Nottingham Natural History Museum - Discovering Dinosaurs gallery

[DinoToyForum]

I'm working on a new permanent dinosaur-themed gallery at the Nottingham Natural History Museum, Wollaton Hall, with the working title Discovering Dinosaurs. The exhibition will focus on the process of discovering, excavating, reconstructing, and restoring dinosaurs and other Mesozoic life.

The centrepiece of the gallery will be a replica T. rex skeleton installed by Nigel Larkin. It is a modified version of the skeleton of Titus (from the  Titus: T. rex is King exhibition from 2021/22: https://dinotoyblog.com/forum/index.php?topic=9364). It's looking fine, and should look even better when it has a base:



The exhibition will also include a life size Liopleurodon head by Bob Nicholls, and other fossils and replica skeletons of dinosaurs and Mesozoic life. I'm looking forward to sharing more details about this gallery as it progresses.

[DinoToyForum]

Installation of this new gallery has commenced, beginning with large mural graphics, which hint at the dinosaur skeletons that will be installed later. George the Gorilla has been sharing updates on Mastodon. e.g: https://glammr.us/@GeorgeTheGorilla/112536910863603773

Here are some of the photos so far

[DefinitelyNOTDilo]

Wow! Getting to work on museum displays is my dream! Did you do any design work on this one?

[DinoToyForum]

Wow! Getting to work on museum displays is my dream! Did you do any design work on this one?

I'm not the designer but I've worked very closely with him on this gallery, as well as on all the other new permanent galleries and recent temporary exhibitions in the museum. The designer in actually helping move the pliosaur in the picture above - the one in the green shirt.

[DinoToyForum]

The holotype specimen of Protoichthyosaurus applebyi, on loan from the University of Nottingham, will be a key specimen on display in the new gallery. We moved the fossil yesterday.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c844ke4wz4eo

[TheCambrianCrusader]

The holotype specimen of Protoichthyosaurus applebyi, on loan from the University of Nottingham, will be a key specimen on display in the new gallery. We moved the fossil yesterday.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c844ke4wz4eo

Oh my that's a gorgeous specimen

[Halichoeres]

Yeah, scleral bones in situ? Fantastic.

[DinoToyForum]

Palaeoartists Jed Taylor and Ruadhrí Brennan have created this juvenile T. rex sculpture for the gallery.

[DinoToyForum]

Some recent developments in the gallery (all photos already posted on Mastodon with an explanation, so go there for context! https://glammr.us/@GeorgeTheGorilla ):

[Saarlooswolfhound]

These all look great. And that baby rex is adorable!

[Libraraptor]

Interesting background information and behind the scenes material! I´d  really like to see all that in person someday.

[DinoToyForum]

The gallery installation has been hit by many delays so it still isn't open yet, but hopefully will be soon, once some snags have been resolved.

[DinoToyForum]

Some more images from the gallery installation...

A variety of bird skeletons.

Some modern examples of prehistoric plant groups.

Oviraptor and bird skeletons for comparison

Bob Nicholls built us an ichthyosaur!


Lufengosaurus models painted by Jed Taylor.

We're at the finishing touches stage now.

[bmathison1972]

Ooooo I really like how the display in the last image is coming along.

[DinoToyForum]

Ooooo I really like how the display in the last image is coming along.

Yeah, it has turned out nicely. When finished you will be able to stand directly under the leaping ichthyosaur.

[Protopatch]

Looks awesome, can't wait to see the final picture 
Meanwhile, good luck for the final stretch !

[ceratopsian]

Good to see Dr Wang Qi commemorated.  And I love the ichthyosaur!

[HD-man]

Is it just me, or do the Oviraptor replica's hands look small compared to the Oviraptor skeletal's hands?

A variety of bird skeletons.

Oviraptor and bird skeletons for comparison

[DinoToyForum]

Is it just me, or do the Oviraptor replica's hands look small compared to the Oviraptor skeletal's hands?

A variety of bird skeletons.

Oviraptor and bird skeletons for comparison

Yeah, I think the hands in the physical skeleton are mostly modelled. The Oviraptor and Lufengosaurus skeletons were a generous gift from the IVPP and my philosophy is to never 'look a gift dinosaur in the hands', so to speak. But, in time I will try to find out which parts of the skeletons are casts and from which specimen(s), and which parts are modelled. But this is not always easy, as these things are not always recorded, or it can be difficult to find someone who actually knows!

[Halichoeres]

Oh, that looks great, especially the ichthyosaur!