Concavenator’s Collection

[Concavenator]

I now have all the centrosaurine genera that I needed! 

Also, interesting to see how Safari's, PNSO's and HLG's ceratopsids look alongside each other.

[Halichoeres]

And hopefully before long you'll be able to compare them with a Wild Past ceratopsid...

[Concavenator]

@Halichoeres That's the plan! That Chasmosaurus can't come soon enough. I really want to replace the BotM one, which, as nice as it is, is bigger than I'd like. By itself it takes a similar amount of space to my 3 centrosaurines combined!

[Halichoeres]

@Halichoeres That's the plan! That Chasmosaurus can't come soon enough. I really want to replace the BotM one, which, as nice as it is, is bigger than I'd like. By itself it takes a similar amount of space to my 3 centrosaurines combined!

Yeah, honestly, I'll probably make the same move.

[Concavenator]

@Halichoeres BotM figures are a bit of a double-edged sword. They're gorgeous, but they usually take a fair amount of space. I don't see myself necessarily replacing a 1:18 Velociraptor or Deinonychus, but for largish animals, I would certainly replace them with smaller versions. It would be GREAT if they venture into 1:35 more often...

[Stegotyranno420]

Controversial:
I feel like it should've been named Crurivastator zuuli
That metal Latin name should take place before Popular culture refferences.
Destroyer of Shins sounds like a rock band or something.

[TheCambrianCrusader]

Controversial:
I feel like it should've been named Crurivastator zuuli
That metal Latin name should take place before Popular culture refferences.
Destroyer of Shins sounds like a rock band or something.

Honestly yeah that does sound better.

[Halichoeres]

But nobody uses specific epithets for dinosaurs, so it wouldn't have gotten as much press. It also probably wouldn't have gotten figures from three different companies!

[Concavenator]

Controversial:
I feel like it should've been named Crurivastator zuuli
That metal Latin name should take place before Popular culture refferences.
Destroyer of Shins sounds like a rock band or something.

I know what you mean. Some recent dinosaur names like Zuul, Meraxes and, infamously, Thanos, feel rather simplistic. And not everyone is familiar with the stuff they're referencing. I didn't even know that monster from Ghostbusters before, for example (never saw that movie).

But nobody uses specific epithets for dinosaurs, so it wouldn't have gotten as much press. It also probably wouldn't have gotten figures from three different companies!

That's also a good point. Still, it's so well-preserved that, even if it had a different name, I could still see it having been made at least once.

[Stegotyranno420]

But nobody uses specific epithets for dinosaurs, so it wouldn't have gotten as much press. It also probably wouldn't have gotten figures from three different companies!

That is a fair point, but like @Concavenator said it is very well preserved, so the models are likely to be made.
Besides, I could totally see news website saying " New Destoryer of Shins Dinosaurs is incredibly preserved "

[Sim]

I just finished going through this collection thread!  It's great to see you enjoying your collection so much, parting with what you're no longer satisfied with and the thought you give to figures in your collection.  This continously changing collection is interesting to me, even though I tend to keep most of the figures I buy and I don't think I'll replace them.  I can relate to buying a figure more than once to try to get a satisfying copy!

I too have tried Kaiyodo recently and I'm very happy with the ones I've got, I hope to post more about them soon.  Have you considered getting the Kaiyodo Dinotales Ichthyosaurus?  I got one from Brett and it didn't cost much.  I really like its form and colouration, and it's a good size too, taking up very little room and being a nice small figure of a small animal.

I'm sorry you got a BotM Velociraptor with the lower jaw positioned wrongly.  It does look fine with its mouth open, when I saw that photo of it I thought yours didn't have the problem, until I saw the next photo.  The misaligned lower jaw seems to be a widespread problem in BotM figures, it makes me wonder why it keeps happening.  I was lucky to get the Velociraptor without the jaw problem.  I have a spare 1:18 BotM Velociraptor osmolskae, Dromaeosaurus and Linheraptor which all don't have the lower jaw protruding past the upper jaw.  If you'd like to buy any of them from me, send me a PM and maybe we can agree on a price and sale.

