HAOLONGGOOD - New for 2024

[thomasw100]

T @thomasw100 as requested ^^. Hope to see the other versions in hand soon so I can make a final decision on the colour scheme to go for. But echoing my previous sentiment, 129 is looking really nice. A damn shame that beautiful Huayangosaurus is locked behind an Argentinosaurus-paywall.

@SenSx The only major inaccuracy I can identify so far would be the teeth. Far far too few in number, and much too big. Does not accurately reflect the infamous "teeth rakes" sauropods. The more vertical neck posture is accurate to what we currently know about macronarians, iirc only certain groups within Diplodocoidea, along with more basal sauropods showed a more horizontal configuration.

Thanks a lot for sharing the pictures, very much appreciated.

The teeth rakes are probably very difficult to mold given the small size of the head and the large size of the figure. I would think that this would be less of a problem with smaller figures. I mean you have to control the flow of such a large volume of PVC whose viscosity is very temperature dependent and make sure that each tiny bit of the mold gets properly filled.

This calls for highly precise temperature control and monitoring of that huge mold. I bet there are molding machines that would permit this even for such large objects, but these are probably very very expensive.

One thing I noticed already when some earlier pictures surfaced is that the surface texture of the Argentinosaurus is in general rougher and coarser than that of Alamosaurus and Mamenchisaurus. I wonder if this was a deliberate decision or if this is also a consequence of the technical requirements (and possibly limitations) of molding such a large PVC object.

[thomasw100]

My understanding is the holotype of Brachiosaurus consists of only part of the spine and the upper limbs, and almost everything else assigned to it is only a guess as those specimens don't overlap with the holotype so it's not known for certain they belong to the same species as the holotype.  The new Brachiosaurus specimen is being described as very complete so it's definitely more complete than the very fragmentary Brachiosaurus holotype and referred specimens.  The easiest thing for Haolonggood to do is to make Giraffatitan instead of Brachiosaurus (for now) as Giraffatitan's skeleton is well-understood (which is why reconstructions of Brachiosaurus were based on it prior G. being put in its own genus.

Actually in that video from the Black Hills institute the speaker mentions that the current skeletal reconstructions of Brachiosaurus altithorax are not only a composite of several individuals but the fossils are also from several sites across the Morrison which span several million years in age. He goes on to state that chances that this composite would represent one species that existed unmodified over this time span would be very slim considering typical evolutionary rates.

[Flaffy]

The teeth rakes are probably very difficult to mold given the small size of the head and the large size of the figure.

The solution is simple, either...
a) mold all the teeth together connected (similar to how companies handle ceratopsid dental batteries); or
b) have the teeth be directly connected to the lips/oral tissue rather than be molded as individual standing pegs.
Both solutions would only require a quick dark wash to break up the white row of teeth.

Some might not like this, but IMO it's the lesser of two "evils" between not having a 100% elegant solution, versus depicting the teeth in a completely wrong manner.

[postsaurischian]

 Seeing these new pictures I must say the Huayangosaurus is fantastic and now I'm also thinking about switching to HLG 129.

[thomasw100]

The teeth rakes are probably very difficult to mold given the small size of the head and the large size of the figure.

The solution is simple, either...
a) mold all the teeth together connected (similar to how companies handle ceratopsid dental batteries); or
b) have the teeth be directly connected to the lips/oral tissue rather than be molded as individual standing pegs.
Both solutions would only require a quick dark wash to break up the white row of teeth.

Some might not like this, but IMO it's the lesser of two "evils" between not having a 100% elegant solution, versus depicting the teeth in a completely wrong manner.

I agree that this would be a good solution which would lead to a reasonably accurate representation of sauropod teeth. I start to understand why most sauropod figures are sculpted with the mouth closed.

[Turkeysaurus]

I hope they release Styracosaurus in november. I want to compare with pnso before i make a decision.

[Turkeysaurus]

Huayangosaurus looks actually high quality. Diabloceratops or xenoceratops should have been free and limited, instead of it.

Keeping paint scheme simple  helps  the product more than complex  when quality drops.

[SenSx]

I hope they release Styracosaurus in november. I want to compare with pnso before i make a decision.

Same !
I need to choose one.
Must admit I like PNSO pose more, HLG could make me change my mind if the colors are much better, The PNSO is a bit bland.

[Turkeysaurus]

Huango

I hope they release Styracosaurus in november. I want to compare with pnso before i make a decision.

Same !
I need to choose one.
Must admit I like PNSO pose more, HLG could make me change my mind if the colors are much better, The PNSO is a bit bland.

PNSO sculpt looks fantastic, paint job at least doesn't look like cheap stuff but bland is perfect way to describe it. It's still one of the best PNSO models out there. I wouldn't wait if i didn't know it's in the making. HLG must bring their Triceratops level craftsmanship for the win imo.

[thomasw100]

Huango

I hope they release Styracosaurus in november. I want to compare with pnso before i make a decision.

Same !
I need to choose one.
Must admit I like PNSO pose more, HLG could make me change my mind if the colors are much better, The PNSO is a bit bland.

