Ludodactylus' Collection

[Ludodactylus]

So my (still relatively modest) collection is normally clustered on the desk I work from; we live in a one-bedroom apartment and due to my wife and I both working from home, her "office" is our living room and mine is tucked into a corner of the bedroom. Not exactly ideal for either general display (dedicated shelves are in the plan for some point in the future) or taking pictures.

Today, however, her desk was cleared off (as she transitions from one job to another) and we had some decent light coming in the window, so I carried my collection out into the living room for a photoshoot.

First up, the full collection:

32 figures acquired between December 2018 and July 16th, 2022.

Now, to break it down a little.

First up, the CollectAs:

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Left to Right: Olorotitan, Einiosaurus, Allosaurus, Diabloceratops, Kentrosaurus, Tarbosaurus, Nasutoceratops, Utahraptor, Neovenator, Kamuysaurus, Mantellisaurus, Borealopelta. At 12 figures, CollectA makes up the largest percentage of my collection.

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The Safari Ltd. figures:

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Left to Right: Pachyrhinosaurus, Einiosaurus, Nasutoceratops, Baryonyx, Acrocanthosaurus, Monolophosaurus, Baby Brachiosaurus. With 7 figures, Safari makes up the next largest percentage.

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Battats and Terra by Battats:

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Left to Right: Pachyrhinosaurus, Ouranosaurus (Miniature), Ceratosaurus, Euoplocephalus, Dacentrurus and Parasaurolophus. The Ceratosaurus was the figure that started me collecting toy dinosaurs, and the Pachyrhinosaurus and Euoplocephalus were my second and third figures purchased.

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Papo figures:

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Left to Right: Pentaceratops, Gorgosaurus, Acrocanthosaurus. I don't own many Papos, and I'm unlikely to get more; I don't really like the other figures they've released that much. The Pentaceratops was bought not long after I started working from home, and was the point where I said, "Well, I guess I'm really going in on collecting dinosaur figures."

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PNSO figures:

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Left to Right: Styracosaurus, Centrosaurus, Kentrosaurus (miniature). Unlike the Papos, I do anticipate my collection of PNSO figures growing. These three were all gifts from my wife.

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Eofauna figures:

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Just the one - Triceratops sp., Dominant Coloration - so far. I do like the Diplodocus they released this year, but it's just too big for my current setup. I'm curious to see what their Tyrannosaurus is going to look like. This figure was also a gift from my wife.

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You might notice some "standards" are missing - I don't have a Tyrannosaurus, I don't have a Stegosaurus, and other than the baby Brachiosaur, I don't have any sauropods. And no Spinosaurus either! I haven't settled on a Tyrannosaurus or Stegosaurus that really grab me in terms of attractiveness and will fit into my current limited space. Sauropods tend to be bigger than I have room for at the moment, and Spinosaurus...I want three years without any major revisions to the animal's appearance before I buy one.

[SidB]

Nice start to a serious collection, @Ludodactylus . I can appreciate the careful, deliberate approach that you're taking - in my opinion that's a path that gives a lot more long term enjoyment than simply gobbling up a whole lot of collectibles at a time. If yu wanted to venture into getting a sauropod in the short-term, you might consider the Eofauna Atlasaurus : not overly large, but remarkably well-researched and beautifully detailed, maybe their best figure to date. Since you like Battats, and want a T-rex, consider their classic versions, 1 or 2, though these can be pricey, or even the version 3/ Battat Terra re-paint, which is a lot less expensive. I still consider the  1/2 versions to be the best mass-produced ones to date, and of course, they are justly renowned, despite their stability problems (the curse of the theropods).

[Pliosaurking]

@Ludodactylus that's a lovely little collection you have there. It's a good size for what your space allows. Your careful and thoughtful of what you can accommodate Unlike myself!:.

[Samrukia]

nice collection! i bet you love ceratopsians

[ceratopsian]

I like your measured approach to acquisition - even though it isn't something I could manage. If size is the issue with sauropods, one thought might be to look for a rearing pose. The old Battat Diplodocus would sadly cost the proverbial arm and leg but there are a few other options, eg the CollectA rearing Diplodocus. I think there might be some other older CollectA sauropods too. While the CollectA Diplodocus is not as spectacular, I'm fond of mine.  Fond enough to have it in two different colours plus a custom painted one! Atlasaurus is indeed wonderful but it's not small, just smaller!

[Ludodactylus]

Thank you all for the kind words! Especially for calling my collecting "measured and deliberate" - I'll have to let my wife know    Limited space, limited funds, and multiple different hobbies that I ebb and flow with has all helped on that front. Another factor, I think, is that I have an uncle who collects military memorabilia - and whenever he decides he wants to own a set of campaign service medals from a specific war or whatever, he goes on eBay and buys someone else's entire collection, skipping over the "collecting" aspect. That just seems to lose a huge part of the actual fun of the collecting process to me.