[Concavenator]

@Sim Hope you had a good time scrolling through here!

Well, just because I'm replacing a figure with another doesn't really mean I'm dissatisfied with the previous version. For example, I really liked the Safari Velociraptor, I only replaced it with the BotM because the latter is smaller and is also really good, so this replacement allows me to save some space. The 1 figure/genus rule certainly helps me save space, as is the fact that I'm only interested in collecting certain genera. So I don't just buy a figure because it looks nice without caring for the creature it represents.

Which Kaiyodos did you get, aside from the Ichthyosaurus? Also, thank you for the recommendation! I'm really tempted to replace my Safari Ichthyosaurus now with one of the Kaiyodos. I like both the Dinotales and the CapsuleQ ones. I also stumbled upon the CapsuleQ Plesiosaurus, and that one is tempting too, as it doesn't seem likely anybody will release a good Plesiosaurus smaller than it (and it has a base too, which I like for aquatic animals).

Thank you for the offer of those BotM dromaeosaurids too! I didn't know that's a widespread issue with BotM figures, so it seems you were pretty lucky. I will stick to the Velociraptor I have, as it looks fine with its mouth open and I display it like that. I'm still not totally used to action figures, so the less I handle them, the better LOL. Plus, the species of Velociraptor I was interested in is Velociraptor mongoliensis specifically, and with that color scheme (the color scheme of the BotM V. mongoliensis is quite iconic at this point).

BTW, have you considered creating your own collection thread? I would be interested in seeing it!

[Sim]

Yes, I did enjoy going through this thread!  Thanks for explaining that you're not necessarily dissatisfied with a figure if you replace it, I had forgotten you replaced the Safari Velociraptor.  Did you part with the Safari Coelophysis for space too?  Also, I was wondering if you're content with not having an Allosaurus at the moment?

The Kaiyodo figures I've got so far, aside from the Ichthyosaurus, are: Sinosauropteryx (yellow), Cladoselache (blue), Eryops (purple), Metriorhynchus/Thalattosuchus (brown), Ichthyostega, Ornithomimus.  I've got more Kaiyodo figures coming from Brett including the Dinotales Plesiosaurus!  I'm planning to share thoughts on my Kaiyodo figures once I get this most recent order.  The Kaiyodo Plesiosaurus are excellent, both the CapsuleQ and Dinotales versions.  As I mentioned above I've gone with the Dinotales version.  They are both 1:35 scale too, which puts them at the perfect size for me!  I don't think it can get better than them for a Plesiosaurus figure.

The jaws having an underbite seems to happen with some regularity in BotM theropods from what I've seen.  You can see it on some of these figures that are reviewed on Youtube.  When I bought mine I asked Everything Dinosaur if they could send me ones that didn't have the lower jaw protruding past the upper jaw and that's what I received!  I understand being interested in Velociraptor mongoliensis and that colouration, they are the best combination for a BotM Velociraptor.  I wouldn't be satisfied if I only had a Velociraptor osmolskae.  Velociraptor mongoliensis is the one that I care the most about having a figure of.

Thanks for the interest in me having a collection thread!  I have recently been thinking about doing one, and having your interest gives me motivation to do it!

[Concavenator]

@Sim Yep, I sold the Safari Coelophysis for space reasons too. I really like that figure, it's beautiful and it's a really good depiction of a Coelophysis. But after thinking about it, I no longer needed to have this genus in my collection. For representatives of basal theropods, I'm interested in Dilophosaurus and Cryolophosaurus. I have quite a bit of space available, but I'm trying to be very picky with what I buy and keep to keep my space under control. I don't want to go through space issues again if possible. With these rules I have, I try to make sure that I'll have space for the species I'm actually interested in.

