S. Smith (aka 'DinoToyBlog' here, and 'DinoToyForum' on the Dinosaur Toy Forum) is a curator and palaeontologist at the Nottingham Natural History Museum, Wollaton Hall, UK. Adam launched the Dinosaur Toy Blog in July 2007 and followed it up with the Dinosaur Toy Forum in January 2008, and the Animal Toy Forum in December 2012. He is particularly interested in marine reptile figures, especially plesiosaurs. Adam also runs The Plesiosaur Directory website and has published several popular articles and technical papers on fossil marine reptiles. He is a children's book author with 'The Plesiosaur's Neck' (2021) and 'The Tyrannosaur's Feathers' (2023).

All reviews by this author

Review: Bothriolepis (Paleozoo)

4.2 (5 votes)

The Dinosaur Toy Blog is more active than it has ever been. This year, to date, we’re averaging a review every day – January 2016 was our most prolific month ever with 30 reviews in as many days. For this I can take no credit but must instead extend my sincerest gratitude to the many blog authors and guest reviewers who have kept the blog full of life, as events in my own life (work and more work) make it increasingly difficult to find the time to contribute reviews myself.

Review: Allosaurus (Desktop model by Favorite Co. Ltd, sculpted by Michael Trcic)

4.8 (6 votes)

Back in 2010 I treated myself to a pair of statues and reviewed one of them shortly thereafter (Stegosaurus reviewed here). The second model has spent the last half decade standing proudly in my flat, begging for the review that never seemed to come.

Review: Woolly mammoth (Carnegie Collection by Safari Ltd)

4.9 (23 votes)

There’s a vast array mammoth models out there in the world of prehistoric animal figures but they rarely get much attention here on the Dinosaur Toy Blog. That is, of course, because they are just boring old mammals, but let’s not hold this against them, they can’t help it.

Review: Pliosaurus (Palaeoplushies)

4.5 (4 votes)

We tend not to review soft toys here on the Dinosaur Toy Blog and for no good reason. Given this long-standing omission it’s about time we head into new territory and cast an eye over our first plush toy to ever feature on the blog – a Palaeoplushie.

Review: Plesiosaurus skull (Favorite Co. Ltd)

4.7 (3 votes)

Here’s a bit of an experiment – our first ever video review. So, I’ll stand back and let the youtube video do the talking (video also embedded below). I will note, however, that I’m a complete novice when it comes to recording and editing, so there’s a lot of room for improvement!

Review: Plesiosaurus (version 2) (Soft Model by Favorite Co. Ltd)

3.8 (6 votes)

Nope, you’re not seeing double. Ever since Favorite released their second wave of ‘Soft Models’, their line is starting to resemble an alternative retelling of the Noah’s Ark fable, in which the dinosaurs march along two by two. That’s because they decided, instead of creating new species, to redo and update their existing species list.

Review: Lambeosaurus (Bullyland)

4.3 (13 votes)

One of two releases by Bullyland for 2014, this new Lambeosaurus is a lovely addition to their line. I picked up mine as a souvenir from a museum shop in Germany, which reminded me how much more meaningful it can be to select and purchase figures in person.

Review: Tyrannosaurus rex (CamoXtreme series, Arctic version, Jurassic Park 3, by Hasbro)

1.7 (12 votes)

All this buzz over the next instalment of the Jurassic Park franchise, officially now in production under the title of ‘Jurassic World’ and set for a 2015 summer release, has spurred me to take a look back at some of the toys from previous films. And, why not, speculate a little about what the future may hold for Jurassic Park action figures.

Review: Troodon (Walking with Dinosaurs the Movie 3D, by Vivid Toy Group Ltd)

3.9 (8 votes)

Time to look at another one of the Walking with Dinosaurs the Movie 3D action figures, this time, Troodon. Previously we have reviewed the standard sized Gorgon and standard sized Patchi. Some of these standard-sized action figures are available in multi packs, but the Troodon figure is only available separately.

Review: Pachyrhinosaurus (‘Patchi’, Walking with Dinosaurs the Movie 3D, by Vivid Toy Group Ltd)

3 (7 votes)

Another day, another dinosaur. Yesterday we looked at the standard sized Gorgon, today we’ll cast our eyes on another action figure in this series, Gorgon’s ceratopsid nemesis, Patchi. The figure is sold separately, but is also available as part of a twin pack alongside Gorgon, so if you’re thinking of acquiring them both, you can save a little money in the process.

Review: Gorgosaurus (‘Gorgon’, Walking with Dinosaurs the Movie 3D, by Vivid Toy Group Ltd)

3.5 (11 votes)

Now here’s a treat we weren’t necessarily expecting for 2013. A brand new range of dinosaur action figures: official accompaniments to the new Walking with Dinosaurs 3D movie, set for release in December 2013. The figures were produced by UK-based Vivid Toy Group Ltd in affiliation with the BBC (a BBC Earth logo adorns the box) and they are currently available in the UK (e.g.

Review: Elasmosaurus (Wild Safari by Safari Ltd)

4.4 (14 votes)

Here we have another new release from Safari Ltd for 2013, the long-necked Elasmosaurus. I lent a small helping hand with the design of this figure, as I had done previously with Safari Ltd’s other recent plesiosaurian offering (Liopleurodon). As such, I was pleased to finally see the figure ‘in the flesh’ and I’m delighted how it has come out.

Review: Stegosaurus (Carnegie Collection by Safari Ltd)

3.8 (16 votes)

Now here’s a dinosaur figure that’s somehow evaded review year after year. The classic Stegosaurus model by Safari Ltd has gone through several incarnations since its original release in 1988-9. The Stegosaurus figure is one of the originals in the Carnegie Collection line up.

Review: Prehistoric crocodiles (Toob by Safari Ltd)

4.8 (17 votes)

Having recently familiarised ourselves with the prehistoric sharks ‘toob’ by Safari Ltd, let’s now pour out the contents of a different toob. This time it’s the turn of the prehistoric crocodiles. Before we begin though, be aware that strictly speaking, many of the species in this set aren’t true crocodiles, as the toob contains a taxonomic mish-mash of non-dinosaurian reptiles.

Review: Prehistoric sharks (Toob by Safari Ltd)

4.6 (14 votes)

The Dinosaur Toy Blog has been quiet in recent weeks. As for me, I’ve been distracted by my involvement in the new Animal Toy Forum, which was launched recently as a partner site to the dinotoyblog and forum. However, I’ve neglected the blog for too long and so it’s time for me to turn my attention back to prehistoric animal reviews.

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