David Silvas New Kickstarter: Articulated Dinosaur TOYS

[Silvanusaurus]

I'm not sure why, but I'm not really feeling these mini-raptors, there's something a bit underwhelming and perhaps inelegant about their appearance. Maybe it's just me. I'm not really too dissapointed any more that I couldn't afford to get them. Maybe it's the currently blank eyes... Or the compromise of articulation at this smaller scale... Though I expect they'll spring into life much more when they're painted. 

[Fembrogon]

Well, I finally figured out a payment method, so I just made my order: Velociraptor, Dromaeosaurus, Balaur, Saurornitholestes and Pyroraptor (all original versions). It's a lot, I know, but I figured, hell, might as well grab 'em now. The Buitreraptor and Microraptor were enticing, but for the price I figured I'd get more out of the regular raptors.
I did get charged $15 for shipping, though, so maybe I really did order too many? 

[Sim]

I'm not sure why, but I'm not really feeling these mini-raptors, there's something a bit underwhelming and perhaps inelegant about their appearance. Maybe it's just me. I'm not really too dissapointed any more that I couldn't afford to get them. Maybe it's the currently blank eyes... Or the compromise of articulation at this smaller scale... Though I expect they'll spring into life much more when they're painted.

I don't think sculpting had finished on the accessory pack theropods in any photos of them that have been shown, due to what David said in the descriptions of the photos on Facebook.  I think the accessory pack theropods look promising so far, and I'm hopeful they'll look better when sculpting is finished on them (and they are painted).

[Flaffy]

New package art of Juvenile Troodon.

[Faelrin]

I love how that artwork turned out. I kind of already liked it when I saw the sneak peek of it though. The artwork just screams Skyrim to me as well (the trees and grey mountains of course). That's because I love Skyrim though.

Anyways that artwork really shows off how David described the mountain pack base when I asked him at JerseyFest (blending the Dromaeosaurus' base colors into it, so a bit of the snow and green in other words). I'm really digging those snowy owl colors used here for this critter too. If I can only get one pack, this is the one. It was my number one choice to begin with, but this helps to solidify it further. Might even look good alongside extant animal figures as well.

[Sim]

I personally don't like it when "scientific accuracy" is used only as a selling point. (which is not the case here)

The tibia issue could've been easily solved by using the second tibia type quota as the longer one, instead of making slight changes to the feather sculpt. David had access to google like the rest of us, so he must know that the proportions of the 'raptors', so it shouldn't come to a surprise that different 'raptors' had different body proportions.
I just feel that if David planned to add the stretch goal 'raptors', he probably could've sculpted a wider range of body proportions.

The first three raptors could've featured:
a short tibia, swift body shape 'raptor'      [velociraptor, saurornitholestes, tsaagan]
a long tibia, differently proportioned body (either head or body) 'raptor'       [dromaeosaurus, zhenyuanlong]
a big winged/extra fluffy 'raptor (could mix and match the bodies and tibia types from the previous two)

To be fair, David never knew if the stretch goal raptors would've made it or not, so I can't really blame him for using the parts made for the first 3 'raptors' to construct the rest of the line.
BotM is still a fabulous line of figures. But once again, scientific accuracy is a major selling point of this line, and some inaccuracies I just can't look pass, I'm sorry.

Regarding the bolded parts:  David did plan to add the stretch goal raptors.  The concept art for all the main line raptors except Linheraptor was posted on the Creative Beast Facebook page before David painted the first figure (Velociraptor m.) and also before he started making the second figure (Atrociraptor).  The only main line raptor that I think didn't have its concept art shown until the Kickstarter had begun is Linheraptor.  While parts from the first three raptors (Velociraptor, Atrociraptor and Tsaagan) were used for later raptors, David did make a number of new parts that were only used in the stretch goal raptors, as can be seen in the latest parts map below:



Personally, I would've been happy for the Dromaeosaurus to have the same unfeathered toe parts as all the others.  I think pretty much any other new part would've been better than those feathered toe parts.  I noticed the only type of part that's unique for every genus is the top head part.  All the other parts used by the first three raptors are used by stretch goal raptors, except the Atrociraptor's lower jaw.  I know it was planned to be used for others but it's interesting that in the end it was only used for Atrociraptor.

It's true that David didn't know if the stretch goal raptors would've been unlocked at first, but they were all unlocked before sculpting had begun for the fifth raptor (Balaur).  When I consider all the things I've mentioned so far in this post, I think David would make new parts if he felt it was worth doing.  I think David has done a very good job with this series, even if there is a small number of things regarding the main raptors' parts that I would've liked to have been done differently.

[Flaffy]

New KS update, lockdown date exptended.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/creativebeast/beasts-of-the-mesozoic-raptor-series-action-figure/posts/1692006

It's going to be a pass for me regarding the accessory packs, gonna save money for the second production run.

[Victoria's Cantina]

New KS update, lockdown date exptended.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/creativebeast/beasts-of-the-mesozoic-raptor-series-action-figure/posts/1692006

It's going to be a pass for me regarding the accessory packs, gonna save money for the second production run.

What's this second production run you speak of?

[Flaffy]

New KS update, lockdown date exptended.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/creativebeast/beasts-of-the-mesozoic-raptor-series-action-figure/posts/1692006

It's going to be a pass for me regarding the accessory packs, gonna save money for the second production run.

What's this second production run you speak of?

David stated that he wanted to do a sencond production run, although not confirmed yet, there is a high chance of it happening.

[Flaffy]

New image of buitreraptor
Why do I get the feeling that the head/snout is too short?

[spinosaurus1]

i don't think it's too short. i think it's too deep. the sculpt of the skull looks to be way taller in build compared to buitreraptor's thin, graceful jaws

[Sim]

@ FlaffyRaptors and spinosaurus1:  I had the same thoughts at first, but I did some comparisons and I think it's probably just the angle and that it has lips, and that it isn't shrink-wrapped.  It seems to compare well with the Buitreraptor skulls in the photos on the Buitreraptor Wikipedia page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buitreraptor

[Thylacosmilus]

News photos comparing size of BoM with the Resaurus (toysmith)  figures:

[Dinoguy2]

i don't think it's too short. i think it's too deep. the sculpt of the skull looks to be way taller in build compared to buitreraptor's thin, graceful jaws

Yeah, still looks like Austroraptor, not Buitreraptor. Buitreraptor jaws look like a pair of chopsticks. Incredibly long and thin.

[Flaffy]

Accurate or not this one is an easy pass for me.
Better spend it on the bigger raptors.

[terrorchicken]

I have that Resaurus velociraptor... wow what a difference.

[Flaffy]

New image of buitreraptor. This angle looks more slim and stuff. Still not tempted.

[Flaffy]

New image of mononykus
What do you guys think of the buitreraptor and the mononykus so far?

[Faelrin]

I think they are cute at least, but I can't wait to see what they look like painted. The Mononykus head looks more beaky now too.

[Halichoeres]

I'm excited to finally have an alvarezsaur in my collection.