Yeah, I wish I had an Allosaurus... As a reconstruction, the upcoming Creative Beast is the one I've been waiting for all this time. It's larger than I'd like and articulated too, but I can make an exception for it, it's my all-time favorite dinosaur after all. Still, I'd rather wait and see if they (or anyone else) come up with a 1:35 version before I cave, so I'll probably only be going for it if I'm starting to worry it will get discontinued (same with the Yutyrannus and the Carnotaurus), so it will be a long while until that. In the meantime, there are other figures I want, of species that I'm also interested in.

That's a nice batch! I'm happily surprised with Kaiyodo too. And I didn't know the Kaiyodo Plesiosaurus is made at 1:35, all the more reason to get it. I'm thinking the Safari Ichthyosaurus would take a similar amount of space to the Kaiyodo Ichthyosaurus + Plesiosaurus. Hmmm... 

Thanks for explaining the reason behind your luck with those BotM figures!  I'll try to remember asking Speelboer the same whenever I order another BotM figure.

[Concavenator]

Binomial name: Pachyrhinosaurus lakustai (Currie, Langston & Tanke, 2008)
Etymology: "[Al] Lakusta's thick-nosed lizard" (Greek)
Classified as: Dinosauria -> Ornithischia -> Genasauria -> Neornithischia -> Marginocephalia -> Ceratopsia -> Neoceratopsia -> Coronosauria -> Ceratopsoidea -> Ceratopsidae -> Centrosaurinae -> Pachyrhinosaurini -> Pachyrostra
Period: Late Cretaceous (Campanian)
Fossils found in: Wapiti Formation, present-day Canada (North America)

Company: Safari Ltd.
Line: Wild Safari Prehistoric World
Sculptor: Doug Watson
Year of release: 2013

Review:

Spoiler

An unusual centrosaurine which, instead of possessing a big nasal horn, had a big nasal boss instead, which likely had a keratinous covering. This peculiar structure was acquired as the animals reached sexual maturity. It is possible that adult individuals were sexually dimorphic. At least 27 individuals were found in a bone bed near Alberta (Canada) (Currie, Langston & Tanke 2008).

Replaces the Haolonggood Pachyrhinosaurus, which I've had for about a month. I don't usually go for discontinued stuff, and one of the reasons why is because I don't feel like actively searching for a figure, I find that to be very tedious and frustrating. This time however, I stumbled upon this good condition Safari Pachyrhinosaurus, and it was selling for a decent price. I was aware it's more accurate than the HLG I had, so I didn't hesitate to get it. I bought the HLG because the Safari and Battat versions are no longer available, I don't like the PNSO and I didn't feel like getting the huge and expensive BotM one.

The Safari Pachyrhinosaurus is pretty nice. It comes from that time when Safari used to release a new ceratopsid every year. Those times are apparently long gone, since the last one we got was the Styracosaurus in 2019. When it comes to this Pachyrhinosaurus, I would simply have preferred it to be a bit bulkier. On that aspect, I prefer the Battat, so I'm not sure whether I'll keep this one or if I'll try picking up the Battat. What do you guys think?

[close]

[Sim]

I always enjoy your collection updates with the little reviews!

What do you guys think?

I think you should get the Haolonggood Pachyrhinosaurus again   In all seriousness, I went through a similar Pachyrhinosaurus figure decision-making.  My first one was Battat's, which I enjoyed a lot.  In particular, I liked its bulk, the detail of its bosses and horns, and its pose interested me too.  After Battat stopped releasing new figures, and other brands started making figures I liked of animals I very much wanted, I chose the Safari to be my Pachyrhinosaurus.  I enjoyed it too.  Looking back, I found the Safari was strong where the Battat wasn't, e.g. the skin detail.  There were still things I preferred in the Battat though.  When Haolonggood's Pachyrhinosaurus was released I replaced my Safari version with Haolonggood's, and I have no regrets.  The Haolonggood Pachyrhinosaurus is just what I wanted from a Pachyrhinosaurus figure, except for the horizontal pupils which I changed on my copies.  I love the colouration of the Haolonggood Pachyrhinosaurus, in contrast to Safari's and Battat's which I'm not fond of.  The Haolonggood also has the bulk I liked in the Battat and the skin detail I liked in the Safari.  I like the Haolonggood Pachyrhinosaurus so much that I got both colour schemes of this figure.  For me the search for a Pachyrhinosaurus figure I like has ended with the Haolonggood version.  I think it's up to you to decide which Pachyrhinosaurus figure you're most happy with.  All three (or four) are great options in my opinion.

