David Silvas New Kickstarter: Articulated Dinosaur TOYS

[acro-man]

I can't wait to drive members insane with the abominations I create with the Build-A-Raptor Kits.

Make me insane, NOW!

[terrorchicken]

I was playing with the velociraptor the other day and it sure is fun to pose.
A question- my raptor has this sort of hole on the lower base of its neck on the top part of its body. It doesn't look like damage but I was wondering if its supposed to be exposed or is the bottom neck piece suppose to cover it?

[Nanuqsaurus]

I was playing with the velociraptor the other day and it sure is fun to pose.
A question- my raptor has this sort of hole on the lower base of its neck on the top part of its body. It doesn't look like damage but I was wondering if its supposed to be exposed or is the bottom neck piece suppose to cover it?

Yeah my Balaur has is too, doesn't seem to have any function.

[LeapingLaelaps]

From what I'm reading, it seems that quality control over this line is very bad.
I ordered 9 figures (wave 1 & 2) and I'll receive them in May (I'm from Europe) but I'm a little bit worried about their quality.. 
I'm start thinking that they are quite overpriced for the low quality they seems to have. 

Out of the 11 raptors I've received so far, only one of them has had "serious" issues (the velociraptor with the deformed jaw I mentioned), and even then if you have the jaws open (which is how a lot of people will be displaying them I'm sure) it's hardly noticeable. Same goes for the black markings not lining up on my FC Dromaeosaurus, if you have the mouth open you can't even tell that it's not aligned correctly.

With how complicated the paint schemes, details and articulations are there's bound to be a few issues with paint scrapes, parts not aligning correctly, etc so I wouldn't be too concerned about it. None of mine are even remotely damaged enough to not be able to displayed or played with

[Sim]

@terrorchicken and Nanuqsaurus: It sounds like you're talking about the same thing I asked David about on Kickstarter when I first saw them.

This is what I asked:

Hi David, what is the hole on the back near the neck, on the Dromaeosaurus and Acheroraptor samples? It can be seen in this photo for example: https://www.facebook.com/BeastSculptKit/photos/a.125819777433236.23596.113487525333128/1839069186108278/?type=3&theater

This is what David replied:

@Sim- not actually holes, those are the pins for the neck swivel joints. There is another on the underside as well. The pin colors are selected to be as inconspicuous as possible and are the only visible pins on the figure.

This is where those comments are: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/creativebeast/beasts-of-the-mesozoic-raptor-series-action-figure/comments?cursor=17421128#comment-17421127

[terrorchicken]

^thanks! I figured it may have to do with the neck joints but wasn't sure if it was supposed to be visible. I really cant find any other issues with my raptor, no chipped paint, and the joints move smoothly now after some initial stiffness. I did notice the under bite of the jaw but its not something that bothers me.

[Abbinormally]

I received my raptors as well (a total of 6 of them) and the only real issue I'm discovering across the board is that any area that was painted with an airbrush can chip very easily. Sadly this is something that could easily be missed in QC unless you really took them out and played with them a lot. I'm not sure if the factory sealant just isn't up to snuff or what but I'm going to try sealing them myself with some krylon color master acrylic this weekend. I will let you guys know how it works!

[LeapingLaelaps]

I received my raptors as well (a total of 6 of them) and the only real issue I'm discovering across the board is that any area that was painted with an airbrush can chip very easily. Sadly this is something that could easily be missed in QC unless you really took them out and played with them a lot. I'm not sure if the factory sealant just isn't up to snuff or what but I'm going to try sealing them myself with some krylon color master acrylic this weekend. I will let you guys know how it works!

Thanks for trying that! I thought about sealing them but wasn't sure what to use

[terrorchicken]

Id seal it if I could be sure it wouldn't end up sticky. Though I only have Mister Super Clear which Ive used on vinyl doll heads and haven't had any issues with it but I dont know if that stuff would work for figures like this. I wonder if Testor's Dullcote would work.

[Tyto_Theropod]

I have a quick question r/e quality issues for anyone who knows David a little better than I do. I received my figures a few days ago and overall I'm very pleased with them, but I'm glad I'm not the only one concerned with quality control. I wouldn't say it's terrible, especially when considering the level of detail in these figures (that's a lot of stuff to check!).
As other members have already observed, the joints are very stiff when the figures are straight out of the box, and so I was moving the ones on my figures to loosen them up. When I got to the Velociraptor, it had one really stiff knee joint that wasn't moving at all. I was gently manipulating it and giving it quick blasts with a hairdryer to loosen things up, and definitely not manhandling it at all, and the lower leg just snapped off. The break is in the joint itself and the ball at the top is still firmly lodged in the upper leg, so repairing it would be well nigh impossible.
Given the circumstances, I'm wondering if my figure has a defect of some kind. Regardless, I was wondering if anyone knew if there was some kind of troubleshooting/money-back policy that would allow me to get a refund or a new figure. I completely understand if there isn't, but if someone could enlighten me that would be great.

