CollectA Prehistoric Animals by Procon

[tyrantqueen]

Also they seem to be radically better quality in recent years (that gorgeous carcharodontosaurus). Is this due to feedback from collectors or just the need to up their game to compete with other companies? Also, their desire to make their sculpts anatomically correct from recent scientific findings also seemed to have developed quite suddenly...

It may be due to Anthony Beeson's influence. The recent sculpts are all his afaik.

[Tallin]

Ah I see, thanks! I'll have to look into more of his! I must say I like their range of different sauropods, even if I wish they'd released the smaller Amargasaurus later as it could have been so great! The current one looks a little smooth and poorer quality than most of the others probably because it was before Anthony Beeson worked with them...

[Horridus]

Also they seem to be radically better quality in recent years (that gorgeous carcharodontosaurus). Is this due to feedback from collectors or just the need to up their game to compete with other companies? Also, their desire to make their sculpts anatomically correct from recent scientific findings also seemed to have developed quite suddenly...

I've also wondered if they're listening to feedback from collectors, because they certainly appear to be. The sculptural finesse isn't always there, but there are earnest attempts at getting the anatomy right and keeping up with the latest research, not to mention giving their animals interesting colour schemes or speculative integumentary structures that add a lot of character. Also, they're releasing a 1:40 feathered T. rex this year, with the feathers actually covering its body rather than looking like glued-on fluff. I really think they're a company that deserves cheering on.

[Tallin]

Yes, it's nice that they're not afraid to try a feathered T-rex! Even if there is no solid evidence of a feathered T-rex other than it's fuzzy relatives, it shows cool experimentation. The newer animals seem to have interesting poses too (if again speculative) like the rearing Diplodocus and the sitting daspletosaurus.

[Manatee]

Also they seem to be radically better quality in recent years (that gorgeous carcharodontosaurus). Is this due to feedback from collectors or just the need to up their game to compete with other companies? Also, their desire to make their sculpts anatomically correct from recent scientific findings also seemed to have developed quite suddenly...

I've also wondered if they're listening to feedback from collectors, because they certainly appear to be. The sculptural finesse isn't always there, but there are earnest attempts at getting the anatomy right and keeping up with the latest research, not to mention giving their animals interesting colour schemes or speculative integumentary structures that add a lot of character. Also, they're releasing a 1:40 feathered T. rex this year, with the feathers actually covering its body rather than looking like glued-on fluff. I really think they're a company that deserves cheering on.

They are. They made not one, but THREE new Spinosauruses based on emails from collectors. Making such speculative and progressive models has made CollectA probably my favorite company.

[Tallin]

I agree totally! I think it's wonderful that they're seriously trying to improve their work, stay close to scientific findings and consider the collectors as well as the kids that make up the bulk of their market. Not only is it good for us but kids playing with the toys are better informed about the actual appearance and structure of the creatures.

[Dinosaurana]

I have a bit of a question. I've recently purchased my first few CollectA figures, and I'm curious about size. The Koreaceratops family was about what I pictured size wise in my head, as well as the Proceratosaurus. Utahceratops and Kosmoceratops are a bit smaller than I thought though. Are the new ones released in the past few years closer in size to the ceratopsians above or closer in size to Safari figures?

[Smilodon rex]

Does anyone know when the new 2015 Smilodon is supposed to come out? Looks really good!

[suspsy]

The projected release date for the Smilodon is May, but probably later than that. And yes, it look fabulous.

[Shonisaurus]

I guess except in the online stores unspoken dinosaur figures will be released until late July early August and can provide one with a song in the teeth as every year.

As for the new figures in standard size spinosaurius understand to be released in October at the earliest, unless tailers.

This in the best in local stores, online fortunately things vary.

[Dinoguy2]

Not sure I if this is the appropriate place to post this, but I thight it was kind of interesting... Looks like there's been a bit of a behind the scenes rivalry / drama between Collecta and Safari, with Safari alleging that Collecta is trying to hide the fact that they're a Chinese company and using some questionable marketing tactics. Not that this would effect my purchasing opinions, I'll pick a collecta over a Safari if the sculpt is nice, if it's more accurate, and if it's closer to 1:40, but I was interested in finding out some background on the company, and they're website has next to nothing, so this was all I turned up...

https://www.docketalarm.com/cases/Florida_Southern_District_Court/1--15-cv-20263/Safari_Programs_Inc._v._COLLECTA_INTERNATIONAL_LIMITED_et_al/1/

One thing I still can't figure out is the relationship between Collecta and Procon... Was one bought out by the other? Is Procon related to Iqon (the company founded by the Safari "defector")? This document says Collecta has only existed since 2010 but didn't they have figures out before then?

[tyrantqueen]

They started out as ProCon in 2007 but do not use that name any more.

