Protoceratops & other dinosaurs of the Gobi Desert - Your best figures recommendations

[Protopatch]

As a huge fan of dinosaurs of the Gobi Desert, I try to focus on collecting figures of species from there, the most scientifically accurate ones, if possible.
I am requesting your expertise as I am currently facing a dilemma regarding one of my favourite dinosaurs ie Protoceratops, hesitating between the CollectA's and Papo's figures.
In my opinion, the CollectA's one seems more accurate from a scientific point of view (eg details of the head, frill, teeth, stance, skin colour...).
Anyway, I haven't found any reference related to this species by other toy makers so far so, should you have any specific other recommendations, please feel free to let me know.
Many thanks in advance for your help.

[crazy8wizard]

I recommend avoiding the Papo Protoceratops. The anatomy is all over the place and very inaccurate, including the should be basic detail of where the neck attaches.

For better Protoceratops figures look for the Wild Past, Beasts of the Mesozoic, or Kaiyodo figures.

[Faelrin]

CollectA's is pretty good, but I think the ones @crazy8wizard has listed are the best out there as far as the anatomy goes. Both species of Protoceratops are available for the 1:18 BotM figures, if one has any interest in both (edit: BotM also has 1:18 and 1:6 versions of Velociraptor to go with them as well). In fact I don't even think there are any other options out there for P. hellenikorhinus. BotM also has a 1:6 scale P. andrewsi. Wild Past's is in 1:35 scale, so goes nicely alongside some of the recent ceratopsian figures from the likes of Haolonggood, PNSO, or even some of Safari's.

[Concavenator]

I echo @crazy8wizard 's suggestions.

Worth mentioning Kaiyodo's is in 1:28 (according to L @Leyster ). Depending on the most abundant scale in your collection, I would choose either Wild Past, BotM or Kaiyodo.

[Protopatch]

Thank you ! Your enlightened feedbacks are much appreciated.
I have taken a look at your additional figures suggestions and would have the following comments :

1 - Wild Past Protoceratops : nice overall anatomy & colour choice. Its « small » size or even the finishing touches, which are less detailed than on the CollectA's one, might be weaknesses but I am now considering this model as well,

2 - BotM : nice overall anatomy and articulated but the skin's camouflage pattern bothers me a bit,

3 - Kaiyodo : cute one, but it makes me think a bit about Dentrobates (the tropical yellow and black frog), due to its skin pattern and I am not completely convinced by its anatomy neither.


Papo's Proto is indeed not so appealing but their Therizinosaurus is stylish.
Hope to shortly find its neighbour 

PS : even if there are many famous species among dinosaurs of the Gobi Desert, I have to admit that I struggle to find good figures so again, thank you to all of you for your expertise & help !

[Sim]

I'd like a Protoceratops that can work well with my Safari Velociraptor and Citipati and with the Schleich Oviraptor I've just ordered (I love the specimen the Schleich Oviraptor is based on so I had to get this figure).  I have the Colorata Protoceratops and I'm keeping it as a small scale figure, but I'd like a Protoceratops that could go with the previously mentioned figures.  This thread has got me to reconsider the options and I think I've decided to get the CollectA Protoceratops.  Of course I don't have the figure yet, but it looks like it could be a good option for you too.

I've owned the two 1:18 BotM versions and I have to say they are excellent, perfect figures.  I let go of them as I decided I don't want action figures.  Have you seen the 1:18 BotM Protoceratops andrewsi?  It has a pattern similar to the green BotM Protoceratops you posted, but its colouration might be more likely for a desert animal.

There are two more Kaiyodo Protoceratops in addition to the one you posted.  One of them is identical to the one you posted except it has a different colouration: https://toyanimalwiki.mywikis.wiki/wiki/Kaiyodo_CC_Saurus_Protoceratops_B  The other is completely different: https://toyanimalwiki.mywikis.wiki/wiki/UHA_Collect_Club_Protoceratops

I too am fond of dinosaurs of the Gobi desert!  If you don't have it yet I recommend getting the Safari Citipati.  It was retired a couple of years ago and is easily the best oviraptorid figure ever made.  It's excellent and the only figure of Citipati osmolskae.  I think it will only get harder to find.

[bmathison1972]

Protoceratops is a genus I have struggled with, too. I feel all are too big (CollectA), too small (Wild Past, Kaiyodo) or, too...um..well...Papo.