On the subject, I also noticed that it says on the box that there are certain joints on the BAR figures that you're not supposed to disassemble. Considering that I'll likely be using a spray-on primer, it made me wonder how people have managed to paint these, and given that I've already managed to break one figure I'm understandably nervous about trying anything risky! So I'd be happy to hear from people who've already painted their raptors.

[ImADinosaurRARR]

Regardless, I was wondering if anyone knew if there was some kind of troubleshooting/money-back policy that would allow me to get a refund or a new figure. I completely understand if there isn't, but if someone could enlighten me that would be great.

I know you could get your money back for the kickstarter poster, so I would assume so. Do you have a Facebook? If not I could always ask for you.

[Sim]

It's nice to see you back, Tyto_Theropod!

I would say your Velociraptor with the broken leg wasn't working as it should, and I think it would be right for you to receive a replacement or a refund.  Looking at recent comments on Kickstarter, I noticed a user called Ymedron also said their Velociraptor's knee was stuck and the leg ended up breaking.  David replied to them saying to send him a message about it and that then he'd take care of it.  Here's a link to the comment David said this in, Ymedron's comment being below it: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/creativebeast/beasts-of-the-mesozoic-raptor-series-action-figure/comments?cursor=19866691#comment-19866690

I'd suggest contacting David about what you've experienced with your figure's leg breaking, to get a replacement or a refund.  I hope you get a good result.

[Abbinormally]

Id seal it if I could be sure it wouldn't end up sticky. Though I only have Mister Super Clear which Ive used on vinyl doll heads and haven't had any issues with it but I dont know if that stuff would work for figures like this. I wonder if Testor's Dullcote would work.

Yeah, I tried some Mr. Super Clear (I'm in the doll hobby as well) and it didn't seem to work. I could still easily chip paint off with a finger nail. I tried the satin krylon color master on one of my build-a-raptors and it seems to have worked really well. I can no longer scratch off lightly drybrushed paint and it seems to have stopped the paint wear on the neck collar. Its the same stuff that David recommended in his build-a-raptor tutorial. I will likely put it on all of my figures once I've touched up some of the paint on them.

[MoarCrossovers]

There's a build-a-raptor tutorial?

[Abbinormally]

On the subject, I also noticed that it says on the box that there are certain joints on the BAR figures that you're not supposed to disassemble. Considering that I'll likely be using a spray-on primer, it made me wonder how people have managed to paint these, and given that I've already managed to break one figure I'm understandably nervous about trying anything risky! So I'd be happy to hear from people who've already painted their raptors.

Yes, if you look up Creative Beasts Studio on Facebook he has a step-by-step photo tutorial on how to paint them.

I actually took apart both of my build-a-raptors in order to paint them. The only parts I didn't disconnect were the upper arms from the torso and the little swivel joint for the base of the neck that's set in the torso piece but everything else I disassembled. I just took a hairdryer and heated the individual joints for a couple minutes until they were decently soft. The only issues I had after doing this was one of my raptors legs is now loose where it connects to the torso and can pop off if moved to far forward in the right way (this is typical of any action figures that are taken apart) and the feet are a bit tricky to get looking right when you put it back together. I had to keep heating the foot to straighten the pieces and then running them under cold water to set them. One of the little joints still has a gap where it connects to the ankle because it refuses to go back in its original position but it is very small and the foot is still functional. 

[terrorchicken]

Id seal it if I could be sure it wouldn't end up sticky. Though I only have Mister Super Clear which Ive used on vinyl doll heads and haven't had any issues with it but I dont know if that stuff would work for figures like this. I wonder if Testor's Dullcote would work.

Yeah, I tried some Mr. Super Clear (I'm in the doll hobby as well) and it didn't seem to work. I could still easily chip paint off with a finger nail. I tried the satin krylon color master on one of my build-a-raptors and it seems to have worked really well. I can no longer scratch off lightly drybrushed paint and it seems to have stopped the paint wear on the neck collar. Its the same stuff that David recommended in his build-a-raptor tutorial. I will likely put it on all of my figures once I've touched up some of the paint on them.

thanks for the tip! is this the sealant David is using?
https://www.amazon.com/Krylon-ColorMaster-Primer-Acrylic-Crystal/dp/B0797XVC65/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1523998356&sr=8-5&keywords=satin+krylon+colormaster

[Abbinormally]

It's actually this stuff. It comes in satin, gloss and flat but it is really toxic stuff so you will need a mask of you don't already have one. https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0009X8LZ4/ref=mp_s_a_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1524008771&sr=8-1-fkmr0&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=satin+krylon+colormaster+acrylic

[terrorchicken]

^thanks, yep I have a mask for when I use MSC!

[UK]

Here's a photo of my 5 raptors that I ordered as part of the original first tranch of pledges.

That's right, I've received nowt. Great to see all the posters showing of theirs but it's a slow process to be sure.

[Minmiminime]

Here's a photo of my 5 raptors that I ordered as part of the original first tranch of pledges.

That's right, I've received nowt. Great to see all the posters showing of theirs but it's a slow process to be sure.

Same..! But, David posted on Instagram that they're finally on their way from China, and he expects us all orders to be fulfilled by this time next month. I hope so!! Given how long it's taken I remain pessimistic about whether the ceratopsian venture will match his ambitions