IT should be noted that British directors split with the Hong Kong directors of this company around 2009 over the plans for developing the new lines. The British
directors went off to found Mojo, which accounts for the similarities of some of their early figures with the Collecta models. The Mojo models are also reviewed in this publication. ProCon is formally known today as Collecta and continues a strong line of dinosaur collectibles.

Whether they are British, Chinese or Hongkongers, I don't see why it matters. I like their products. I'm pretty sure that the toys are all manufactured in Chinese factories at the end of the day.

[suspsy]

So what if they're a Chinese company? Carnegie models are, or were, made in China. Unless CollectA is using shark fins to make their models, who cares?

[Dinoguy2]

They started out as ProCon in 2007 but do not use that name any more.

IT should be noted that British directors split with the Hong Kong directors of this company around 2009 over the plans for developing the new lines. The British
directors went off to found Mojo, which accounts for the similarities of some of their early figures with the Collecta models. The Mojo models are also reviewed in this publication. ProCon is formally known today as Collecta and continues a strong line of dinosaur collectibles.

Whether they are British, Chinese or Hongkongers, I don't see why it matters. I like their products. I'm pretty sure that the toys are all manufactured in Chinese factories at the end of the day.

I agree completely (though Safari implies their figures are hand painted in
Fla.). Safari was alleging that Collecta misrepresented themselves on their web site as a European company (the text in question is not on their site last I checked). Mostly because of the perception that Chinese products are somehow inferior and European products are somehow hand crafted or artisanal. All nonsense of course but that's marketing psychology for you. Sounds like Safari mostly didn't like the fact some of their employees left to join their competition. (Collecta was also apparently station they'd been in the toy business 30 years - the company wasn't, but the Safari employees who formed their US distributed had been personally).

And thanks for clarifying the Procon connection... Seems this split coincides with a major uptick in quality...

[Brachiosaurus]

My opinion on Procon CollectA is that they have a great selection of species, but I don't like the lack of consistent scaling, and the sculpts are almost uniformly awful.

Hmmm... I'm new here and have also just discovered the Collecta range. Some very unusual species here, with variable sculpts. I think I'll end up with most of them, though! 

If it helps, I've come up with a scale chart for the current range - I've missed out the 1/40 scale, as these are... er... 1/40!

See what you think - I'm open to changes:
The columns are as follows - the Model Adjusted Size is to allow for the curved sculpt of some dinos!

Number   Item     Model Length     Model Height       Model Adjusted Size     Real Life Length in Feet   Scale

