Your proudest catch

[tyrantqueen]

Has there ever been a moment when you've felt particularly proud because you managed to find a rare figure in a place where you didn't expect, or managed to get it for a good price?

These are mine:
- Getting a Battat Acrocanthosaurus as BIN for £35.
-Winning a Invicta Troodon/Stenonychosaurus for £3.50 in a mixed lot of chinasaurs.

Please share your interesting stories

[Invicta Hunter]

I think my proudest moment was when i found my first Invicta colour variant. As we all know they are very hard to find and mostly pop up in dino toy lots on ebay so it's really fun finding one and knowing that most other people have over looked it.
Here's a photo of one that i found.

[Brontozaurus]

I found the Carnegie Deinonychus trio in a comic shop once. Also once at a collector's fair I found a Dino-Riders Dimetrodon (without any of the accessories, mind you) for like $1.

Naturally I now own both of them.

[tyrantqueen]

I think my proudest moment was when i found my first Invicta colour variant. As we all know they are very hard to find and mostly pop up in dino toy lots on ebay so it's really fun finding one and knowing that most other people have over looked it.
Here's a photo of one that i found.

Why were these colour variants actually produced? Is there a special reason?

[Roselaar]

I've had several extremely lucky catches, including:

-Battat Utahraptor for 50 cents at a collectible store. Considering Battat was never released in the Netherlands, this is nothing short of a miracle.

-My first Invicta Troodon (grey base variation): in a lot of 30 random dinosaur figures for 6.50 pounds

-My second Invicta Troodon (brown base variation), in very mint condition: at a small museum for 2 euros, where I also scored two sets of all eight PlayVision Prehistoric Amphibians for one euro per figure. Great day! Especially when I traded one set of PV Amphibians for a set of PV Marine Reptiles.

-MIB TLW Exclusive Dino Tracker Set with Estemmenosuchus and Scutosaurus: 14.50 pounds

-Kenner factory box containing 15 MOC JPS2 dinosaurs (2 Raptors, 2 Spitters, 3 Lycaenops, 4 Pachys and 4 Tanystropheus): 80 dollar

-Extremely rare European variation of the JPS2 Carnotaurus, loose in box: 80 euro. So far only three specimens known at JPtoys.

-Schleich Desmatosuchus at a flea market: 50 cents

-Two separate Ebay lots from the same seller, containing 30 Kaiyodo figures each (so 60 total): about 65 dollar

-Two MOC JP III "Mexican Hybrids", Ornithosuchus and Junior T-Rex, scored on Ebay together for 10.50 dollar

-Loose Dino Riders Series 3 Pachyrhinosaurus: 40 euro

-Loose Dino Riders Series 2 Brontosaurus (the really big guy): 30 euro. This strangely enough has happened to me twice.

-Bunch of Linde figures: Triceratops x2, Dimetrodon x2, Sphenacodon x2, Brontosaurus, Stegosaurus and the rare Rhamphorhynchus: all together at a flea market for 2 euro

-The large AAA Entelodon and Hyaenodon: won them on Ebay together for something like 15 or 20 euro

-Toyway WWD Leallynosaura: won it in an Ebay lot of about 25 assorted dinosaur figures for about 6 pounds

-Happinet's 'The Dinosaur' T-Rex resin model by Shinzen, in box: scored it on a collector's fair for 25 euro

I've had my fair share of luck, but I wouldn't mind more.

[Thundercharge]

I've had several extremely lucky catches, including:

-Battat Utahraptor for 50 cents at a collectible store. Considering Battat was never released in the Netherlands, this is nothing short of a miracle.

-My first Invicta Troodon (grey base variation): in a lot of 30 random dinosaur figures for 6.50 pounds

-My second Invicta Troodon (brown base variation), in very mint condition: at a small museum for 2 euros, where I also scored all eight PlayVision Prehistoric Amphibians for one euro each. Great day!

-MIB TLW Exclusive Dino Tracker Set with Estemmenosuchus and Scutosaurus: 14.50 pounds

-Kenner factory box containing 15 MOC JPS2 dinosaurs (2 Raptors, 2 Spitters, 3 Lycaenops, 4 Pachys and 4 Tanystropheus): 80 dollar

-Extremely rare European variation of the JPS2 Carnotaurus, loose in box: 80 euro. So far only three specimens known at JPtoys.

