PNSO New for 2025

[suspsy]

At this point, lipless theropods are as outdated and inaccurate as dragging tails or spikes on mosasaurs or featherless dromaeosaurs and ornithomimosaurs. Everyone rightly ought to care about portraying all prehistoric animals properly, even if they're not interested in this species or that one. After all, science doesn't permit picking and choosing.

I'd like it if PNSO did some rearing theropods for a change, like this absolutely fabulous T. rex:

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/16tEDbVpqv/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Naturally, they would need to be sculpted precisely in order to ensure balance, and continue to have support rods included with them. My Qianzhousaurus refuses to stand at all without one. And I've come to rather dislike the sight of it, what with those grotesquely exposed teeth.

[Sim]

At this point, lipless theropods are as outdated and inaccurate as dragging tails or spikes on mosasaurs or featherless dromaeosaurs and ornithomimosaurs.

It's not that simple.  I think the possibility of lipless theropods is still valid, even though as I said, I think the majority of theropods had lips.

Everyone rightly ought to care about portraying all prehistoric animals properly, even if they're not interested in this species or that one. After all, science doesn't permit picking and choosing.

I'm not sure what your point is here.  But I do know I don't like the tone you're using.

And I've come to rather dislike the sight of it, what with those grotesquely exposed teeth.

It's one of a few theropods PNSO gave an uneven border of the mouth to like what is seen in crocodilians, for some reason.  It's an inaccuracy.

[Joel1905]

At this point, lipless theropods are as outdated and inaccurate as dragging tails or spikes on mosasaurs or featherless dromaeosaurs and ornithomimosaurs. Everyone rightly ought to care about portraying all prehistoric animals properly, even if they're not interested in this species or that one. After all, science doesn't permit picking and choosing.

I'd like it if PNSO did some rearing theropods for a change, like this absolutely fabulous T. rex:

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/16tEDbVpqv/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Naturally, they would need to be sculpted precisely in order to ensure balance, and continue to have support rods included with them. My Qianzhousaurus refuses to stand at all without one. And I've come to rather dislike the sight of it, what with those grotesquely exposed teeth.

I'm not the biggest fan of extreme poses, so if PNSO gave us a fully lipped Tyrannosaurus in the same pose as Wilson or Cameron, I'd still be extremely happy.

At this point I'm getting a tad frustrated that there's no sign of one apart from that digital sculpt they revealed over a year ago 

[suspsy]

At this point, lipless theropods are as outdated and inaccurate as dragging tails or spikes on mosasaurs or featherless dromaeosaurs and ornithomimosaurs.

It's not that simple.  I think the possibility of lipless theropods is still valid, even though as I said, I think the majority of theropods had lips.

Not really, no. The ever dwindling number of proponents for no lips still relies on arguments that have all been addressed time and again. And none of them, including Carr and Ford, have ever successfully refuted the inconvenient (for them) fact that a T. rex would have to wreck its jaw in order for its lower teeth to fit snugly into its upper skull.

I'm not sure what your point is here.  But I do know I don't like the tone you're using.

Well, you may interpret things however you wish.

It's one of a few theropods PNSO gave an uneven border of the mouth to like what is seen in crocodilians, for some reason.  It's an inaccuracy.

As are all the lipless tyrannosaurs, sadly. I own a number of them regardless, and I genuinely do like them in spite of their inaccuracy, but inaccurate they are nonetheless. I'm grateful to have never purchased Wally, Cole, Cameron, or any of the Wilsons.

I'm not the biggest fan of extreme poses, so if PNSO gave us a fully lipped Tyrannosaurus in the same pose as Wilson or Cameron, I'd still be extremely happy.

I don't know if I would call that an extreme pose. I think there is a tendency nowadays among dinophiles to be averse to rearing theropods, but the truth is that these animals absolutely would have raised themselves high in order to display or to stretch or to take a better look at something. It's no more extreme than a bear toy sculpted rearing up on its hind legs. It's perfectly natural. The problem is that many of the rearing theropod toys that currently do exist take things past the point of plausibility. Looking at you, Papo T. rex and Giganotosaurus.

At this point I'm getting a tad frustrated that there's no sign of one apart from that digital sculpt they revealed over a year ago 

I understand completely. But I would urge further patience, especially given that PNSO is currently on a Triassic sealife kick. If this alleged partnership with that museum is working out well for them financially, then far be it from me to begrudge it.

And in the end, T. rex, like the coming of winter, is inevitable.

[Monkeysaurus]

I can't wait for more high end lipped theropods however I cringe at the thought of having to replace so many of my fine (looking) models. Sometimes I think JP inspired Dino's look cooler than their real life counterparts - "velociraptor" for instance. Fortunately I do actually
prefer the look of lipped theropods over their lipless counterparts from an aesthetic stand-point. I know Dino-Dragons prefers the look of exposed teeth despite acknowledging the evidence in support of lips which he accepts.