Being a small animal, I might just go with Kaiyodo or the Safari Authentics.

[SidB]

Protoceratops is a genus I have struggled with, too. I feel all are too big (CollectA), too small (Wild Past, Kaiyodo) or, too...um..well...Papo.

Being a small animal, I might just go with Kaiyodo or the Safari Authentics.

Any idea of the scale of the Safari Authentics' Proto, B @bmathison1972 ?

[bmathison1972]

Protoceratops is a genus I have struggled with, too. I feel all are too big (CollectA), too small (Wild Past, Kaiyodo) or, too...um..well...Papo.

Being a small animal, I might just go with Kaiyodo or the Safari Authentics.

Any idea of the scale of the Safari Authentics' Proto, B @bmathison1972 ?

Nope. It's on the blog by @Fembrogon - but the scale wasn't calculated.

[Fembrogon]

Any idea of the scale of the Safari Authentics' Proto, B @bmathison1972 ?

Nope. It's on the blog by @Fembrogon - but the scale wasn't calculated.

Whoops.      Let me pull the little guy out real quick...
The Authentics Protoceratops is exactly 7.5 cm (3 in) long, so for a big 2.5-meter animal the figure is about 1:33 scale, or for a smaller 1.8-meter animal it's exactly 1:24. It's a very good rendition even now, but keep in mind the sculpt is less refined than some of its minifigure successors.

The Wild Past figurine is about an inch smaller (according to the Blog's guest review), so it's closer to 1:35. I don't own it myself yet, but I think everyone here on the blog has generally considered it one of the best options out there.

Having reviewed both the 1/6th and the 1/18th Beasts of the Mesozoic P. andrewsi action figures for the main Blog, I can vouch for both as great renditions; however they are among the more expensive options for their respective sizes.

_{Excuse me while I go update a few of my reviews...}

[Protopatch]

I'd like a Protoceratops that can work well with my Safari Velociraptor and Citipati and with the Schleich Oviraptor I've just ordered (I love the specimen the Schleich Oviraptor is based on so I had to get this figure).  I have the Colorata Protoceratops and I'm keeping it as a small scale figure, but I'd like a Protoceratops that could go with the previously mentioned figures.  This thread has got me to reconsider the options and I think I've decided to get the CollectA Protoceratops.  Of course I don't have the figure yet, but it looks like it could be a good option for you too.

I've owned the two 1:18 BotM versions and I have to say they are excellent, perfect figures.  I let go of them as I decided I don't want action figures.  Have you seen the 1:18 BotM Protoceratops andrewsi?  It has a pattern similar to the green BotM Protoceratops you posted, but its colouration might be more likely for a desert animal.

There are two more Kaiyodo Protoceratops in addition to the one you posted.  One of them is identical to the one you posted except it has a different colouration: https://toyanimalwiki.mywikis.wiki/wiki/Kaiyodo_CC_Saurus_Protoceratops_B  The other is completely different: https://toyanimalwiki.mywikis.wiki/wiki/UHA_Collect_Club_Protoceratops

I too am fond of dinosaurs of the Gobi desert!  If you don't have it yet I recommend getting the Safari Citipati.  It was retired a couple of years ago and is easily the best oviraptorid figure ever made.  It's excellent and the only figure of Citipati osmolskae.  I think it will only get harder to find.

This is an amazing one which I am adding to my wishlist @Sim !

Regarding BotM P. andrewsi, its colours are indeed closer to what I would expect, but the contrast between the light brown and dark brown appears quite strong to me.
I keep your suggestion of Safari's Cicipati in mind, many thanks.

[bmathison1972]

thanks @Fembrogon

[Protopatch]

Protoceratops is a genus I have struggled with, too. I feel all are too big (CollectA), too small (Wild Past, Kaiyodo) or, too...um..well...Papo.

Being a small animal, I might just go with Kaiyodo or the Safari Authentics.

I take into account all of your great advice and I'll take time for reflection, however at the moment, I have a slight preference for the CollectA's one.
As you have exactly highlighted B @bmathison1972, one of the most delicate task in collecting dino toys from a specific area is to make the collection congruent with proportionally fitting figures, as well as in terms of design.

[Protopatch]

Any idea of the scale of the Safari Authentics' Proto, B @bmathison1972 ?

