Review and photos by Takama, edited by Suspsy
With Schleich’s 2017 crop of models consisting of animals that hail from the Late Jurassic to the Early Cretaceous, it is understandable that at least one Jurassic sauropod would be released. Although to be honest, I was hoping we would get a new Apatosaurus, or even Brontosaurus.
The 2017 Brachiosaurus is the 5th model of the creature that Schleich ever released. However, I can’t help but wonder if they are getting lazier when it comes to making their new products. My first impressions are mixed with this model. It is a lot better than the previous World of History version, but it still has its flaws. One of them centers around the legs. They look weird, and remind me of sausages. On top of that, they have the EXACT SAME texture and look as the legs on the Barapasaurus, which indicates that this model may have been digitally sculpted and they simply reused aspects from the other one to save time and money.
When it comes to scientific accuracy, Schleich can at least be praised for their attempt to get the feet right again. The front feet only have one claw each as opposed to the elephantine feet of the WoH model, But this also stems from the fact that the feet are made the same exact way as those found of the Barapasaurus. The first issue that I found on this model is that they based it off the proportions of Giraffatitan brancai instead of an actual Brachiosaurus altithorax. Also, the nostril openings are in the wrong spot again, up by the crest when they should be lower towards the front of the snout. The only things that make this model in tune with modern reconstructions of Brachiosaurus is that the neck is held out in front instead of being held upwards like a periscope.
In terms of detailing, only the top half of the model is decked out with really big scales (which would be a lot smaller on the real animal) while the rest of it is features nothing but very minimal wrinkles. It’s almost like the model was supposed to be covered with the scales, but the sculptor was either running out of time, or simply did not care to finish the job and so Schleich ran with it because they wanted to save time and money. At around 14 inches long, this model would be around 1:64 Scale, making it around the same scale as your average run of the Mill Toy Car by Mattel. The colours on this model are simply different shades of green. The base is light green while the scales are dark green with some traces of light green painted on them. The eyes are orange and the teeth are all painted white, with a red tongue sculpted inside the mouth. The claws are black and the bottom of the figure is painted in a greenish beige.
Overall, I can’t speak for everyone, when I tell you all that i actually like this model. It looks a lot better then the WoH version, but that’s not saying much, as that model was looks very ugly by comparison to this. I would also like to note that, despite the weird-looking legs, this new version looks a lot more convincing as a real member of the brachiosaur family then the WoH one ever did, but I’m sure it will never live up to the very first one they made for the Replicasaurus line back in 1997, or the 2008 remake. As usual, if you want this model, you can find it (almost) anywhere Schleich dinosaurs are sold.
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[…] its Schleich counterparts. Its Replica-Saurus replacement was only 31 cm tall and the WHO and COE versions are much, […]
I suspect, but cannot be sure, that Emily Willoughby’s Brontomerus was the inspiration for the figure. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brontomerus#/media/File:Brontomerus.jpg
The circular scales are of similar size relative to the body (although since Brachiosaurus was much larger than Brontomerus so they appear oversized on the Schleich). The feet with the deep grooves are very similar. Although as already mentioned The Barapasaurus has the same feet (perhaps also inspired by the Brontomerus illustration, although the Barapasaurus was mainly modeled on its Wikipedia illustration). And the color is the same, although that is hardly a smoking gun since it is a common one.
I think the previous Schleich Brachiosaurus looked better.
From my point of view it was better. But the best Brachiosaurus Schleich is the last time of the Humbolt Museum in Berlin.
Then they would make decent sauropods even if they were not correct. This is not to say that it is not but obviously it is very childish and is not intended for collectors. But the truth and truth is that if that gives profits and profits to Schleich and people buy it How can I have in my case the value to judge Schleich?
I honestly do not like this figure at all, but if it has been said, it makes the little ones happy because it’s a point in favor of that company.
Muy mucho barfo.
Due to the pose and facial expression, he does seem to be a happy fella, just prancing through the conifers. As for the texturing, I have to see it in person, but the partial scalization makes it look like it has goose bumps.