PNSO sculpt looks fantastic, paint job at least doesn't look like cheap stuff but bland is perfect way to describe it. It's still one of the best PNSO models out there. I wouldn't wait if i didn't know it's in the making. HLG must bring their Triceratops level craftsmanship for the win imo.

And they better leave out some weird huge scales on the frill that nobody has ever found on the fossil of any ceratopsian.

[MLMjp]

Huango

I hope they release Styracosaurus in november. I want to compare with pnso before i make a decision.

Same !
I need to choose one.
Must admit I like PNSO pose more, HLG could make me change my mind if the colors are much better, The PNSO is a bit bland.

PNSO sculpt looks fantastic, paint job at least doesn't look like cheap stuff but bland is perfect way to describe it. It's still one of the best PNSO models out there. I wouldn't wait if i didn't know it's in the making. HLG must bring their Triceratops level craftsmanship for the win imo.

HLG has already won for me, it will be the cheaper option.

[thomasw100]

Huango

I hope they release Styracosaurus in november. I want to compare with pnso before i make a decision.

Same !
I need to choose one.
Must admit I like PNSO pose more, HLG could make me change my mind if the colors are much better, The PNSO is a bit bland.

PNSO sculpt looks fantastic, paint job at least doesn't look like cheap stuff but bland is perfect way to describe it. It's still one of the best PNSO models out there. I wouldn't wait if i didn't know it's in the making. HLG must bring their Triceratops level craftsmanship for the win imo.

Only drawback of PNSO Styracosaurus is that it is slightly oversized but otherwise still a great figure in every aspect.

[Blade-of-the-Moon]

Huango

I hope they release Styracosaurus in november. I want to compare with pnso before i make a decision.

Same !
I need to choose one.
Must admit I like PNSO pose more, HLG could make me change my mind if the colors are much better, The PNSO is a bit bland.

PNSO sculpt looks fantastic, paint job at least doesn't look like cheap stuff but bland is perfect way to describe it. It's still one of the best PNSO models out there. I wouldn't wait if i didn't know it's in the making. HLG must bring their Triceratops level craftsmanship for the win imo.

Only drawback of PNSO Styracosaurus is that it is slightly oversized but otherwise still a great figure in every aspect.

I keep thinking how we really don't know what is "oversized" or "undersized" as we don't have enough of a population to make that assumption. I'd say anything close in either direction is acceptable.

[Turkeysaurus]

According to DinosDragons it's 1:33 scale so it's no big deal.

[thomasw100]

I am fully aware of all the shortcomings of size estimates of extinct species. Question however is if figure manufacturers should base models on inferred maximum or rather some average size. Or even better on some specific fossil specimen rather than some generic estimate.

[Quiversaurus]

Seeing the Huayangosaurus next to a 1:35 human makes me very happy... It's so small and adorable, compared to its hulking Stegosaurus cousin. Kinda like an extant rhino?

Pardon me if I'm mentioning this too much but it gives me hope for Kentrosaurus. Please HLG 

Look at those shoulder spikes...

[CarnotaurusKing]

Wonder if the Huayangosaurus will become the next white whale of the hobby, like the Toyway Ornithocheirus or the Battat Diplodocus.

[Sim]

The PNSO Styracosaurus isn't oversized as no scale is given for figures of its line and there's no requirement that figures should be in 1:35 scale.

[thomasw100]

The PNSO Styracosaurus isn't oversized as no scale is given for figures of its line and there's no requirement that figures should be in 1:35 scale.

Your hair splitting is going overboard now. It is widely accepted and generally assumed that PNSO figures are supposed to be 1:35 scale with the exception of some of their sauropods. Well established review channels like Dinos and Dragons discuss the PNSO figures in general based on this. So what do you want to say here?

[Rayeknor]

What do you think of that figure accuracy wise ?
The remains are poor for Argentinosaurus of course, but if we base it on Patagotitan or other titanosaurs ?
It is missing the bump on the base of the tail, but I don't know for the rest.
Is the more vertical stand ok ?

Personally I think this is the best so far large mass produced titanosaur accuracy wise, together with say PNSO Samuel. Based on what we now have from especially patagotitan fossils this argentinosaurus looks very good. There are some customs still more attuned to the current science but Haolonggood is always clearly trying to be more scientifically orientated and not drawing inspiration from a certain movie franchise.

As already pointed out, the slight raise out from the pelvis base the tail would do, and too few too large teeth are the only things I can think of from looking at the figure - they got the front feet and the very wide stance right for large titanosaurs, and also the very broad body and large neck. The sizable eye makes sense too. At this point although still speculative I think adding the proto beak is also correct, like lips for the large predators. The osteoderms also makes sense, as does the neck posture. Sauropod scales were kind of small, about the size of a small coin and that is impossible to render in 1:35, I kind of prefer what they have done here vs say the Alamosaurus, make the scales a little bigger, enough to give the skin some texture and leave no doubt this was a scaly animal yet no go overboard. This will look fantastic in good lighting as some of those baidu photos already show, especially the neck folds.

These guys did not chew but raked stuff like conifers and rough plants for hours a day, their lips would have shredded.