Concavenator’s Collection (new 04/02/2025)

[SidB]

It's sort of remarkable, @Concavenator , to see a figure finally equaling, more or less, give or take, Doug Watson's Safari piece, but there it is. I might also give an honorable mention to Schleich's Diabolosaurus, (excepting the manus), a standout figure in their inventory, though no match for the aforementioned two, of course.

[Concavenator]

Thank you both!

@Halichoeres Yeah, HLG is clearly responsible for the background extinction of your BotM ceratopsids!  I like how HLG has become increasingly consistent to their accuracy to the advertised 1:35 scale. Some of their earlier ceratopsids like their Pachyrhinosaurus and Pentaceratops are larger than 1:35, but they started giving us smaller ceratopsids in (true) 1:35 scale. I can't help but be reminded of Wild Past's figures when I see these smaller figures by them (speaking of Wild Past, I'd love to see them back).

If HLG is gonna dismiss a huge portion of prehistoric taxa because of their small size, at least one would hope that the species that, while being relatively small, would still be feasible to make in 1:35, would actually result in quite tiny, albeit well-done figures in such scale (like these smaller ceratopsids, their Majungasaurus or their Concavenator). And well, that's what they're doing. FWIW, lately they've been more consistent to the 1:35 scale than PNSO have.

S @SidB Funnily enough, Schleich's was my first Diabloceatops! In retrospective, I'm not quite sure why I chose it over Safari's back in the day. Probably because that Diabloceratops was one of their better figures, and because I try to have a variety of companies represented in my collection. But even being one of their better figures, Safari's still outclasses it, and considering my 1 figure/genus rule, that made me replace it with Safari's. Which in turn got replaced by this HLG one.

Kaiyodo's is also an exquisite Diabloceratops, albeit in a smaller scale, and unfortunately it has those Psittacosaurus-like quills.

[Concavenator]

Binomial name: Sinosauropteryx prima (Ji & Ji, 1996)
Etymology: "First Chinese winged-lizard" (Greek and Latin)
Classified as: Dinosauria -> Saurischia -> Theropoda -> Neotheropoda -> Averostra -> Tetanurae -> Coelurosauria -> Compsognathidae
Period: Early Cretaceous
Fossils found in: Yixian Formation, present-day China (Asia)

Company: TNG (in collaboration with DinosaurLand)
Sculptor: ?
Based on: NIGP 127586
Color scheme inspired by: Sinosauropteryx prima Ji & Ji 1996 IVPP V14202, NIGP 127586 & NIGP 127587
Year of release: 2024

Review:

Spoiler

The first non-avian dinosaur to be found with direct evidence of feathers (Smithwick et al., 2017). Sinosauropteryx possesses the longest tail, relative to its body, out of any known theropod (Currie & Chen, 2001). The study of three different Sinosauropteryx specimens has made it possible to determine the animal's coloration. Sinosauropteryx is predicted to have had a chestnut/reddish dorso, in a countershaded manner, as well as stripes on its tail and a so-called "bandit mask" (Zhang et al. 2010, Smithwick et al., 2017). Sinosauropteryx's small size and countershaded pattern suggests it probably lived in open habitats with low vegetation cover (Smithwick et al., 2017). Sinosauropteryx may represent one of the most significant paleontological discoveries of all time (Ji & Ji, 1996).

Been wanting a good Sinosauropteryx forever, and this is the first one to depict the animal right. Add to that that nowadays, for a lot of companies, Sinosauropteryx is the sort of animal that's completely invisible, no matter how popular or important it may be, just because of its small size (meaning it couldn't be comfortably made in 1:35 scale) and naturally, I couldn't help but get this impressive model. Sure, it was expensive, and I'd definitely prefer a smaller option, but, as @Halichoeres sometimes says: "Beggars can't be choosers". In the current 1:35-centric panorama, I have no idea when another Sinosauropteryx model could come out, and if it does, whether would it surpass this TNG one or not (which is not easy, because it's very good). So I grabbed it (and BTW, I was lucky to get it, too, these are limited to 1000 pieces and, unless I'm missing something, they're sold out already) and so it became my first TNG figure.

