The Chinese company PNSO only came onto the scene about three years ago but in that short amount of time, and despite a brief hiatus, they’ve delivered a vast array of jaw dropping collectables like nothing we’ve seen before. By and large the models produced thus far have fit into a few different size and price ranges but none of them really met in the middle.
Author: Gwangi
My name is Arthur but I go by Gwangi on the blogs and forums, as homage to the old dinosaur and monster movies I love so much. In addition to writing about and collecting toy animals (extinct and extant) I also share my home with a variety of living animals, mostly reptiles but a little bit of everything. I have a lifelong interest in all things nature and natural history and most of my hobbies can be linked to those things in some way. I currently live in Maryland with my wife and daughters. In addition to writing on here I also write magazine articles, typically about local wildlife and aquarium fishes.All reviews by this author
Review: Camarasaurus (Wild Safari by Safari Ltd.)
4.9 (26 votes)
The Morrison formation of the western United States has provided us with some of the most iconic dinosaur genera ever discovered. Even as new larger or more flamboyant species are discovered and described in this current golden age of paleontology the classics continue to endure in the public eye; Allosaurus and Stegosaurus for example, and the sauropods; Brachiosaurus, Brontosaurus, and Diplodocus among others.
Review: Anchiornis (Luffy) (Age of the Dinosaurs by PNSO)
4.5 (24 votes)
Anchiornis huxleyi was only described a decade ago and yet has gone on to become one of the most well understood dinosaur species in recent memory. Hundreds of exceptionally well preserved fossils of this late Jurassic paravian have been found in the bone beds of Liaoning, China.
Review: Nemicolopterus (Tracy) (Age of the Dinosaurs by PNSO)
4.9 (15 votes)
Nemicolopterus was an early Cretaceous genus of pterodactyloid from China that made headlines upon its discovery in 2008. With only a 10” wingspan the single specimen we have is also the smallest of pterosaur fossils found, excluding hatchlings. What’s more is that Nemicolopterus is thought to have been an inland forest dweller with adaptations on the limbs suitable for climbing trees.
Review: Monolophosaurus (Jurassic World, Dino-Rivals by Mattel)
3.5 (12 votes)
Monolophosaurus is a genus of theropod from China that dates back to the middle Jurassic period. At 15’ (5 meters) long it was a modest sized theropod known for a distinctive singular crest on its head, the name Monolophosaurus actually means “single crested lizard”.
Review: Albertosaurus (Jurassic World, Battle Damage by Mattel)
4 (27 votes)
As much as we all love Tyrannosaurus rex I think even the most diehard tyrant lizard fans among us will admit it, T. rex is overdone. Even if you don’t agree, you must surely acknowledge that Rexy’s popularity comes at the expense of other large theropods, especially other tyrannosaurids.
Review: Fukuiraptor (Prehistoric World by CollectA)
4.6 (22 votes)
Japan isn’t usually the first country to come to mind when we think of dinosaurs; we all know the famous fossil bone beds and the dinosaurs they contain from western North America, China, or Argentina, but most people, even dinosaur enthusiasts, would be hard pressed to name a single Japanese dinosaur.
Review: Tullimonstrum (Tully Monster) (Paleozoic Pals)
5 (7 votes)
While prehistoric animals like Tyrannosaurus, Pteranodon, or woolly mammoths dominate the mainstream media and public imagination they are to be fair, kind of boring. Hear me out, I love my giant reptiles and Pleisotocene megafauna as much as the rest of you but let’s be honest, they’re all fairly straightforward.
Review: Pachyrhinosaurus (Sinoceratops) (Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, Roarivores by Mattel)
4.4 (14 votes)
Say what you want about Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, you do have to admire that it brought so many obscure genera to the pop culture forefront. Because of that a lot of poorly represented dinosaurs have a chance at some fame which is only a good thing for those of us that collect dinosaur reproductions.
Review: Protoceratops (Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom Attack Pack by Mattel)
3.1 (12 votes)
One of the best things about the Mattel Jurassic World line is its inclusion of many obscure and unpopular genera. This was something Kenner did with the original line too, producing such oddities as Esstemenosuchus and Scutosaurus. For the Mattel line a lot of unexpected surprises have already hit the shelves or are slated for release.
Review: Tyrannosaurus (Jasman)
1.2 (11 votes)
Tyrannosaurus rex, the tyrant lizard king, last of a long and mighty dynasty. It doesn’t matter your level of dinosaur expertise, everyone knows what a T. rex is. Compared to the other great theropods it wasn’t the largest, or even that unique, but it’s been a pop culture icon for over a century.
Review: Dilophosaurus (Jasman)
2.8 (8 votes)
Next up on the Jasman list is the 2001 Dilophosaurus, after this we’ll have one more review and then the torture will be over. I must admit, I’ve grown weary of writing about these toys and this one is going to be a slog.