David Silvas New Kickstarter: Articulated Dinosaur TOYS

[Flaffy]

New video showcasing all the 16 'raptor' figure prototypes during JerseyFest.
https://www.facebook.com/113487525333128/videos/1462843037064230/

[Victoria's Cantina]

Just when I keep thinking I know what Raptors I want, I start gravitating toward another (and another). I may just give in and buy a couple extra ones I wasn't really planning on. I suppose if I didn't, I'd probably spend the money on less impressive looking things anyway.

[Flaffy]

Don't worry, I've been in that situation as well. (probably in it still, "I want it... I want it not... I want it... I want it not...")
This video really helped me make my final decisions.
The zhenyuanlong is different enough from the balaur to make me want to purchase both of them (a big fan of that fabulous diamond shaped tail). Still a little bugged about the short tibia, but the zhenyuanlong is still a must for me.
The tsaagan's tail looks very long, surprisingly. The Linheraptor is chunkier than expected. The Velociraptor o. still looks weird with the random white feathers on it's wings and tail, could've been applied better IMO.
Really digging the colours of FC dromaeosaurus and FC saurornitholestes, but not enough to make me purchase them.

[Silvanusaurus]

I'm now finding it so hard to decide between these two options... do I sell my left arm... or my right leg?

[spinosaurus1]

sell the leg

[Dobber]

Didn't  David say in the comments section of the Kickstarter the the Velocirator O. would have the coloring fixed? I really thought I remember something about that being addressed when people were commenting on some of the weirdness with the random white feathers. Anyone else remember this? If so, I wonder if David forgot about that.

Chris

[Sim]

Didn't  David say in the comments section of the Kickstarter the the Velocirator O. would have the coloring fixed? I really thought I remember something about that being addressed when people were commenting on some of the weirdness with the random white feathers. Anyone else remember this? If so, I wonder if David forgot about that.

Chris

I remember it was brought up that the colouration of the feathers of the figures Matt Holt had painted at that point, Saurornitholestes s. and Velociraptor o., didn't look realistic due to randomly coloured feathers.  It was brought up more than once, and David did respond.  Here's what I remember:

It was brought up for the Saurornitholestes in the comments on this update, and in his last reply David said he will take it into consideration for the paint master parts: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/creativebeast/beasts-of-the-mesozoic-raptor-series-action-figure/posts/1582859

It was discussed again later in the main comments section, with Velociraptor o. being used as an example.  In David's last reply about this he told me, "And as far as the new paint ups go- have no worries, you won't see any more random colored feathers. "  Here's a link to that comment, the previous comments about it can be seen below it - the first being from Katie Bausemer on July 8: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/creativebeast/beasts-of-the-mesozoic-raptor-series-action-figure/comments?cursor=13908066#comment-13908065

So it looks like any changes to the paintjobs of the Saurornitholestes s. and Velociraptor o. would happen in the production stage.

[Dobber]

Yup, that's what I was remembering. Glad I wasn't the only one remembering that, thanks Sim. Hopefully David will still have those changes made. I'm also very glad Matt's paint ups got ALOT better IMO.

So are you as jazzed about S. Langstoni as I am Sim? You and I had a hand in that one as you suggested the species and I suggested the color and crest. I am so excited to get these figures next summer!

Chris

[Faelrin]

So of all the dromaeosaurid species represented in this line, which are the ones that have the least fragmentary remains? I know there's Velociraptor and Zhenyuanlong which are pretty much complete, but any others near completion that I've missed with my researching? The reason I'm wondering this is because I think knowing would help me to decide what others to get (aside from the goshawk and kestrel Dromaeosaurus, and the kickstarter exclusive Velociraptor I've settled on). I suppose this includes the environment accessory pack species as well. I'll keep trying to research though.

[Archinto]

Decided to finally lock down my survey. Decided onthe Velociraptor Mongoliensis & Osmolskae, Dromeosaurus winter colors and sauronitholestes in roadrunner colors. Im pretty excited! They even give you time until the final backerkit survey lockdown to add additional items too..... My wallet told me no more than these four..... lol I would love to have all of them tho..... :3

[Sim]

So of all the dromaeosaurid species represented in this line, which are the ones that have the least fragmentary remains? I know there's Velociraptor and Zhenyuanlong which are pretty much complete, but any others near completion that I've missed with my researching? The reason I'm wondering this is because I think knowing would help me to decide what others to get (aside from the goshawk and kestrel Dromaeosaurus, and the kickstarter exclusive Velociraptor I've settled on). I suppose this includes the environment accessory pack species as well. I'll keep trying to research though.

