Fembrogon's Bestiary (post-2020)

[Lanthanotus]

Thanks very much @Fembrogon. For me these look very much like the work of Matthew Kalmenoff (Click), his diorama cut out books are still available in old prints and some of the figures look 1:1 like from his book. While the book dates to the 80`s, the author was employed at the American Natural History Museum from the 50`s to 70`s.

[Fembrogon]

MARX

While trying to research and collect the Sinclair line, I ended up straying on a pretty big tangent with the Marx series. Since I had next to no knowledge about vintage dinsoaur toys, I initially mistook my Sinclairs for Marx figures; so I began studying the Marx series to better recognize the differences between toy lines. Before I knew it, I was as invested in collecting Marx as I was in collecting Sinclair, and was even on the way to obtaining a complete set (and I'm not normally a completist)!
The below photo was taken in June once I had acquired at least one copy of every figure from Marx's prehistoric animal mold sets. Based on the color and plastic quality, I suspect a good majority of these are technically recasts from the 70s and 80s, rather than originals from the 50s or 60s; but that's fine. I'm pleased to have every dinosaur and beast represented in my collection, and I'm satisfied enough that I've ceased acquiring more - although, who knows, I might get in the mood again in the future...



Admittedly, they're all looking a bit disorganized here (there are 3 cavemen hiding in the middle, too). Here are some select group shots I cobbled together to represent the different mold groups:

Large mold group PL-749 (1955), featuring Brontosaurus, Kronosaurus, and Tyrannosaurus (potbelly ver):


Medium mold group PL-750 (1955), featuring Allosaurus, Ankylosaurus, Hadrosaurus, Pteranodon, Stegosaurus, and Trachodon:


Small mold group PL-755 (1955), featuring Cynognathus, 2 Dimetrodons, 2 Plateosaurus, Sphenacodon, and Triceratops. There are extremely subtle differences in the engravings between the Dimes and the Plates:


Revised mold group PL-977 (1958), featuring Allosaurus, Ankylosaurus, Brontosaurus, Dimetrodon, Stegosaurus, Trachodon, Triceratops, and Tyrannosaurus (slim ver). Apart from the T.rex, most of the mold revisions are subtle changes to posture and new molding marks underneath the figures:


Second series mold group PL-1083 (1961), featuring Iguanodon, Wooly Mammoth, Megatherium, Moschops, Parasaurolophus, Smilodon, Struthiomimus, and Styracosaurus:


I have some newer group shots of the individual species I'll share for the next post.

[Duna]

I never get tired of looking at Marx figures. By the way congrats on those metallic silver two ...   

[Fembrogon]

Thanks; I've heard the silver figures are more uncommon, so I was pretty pleased to find both those two in a single lot for a good price.
They do all look wonderful in a group together!

[Gwangi]

Wonderful Marx collection. I only just started collecting them about a year and a half ago. I still need the Kronosaurus and Pot belly T. rex and then "I'm done". I don't think I'll bother with the playsets and variants but who knows. Might move onto MPC of which I currently have only a few.

[Shonisaurus]

What a beautiful collection you have of Marx dinosaurs, his retro figures take older collectors back to our childhood time. I did not know that Marx had such a variety of figures. It is curious how before the vintage dinosaur companies focused on a prehistoric animal from the Paleozoic like the moschops and now, unfortunately, that figure is very undervalued in the toy dinosaur companies.

[Fembrogon]

More Marx collection shots, divided by genera:  long photo-heavy post incoming!
(click on images for larger resolution)

Brontosaurus - 1st mold on the right, revised molds on the left. They're virtually identical except for the mold circles on the feet.


Kronosaurus


Allosaurus - 1st mold on the left, revised mold on the right. The feet on the revised figures have been tweaked so they can stand straighter.


Ankylosaurus - 1st mold on the left revised molds on the right. The 1st ver. Anky was the last copy I needed to "complete" my Marx collection; the belly texture is stippled rather than ridged.


Hadrosaurus


Pteranodon


Stegosaurus - 1st molds on the left, revised molds on the right. Again, the circles on the feet are the only real difference.


Trachodon - 1st molds on the left, revised molds on the right. Note the difference in the arms; the 1st ver. models also tend to lean to one side.


Cynognathus


Dimetrodon - 1st molds on the left, revised molds on the right. A single mold circle on the belly distinguishes between versions.


Plateosaurus


Sphenacodon - I recall playing with some of these somewhere as a kid. Even back then I could tell what this figure was; I lament that no one else has tackled this or related genera since (besides Dimetrodon).


Triceratops - 1st molds on the left, revised molds on the right. I find it curious the horns were made flimsier in the 2nd version.