-Schleich Desmatosuchus at a flea market: 50 cents

-Two separate Ebay lots from the same seller, containing 30 Kaiyodo figures each (so 60 total): about 65 dollar

-Two MOC JP III "Mexican Hybrids", Ornithosuchus and Junior T-Rex, scored on Ebay together for 10.50 dollar

-Loose Dino Riders Series 3 Pachyrhinosaurus: 40 euro

-Loose Dino Riders Series 2 Brontosaurus (the really big guy): 30 euro. This strangely enough has happened to me twice.

-Bunch of Linde figures: Triceratops x2, Dimetrodon x2, Sphenacodon x2, Brontosaurus, Stegosaurus and the rare Rhamphorhynchus: all together at a flea market for 2 euro

-The large AAA Entelodon and Hyaenodon: won them on Ebay together for something like 15 or 20 euro

-Toyway WWD Leallynosaura: won it in an Ebay lot of about 25 assorted dinosaur figures for about 6 pounds

-Happinet's 'The Dinosaur' T-Rex resin model by Shinzen, in box: scored it on a collector's fair for 25 euro

I've had my fair share of luck, but I wouldn't mind more.

Wow, impressive!
I wish some of that kind of good fortune would rub off on me sometime. 

[Primeval12]

My battat tyrannosaurus for $2.99

[suspsy]

Most people here know I put in an order for a Papo Running Tyrannosaurus Rex from Mastermind Toys only to receive the coveted brown version.

I also still have the Invicta Tyrannosaurus Rex my mother bought me back in the 80s'.

[Gwangi]

I've won a lot of good lots on eBay, that is how I do most of my collecting actually. Among those two of my proudest catches were a Battat Dilophosaurus and painted Invicta Schelidosaurus in one and a miniature Battat Dilophosaurus and Utahraptor in another. Nether of those lots cost more than 5-10 bucks.
By far my proudest catch though would have to be my Kenner Tyrannosaurus "Big Red" which I found in an antique/collectable store marked for $45. Not only did I get $10 taken off of but it also turns out the toy was in working condition (made sounds it was supposed to make). Granted it is not the best deal out there (certainly no $3 Battat Tyrannosaurus) but I seldom find dinosaurs offline.

[Thundercharge]

Wow, so many cheap Battats! I hope I get lucky with some sometime. 

[Takama]

my proudest catch?   well im unsure.   the most exspensive dinosaur i have is the  giant t-rex from collecta, and got that with my high school  graduation money, so that was a proud moment for me.

[ZoPteryx]

I got my Battat Amargasaurus and two minis (Gallimimus and Dilophosaurus) for $3 at a garage sale.

My grandmother gave my some dinosaurs for my birthday years ago, she payed $10 dollars total for them at a thrift store.  They were the JP Thrasher Rex, JP Bull Rex, and Carnegie Dilophosaurus and Maiasaura.

Nothing much other than that, although on a non-dinosaur note, I did snag a whole school of Bosemann's Rainbowfish (normally $15 each) for $2 each because the pet store had them misslabeled!

[John]

My proudest catch...that's kinda hard...I would have to say the ones that stuck out most to me would be the first models of my childhood favorites that I had.Finding the Ral Partha pewter Ceratosaurus among others in the Smithsonian's gift shop in 1991 was really special to me.This year,another childhood favorite prehistoric animal of mine turned up,this time in Safari Ltd.'s Wild Safari line (Dimorphodon macronyx) The odds of any particular species in any family actually appearing in a line at all is astronomical,let alone the species I've wanted the most since I was a kid.

Then sometimes there are the models that I would have no idea would end up being so sought after and become so pricy,like the Battat Museum of Science in Boston line that I got when they were new.

[thelordsgym]

My proudest catch is getting the complete set of Large and small Extinct mammals by Playvisions for a mere $75:
http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac246/thelordsgymj/DZ%20Mammals/Multiple%20Companies/PlayvisionsMammals.jpg[/img]]

[Mark1]

I guess this goes under the heading of " almost had". I used to deliver for a company, now I work inside, and I made a delivery to a dentist office and there displayed on a shelf in the kids waiting room was a Battat Rearing Diplodocus! Knowing full well it's worth and collectibility... I calmy proceeded to ask the receptionist if I could have it as I am a collector blah blah blah.... she said no... it's her sons and blah blah blah....sigh... I should've offered her a cash incentive. It was right there... in front of me... standing all alone..... I could've taken it and ran like a banshee.
After I got over my disappointment, I told her what it was and it's worth....
The one that got away.............

