SidB's Collection Thread

[SidB]

Well, I've been holding off for quite a while about posting my dinosaur collectibles here on the DTF, but I've come to realize that a good number of my figures have been put up for view on various threads, so I'm thinking that now is as good a time as any.

I'm going to lead off with those that are displayed in diorama settings, where I tend to mix various brands together. There are some themes, such as Tyrannosaurs, Spinosaurs, sauropods, hadrosaurs, but I tend to put these display, not always so much in terms of an objective chronology, but on aesthetics, when I acquired the pieces and so on on a personal historical basis. I use a lot of aquarium based rock elements, plenty of vegetation (though I don't strive for a vigorous temporal authenticity, even though I'm a horticulturist by profession). I'd call them naturalistic rather than strictly natural. Another component is my fascination with Mediterranean classical elements, so these find their way into many of the displays. I just want to have fun! I suspect that I have an incipient Atlantis complex or something.

I'll start off with my living room bookshelf dioramas, which have now totally completely displaced the library contents of the unit. First two overall shots, one taken in the dim light of morning twilight, then an image of the top shelf. I'll detail the nomenclature, left to right, though no doubt most of you will recognize them at once.






From left to right - PNSO Miragaia + mini; Papo Dilophosaurus, Gorgosaurus, Carnotaurus; Papo Tupuxuara on pillar; CollectA Ruyangangosaurus; 2 x PNSO Nyctosaurus; Papo Cryolophosaurus

[Halichoeres]

With the full moon huge behind them, I'd expect them to be a bit more backlit! Where do the classical buildings come from? It's an interesting juxtaposition, as if one of the latter JW films took place in antiquity. And I think the horticulturist is showing--I see one live plant behind the baobab.

[SidB]

With the full moon huge behind them, I'd expect them to be a bit more backlit! Where do the classical buildings come from? It's an interesting juxtaposition, as if one of the latter JW films took place in antiquity. And I think the horticulturist is showing--I see one live plant behind the baobab.

Believe it or not, the background foliage is from an artificial Dracaena fragrans - contemporary indoor plants of this general sort can be surprisingly believable, even close-up. The classical elements, of which I'll be showing others in the days ahead, have been acquired from thrift shops for a few "nickels and dimes" over the course of the last decade or so; nothing systematic, just being opportunistic and keeping an eye open, I guess. Actually, that moon IS capable of illuminating the scene - it has a light bulb inside and a battery. I just need to flick the switch on next time!

[ceratopsian]

I'm very taken with the pterosaurs perching on columns!

[SidB]

I'm very taken with the pterosaurs perching on columns!

I know that its a risky business when someone puts a person onto a pedestal, but I think that it works for pterosaurs.

[SidB]

Now for second shelf down, the realm of the rexes. For the air force, I've used two Papo Pteranodons, but I've carefully excised all their teeth (after all, this genus had none, of course, Papo and JP to the contrary), the presence of dentition being an egregious error that cried our for correction).


Left to right: PNSO juvenile T-rex (Nanotyrannus); one of two Schleich rodents; PNSO 'Wilson' #2 (there was a variation of the first Wilson that was an identical sculpt, but with a different paint scheme; I don't count that as a distinct version, just a variant); one of two PNSO mini T-rexes; Rebor 'Kiss'; PNSO 'Wilson' #1 with base; PNSO 'Andrea'





The adjoining side shelf with the Mamenschisaurs: foreground - CollectA; background left - PNSO newer (M. hochuanensis); right, older figure (M. constructus); foreground, right: two different PNSO minis (hard to see in this picture as they are half-hidden in /by the moss).

[SidB]

Much better shot of the Mamenschisaurus side-shelf -

[Leyster]

That's a really aesthetic display, S @SidB !

[SidB]

That's a really aesthetic display, S @SidB !

Thank you, L @Leyster , glad that you're enjoying the dioramas. One price that I pay for the aesthetic element is that there is less room, of course, for the dinosaurs themselves, but, for me, it's worth it.

[Leyster]

S @SidB Yeah I'm starting to notice too the lack of room 

[SidB]

S @SidB Yeah I'm starting to notice too the lack of room 

Two alternatives that I employ are: 1) rotating the displays, which tends to keep things fresher visually and 2) using unusual and unused spaces, examples of which you can see on the thread asking for collection display ideas, if I remember correctly. I be showing that soon on my collection thread. It is surprising where space can be found, especially above our heads and just below the ceiling.

[SidB]

L @Leyster , it was the thread "Space issues in dino collecting".

[Leyster]

S @SidB ah yes now I remember seeing it. A very clever use of space!

[SidB]

S @SidB ah yes now I remember seeing it. A very clever use of space!

And an opportunity available to virtually all, courtesy of Ikea.

[SidB]

Now for the next shelf down, the Spinosauridae:


Left to right, we see the airborne PNSO Guidraco; the PNSO Suchomimus; up in the Cycad another PNSO Guidraco; the Favorite Baryonyx; an unbranded copy of the first PNSO Spinosaurus that I got for $15, but ended costing me another $50 in repairs (served me right for buying it); a PNSO mini Spino (not visible here); the new PNSO Spinosaurus; flying above, the Vitae Zhejiangopterus; the PNSO 'Siamosaurus'


The side shelf, with three Eofaunas - Giganotosaurus and the two versions of Yoshi's Trike

[Paleo Flo]

Nice display ideas!

[SidB]

Nice display ideas!

Thanks, @Paleo Flo .

[SidB]

Time to take another step downwards, this time to the ceratopsians. You may have noticed by now that some of the very best and most accurate figures have been missing - the Wild Safaris. The reason - they have their own dedicated display area, so for now we'll be looking at an exhibit that is primarily PNSO. Once again, this is a strong point for them, as you know.


Left to right, you will see the PNSO Machairoceratops; PNSO Spinops (mini) and full size; PNSO Styracosaurus (immediately behind); PNSO Torosaurus and juvenile; PNSO mini Pachyrhinosaurus and full-sized (on back elevation); PNSO Doyle 1 Triceratops and mini baby; Papo Pteranodon (overhead); Wild Past Protoceratops; PNSO Doyle 2 Triceratops






-and now for the side shelf:


Left to right: PNSO Qianzhousaurus and mini; Papo Apatosaurus; CollectA Plateosaurus

[ceratopsian]

Machairoceratops has claimed a stunning vantage point.  I particularly like the texture of his outcrop.

[SidB]

Machairoceratops has claimed a stunning vantage point.  I particularly like the texture of his outcrop.

My ceratopsian realm has been fairly static for quite a few months now, with the exception of the addition of the WP Protoceratops, so the Machairoceratops has been pretty much undisturbed atop her aquarium-based outcropping. Seems content to be above the fray. If Haolonggood continues to produce companion pieces to their Nasutoceratops, though, things may get shaken up a bit.