PNSO New for 2025

[suspsy]

Me, I no longer care if PNSO ever makes dromaeosaurs or not. Safari makes them and they make them very well indeed. As long as they keep that up, I'm perfectly happy.

[Sim]

Afraid? Don't see why would they be afraid. We should take into consideration that PNSO and HLG basically only tackle animals that can be comfortably made in that 1:30-1:35 scale. That excludes the vast majority of dromaeosaurids.

As we know, there are two large and well-known dromaeosaurid genera: Utahraptor and Austroraptor.

If PNSO and HLG ever make a figure of a dromaeosaurid (we'll see if that happens), one would expect it to be either of those genera (or at least, Utahraptor, being noticeably bulkier than Austroraptor).

I don't think they are afraid, I think they simply aren't too interested. Just as PNSO did a great job with their Deinocheirus and Therizinosaurus, I bet a new dromaeosaurid by them would be great too. Another reason why we might not be seeing more feathered dinosaurs from PNSO/HLG is because sculpting them is probably more cumbersome than sculpting scaly species. And maybe they get the idea that scaly dinosaurs are more popular than feathered species for the general public for some reason or another (which also explains why we basically see the same type of dinosaurs being released over and over as figures: tyrannosauroids, allosauroids, spinosaurids, ceratopsids, ankylosaurians, stegosaurians and sauropods).

These factors combined probably explain why we see so few feathered species releases from those companies.

Dromaeosaurids are one of the most popular types of dinosaurs and PNSO and Haolonggood have noticeably avoided making them.  Even if the only large ones with good remains are Utahraptor and Austroraptor I would expect a company who wasn't afraid of making feathered dromaeosaurids to have made at least one of these by now.  To put things into perspective, Mattel has released a feathered Jurassic World Utahraptor before PNSO and Haolonggood!  The lack of dromaeosaurids from these two companies is terrible in my opinion.  PNSO released a huge amount of mini figures too and not even one was a dromaeosaurid.  I think Kaiyodo is afraid of making feathered dromaeosaurids too, as their recent Deinonychus is sadly underfeathered and their Dakotaraptor has the tiniest tail fan I've ever seen, but is a step in the right direction at least.
I think these three companies are afraid of the public's reaction to feathered dromaeosaurids, probably because the Jurassic World franchise keeps featuring featherless ones.  The irony is that there have now been two feathered dromaeosaurids made for the Jurassic World toy line, Pyroraptor and Utahraptor!
The bold part is a reason why I think the companies are afraid of making feathered dromaeosaurids.

I agree. Choices like this one are so pointless in my eyes, especially when there are quite a few genera people have been requesting from PNSO for years, like Dilophosaurus, more dromaeosaurids, etc.

No doubt about it, PNSO's species' choices are hit or miss. Sometimes it's a hit (Zuul, Borealopelta, Edmontosaurus, Yutyrannus, Deinocheirus, etc), but there are poor choices too (Stellasaurus, Tyrannotitan, "Sinopliosaurus", "Nanotyrannus"). And this one is a miss. By contrast, about every single release from Wild Past's Kickstarter portfolio was a splendid choice, filling important gaps.

Yes, Wild Past's lineup was excellent!  I think companies should make what they want to make, but I do feel some decisions are good and some aren't, like you described.  As I mentioned I find the lack of dromaeosaurids egregious, and I don't support making fragmentary or dubious species no-one asked for.

Also agree with this. I would even argue that the problem doesn't necessarily lie in them releasing several ceratopsids one after the other (although I'd also appreciate more variety), but rather which species are they releasing. As long as the ceratopsids in question are known from good remains, I can't complain, regardless of me being interested or not (I'm not interested in Spiclypeus yet I still acknowledge it as a good choice).

Both Lokiceratops and Spiclypeus are known from good remains (so they make for good releases), whereas Stellasaurus isn't, and this slot could've gone to a more complete ceratopsid like Anchiceratops (or hey, another non-ceratopsid).

I agree!  I am very curious about what PNSO's next figure will be.  I hope it will be something quite interesting, although I know it might be the new Tyrannosaurus, Mosasaurus or the Ichthyovenator or Gigantoraptor...

