Photos by Jeremy, Review by Dan of Dan’s Dinosaurs
One of my favorite things about my job is that it affords me a unique opportunity to interact with paleontologists and paleoartists from around the world. During a brief chat with the esteemed artist Tony McVey, he casually mentioned that he was working on a Spinosaurus for Sideshow’s Dinosauria line.
Author: Dan
Dan Liebman runs the store Dan's Dinosaurs.
All reviews by this author
Review: Tyrannosaurus (Desktop model by Favorite Co. Ltd, sculpted by Michael Trcic)
4.4 (9 votes)
Favorite (formerly Kinto) of Japan is known for their many “museum quality” pieces, which consist of both flesh-on reconstructions and skeletal models. Probably their most impressive line includes the finished models sculpted by Michael Trcic, the esteemed artist responsible for the Jurassic Park Tyrannosaurus. While these mass produced statues might be a far cry from Trcic’s original sculptures, the incredible skill of the artist still manages to shine through.
Review: Protoceratops vs. Velociraptor (Dinosauria by Sideshow)
4.7 (6 votes)
Review by Dan L, Photos by Jeremy K.
Despite the public’s insatiable love of maniraptorans, it took over a year before Sideshow added one to their Dinosauria line of statues. This introduction is not without a few twists, however – and not all of them will be well-received by the foaming, rabid consumer base.
Despite the public’s insatiable love of maniraptorans, it took over a year before Sideshow added one to their Dinosauria line of statues. This introduction is not without a few twists, however – and not all of them will be well-received by the foaming, rabid consumer base.
Review: Parasaurolophus (Battat)(Boston Museum of Science)
4.9 (15 votes)
Review by Dan Liebman, Photos by Mat Hockett
No dinosaur figure collection is complete without Parasaurolophus. While some may outclass her in a popularity contest, she is certainly the most well-known of all hadrosaurs. Her signature crest provides instant recognition, and this reconstruction for the Battat line includes a rarely-depicted stretch of skin running from the crest to the neck.
No dinosaur figure collection is complete without Parasaurolophus. While some may outclass her in a popularity contest, she is certainly the most well-known of all hadrosaurs. Her signature crest provides instant recognition, and this reconstruction for the Battat line includes a rarely-depicted stretch of skin running from the crest to the neck.
Review: Velociraptor (Deluxe)(Procon/CollectA)
2.6 (11 votes)
At long last, we come to CollectA’s first effort to bring the ever-popular Maniraptora clade to their generously proportioned Deluxe line. It’s hard to go wrong with Velociraptor; the name is known throughout the world, and the basic body plan remains recognizable despite the efforts of a certain motion picture.
Review: Triceratops (Deluxe)(Procon CollectA)
1.7 (9 votes)
As we all know, Triceratops is a staple of any dinosaur collection. CollectA’s standard sized line may have a Triceratops, but its cartoonish, caricature design leaves much to be desired – and adding a baby Triceratops figure doesn’t help. It may have taken some time, but in 2010, the company finally gave ol’ three horns a proper spot in their “Deluxe” line of prehistoric critters.
Review: Brachiosaurus (Deluxe)(Procon CollectA)
2.3 (14 votes)
In any decent line of dinosaur figures, there is often a steady rate of progress as the quality of figures improve. For some, the application of paint is neater or more elaborate; for others, the heightened level of research before design results in a more scientifically sound reconstruction.
Review: Jobaria (Deluxe)(Procon/CollectA)
4 (12 votes)
The Procon CollectA line has released a number of exotic creatures for its prehistoric line, many of them associated with super-star paleontologist Paul Sereno. Typically these are only smallish figures for their “small” to “large” product lines; large “deluxe” figures tend to be only popular species that collectors will presumably be more comfortable with.
Review: Tyrannosaurus (Definitely Dinosaurs by Playskool)
1.6 (7 votes)
If you were a dino-fan in the eighties, you might remember the TV spots for Playskool’s highly successful “Definitely Dinosaurs” line. While Tyco was raking in the cash with “Dino-Riders” and their eerily realistic figures, Playskool cleaned up nicely with the toddler and young child market. Although both lines featured articulated dinosaurs, the Playskool line favored sturdier constructions with “safer” points of articulation that were far less likely to pinch the skin of a wee tot.
Review: Spinosaurus (Deluxe)(Procon/CollectA)
1.3 (15 votes)
When it comes to dinosaur figures, many collectors favor pieces that possess either high levels of scientific accuracy, or eye-catching aesthetic embellishments. The dinosaurs produced by CollectA (formerly Procon, and Epixx in Europe) are generally lacking in these crucial traits. Their emphasis on obscure species has granted them some distinction in recent years, but their toys still have a long way to go before competing with the highly-detailed Papo figures and the incredibly accurate Safari figures.
Review: Allosaurus vs. Camarasaurus (Dinosauria by Sideshow Collectibles)
4.6 (10 votes)
Original photos by Jeremy Killian
At a whopping 26 inches long, Sideshow’s latest Dinosauria diorama is their largest piece yet (though it will be unseated from this position when their Spinosaurus arrives in winter). Tom Gilliland collaborated with a large team of artists, including such greats as Steve Riojas, David Krentz, and Jorge Blanco, on what he considers to be his favorite piece in the line.
Review: Tyrannosaurus (Dino-Riders by Tyco)
3.3 (7 votes)
Any child of the eighties can recall the baritone jingle of “Dino-Riders!” in their incessant TV spots. Their adventures could be found in comics and television, but what really mattered were the dinosaurs. The story pitted two factions against one another in high-tech, futuristic battles with armored archosaurs donning heavy armor and weapons.
Review: Apatosaurus (Bullyland)(Museum Line)
4 (8 votes)
Rounding out Bullyland’s Museum-Line of prehistoric figures is the longtime favorite Apatosaurus, one of the largest figures in their entire line. Many manufacturers have – either to cut costs or respect traditions – opted for a generally plain paint scheme for large sauropods. Prior to the Carnegie Diplodocus of 2008, it seems most sauropod figures have neutral tones and rarely any showy patterns.
Review: Iguanodon (Bullyland)(2010 Version)
4.2 (10 votes)
Perhaps best known for their prehistoric mammals, Bullyland of Germany has been taking gradual steps to improve their line of dinosaur figures. Few figures exemplify this better than their latest version of Iguanodon, released in 2010.
Happily plodding on all fours, this gentle giant actually treads in the realm of action figures with an articulated left forearm.
Review: Allosaurus (Kinto Favorite Desktop Model)
4.6 (5 votes)
Following the split with Dinostoreus in the United States, the Japanese manufacturer Favorite (formerly known as Kinto) has developed several unique dinosaur collectibles. The most interesting of these can arguably be found in their desktop model line, which features detailed polyresin statues of popular species. Their first release for 2010 is a 1:40 scale Allosaurus, a well-known creature that stands apart from its desktop peers with a striking blue coloration.