[Flaffy]

@Concavenator In my eyes, the "definitive" Pachyrhinosaurus (static model) does not yet exist. Every version on the market has it's upsides and downsides. The following 4 are in the running for what scientific collectors may consider the best

Haolonggood: Pros - great paint apps and detail; Cons - various anatomical issues, frill shape is too extreme even accounting for CM 81683
Safari: Pros - good head sculpt; Cons - thin body
Battat: Pros - good head and body; Cons - smooth skin and cartoonish paint
PNSO: Pros - good bulk and paint* (if you got the first production run); Cons - extremely conservative nasal boss, though consistent with the P. lakustai holotype

At the moment, I'd say just get the one you like most, regardless of accuracy. With Pachyrhinosaurus being a relatively popular genus, I don't doubt another company will produce their own version. Or we might even see companies like CollectA or PNSO remaking their old versions as they so often do with their old figures.

[thomasw100]

@Concavenator In my eyes, the "definitive" Pachyrhinosaurus (static model) does not yet exist. Every version on the market has it's upsides and downsides. The following 4 are in the running for what scientific collectors may consider the best

Haolonggood: Pros - great paint apps and detail; Cons - various anatomical issues, frill shape is too extreme even accounting for CM 81683
Safari: Pros - good head sculpt; Cons - thin body
Battat: Pros - good head and body; Cons - smooth skin and cartoonish paint
PNSO: Pros - good bulk and paint* (if you got the first production run); Cons - extremely conservative nasal boss, though consistent with the P. lakustai holotype

At the moment, I'd say just get the one you like most, regardless of accuracy. With Pachyrhinosaurus being a relatively popular genus, I don't doubt another company will produce their own version. Or we might even see companies like CollectA or PNSO remaking their old versions as they so often do with their old figures.

How do you like the one by Paleokhris actually?

[Concavenator]

Thank you all for taking a look! 

@Sim Thank you! Looks like you have a bit of a story with Pachyrhinosaurus indeed! Not sure if I understand it correctly, so when Battat stopped releasing new figures you replaced their figures from your collection?

The Haolonggood Pachyrhinosaurus has its pros too, and I understand why you're so happy with it. I also find its bulk more convincing than Safari's, and as per usual with Haolonggood's figures, the paint app is gorgeous. Safari's is no match for Haolonggood's in the paint department, though I still like it as it is. I'd say the Battat is clearly the weakest one in this regard, it's quite sloppily painted and the color scheme couldn't be any simpler, but even so, it's still something I could live with. Paint app is not a very relevant factor to me after all.

I recall reading you were bugged by the horizontal pupils and I'm glad you were able to successfully modify them. I wasn't bugged by that and I saw that as an interesting detail.

@Flaffy Well, at least Pachyrhinosaurus is lucky to have all those figures to its name! Meanwhile other ceratopsids are quite overlooked: Chasmosaurus (well, there's Wild Past's potential upcoming version), Anchiceratops... The existing Pachyrhinosaurus figures may not be "definitive", but they're all decent depictions.

All things considered, I think the best ones may be the Battat and the PNSO. In the former's case, what could hold it from being definitive are aesthetic details: wrinkly detail à la Carnegie Collection which some people may not be into (I've also become used to fine scaly detail, but I'm OK either way) and the subpar paint app. The reconstruction itself is fine as far as I know. Onto the PNSO, it comes from that time when they used to depict their figures with oversized scales and I find that to be off-putting (well, the Safari may have oversized scales too, but the lack of a dark wash makes it not so apparent). I don't like the way they painted the nasal boss, in red. To me it looks like it either has a cold or it reminds me of a rooster's comb. That said, if PNSO were to remake it I'm sure it would look nicer. And if it was CollectA who were to remake it, I'm confident it would be good, but they would surely add those quills along the hip which is something I don't want in a ceratopsid figure. So for the moment, I'll stick with Safari's.