[Concavenator]

Me, I no longer care if PNSO ever makes dromaeosaurs or not. Safari makes them and they make them very well indeed. As long as they keep that up, I'm perfectly happy.

They certainly are masters at them. Problem is all of them are too big for 1:35 collectors. Granted, it's true that 1:35 collectors must accept that they'd have to pass on most dromaeosaurids, on a basis of size/scale (either too small for figures of them being made or figures of them usually being too big for them). But not all dromaeosaurids are too small to be made in 1:35 (or 1:30) scale, and that's where Utahraptor and Austroraptor come into play, and so the wishes for them being made by 1:35/30-centric companies like PNSO/HLG.

The bold part is a reason why I think the companies are afraid of making feathered dromaeosaurids.

That's a good point!

I am very curious about what PNSO's next figure will be.  I hope it will be something quite interesting, although I know it might be the new Tyrannosaurus, Mosasaurus or the Ichthyovenator or Gigantoraptor...

Now that I think about it, wouldn't you be interested in a new PNSO Mosasaurus? As I recall you said you aren't quite satisfied with CollectA's. And PNSO's Tylosaurus is fantastic, so a new Mosasaurus surely would, as well.

[Sim]

They certainly are masters at them. Problem is all of them are too big for 1:35 collectors. Granted, it's true that 1:35 collectors must accept that they'd have to pass on most dromaeosaurids, on a basis of size/scale (either too small for figures of them being made or figures of them usually being too big for them). But not all dromaeosaurids are too small to be made in 1:35 (or 1:30) scale, and that's where Utahraptor and Austroraptor come into play, and so the wishes for them being made by 1:35/30-centric companies like PNSO/HLG.

I have hope that Safari will make a dromaeosaurid toob that will contain a 1:35 Deinonychus!

Now that I think about it, wouldn't you be interested in a new PNSO Mosasaurus? As I recall you said you aren't quite satisfied with CollectA's. And PNSO's Tylosaurus is fantastic, so a new Mosasaurus surely would, as well.

I've spent some time with my CollectA Mosasaurus again and I am actually satisfied with it now.  I'm sure a new PNSO version would be excellent, but I have no need for one.  This reminds me of another egregious omission by PNSO: Plesiosauroids!  Where are they?

[Faelrin]

The real question I have to wonder, is will this be in scale with their previous Styracosaurus and Pachyrhinosaurus, or either PNSO's or Haolonggood's Two Medicine Formation fauna? Like the Maiasaura, Daspletosaurus from either, etc. Maybe some of Safari's as well, like the Einiosaurus (which I wouldn't be opposed to seeing PNSO do, and if I recall Haolonggood still has yet to release theirs)..

[GnastyGnorc]

The real question I have to wonder, is will this be in scale with their previous Styracosaurus and Pachyrhinosaurus, or either PNSO's or Haolonggood's Two Medicine Formation fauna? Like the Maiasaura, Daspletosaurus from either, etc. Maybe some of Safari's as well, like the Einiosaurus (which I wouldn't be opposed to seeing PNSO do, and if I recall Haolonggood still has yet to release theirs)..

It will likely work for either scale. The remains are so sparse that any size estimation will have a pretty big margin of error.

[Turkeysaurus]

Point on the Stellasaurus: IMO it fills a much needed gap in the Styracosaurus --> Pachyrhinosaurus anagenesis line. I certainly wouldn't mind seeing PNSO's take on Achelousaurus since CollectA's one is quite crude by today's standards. I also wouldn't mind PNSO revisiting the genus Pachyrhinosaurus, hopefully with P. canadensis or P. perotorum.

Credit: Chris DiPiazza

That lineage is the best.

[Turkeysaurus]

The real question I have to wonder, is will this be in scale with their previous Styracosaurus and Pachyrhinosaurus, or either PNSO's or Haolonggood's Two Medicine Formation fauna? Like the Maiasaura, Daspletosaurus from either, etc. Maybe some of Safari's as well, like the Einiosaurus (which I wouldn't be opposed to seeing PNSO do, and if I recall Haolonggood still has yet to release theirs)..