None of the above should matter to science of course. What I think some people are forgetting here is that PNSO is also a business and not a museum or research center which needs to be taken into the equation as well. In my case realistic looking is as important or maybe even slightly more important than scientific accuracy with respect to model collecting. I imagine there are more like me out there as well. Until we get absolute irrefutable proof of lips I'll let PNSO off the hook here despite the ever shrinking pool of exposed teeth proponents.

[Concavenator]

Saying that you're hoping for an upcoming lipped T. rex figure by PNSO is like saying that you're hoping there will be an iPhone 17. It's that sort of product that everyone knows will be released sooner or later. And I'll say it for an umpteenth time: Paleofiguras stated a lipped T. rex figure by PNSO is confirmed to be coming. If that wasn't obvious already.

I'm also starting to think that our suggestions from our "Hopes and Dreams" threads aren't relevant to most (if not all) companies. For instance, I doubt PNSO truly pays attention to what species their fans want to see from them, I get the impression that they simply release whatever they want and people will still buy their figures by virtue of the reputation they've built upon themselves. So if they ignore their fans' suggestions as I think they do, I imagine they care even less about what species do we want to see from them and that we discuss over here (discussions which I doubt they even read).

[SenSx]

Saying that you're hoping for an upcoming lipped T. rex figure by PNSO is like saying that you're hoping there will be an iPhone 17. It's that sort of product that everyone knows will be released sooner or later. And I'll say it for an umpteenth time: Paleofiguras stated a lipped T. rex figure by PNSO is confirmed to be coming. If that wasn't obvious already.

I'm also starting to think that our suggestions from our "Hopes and Dreams" threads aren't relevant to most (if not all) companies. For instance, I doubt PNSO truly pays attention to what species their fans want to see from them, I get the impression that they simply release whatever they want and people will still buy their figures by virtue of the reputation they've built upon themselves. So if they ignore their fans' suggestions as I think they do, I imagine they care even less about what species do we want to see from them and that we discuss over here (discussions which I doubt they even read).

Yes but I really wonder why it takes them so much time to craft and release that lipped T-rex, it better be perfect when it's ready at that rate...

[Dino_W]

Yes but I really wonder why it takes them so much time to craft and release that lipped T-rex, it better be perfect when it's ready at that rate...

I'm guessing it's because they're trying to figure out clean jaw articulation with exoparial tissue. Eofauna's jaw articulation method would work to display exoparial tissue, but it comes at the cost of the mandibular muscles + very visible seams.

[SidB]

I don't understand how people can be happy sticking with figures that have glaring problems.

What is a problem for some isn't necessarily for others.  I have no problem with lipless theropods.  Of the ones you listed, the only ones I think have problems that would be good to fix are the Corythosaurus, Carnotaurus and to a lesser extent Parasaurolophus.

What is glaring for one is not so for others. First of all, certain issues are not yet fully resolved, one way or another, so there is a grey area that leaves room for interpretation. however small. Secondly, many people have learned to live with imperfections, flaws and disfunctions of one sort or another, subjective and objective, so have relatively higher degrees of tolerance for them.

I can live with small flaws and imperfections, but liplessness is truly glaring. We know almost for sure that non-Spinosaurid theropods definitely had lips.

A good news item is that lips can be installed (for a price, of course). I've found it worthwhile to do so with five of my priority figures, and was willing to pay the price. No regrets.

[Concavenator]

@SenSx I'd guess that because they don't want to release it so soon after Cameron. Cameron was released in 2023, 3 years after Wilson (2020). And it's been 2 years now since Cameron was released, so I think the next one is coming soon. I'm guessing it'll happen in 2026, 3 years after their previous one, yet again. And also because PNSO seems to be focusing on obscure species this year.

The new Mosasaurus however I think might drop sooner, probably as part of this ongoing (?) marine reptile streak we're seeing from them.

[Joel1905]

@SenSx I'd guess that because they don't want to release it so soon after Cameron. Cameron was released in 2023, 3 years after Wilson (2020). And it's been 2 years now since Cameron was released, so I think the next one is coming soon. I'm guessing it'll happen in 2026, 3 years after their previous one, yet again. And also because PNSO seems to be focusing on obscure species this year.

The new Mosasaurus however I think might drop sooner, probably as part of this ongoing (?) marine reptile streak we're seeing from them.

Well, there's a caveat there. Wilson came out in December 2020, Cameron came out in May 2023, so it was only 2.5 years between them, so if we apply that to now, then maybe old lipped Rex will be PNSO's Christmas release this year after skipping last year!

An updated Mosasaurus would be very exciting though.