[radman]

About 7 or so years ago, a museum in North Carolina held a dino exhibit featuring Acrocathosaurus.  I happened to find out about it somehow and saw on their website that to go with the exhibit, they were selling replicas that appeared to be Battats, so I called them up and ordered two at ~ 18$ apiece.  With shipping, the total came to $45.00, and when they arrived they were indeed two MIB Battat acros.  I put the second up on ebay for a starting price of $18, with a BIN of 45 w/ free shipping.  What the heck, right? The auction lasted 45 minutes before someone snatched it up for the BIN price!  So I essentially got mine for free, minus the 5-6 bucks I paid to ship the 2nd one .  I called the museum to order more, but they they said I had gotten the last two they had, and no more were coming.

[critcho]

I have had some lucky finds too. My best in terms of value is probably my Invicta Baryonyx which I got for 30p at a car boot sale!

I did also have a really proud moment when I bought a lot of dinosaurs on gumtree containing an Invicta Troodon for £25 including Postage.
With the lot were 2 UKRD Apatosaurus and a UKRD stegosaurus, as well as Invicta - Liopleurodon, mamenchisaurus, diplodocus, Apatosaurus, Brachiosaurus, Cetiosaurus, plesiosaurus, glyptodon, muttaburrasaurus, mammoth, Tyrannosaurus, stegosaurus, triceratops, megalosaurus and iguanadon. Also Carnegie Elasmosaurus and old maisura. Some of these were duplicates with figures I already had so I sold some which covered my outlay and managed to keep some of my favourite models as doubles!
I didn't let myself believe that I had a Troodon until I actually got the package home and opened it!

My final proud moment was winning a green Invicta Stegosaurus on eBay. I had been winning for about 4 days only to be pipped at the end. I thought I'd lost but put a final bid in and won with a second to spare! Nice to snipe a sniper!!! 


Generally though I'm always proud of getting a bargain, most of my Carnegie collection is from ebay for 99p or a little over and the quality has been excellent. I love the excitement and waiting for the pack to arrive in the post, tends to bring back great memories of having older figures originally or the ones that you longed for as a child but never got.

[DinoLord]

I can luckily say that I've had many proud catches. For a poor teenager I think my collection is pretty well-developed.




The first lucky catch I had was a lot of random dinos that I got for $40. It included a Battat Trike and Stego, as well as some vintage Carnegies which I then traded. It was initially an auction, and I was worried about how high the bidding would end up going. But in the middle of the night I woke up due to insomnia and decided to check the auction. It suddenly was a BIN of $40, so I snapped it up.

I was lucky enough to get my MIB Battats from a source besides eBay, so I didn't have to pay the exorbitant prices they go for on the bay.

Perhaps one of my greatest snags is my Missing Links woolly rhino. I traded a Dinotales figures for it with someone who wasn't really aware of its value (but to be fair at the time I had never really seen what Missing Links figures went for so I wasn't really aware of its value either).

Buying lots has brought me all my other snags. I once bought a lot of 40 Dinotales figures for $60, and it just happened to include the orange Siamotyrannus as well as some of the Series 4 figures.

I also got a lot with a bunch of painted Invicta Liopleurodons with tags, as well as 2 painted Invicta Plesiosaurus and a painted Invicta Ichthyosaurus w/ tag for a bit less than $40. I made a good amount of profit and some sweet trades with the spares, with the most notable being my MIB WWD Postosuchus.

I also got a good amount of unpainted Invictas, including the blue whale, in a lot on ebay for around $30 or so.

Another one of my crowning achievements is when I bought a lot of dinosaur toys on the bay for $50 shipped. This lot happened to include a bunch of JP items (pretty much all the ones on my lower JP shelf except for the Bull Rex), including both the TLW and Chaos Effect Thrasher Rexes.

[Tyrannax]

Impressive finds, guys.

I remember winning an auction for Bullyland's original red Tyrannosaurus. I paid only $15, and there were no other bidders.

[Spino-rex13]

Everyone's lucky, with the Battats and Invictas. The only thing I could call 'lucky' are:

.My Sue open mouth T. rex found one on Ebay for about $5

. My Carnegie 1st version Oviraptor. I found a picture of it on ebay and it turned out to be from an active listing on ebay. I was so happy but since then I have seen plenty in lots.

. Toyway Utahraptor, it was about $15 cheaper than others on Ebay.