HAOLONGGOOD - New for 2024

[thomasw100]

I feel like the in hand pics will look a lot better but, the color scheme looks a bit to, toyish? at least for me

The pattern they have applied to the Xenoceratops is more close to a so-called cryptic pattern as some biologists call it, a pattern that you see on animals that live in forested habitats where they need to hide from predators. And they do this with a pattern that blends them in with the surrounding bushes and trees. Animals that live in more open habitats tend to have a disruptive pattern (like vertical stripes) which has the effect that it interferes with predators recognizing them as the prey species from the distance. Some paleontologists speculate that sauropod juveniles for example may have had a cryptic pattern which changed to a disruptive pattern when they became subadults and moved out from the forests into more open habitats. To cut a long story short, I find a disruptive pattern more plausible for ceratopsians reflecting their most likely lifestyle and habitats.

[oscars_dinos]

I feel like the in hand pics will look a lot better but, the color scheme looks a bit to, toyish? at least for me

The pattern they have applied to the Xenoceratops is more close to a so-called cryptic pattern as some biologists call it, a pattern that you see on animals that live in forested habitats where they need to hide from predators. And they do this with a pattern that blends them in with the surrounding bushes and trees. Animals that live in more open habitats tend to have a disruptive pattern (like vertical stripes) which has the effect that it interferes with predators recognizing them as the prey species from the distance. Some paleontologists speculate that sauropod juveniles for example may have had a cryptic pattern which changed to a disruptive pattern when they became subadults and moved out from the forests into more open habitats. To cut a long story short, I find a disruptive pattern more plausible for ceratopsians reflecting their most likely lifestyle and habitats.

 yeah the concept of the pattern isn't my issue, its more so the application, it seems very painted on and not smoothly applied like some of their previous figures 

[SlurmpSaurus]

Again, haven't we learned not to judge haolonggood figures before in hand pics?

[Pinbacker]

Again, haven't we learned not to judge haolonggood figures before in hand pics?

This. Every single time a Haolonggood figure is revealed, the same old jokers complain about the paint apps and/or sculpt in the promo shots. And every single time, the models end up looking much better in hand. 

[Turkeysaurus]

Everybody has different standards for their collections. No need to be so defensive about it.

[Ivántirrophus]

Brown Xenocetatops looks good for me 

[thomasw100]

Again, haven't we learned not to judge haolonggood figures before in hand pics?

This. Every single time a Haolonggood figure is revealed, the same old jokers complain about the paint apps and/or sculpt in the promo shots. And every single time, the models end up looking much better in hand. 

One does not need the figure in hand to see the white squiggly lines on the version with the blue ornamentation on the frill. And one does not need the in hand figure to see that on the manus 4 toes have painted nails, whereas it should be only 3.

And it should be possible to criticize this particular feature while expressing appreciation for the remaining features of a figure such as for example the overall sculpt and the ornamentation on the frill.

The bottom line is that so far this is an environment where we have freedom of speech, which includes respecting the rules of friendly and constructive interaction.

You are therefore free to engage into a proper to discussion and provide counter-arguments why you disagree with the moderate criticism that has been raised about this figure.

[Pinbacker]

Again, haven't we learned not to judge haolonggood figures before in hand pics?

This. Every single time a Haolonggood figure is revealed, the same old jokers complain about the paint apps and/or sculpt in the promo shots. And every single time, the models end up looking much better in hand. 

One does not need the figure in hand to see the white squiggly lines on the version with the blue ornamentation on the frill. And one does not need the in hand figure to see that on the manus 4 toes have painted nails, whereas it should be only 3.

And it should be possible to criticize this particular feature while expressing appreciation for the remaining features of a figure such as for example the overall sculpt and the ornamentation on the frill.

The bottom line is that so far this is an environment where we have freedom of speech, which includes respecting the rules of friendly and constructive interaction.