88034   Velociraptor   3.9   2.4   5   6'   1/14
88036   T. Rex   7.1   3.3   7.6   50'   1/81
88037   Triceratops   7.5   3.1      30'   1/48
88039   Pteranodon   6.3   1.2      18'   1/18
88060   Eustreptospondylus   5.5   3.5   8   23'   1/34
88061   Agustinia   7.7   3   10   50'   1/60
88106   Neovenator   6.3   3.5      25'   1/47
88106   Allosaurus   5.7   3.1      40'   1/84
88107   Baryonyx   7.5   3   9   30'   1/40
88118   T. Rex Green   7.3   3.5   7.6   50'   1/78
88121   Brachiosaurus   8.5   5.9   9.3   100'   1/129
88131   Spinosaurus   6.7   4.7   8.6   40'   1/55
88137   Dilophosaurus   4.3   3.5   5   20'   1/48
88139   Hydrotherosaurus   7.5   2.4      43'   1/68
88141   Parasaurolophus   4.7   4.3   5.6   40'   1/85
88143   Ankylosaurus   6.7   2      35'   1/62
88145   Iguanadon   6.3   3.5      30'   1/57
88147   Styracosaurus   3.7   2.4   5   18'   1/31
88220   Amargasaurus   6.3   2.2      33'   1/62
88221   Becklespinax   6.3   2.6      26'   1/49
88222   Cryolophosaurus   5.5   3.5      21'   1/45
88223   Lexovisaurus   4.9   2   6   17'   1/17
88224   Nothronychus   5.1   3.5   7   20'   1/34
88225   Olorotitan   5.7   2.4      39'   1/82
88226   Pachyrhinosaurus   5.3   2.8   7   23'   1/39
88227   Shunosaurus   6.3   3.1   8   31'   1/46
88237   Liopleurodon   7.1   1.2      21'   1/35
88238   Ouranosaurus   5.7   2.6      24'   1/50
88239   Polacanthus   5.7   2      16'   1/33
88240   Rebbachisaurus   7.3   2.6   9   66'   1/88
88252   Dracorex   5.1   2.6      10'   1/23
88253   Cetiosaurus   8.7   2.4      53'   1/73
88254   Alioramus   5.9   3.5      20'   1/40
88306   Wuerhosaurus   5.5   3.5      23'   1/50
88307   Gigantoraptor   5.1   2.6      26'   1/61
88315   Rhoetosaurus   3.5   5.9   6   49'   1/98
88316   Chasmosaurus   5.1   2.8      17'   1/20
88317   Megalosaurus   5.3   3.5      30'   1/67
88318   Corythosaurus   5.5   3.5      35'   1/76
88319   Lambeosaurus   5.7   1.4      40'   1/84
88320   Tylosaurus   7.5   1.2   10   50'   1/60
88334   Sarchosuchus   7.3   2.2      40'   1/65
88339   Muttaburrasaurus   5.5   2      23'   1/50
88340   Tarbosaurus   6.5   2.8      35'   1/64
88354   Psittacosaurus   4.3   2      7'   1/19
88355   Achelousaurus   5.9   2.4      20'   1/40
88361   Tenontosaurus   5.5   1.8      23'   1/50
88370   Eotyrannus   5.7   3.5   8   13'   1/19
88371   Herrerasaurus   4.7   2.2      15'   1/38
88372   Lufengosaurus   5.9   4.7   7.8   20'   1/30
88373   Tsintaosaurus   6.5   2.6      33'   1/60
88374   Rugops   5.1   2.6      20'   1/47
88375   Minmi   5.5   1.8      10'   1/21
88388   Edmontonia   5.3   2      43'   1/97
88400   Kentrosaurus   5.1   2      18'   1/22
88401   Camptosaurus   5.3   2   7   23'   1/52
88402   Majungasaurus   5.7   2.2      26'   1/54
88411   Oviraptor   3.5   2   6   5'   1/17
88427   Afrovenator   5.9   4.1   7   30'   1/51
88441   Hatzegopteryx   2.6   5.9   5   39'   1/93
88462   Alamosaurus   8.1   5.3   10   70'   1/84
88466   Ampelosaurus   8.3   2.6      50'   1/72
88472   Lourinhanosaurus   5.3   2.4      16'   1/36
88473   Irritator   6.1   2.4      26'   1/51
88489   Attenborosaurus   7.9   1.2      16'   1/24
88504   Proceratosaurus   5.9   2.8      10'   1/20
88505   Australovenator   6.1   2.4      20'   1/39
88509   Liliensternus   6.3   3   8   17'   1/13
88510   Utahraptor   5.3   2   7   23'   1/39
88511   Ornithocheirus   8.3   3      8'   1/11
88512   Torosaurus   5.5   3.1      20'   1/43
88513   Plateosaurus   6.1   5.7   8.4   26'   1/37
88515   Concavenator   5.7   2.4   8   20'   1/30
88520   Dolichorhynchops   5.1   1.6      10'   1/23
88521   Kosmoceratops   4.7   2.4      15'   1/38
88522   Utahceratops   5.5   2.8      23'   1/50
88523   Miragaia                  6.7      3.1   8   20'   1/30
88524   Hypsilophodon Fam.   4.3   1.6      8'   1/64
88528   Triceratops - Prey   7.1   2.4      30'   1/50
88529   Therinzinosaurus   5.9   4.7   7.8   29'   1/44
88530   Koreaceratops Fam.   3.5   1.6      3'   1/30
88531   Mapusaurus   10.2   2.8      33'   1/38
88547   Argentinosaurus   9.4   7.1   10   115'   1/138
88555   Rajasaurus   6.7   2.8      29'   1/51
88573   T. Rex with prey   9.4   3.1   10   50'   1/60
88576   Stegosaurus   6.7   3.5      30'   1/53
88593   Diabloceratops   5.9   3.1      25'   1/50
88622   Diplodocus   7.5   9.4   10   90'   1/108
88628   Daspletosaurus   6.5   2.2   8   30'   1/45
88629   Pachycephalosaurus   5   2.2      15'   1/36

There is no way the miragaia can be 1/30 scale, the carnegie Miragaia is 1/30 scale and it towers over the collecta one

[terrorchicken]

Hello, discussing Collecta scale sizes,  is Kelenken supposed to be 1:20? B/c I have it standing here next to their 1:20 Indricotherium and it is almost as tall as the rhino. Theres no way this bird could have been that  big! :\

[stargatedalek]

It was most certainly that big, if not bigger

*edit* I misread that as "a rhino", I don't know how large an indricotherium is but here's a lower end scale estimate for kelenken. A high end estimate would be about a quarter larger than this.

[Halichoeres]

I used to have it but sold it on eBay, so I don't have it at hand to measure it, but I think it is probably larger than 1:20. CollectA "scale models" are almost always bigger than the scale they say they are.

[terrorchicken]

oops sorry yes I meant the rhino as referring to indricotherium. Indricotherium towers over human in this pic so I think Collecta got it wrong...



I love prehistoric mammals/birds and I have many in my collection but its annoying b/c they arent as many made as dinosaurs and they all vary in scale...

[stargatedalek]

I just checked and its about 1:20th, maybe closer to 1:25th. It seems its the indricotherium who's mislabeled