I think generally it's okay because all of these models are a bit bigger than they suppose to be for 1:35.

I found this : (edit : it's an oversized lakustai i guess)


and this also:

[Pliosaurking]

Wow was not expecting this, I've never even heard tell of Stellasaurus. Figure looks great I'll definitely be grabbing one!

[Gwangi]

I can't believe I'm going to say this but...I might be getting ceratopsian fatigue.  This Stellasaurus is another fantastic piece but I'm struggling to muster up much enthusiasm for it. And ceratopsians are some of my favorite dinosaurs to collect! I partially blame HLG, they gave us excellent models of just about every ceratopsian genus left on my wish list. Stellasaurus just isn't an animal that excites me, there aren't enough remains to make it that exciting! And it's another brown-on-brown paintjob.

I'll probably get it of course, there's no denying that it is an excellent model. It seems like PNSO has been playing it safe lately, sticking to their comfort zone and making the kind of dinosaurs they know they're good at. They aren't pushing the envelope much these days, certainly not like they were a few years ago. Personally, I wonder if they're avoiding dromaeosaurs and other feathered dinosaurs because they're intimidated by them. Pulling off a believable feathered dromaeosaur is apparently difficult for a lot of companies. And more challenging than just slapping on a covering of scales. Then again, PNSO has made feathered dinosaurs before, with decent results. 

[Turkeysaurus]

Yeah i feel same, it feels like Zhao Chuang's personal favorites or something than a company decision lol. 3 Ceratopsians despite a large break between. Last two is same size, same colors basically...and the color is BROWN.   

There would be more hype and less fatigue if there was variety between species and colors. Great models , bad timing & color choices imo.

[thomasw100]

I could imagine that one of the challenges with dromaeosaur could be to get them standing stably. What I mean is that unlike larger megatheropods they have much smaller feet and a rather slender body which makes it much more difficult to find a stable balance point.

Recently VFB Paleoart has created a commissioned model of Elaphrosaurus for me which was then subsequently 3D printed by Dinosauria Creatures. Though from a different clade, this genus has slender body and small feet. It was extremely difficult to get this to balance and stand without a base.

[Sim]

I think it would be easy to get a dromaeosaurid to balance, all that's needed is to have one of the wing tips touching the ground.  If that isn't okay, I think a dromaeosaurid's feathers would make it less slender and allow PNSO's rods to support them without a problem.

[Gwangi]

I could imagine that one of the challenges with dromaeosaur could be to get them standing stably. What I mean is that unlike larger megatheropods they have much smaller feet and a rather slender body which makes it much more difficult to find a stable balance point.

Recently VFB Paleoart has created a commissioned model of Elaphrosaurus for me which was then subsequently 3D printed by Dinosauria Creatures. Though from a different clade, this genus has slender body and small feet. It was extremely difficult to get this to balance and stand without a base.

I don't think PNSO cares much about stability. Even some of their quadrupeds tip over! And if HLG can get their Majungasaurus to stand, with it's odd proportions, then I think PNSO can get a dromaeosaur to stand. And as Sim said, utilizing feather tips is always an option. It doesn't put me off from Safari figures in the slightest.

[Ajax88]

Man I wish this release would have been Regaliceratops or Pentaceratops... or better yet, a Utahraptor! It genuinely feels like the major companies are purposely avoiding this extremely popular and desired species.

[Berno]

Stella the Stellasaurus

That must be the longest tail I've ever seen on a ceratopsian figure, I'm not saying is wrong (I'm no Stellasaurus expert), it's just eyecathing.
It looks really good overall.

[Berno]

(Although I'd also quite like a Pachyrhinosaurus canadensis)

I agree, a bigger size ceratopsian like P. candensis would be great.

[Blade-of-the-Moon]

Man I wish this release would have been Regaliceratops or Pentaceratops... or better yet, a Utahraptor! It genuinely feels like the major companies are purposely avoiding this extremely popular and desired species.

David has one in his BotM line that's pretty nice.

[Pachyventer]

Stella the Stellasaurus is available on Amazon (USA).

[SidB]

I just ordered Stella from eBay, as Amazon Canada doesn't have it available yet.