Spoiler

[close]

Turns out mine was one of the last copies that were made!

[close]

[SidB]

Congratulations, @Concavenator , in snapping up number 995 of 1000 of this unique Sinosauropteryx. It almost makes me wish that I didn't limit myself to the 1/35 or thereabouts size range for dinosaurs. But, then again, we all need certain boundaries.

[Concavenator]

S @SidB Thank you, I feel lucky to have been able to get this piece!

And that's the main downside of only collecting figures in 1:35-or so scale. In that case, one has to essentially accept that they can't get creatures like this into their collection. If one gets past through that, there is the advantage that all of their figures will be roughly to scale give or take some differences.

I'd rather limit myself to both getting a single figure per genus and and only getting figures of species I'm particularly interested in, in order to have space and money available for bigger figures like this Sinosauropteryx. This is the way to go for me, I definitely don't want to miss on small species, as some of them are extremely important and interesting, like the Sinosauropteryx above.

1:35 is my favorite scale too, but even if I accept different scales, no figure feels out of place, because I currently display my figures by scale, in a similar manner to @Halichoeres , as you can see here.

But again, your approach does have its pros too. As you say, as collectors, it's our own choice to define what boundaries we place upon ourselves.

[SidB]

Sometimes, @Concavenator , I think that these boundaries, whatever they may be, are like the glass that holds water. Someone might say that the water's freedom is being compromised, but I'd assert that the water is little use to us as a drink without the limits/boundary set by the presence of the glass. Boundaries are necessary, helpful in setting a direction, and therefore even aids to motivation, IMO.

[Concavenator]

S @SidB Wise words, we all need certain limits (save, perhaps for Andy's Dinosaur Reviews!).

@Sim Update: I tried the blow dryer tip and I'm happy to say I got the Stego's thagomizer's spikes in a more satisfying position. 



I also tried it on my Eofauna Diplodocus' tail, as lately the tip of the tail had been hanging too low, very close to the ground, as a result of temperature warping, probably. And I also managed to get it held more highly:



Thank you for the tip!

[Concavenator]

Binomial name: Lokiceratops rangiformis (Loewen et al., 2024)
Etymology: "Caribou/reindeer-shaped Loki [god from Norse mythology] horned face" (Greek and Latin)
Classified as: Dinosauria -> Ornithischia -> Genasauria -> Neornithischia -> Marginocephalia -> Ceratopsia -> Neoceratopsia -> Coronosauria -> Ceratopsoidea -> Ceratopsidae -> Centrosaurinae -> Albertaceratopsini
Period: Late Cretaceous (Campanian)
Fossils found in: Judith River Formation, present-day USA (North America)

Company: PNSO
Line: Prehistoric Animal Models
Sculptor: somebody from Zhao Chuang's atelier
Based on: EMK 0012
Year of release: 2024

Review:

Spoiler

A centrosaurine ceratopsid whose discovery suggested a rapid, geographically-restricted cladogenesis-type speciation process amongst Laramidian ceratopsids. The holotype (and single known specimen) of Lokiceratops features asymmetrical epiparietals (Loewen et al., 2024).

I admit I didn't see this coming. PNSO already proved they can be quite fast when it comes to releasing a figure of a newly-described species, i.e., Meraxes being released just 8 months after its description. But this Lokiceratops was released a short 4 months after its description was published. I'm pretty certain this is the fastest a figure of a newly-described species has been released, and understandably so, considering PNSO worked with the authors. As stated before, I think this is a brilliant practice if it involves prehistoric animals known from adequate remains. And this is such a case. As a result, the figure is very accurate.

When we learned Showanna was going to make a Lokiceratops, I thought I'd get it, because I was hoping for a figure of this species. I just went with PNSO's, not because it's by PNSO, but because the fact that they worked with the authors for their figure is important information to consider.

PNSO is at their best when they make figures of prehistoric animals known from decent remains and they don't paint the figures brown.