You are therefore free to engage into a proper to discussion and provide counter-arguments why you disagree with the moderate criticism that has been raised about this figure.

Sigh. No one is attacking your freedom of speech, chief. All that is being pointed out is that it's silly to judge a HLG model based on the promo photos, because the final product always looks much better. But by all means, critique away.

[Flaffy]

Sigh. No one is attacking your freedom of speech, chief.

Mocking others directly sounds plenty like trying to discourage opinions that do not line up with your own.

the same old jokers complain

[Pinbacker]

Sigh. No one is attacking your freedom of speech, chief.

Mocking others directly sounds plenty like trying to discourage opinions that do not line up with your own.

the same old jokers complain

No mockery sir, just facts. And I never directly specified which ones are the aforementioned "same old jokers"  They are free to critique based on intial promo images, and I am free to laugh at how silly some of the criticism sounds in hindsight. Isn't freedom of speech great, that we all don't have to agree?

Returning to Haolonggood, the Xenoceratops is now available on AliExpress as well, including My Online Toy Store. Unfortunately, the boxless option does not render a discount this time around.

[thomasw100]

Sigh. No one is attacking your freedom of speech, chief.

Mocking others directly sounds plenty like trying to discourage opinions that do not line up with your own.

the same old jokers complain

No mockery sir, just facts. And I never directly specified which ones are the aforementioned "same old jokers"  They are free to critique based on intial promo images, and I am free to laugh at how silly some of the criticism sounds in hindsight. Isn't freedom of speech great, that we all don't have to agree?

Returning to Haolonggood, the Xenoceratops is now available on AliExpress as well, including My Online Toy Store. Unfortunately, the boxless option does not render a discount this time around.

The issue here is your use of derogatory language and mockery instead of engaging in a meaningful discussion based on exchange of arguments.

And your attempt to silence unwanted opinions by getting personal and by framing any criticism. This is exactly how cancel culture works to affect and censor public opinion.

Look I have provided arguments for why I am not too happy about certain features of the figure, i.e. the incorrect manus despite this being Haolonggoods ceratopsian number 8 produced so far and the most likely habitat of ceratopsians not making a cryptic pattern all too plausible.

So where are your counter-arguments why my critical comments would be invalid? I am waiting for you to outline your arguments.

[Turkeysaurus]

Painting choices , Lines around face and body are too artificial for my liking. It's not about pics quality or even color choices.

Reminds me collecta painting a bit. I still don't like Diabloceratops so promo pics don't matter that much to me.

[SidB]

Sigh. No one is attacking your freedom of speech, chief.

Mocking others directly sounds plenty like trying to discourage opinions that do not line up with your own.

the same old jokers complain

Actually, I'm looking forward to the new "Joker" movie!

[Flaffy]

[oscars_dinos]

I feel like HLG's ceratopsians biggest issues are their face, I think its a mixture of scalation being both not fine enough and not defined enough, along with the cartoony eye, I think in terms of best head sculpt for a ceratopsian their sinoceratops is their best (which is why its the only one I've gotten). The body they've gotten very good at, I would just like to see them get more refined with there wrinkles and over all scale texture. in regards to this particular figure I do think even in hand the paint scheme was a bit to ambitious, I'll skip this one but I'm still excited to see what they cook next

[Sim]

I think its a mixture of scalation being both not fine enough and not defined enough

I don't agree with that.  Also, I like that the Sinoceratops has an open mouth but otherwise its face looks the weakest to me out of Haolonggood's ceratopsids.

[oscars_dinos]

I think its a mixture of scalation being both not fine enough and not defined enough

I don't agree with that.  Also, I like that the Sinoceratops has an open mouth but otherwise its face looks the weakest to me out of Haolonggood's ceratopsids.

After re reading this I think I should clarify, I think some areas of the face are not defined enough but I think other parts of the face are emphasized to much like the beak, eyes, and some scales. I don't really know the best way to word what I'm feeling but the faces seem very toyish, while the bodies don't. I think the sino feels the most consistent as a overall figure (I feel like the face looks just as good as the body). either way that's just how I feel.