Tyrannosaurus - 1st mold on the right, revised molds on the left. Pretty obvious differences, but both are cool.


Additional shot of the slim rexes, just because:


Iguanodon


Moschops - again, why has no one else covered this genus since??


Parasaurolophus


Struthiomimus


Styracosaurus


Mammal group shot: Megatherium, Wooly Mammoth, and Smilodon


...And some cavemen as a bonus. I'm not too concerned about acquiring all the cavemen, honestly.


That covers the Marx collection! There are also some miscellaneous diorama pieces from the full collection photo I've picked up between lots.

[Halichoeres]

Very cool to see these all together. Marx is one of the cornerstones this hobby was built on.

It really is wild that Moschops, Cynognathus, and Sphenacodon have been almost completely ignored in the last several decades. I'm not really a vintage collector, but I do have two Marx figures: Cynognathus and Sphenacodon, because nobody has released updated versions. I have a resin Moschops rather than the Marx, but the Marx remains the nicest sculpt of the animal ever made in plastic.

[Libraraptor]

I agree on what you said about the Moschops, @Halichoeres. And @Fembrogon Yeah, Marx, I love them!

[Crackington]

Wonderful pictures @Fembrogon, I've been on a similar quest to collect Marx and had a very lucky strike just before Xmas which has got me closer to getting all the models. Just the pot bellied Rex, Kronosaurus, Hadrosaurus and Cynognathus to go for me, though this is a long term project as they are not so common in England.

Completely agree about the dearth of Sphenacodon and Moschops figures, but I think Linde made the former too and MPC ripped off Marx for the latter. It would be good to see modern versions though, we're back to that perennial longing for a Permian tube!

[Pachyrhinosaurus]

Wow, really great collection! Vintage figures always tend to get overlooked. I didn't know the plateosaurus and dimetrodon had variants within their mold groups.

[Fembrogon]

Time for more vintage; I ended up accumulating a decent assortment of figures while searching for Marx and Sinclair items. I wasn't actively trying to build these supplementary collections; but here we are, and I'm enjoying their company!


MPC


MPC's figures generally aren't as attractive as the Marx figure they often imitated; but in the wake of trying to find some of the more obscure genera Marx covered, it felt nice to at least find more representatives from the MPC line. Their synapsid figures are overall pretty good (even if they still feel cheap). I also enjoy the variety of colors; I prefer the more natural hues of Marx, but technicolor toys are fun too! I understand the purple figures are actually pretty uncommon.
I'm not really looking to "complete" my MPC collection like I did with Marx. I wouldn't mind getting the Ceratogaulus or Dire Wolf at some point, though, if only for the novelty of unique species.
(edit: updated MPC overview starting on page 3, reply #56)

WAIPOON/LARAMI


A six-piece set of figures similar in size to Marx or Sinclair figures, featuring Diplodocus, Stegosaurus, Pteranodon, Albertosaurus, Chasmosaurus, and Lambeosaurus. I took a liking to these figures when browsing Doug Watson's collection photos, so I was quick to snatch up a full set when I found them on eBay. While these aren't as consistent in quality of sculpt as Marx or Sinclair, they have a lot of charm in their own right; and it's neat to see less popular genera get more attention. Acknowledging that these are still knockoffs of another line - a series of figures from the Royal Ontario Museum, originally counting 8 in total with Parasaurolophus and Stenopterygius - I do like the variety and uniqueness of each figure's color.

NABISCO


Another line I grew fond of despite accumulating almost by accident - I actually first encountered Nabisco long ago alongside Sinclair, in the form of a single little T-rex and Trike amidst the assorted toys my grandparents kept. Those two are included in the above lineup, the rest of which were acquired through larger assorted lots or, in the case of most of the military-green figures, a big bunch sold over Facebook Marketplace for just $10! These guys are tiny, but I love the stylized, almost carved look to the figures, like they could be figurines produced in a far older era. I have all of the "dinos" from the series, including the Rhamphorhynchus which is posed about center in the photo (I'm grateful for finding that one so cheap) My favorite is probably the Paleoscincus; it looks like a cute little reptilian bug. The Baluchitherium is the only mammal I have from the line; the mammals tend to be the rarest and priciest figures, as far as I know and have seen so far.

AJAX


I'm familiar with a few of these figures (T-rex, "Pteranodon", & Dimetrodon) from the miscellaneous toys I had as a kid - usually they were mixed with what I now know were Tim Mee figures - so I held on to the few I obtained during my vintage quests. Sinclair's rex actually resembles the Ajax mini somewhat, as does the ROM/Waipoon Steg to the Ajax counterpart. I have no idea if these ones I have are originals or recasts/knockoffs.