[close]

[Stegotyranno420]

About the meraxes and the Loki, The reality is PNSO secretly funds the discoveries so they can make the figures before anyone else 😈😜

Im wont be surprised if they make that new  Horned carcharodontosaurid soon 🤣

[Sim]

Im wont be surprised if they make that new  Horned carcharodontosaurid soon

Which one, there are two

Also, Vitae's Jinyunpelta was released soon after the species was named, I can't remember how long it was though.

[Stegotyranno420]

Im wont be surprised if they make that new  Horned carcharodontosaurid soon

Which one, there are two

Also, Vitae's Jinyunpelta was released soon after the species was named, I can't remember how long it was though.

For give me, Im out of the loop on dino news these days, due to school 

[SidB]

It amazes me how large is that skull of the Lokiceratops. That full side view of yours, @Concavenator , certainly brings that home.

[Halichoeres]

They kinda phoned it in on the dragonfly, but the Sinosauropteryx is really nice! I don't remember noticing that it was limited to 1000, that's a surprise.

Currently waiting for a US retailer to stock Lokiceratops, another winner.

[Concavenator]

I appreciate you folks stopping by! 

Im wont be surprised if they make that new  Horned carcharodontosaurid soon 🤣

Oh come on don't tell me that! That they made a Tyrannotitan was a bad joke already (unfortunately not the first one though, "Sinopliosaurus", Saurophaganax, and others, come to mind), and from now on, if this slowed-down pace of theirs goes on, it's gonna hurt even more every time they release a figure of another fragmentary species.

S @SidB Lokiceratops' skull sure is massive. And the animal itself was sort of a formidable beast, one of the largest centrosaurines (if not the largest?).

[Concavenator]

Binomial name: Styracosaurus albertensis (Lambe, 1913)
Etymology: "Spiked lizard from Alberta" (Greek)
Classified as: Dinosauria -> Ornithischia -> Genasauria -> Neornithischia -> Marginocephalia -> Ceratopsia -> Neoceratopsia -> Coronosauria -> Ceratopsoidea -> Ceratopsidae -> Centrosaurinae -> Eucentrosaura -> Centrosaurini
Period: Late Cretaceous (Campanian)
Fossils found in: Dinosaur Park Formation, present-day Canada (North America)

Company: HAOLONGGOOD
Sculptor: @zeroes_zee (Instagram)?
Variant: Hou Jian
Year of release: 2024

Review:

Spoiler

An iconic centrosaurine characterized by large spike-like epiossifications projecting from its frill (Holmes et al. 2020). Multiple individuals of this species have been found (Ryan, Holmes & Russell 2007). It was the most commmon ceratopsid in the Dinosaur Park Formation together with Centrosaurus apertus (Holmes et al. 2020).

Replaces PNSO's version. While that one is certainly a top-notch Styracosaurus as well, I prefer HLG's, mainly on the basis of scale. I prefer this HLG variant's colors as well. I know there's been some discussion about these figures' colors, with a lot of people wishing they'd been colorful. And well, I also wish they'd been flashier, but I still like the color schemes. I'm glad there was a green variant, because I tend to picture Styracosaurus as being green, owing to Dinosaur King when growing up and John Conway's paleoart:

Spoiler

Styracosaurus by Dinosaur King.



Styracosaurus by John Conway.

[close]

And here it is with another Dinosaur Park ceratopsid fellow, Chasmosaurus belli, also by HAOLONGGOOD:



It feels so good to have these two together! What a great duo. 

And here's the Styracosaurus with other 1:35 centrosaurines:



From most basal (left) to most derived (right): Diabloceratops eatoni (by HAOLONGGOOD), Lokiceratops rangiformis (by PNSO) and Styracosaurus albertensis (by HAOLONGGOOD).

[close]

[SidB]

Great images @Concavenator . I don't envy you having to make tough choices which result in having to put aside top-flight figures like the PNSO Styracosaurus, because of your very strict collecting policy. The HLG sure works well alongside the 1/35 scale Chasmosaurus. Other than its coloration, the HLG Styraco sure reminds me of Battat's old classic one.