[thomasw100]

I think its a mixture of scalation being both not fine enough and not defined enough

I don't agree with that.  Also, I like that the Sinoceratops has an open mouth but otherwise its face looks the weakest to me out of Haolonggood's ceratopsids.

After re reading this I think I should clarify, I think some areas of the face are not defined enough but I think other parts of the face are emphasized to much like the beak, eyes, and some scales. I don't really know the best way to word what I'm feeling but the faces seem very toyish, while the bodies don't. I think the sino feels the most consistent as a overall figure (I feel like the face looks just as good as the body). either way that's just how I feel.

One issue is that they are going back and forth with the fineness of the texture. The Kosmoceratops and Sinoceratops have very fine texture with just the right amount of features which are highlighted by somewhat different texture in parts of the head and randomly distributed feature scales on the body. The Diabloceratops is also quite comparable in this respect.

Then some others in between have overall coarser and more pebbly or corny texture again like the Chasmosaurus and now the Xenoceratops as well, resembling somewhat earlier releases like the Pentaceratops and Nasutoceratops.

This is something I frankly do not understand. It almost feels like different 3D designers are creating these figures independently of each other without some overarching decision making into what direction their style should go and then design each figure consistent in terms of overall style. I mean there should be someone like an art director who in consultation with the team just sets the framework.

[oscars_dinos]

I think its a mixture of scalation being both not fine enough and not defined enough

I don't agree with that.  Also, I like that the Sinoceratops has an open mouth but otherwise its face looks the weakest to me out of Haolonggood's ceratopsids.

After re reading this I think I should clarify, I think some areas of the face are not defined enough but I think other parts of the face are emphasized to much like the beak, eyes, and some scales. I don't really know the best way to word what I'm feeling but the faces seem very toyish, while the bodies don't. I think the sino feels the most consistent as a overall figure (I feel like the face looks just as good as the body). either way that's just how I feel.

One issue is that they are going back and forth with the fineness of the texture. The Kosmoceratops and Sinoceratops have very fine texture with just the right amount of features which are highlighted by somewhat different texture in parts of the head and randomly distributed feature scales on the body. The Diabloceratops is also quite comparable in this respect.

Then some others in between have overall coarser and more pebbly or corny texture again like the Chasmosaurus and now the Xenoceratops as well, resembling somewhat earlier releases like the Pentaceratops and Nasutoceratops.

This is something I frankly do not understand. It almost feels like different 3D designers are creating these figures independently of each other without some overarching decision making into what direction their style should go and then design each figure consistent in terms of overall style. I mean there should be someone like an art director who in consultation with the team just sets the framework.

YES, you perfectly explained how I feel, and I feel like this is why these figures can be decisive at times, I know some people prefer a crunchy texture

[thomasw100]

YES, you perfectly explained how I feel, and I feel like this is why these figures can be decisive at times, I know some people prefer a crunchy texture

Before Haolonggood emerged PNSO has clearly set the standard when it comes to excellence in scientific accuracy and quality of their sculpts and paint application. And when I refer to quality of paint application I mean how well the transitions and blending are done.

Now Haolonggood apparently tries to compete with PNSO and they have really raised their standard over the course of one year. As they have shown by some of their figures, like the Stegosaurus, the sauropods, the ankylosaurs and some of their ceratopsians, they are able to produce figures at a level not much different from PNSO.

Like when I place the Haolonggood Kosmoceratops, Sinoceratops and Diabloceratops next to PNSO Centrosaurus, Triceratops and Styracosaurus for example, it looks like a coherent ensemble of figures. There are some differences, but they are quite minor.

Therefore, it is an enigma to me why Haolonggood does not keep producing figures consistently at the level they have demonstrated many times now that they are capable of producing.