[Dino_W]

A good news item is that lips can be installed (for a price, of course). I've found it worthwhile to do so with five of my priority figures, and was willing to pay the price. No regrets.

Honestly, it's not too hard to learn how to do it yourself. I've started customizing my own figures with 0 prior sculpting or painting experience. Now my work isn't nearly as good as Bravo Models or Dinosaur Models Artworks, but it's good enough for me considering how much less it costs lol. (I am also colorblind though)

[Monkeysaurus]

D @Dino_W

That looks incredible! How much does it usually cost to have someone do it? I'd like to lip up both Andrea the resting Rex and Cameron the standing one. Seeing the finished product is breathtaking. I think it looks amazing. How do you match up the colors and make the bumps and scales look natural? I'd love to see an instructional video of this process

[SenSx]

To be honest I alwready have a custom lipped cameron, and it looks really good.
But the reason I want to see the PNSO lipped one release is because of the 3D teaser the showed, I liked it much more than any other custom one on the market.
I hope their figure will be faithfull to that.

[SidB]

Well done, D @Dino_W . A very good result!

[Dino_W]

D @Dino_W

That looks incredible! How much does it usually cost to have someone do it? I'd like to lip up both Andrea the resting Rex and Cameron the standing one. Seeing the finished product is breathtaking. I think it looks amazing. How do you match up the colors and make the bumps and scales look natural? I'd love to see an instructional video of this process

Thank you! I have very little experience with this as this is only my fourth sculpting and painting attempt, so I don't think I'm qualified to make an instructional video, but I can tell you what I did.

I used "Green Stuff" apoxie putty. To get the general shape of the lips, I just used my bare hands to form them (apparently you should wear gloves for safety 😅, as the material may or may not be carcinogenic). I would recommend finishing the top lip before you start the bottom lip, as you will have to finish sculpting whatever you apply to the model in one session. For the lower lip, the bottom of the gum tissue starts lower than I realized, closer to halfway down the jaw rather than where the teeth start.

To get the shape of the scales, I just went through and carved them out with a sewing needle. When you first mix the green stuff it is very sticky and soft and tends to smear when you drag a needle through it, so i would recommend you let it cure for like 20 minutes before you go in for the scale detail, the longer you let it cure, the stiffer it will get. I find that a combination of dragging the needle through the putty and pressing the point of the needle against it at an angle does the best for forming the scale shapes. Pressing the needle to form the spaces in between scales does help make the scales more rounded at the edges, but it can sometimes lead to a sort of dotted line effect, which is why I still sometimes "draw" the scales by dragging the tip of the needle through the putty. To smooth out irregularities created in the sculpting process, I sometimes gently press down on the areas I've sculpted to smooth things out a bit.

For paint, I am I think even less qualified lol. I would just recommend looking up painting tutorials for custom figures. I used acrylic paints. I can only offer the advice that Dinosaur Models Artworks gave me, which is to be conservative with the amount of paint you apply, and to practice on some models you care less about first. I guess for Cameron specifically, I think a light dirt/dust colored paint wash over the lips followed by some dry brushing over in the base color can give that look of the dry dust getting caught in between the scales that I really like. Ultimately for that look you just want the light dust colored wash to seep into the cracks between the scales, and the dry brushed paint to not seep into them, thus creating clear contrast.

For finishing I know even less than that somehow. My experience is that varnish will protect the paint but I find that even ultra matte varnish can add some glossiness. In the images I sent, the lips are unvarnished, but I did later go back and add some.

[ceratopsian]

Perhaps worth bearing in mind that no one "has to" replace the models they own.  They can, however, choose to replace them. Or add to them. Different concepts.  My old Carnegie models might be outdated but I can choose to keep them as vintage models.

[BlueKrono]

D @Dino_W I didn't know that about the carcinogenic properties, but I would recommend gloves for Green Stuff for two other reasons: to keep it from sticking to your fingers when it's fresh, and to keep from leaving fingerprints on the surfaces you make!

[suspsy]

A good news item is that lips can be installed (for a price, of course). I've found it worthwhile to do so with five of my priority figures, and was willing to pay the price. No regrets.

Honestly, it's not too hard to learn how to do it yourself. I've started customizing my own figures with 0 prior sculpting or painting experience. Now my work isn't nearly as good as Bravo Models or Dinosaur Models Artworks, but it's good enough for me considering how much less it costs lol. (I am also colorblind though)

Fine craftsmanship there, fine indeed!

[SidB]

Perhaps worth bearing in mind that no one "has to" replace the models they own.  They can, however, choose to replace them. Or add to them. Different concepts.  My old Carnegie models might be outdated but I can choose to keep them as vintage models.

Agreed, with emphasis! So good not to "have to" surrender to the pressure of the "now" and "new improved" at the drop of a hat. Wonderful to celebrate both the parade of the past and beauty for its own sake.