[Duna]

Congrats on your findings, you are setting up a very interesting collection.

I love the Marx, I have said that many times, and I really think you should get the rest of prehistoric men, they're incredible! At first I didn't want to collect them, either, I only went for the dinos. But I ended buying a playset (only the figures) which included the rest of the dinos I was missing and two sets of the cavemen. It's amazing how well they are sculpted in such a tiny figure! They even have hair on their chest ... But the best thing is to display them with the Marx figures. In fact, the best is the one holding the rock, you can put it in front of any dinosaur or mammal and changes the view and makes a nice scene! I have all them displayed between the figures and look very nice hunting them.

Those ROM recast figures are very nice. I wouldn't mind getting a set of them, too.

The Ajax are difficult to tell appart, originals were not metallic (I think), I have a grey set and a yellow ramphorrynchus. And Nabiscos are growing a lot on me, I got both the dinosaurs and the mammals and are very interesting pieces, but I like mammals more because they are a bit larger.

[Fembrogon]

TIM MEE TOYS



This is another brand whose toys I grew up familiar with, even if I didn't know the name. I still have LOTS of dinos and cavemen in storage right now, along with the big red rock piece that was sold in playsets (man, I miss that rock  ); so I didn't mind acquiring a few more of their figurines for my current collection.



The "Old World" models; I was less familiar with these designs. They contrast quite starkly with the later models.



The minifigure series; these guys really are tiny. I had an even smaller copy of the yellow T.rex as a kid, unaware it was part of a larger line. There's a lot of nostalgia attached to that tiny toy.



"New World" models; these are the designs I grew up familiar with.
I also bought a fresh set of dinosaurs from Tim Mee's current website, prompted by Gwangi's Blog review a few months back. I think it's neat they're still active.





This last set was listed as a lot of recast toys by DFC (Dimensions for Children); this is the same company that acquired the Sinclair molds. Unlike the Sinclairs, though, I think these figures have obviously lost more quality in the recast process; they're flatter, more cartoonish in detail, and the plastic feels cheaper. I'm holding on to them for the novelty, though.
I'm not actually certain if the cavemen are Tim Mee brand or not.

That's about it for my vintage collection; I'll start covering bigger, more recent brands next.

[Fembrogon]

Semi-vintage to modern brands - all of the following photos were taken at the end of 2021/start of 2022, so they may need updating soon. For now, though, here's last year's collection status:

INVICTA


I've actually gotten pretty close to a complete (unpainted) Invicta collection, although I don't expect to ever finish it. These three are my current representatives for the line while most of my models are in storage, and I'm hoping to have a couple more on the way in the near future. It's cool seeing how Invicta bridges the gap between older brands like Marx and and the more modern styles like Safari ltd.; honestly, accuracy issues aside, I'm starting to think the Invicta line was actually better sculpted than a lot of the first Carnegies.
(updated collection shots on page 4, reply #64)

SAFARI LTD - CARNEGIE COLLECTION


I didn't say the above to knock the Carnegie Collection, however: the Carnegies were basically the gold standard for dinosaur toys when I was little, and I still adore the line. I've managed to fill a few holes I previously had in my own collection. The classic T. rex was one figure I remember "admiring from afar" as a kid, and Deltadromeus was probably one of my most desired figures from the line (thanks to its association with Carcharodontosaurus and Spinosaurus in artwork), so finally owning these two feels somewhat vindicating. In contrast, the Mosasaurus was a figure I probably disregarded as a kid due to how much more outdated it seemed; and I don't think I even gave the Wooly Mammoth a second look just for the sake of being a mammal! Now that I've held both in my own hands, they've become favorites of mine - the Mosa for its vintage-retro charm, and the Mammoth for its splendid sculpting that holds up decades later.
(Updated collection: reply #84)

SAFARI LTD - AUTHENTICS SERIES


These little guys are holdovers from the old bestiary; I've probably had them since 2000. I was only a few years ago when I first learned through the Forum here that these minifigures were associated with Safari ltd, so I started giving them slightly more special treatment. I keep saying I'm not a completist, but this is another set I would like to fill out in the future.

SAFARI LTD - PREHISTORIC WORLD


I said before that Safari ltd was the dominant presence in my bestiary, and that hasn't changed. I don't try to acquire every single dino in Safari's lineup, but in my opinion their cost-to-quality ratio is so good (and so convenient with their home website) that they're simply the easiest and one of the most satisfying lines to keep collecting.
I still miss the Carnegie Collection a little bit, but it's been exciting watching Safari's main line level up from the "Wild Safari" series over the last several years and produce some truly excellent models. I'm looking forward to the 2022 reveals!