T @thomasw100 AFAIK, Paleokhris' Pachyrhinosaurus is fine. Except the hands could perhaps be oriented a bit more laterally? Not a big deal either way. Anyways, what happens with it is that it's a 3D printed model in resin, and not everybody collects those. I personally don't, I prefer PVC models as resin is a more fragile material. Not only that, but the models themselves are not cheap either. Add shipping to that, and I would also have to commission having the figure/s painted, since my painting skills are nonexistent. Plus, shipping to the painting artist back and forth. So all in all, the purchase would end up being more than I'm willing to pay for a figure. But for collectors who are not bothered by any of this, it would be a great option as far as I'm concerned. Christopher Chávez is a brilliant paleoartist.

...



These are all my acquisitions from 2023¹. In summary:

- 8 new figures², though 6 of them are replacements. May not look like much, but, at the moment, this is a whopping 42 % of my collection!

- That just makes Pachyrhinosaurus and Zuul the only 2 new genera to my collection.

- I like all the species I've gotten (well, that's why I get them to begin with), but I'm particularly glad to have Diabloceratops and Pachycephalosaurus back again, being among my favorite prehistoric animals.

- I now have all the centrosaurines that I needed. And, more broadly speaking, almost all the ceratopsids too, with Kosmoceratops being the only taxon that's missing (and thankfully Haolonggood has released one). I still definitely plan to back Wild Past's Chasmosaurus russelli as a substitute for BotM's Chasmosaurus belli.

- My collection of ankylosaurians is probably close to complete too. I'm missing a parankylosaurian (Safari's Stegouros).

- Kaiyodo has entered my collection.

- I've gotten my first BotM "raptor" series figure.

- I've mostly bought ornithischians this year (62.5 % of my total acquisitions).

- Safari has been the biggest contributor to my collection this year: 50 % of them (they're the most represented company in my collection as well). I'm very glad that Shane let us know about Safari's retirements: that's what pushed me to finally pull the trigger on the Diabloceratops and the Qianzhousaurus (and the Pachyrhinosaurus too, when I found the chance).

¹ I also ordered Ancestors' Tlatolophus, but who knows when will it arrive (or if it will arrive at all??).

² I have Safari's Ichthyosaurus for sale, I'm replacing it with Kaiyodo's Dinotales version. More info about it here.

[Sim]

@Concavenator

When it became clear Battat wasn't going to produce more dinosaur figures, I had been feeling a bit dissatisfied with my Battat figures because of being sloppily painted in certain areas, and I was also becoming more interested in other companies' figures again, with BotM emerging and Safari's excellent 2017 lineup.  I decided to part with my Battat figures and start collecting figures from any company again.

If paintjobs don't matter much to you, have you considered getting the Safari Shunosaurus?  I eventually got it and I now love it!  It's extremely good, much better than what photos show, and the weird teeth paintjob is not noticeable in person in my experience.

Also, I can't remember if you shared your opinion on the PNSO Saurophaganax?  I'm wondering if you might get it to be your Allosaurus?  Or are you planning to get the BotM or Cyberzoic Allosaurus jimmadseni perhaps?

Congratulations on getting the Safari Pachyrhinosaurus, it's still an excellent figure, I was satisfied with mine until Haolonggood made their Pachyrhinosaurus.

I hope companies avoid making Pachyrhinosaurus now, and that someone would make a good Achelousaurus instead.  Achelousaurus is almost certainly the ancestor of Pachyrhinosaurus and I find it an interesting animal.  Vitae was going to make one, but then things went the way they went for them...