[ceratopsian]

I really like the sober colours on the HLG Styracosaurus.  Paradoxically because of its sobriety it stands out brilliantly amid my otherwise colourful and pattern-rich HLG ceratopsian herd.  Still waiting for the PNSO Lokiceratops to make it to my local firm.  Photos of it certainly whet my appetite!

[SidB]

I really like the sober colours on the HLG Styracosaurus.  Paradoxically because of its sobriety it stands out brilliantly amid my otherwise colourful and pattern-rich HLG ceratopsian herd.  Still waiting for the PNSO Lokiceratops to make it to my local firm.  Photos of it certainly whet my appetite!

I'm sure that you'll like it, colors and decent heft.

[Concavenator]

Thank you for the comments!

S @SidB Admittedly, it can sometimes be hard for me to choose which version of a given species to go for, but once I choose one figure, I feel no temptation whatsoever to add additional figures of the same genus (in addition to the figure I bought, I can always replace it if I consider a new version to somehow represent an improvement over a version I already own, something I don't dither doing). At this point I wouldn't feel comfortable having > 1 figures of a given genus, but considering you collect several figures of one species, I totally get why my approach could seem rather extreme to you.

I do see why HLG's Styracosaurus may resemble Battat's. There's the size, and large, and sort of backward-pointing, nasal horn too.

@ceratopsian standing out because of its lack of flashiness, that's another way to look at it! HLG's Styracosaurus' colors may not be flashy, but Styracosaurus is still inherently flashy.

And I echo S @SidB 's words, I am certain you'll be happy with the Lokiceratops!

[Concavenator]

Binomial name: Concavenator corcovatus (Ortega, Escaso & Sanz, 2010)
Etymology: "Hump-backed hunter from Cuenca" (Latin)
Classified as: Dinosauria -> Saurischia -> Theropoda -> Neotheropoda -> Averostra -> Tetanurae -> Carnosauria -> Allosauroidea -> Allosauria -> Carcharodontosauria -> Carcharodontosauridae
Period: Early Cretaceous (Barremian)
Fossils found in: Calizas de La Huérguina Formation, present-day Spain (Europe)

Company: HAOLONGGOOD
Sculptor: ?
Based on: MCCM-LH 6666/"Pepito"
Variant: Li Yun
Year of release: 2025

Review:

Spoiler

A primitive carcharodontosaurid that had a hump-like structure on its back. It also possessed a series of small bumps on its ulna, which might have been homologous to quill knobs present on some extant birds. Concavenator is known from a single, almost complete and very well-preserved specimen (MCCM-LH 6666) (Ortega, Escaso & Sanz 2010).

Replaces Safari's 2020 version. The main rationale behind this replacement is the presence of feathers in HLG's version's forelimbs (and lack in Safari's version). HLG opted for a relatively conservative approach (I think Concavenator probably looked like PNSO's depiction here), but I think that feathers make more sense than mere quills, and they at least considered the notion of some sort of structure being present, rather than ignoring it like most companies have opted to do. I think HLG's has the more accurate skull too, it better reflects the usual hatchet-like carcharodontosaur skull.

I know some people weren't happy with its colors, but I quite like this one (the other version is nice too). Despite what some people claim, I think HLG's theropods are really good, I hope they keep on making more!

When the rumours suggesting HLG was planning to release a Concavenator arose, I was a bit skeptical they'd really do; I thought it was going to be too small for them to consider. I knew Safari's is in 1:35 scale, and I didn't think they'd make a figure that size... for individual sale, at least.  Granted, HLG's Concavenator is just a tad bigger than Safari's (I get HLG's to be in 1:33 scale using skull length as the reference), but not by much. I'm glad they gave Concavenator a go, and IMO, it's the best version of the species ever released in PVC. I've seen people claim all previous Concavenator figures have been terrible, but I disagree. Carnegie's, Favorite's and Safari's are all pretty good in general. I do think Haolonggood's tops them all though.

[close]