Nope. It's on the blog by @Fembrogon - but the scale wasn't calculated.

Whoops.      Let me pull the little guy out real quick...
The Authentics Protoceratops is exactly 7.5 cm (3 in) long, so for a big 2.5-meter animal the figure is about 1:33 scale, or for a smaller 1.8-meter animal it's exactly 1:24. It's a very good rendition even now, but keep in mind the sculpt is less refined than some of its minifigure successors.

The Wild Past figurine is about an inch smaller (according to the Blog's guest review), so it's closer to 1:35. I don't own it myself yet, but I think everyone here on the blog has generally considered it one of the best options out there.

Having reviewed both the 1/6th and the 1/18th Beasts of the Mesozoic P. andrewsi action figures for the main Blog, I can vouch for both as great renditions; however they are among the more expensive options for their respective sizes.

Yeah, Safari Ltd's one could be a good option (nice colour choice among other things) but its kinda flat snout bothers me a bit.

[Protopatch]

My Gobi « dream team » would - for starters - include (and I am far from having completed it !) :

A - Saurischia

1 - Tarbosaurus
2 - Velociraptor
3 - Therizinosaurus
4 - Deinocheirus
5 - Oviraptor/Cicipati

6 - Nemegtosaurus*
(*) not sure that a toy has been released yet ?

B - Ornithischia

1 - Protoceratops
2 - Gobisaurus
3 - Tsintaosaurus/Saurolophus

C - Pterosaur

[Protopatch]

I am wondering if it wouldn't be better to switch to another title for this thread "Protoceratops & other Dinosaurs of the Gobi Desert - Your best figures recommendations", for instance, so we could not only continue to discuss about Protoceratops figures but also about other dinosaurs figures of this fascinating area ?

[Sim]

I am wondering if it wouldn't be better to switch to another title for this thread "Protoceratops & other Dinosaurs of the Gobi Desert - Your best figures recommendations", for instance, so we could not only continue to discuss about Protoceratops figures but also about other dinosaurs figures of this fascinating area ?

I think that's a good idea!  Regarding Nemegtosaurus, no figure of it exists, unless you consider Opisthocoelicaudia the same animal, in which case there is a mini figure of it by Kaiyodo.

[Concavenator]

I am wondering if it wouldn't be better to switch to another title for this thread "Protoceratops & other Dinosaurs of the Gobi Desert - Your best figures recommendations", for instance, so we could not only continue to discuss about Protoceratops figures but also about other dinosaurs figures of this fascinating area ?

I think that's a good idea!  Regarding Nemegtosaurus, no figure of it exists, unless you consider Opisthocoelicaudia the same animal, in which case there is a mini figure of it by Kaiyodo.

Heh, in addition to that, PNSO stated they based their Alamosaurus' skull off Nemegtosaurus':

Considering titanosaurs are essentially clones (that's what they look like to me anyways), I guess you could easily consider it as Nemegtosaurus if you wanted to. Just as there are people who consider PNSO's Saurophaganax to be an Allosaurus fragilis figure (because externally, that's what it is, also confirmed by PNSO themselves). It's also fine if you don't like using stand-ins (FWIW, I don't, either).

As for Citipati, in addition to Safari's, there's Bandai's, which is gorgeous, though apparently it may not represent Citipati proper?

Saurolophus is apparently getting released by HLG this year.

[Sim]

@Concavenator, nice catch regaring the PNSO Alamosaurus's skull, I didn't know that!  @Flaffy shared a side photo of the Bandai Citipati in a PM conversation we had and the figure is the 100/42 oviraptorid.  As for Saurolophus, the one in the Haolonggood silhouette is the American S. osborni, so I guess the figure will be of that species.  I would have much preferred if it was the Mongolian S. angustirostris.

[Flaffy]

Considering titanosaurs are essentially clones (that's what they look like to me anyways), I guess you could easily consider it as Nemegtosaurus if you wanted to.

I think not personally. The limb discrepancies and proportions are too great to ignore.

Nemengtosaurus is often recovered as a sister taxa to Opisthocoelicaudia, and some considering them one and the same. Opisthocoelicaudia is well known to have very short and robust limbs compared to other titanosaurs, and certainly wasnt recovered with any phalanges on the manus. Other major differences include a more gracile neck, elongate torso, bigger hips and shorter tail.