BATTAT - BOSTON MUSEUM & TERRA


I was remiss to leave out my Battats when I first wrote this post, small though their numbers are. Battat was something of a mystery to me as a kid; I was vaguely aware of their existence, but they were scarely encountered in person. It wasn't until I found the DTB that I became aware of how renowned the line was, and it wasn't until the Terra line was issued that I was able to start acquiring my own. All my Terra figures from then are in storage now, but I've had a few surprises in finding some classic Battats for reasonable prices as well. I also picked up another Terra Cryo for cheap because I could.
(updated collection on Reply #74)

[Gwangi]

I agree with you on Invicta vs. Carnegie, at least in regards to the earliest Carnegie toys. I'm an Invicta completest whereas I don't even display most of my older Carnegies. I don't have a complete Invicta collection either, and probably never will. Great group shots, thanks for sharing and keep up the great work!

[Shonisaurus]

Magnificent photographs and my congratulations for having acquired the Invicta dinosaur figures, sincerely, above all, I admire the repainted Safari tyrannosaurus rex from your collection, by the way, where can I find it? It's very cool.

[Fembrogon]

SCHLEICH


I'm not a fan of Schleich, to say the least, so I've been in no rush to collect their figures. Ironically, the Psittaco and juvenile Giga are among the few holdovers that evaded storage. I do think these two - and the Spinosaurus pictured which I actively DID want to acquire - are easily among the best figures Schleich has produced to date. With more and more - and better - toy/model companies entering the market, however, I think Schleich is falling farther behind as a whole, and I have little reason to bother keeping up with them.

COLLECTA


In contrast to Schleich, Collecta is a company whose products I've meant to be much more proactive in acquiring; but somehow I keep glossing over them in favor of other items. As a result, Collecta is pretty poorly represented in my bestiary for now. What I have I like a lot, though; I've been eyeballing the Deluxe Spinosaurus for a long time, and the Borealopelta is a delightfully detailed little figure of a very special fossil. I'm not fond of Collecta's base style for theropods, but the Deluxe Deinocheirus is still an impressive model, probably the best for this genus to date.
(collection update: pg6 reply #80)

PNSO


Actually, PNSO is probably one of the reasons to blame for my dearth of Collecta. PNSO can be pricey, but they sure are enticing. I've stuck to acquiring the more affordable models so far, but even with the few I've got, there's no question as to why they've been so successful - their models are gorgeous. Hopefully this success doesn't get the better of them and they continue to provide a wide range of creatures in a range of prices.

[Fembrogon]

Rounding up the 2021 group shots...

MATTEL (+ Kenner)


The reissue of Mattel's Legacy Spinosaurus reinvigorated my interest in the Mattel line this past year, and I've ended up acquiring a modest variety of Jurassic-themed toys again. Most of these have been purchases on whims, often when stumbling across figures on sale.
I was on the fence for a while about the Amber Collection series, but now that I've obtained a few, I'm pretty pleased with them and a little sad to know they'll be going away. Hopelly the Hammond Series will be able to correct the quality control issues of their predecessor.


My custom raptor squad - one for each generation. Not pictured is the Pteranodon, although you can see it in the previous photo. I do wish we could have at least gotten a female JP3 raptor, or a reissue of Blue or Dilophosaurus, before the line ended.


MISCELLANEOUS


At least a few items I've picked up over the last year don't really fit into any other categories, so here they are together: Xidi/Happy Kin Allosaurus, Yvy Figures Irritator, Funko Pop Dilophosaurus, and an teeny unbranded Cynognathus I picked up for a dollar in St. George.
Irritator is expensive, but beautiful; I hope we can see more products from Yvy in the future.
Allosaurus is... enjoyably generic? I'm more intrigued by other figures from this line, so Xidi might get it's own category in my bestiary someday soonish.
The Funko Dilo was a silly whim purchase; I'm not a Funko Collector, but a few of their figures have managed to charm me.
How is it a no-name chinasaur brand can produce Cynognathus, but no major brand since the 60s has bothered trying??

---

That's everything up through 2021! Times have been tough, but I'm still having a blast expanding the bestiary. I've already made a few more additions since I started this thread, so maybe I'll have some updated group shots or special focus posts soon.

[Duna]

That's a nice group shot of the Amber collection with the others, thank you for the comparison pictures. They look really cool.

By the way, that lovely Cynognathus is from the Panini dinosaur collection from the early 90s. That fantastic vintage figure was one of my favourites (in fact when I was a child I only had 2, the cynognathus and the itchyosaurus), you can see them here, I still have them. In Spain there were distributed by ChupaChups inside their Tombola chocolate eggs (similar to Kinder Surprise eggs).