As far as I know, this is how much each of the 'raptors' in this series are known from:

Velociraptor mongoliensis: Skeleton is basically completely known.
Velociraptor osmolskae: Only known from a part of the snout.
Atrociraptor: Basically only known from most of the front of its jaws.
Tsaagan: Known from a head, neck and shoulder.
Saurornitholestes sullivani: Known from a piece of skull.
Saurornitholestes langstoni: An almost complete, but currently undescribed, specimen has been said to belong to this species.  The main thing missing from this specimen is most of the tail.
Balaur: White parts in this image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Balaur.png
Adasaurus: Most of the skeleton seems to be known, the main things that appear to be missing are the snout and forelimbs.
Dromaeosaurus: Known from most of the head, a finger bone and some foot bones.
Acheroraptor: Only known from partial upper and lower jaws.
Zhenyuanlong: Known from an almost complete skeleton that's missing the last half of its tail.  Feathering is also known for Zhenyaunlong.
Pyroraptor: Bones mentioned in this image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pyroraptor_fossil_01.png
Linheraptor: Most of the skeleton is known, main missing parts are back vertebrae and back of tail.

Buitreraptor: Most of the skeleton is known, main missing parts are bits of the head, hand and foot, and the back of the tail.
Mononykus: A lot of the skeleton is known, main missing parts appear to be the tail and some of the head.
Microraptor: Skeleton is basically completely known.  Also, feathering and even feather colouration is known for Microraptor.
Juvenile Troodon and dromaeosaurids, and nestling 'raptors': I don't know, it might depend on what David bases them on.

[Faelrin]

Thank you. That was extremely helpful. I'm leaning on the regular Velociraptor and Zhenyuanlong as the additions for now, beyond the other three I've picked. Once the accessory packs are done, then I'll know for sure of those to get, and any other figures to add on.

[Victoria's Cantina]

As much as I like the original three (Velociraptor, Atrociraptor, Tsaagan), none of them are among my favorite designs. I pledged for Tsaagan and did three add-on raptors and one environment pack initially. I wish it was allowable to change from one of those original three to something else.

[Flaffy]

new package art for the Desert Accessory Pack. Featuring mononykus.
Is the snout a bit too wide and chunky? Shouldn't it's mouth resemble a bird's beak rather than dromaeosaurs?

[stargatedalek]

The neck seems to short and stocky and the head seems to large as well.

[Sim]

There are some other posts I'm going to reply to, like Chris's, but for now I'm just going to reply regarding the package art.  This is Scott Hartman's Mononykus skeletal: http://scotthartman.deviantart.com/art/Monovuuia-Shuvonykus-540255608

Comparing the package art to it, the snout does look different, although apparently all that's known of Mononykus's snout is a part of the right maxilla and a tooth.  The closely related Shuvuuia does have a snout very much like the one in Scott Hartman's Mononykus skeletal though.

What's more of a problem to me is that in the Wetlands package art the Buitreraptor's head is inaccurate to known remains of Buitreraptor.  I really like almost everything about the Wetlands pack package art, but I'm very disappointed by how the Buitreraptor's head looks as it doesn't look like the head of Buitreraptor at all.  I didn't say anything about it as I didn't want to cause any upset or sound too critical.  Today though I placed a see-through version of Buitreraptor's skull over the package art and the snout in the package art is far too short and the nostril should be closer to the start of the snout.



I would like it if the package art was accurate, but I really hope the Buitreraptor figure will be accurate at least.  I've made a comment about this on the Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/creativebeast/beasts-of-the-mesozoic-raptor-series-action-figure/comments?cursor=14404021#comment-14404020

[Dinoguy2]

I wouldn't worry about sounding critical. There's literally no excuse for getting these paintings so blatantly wrong. No research seems to have been done at all, let alone a 5 second Google search. Did the artist draw these based on written descriptions? That doesn't even make sense because any written description of Mononykus would surely mention its characteristic snout, which is not only long but tube shaped like an anteater (and yes, that skull is now referred to Shuvuuia, but most sources haven't caught up to that fact and anyway, there's no reason to think Mononykus would be so different).

And, It almost looks like they mixed up Buitreraptor and Austroraptor. Shamefully inaccurate paintings.

[Sim]

I don't know why the artist made Buitreraptor's snout look like that.  Searching for Buitreraptor on the internet, such as on Google images or its Wikipedia page, will immediately bring up images that show its snout doesn't look like that.  I agree that the one in the package art looks more like Austroraptor than Buitreraptor.  I find it really weird because the artist clearly puts a lot of effort and skill into his package art which mostly looks amazing.

Thanks for your thoughts, Dinoguy2.  I do think it's best to be honest about these things.

[Flaffy]

The artist is Jonathan Kuo. While he is very good with colours, not so much in accuracy. The primaries on most of the 'raptors' aren't on the second finger, but on it's wrists it seems. The original *now updated* adasaurus and dromaeosaurus package art doesn't have primaries at all. (Or the wrist-primaries are tucked in, revealing the inaccurate bare fingers)
For the buitreraptor, one out oof two things might have happened. Either the artist didn't do his research or he ran out of space as the snout was very long. But there is no excuse for the mononykus.
Hopefully David will do a quick 5 second google search and do justice for these two.

[Flaffy]

Since this project has a lot of followers now, I hope there aren't any extreme cult members that will bash you for talking about accuracy and asking for your credentials... I also hope David won't be drowned in all the praise, but I have faith that David will not.