S @SidB I'd thought about the Battat T.rex, but its stability issues (especially the Terra by Battat release, which I know is prone to sagging under its own weight) have given me pause. Once I have more shelf space secured, PNSO's Andrea might actually be a good contender - I like the unique lounging pose and I like that it's closed-mouth, something I've come to really appreciate in theropod models.

@erlectric it's funny, I didn't start this project as a passionate lover of ceratopsians, but really loving figures like the Papo Pentaceratops, the Safari Nasutoceratops and Einiosaurus, and the Eofauna Triceratops and reading more about these animals as part of the collecting process has given me a greater appreciation for them.

@ceratopsian Great minds think alike! The CollectA rearing Diplodocus and the CollectA Brontosaurus are both strong contenders for being added to my collection. The other factor besides size I look at with sauropods is dynamism - as beautiful as the Eofauna Diplodocus is sculpt-wise, it being almost ramrod-straight from nose to tail is a deal-breaker for me.

[ceratopsian]

Of all my T. rexes, Andrea is my favourite.  She sits in all her magnificent bulk at slightly above my head height on a bookcase shelf near my study door, her head hanging over the edge, keeping a fierce sentinel's eye on all who enter.  It shows her off to perfection - the high shelf somehow reminds me she is actually a massive animal and much taller than I, as I look slightly up at her (closed) mouth, and this display position overcomes the issue of her head being a just bit too low if she's flat on the shelf.  Also the flaw of her rear leg posture is not so obvious!

Glad you are taken with ceratopsian figures!  And I'm still very fond of the CollectA Einiosaurus.  It's a pleasing piece.

[SidB]

I had Andrea out the other day, having taken her off my diorama display shelf and yes, she's a terrific piece. I display her with 'Winter Wilson' and the PNSO Nano as a juvenile rex. A great thing about her, over against the Battat figures, is that, for sure, she won't be quick to sag!

[Halichoeres]

You might notice some "standards" are missing - I don't have a Tyrannosaurus, I don't have a Stegosaurus, and other than the baby Brachiosaur, I don't have any sauropods. And no Spinosaurus either! I haven't settled on a Tyrannosaurus or Stegosaurus that really grab me in terms of attractiveness and will fit into my current limited space. Sauropods tend to be bigger than I have room for at the moment, and Spinosaurus...I want three years without any major revisions to the animal's appearance before I buy one.

I have trouble with the standards sometimes too! When I was starting out I bought multiple Tyrannosaurus, Stegosaurus, and Spinosaurus figures in succession and ended up ditching them. When a good figure of an animal that doesn't get much attention, like Centrosaurus, comes out, it's a no-brainer and I spring for it. But despite many well-made Spinosaurus figures, I find something to dislike in each and end up not buying any (for several years now).

Anyway, great collection you've got here!

[Ludodactylus]

New Addition - "Banjo," the Australovenator from Australian Age of Dinosaurs! This is a beautiful figure - I love the color scheme chosen for him and the sculpt is fantastic. Very happy to add this Australian predator to my collection.

[SidB]

Good , @Ludodactylus , it was a pleasant surprise when they made this gem available again.

[Libraraptor]

Congratultions! Yes, to me Banjo is an outstanding figure!

[Halichoeres]

Yeah, this is a winner! Glad you were able to get hold of it.

[Jose S.M.]

Congrats on getting that Banjo! It's a really good looking piece.

[Ludodactylus]

My wife surprised me with a stack of PNSO Minis, and I think now PNSO is second only to CollectA in terms of representation in my collection.


Abel the Kosmoceratops, Duke the Spinops and Brown the Chasmosaurus. I love the vibrant and different markings on each of their frills.


Dayong the Yangchuanosaurus, Burton the Baryonyx, and Seia the Majungasaurus. I'm blown away that my wife picked these out; I think she was just looking for closed-mouth theropods with attractive color schemes, but these are pretty much exactly what I would have picked out for myself, especially Dayong. His colors are more muted in person than in the promotional images but I don't mind him being slightly less "tiger" colored.

[EmperorDinobot]

Sounds like you have a great wife!

[Halichoeres]

Well, that's a very thoughtful gift. Sounds like she knows you well!

[Ludodactylus]

"I hereby call this meeting of Kentrosauruses to order."



Three Kentrosaurus figures (PNSO mini, Schleich and CollectA), and a Dacentrurus from Terra by Battat infiltrating the club.

[Ludodactylus]

I guess I'm entering the Thyreophoran stage of my collection, since PNSO's "Rosana the Miragaia" arrived yesterday. Beautiful figure of a species I'm not super familiar with.

[SidB]

A stunning piece, @Ludodactylus . Maybe someday you can also pick up the wonderful Carnegie Safari Miragaia too. Long out of production, but with some persistence, it occasionally appears on eBay for less than an arm and a leg (but not a whole lot less), if you're so inclined.