Ultimate Dinosaurs Exhibit

suspsy · August 17, 2015, 01:53:09 PM

Ultimate Dinosaurs is a travelling exhibit centered around dinosaurs from Gondwanaland. I took all these photos at the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto back in 2012.

Pisanosaurus.

Cryolophosaurus.

Massospondylus.

suspsy · August 18, 2015, 02:15:34 PM

Suchomimus.

Ouranosaurus.

Nigersaurus.

Carcharodontosaurus.

Doug Watson · August 18, 2015, 03:09:04 PM

Great shots Suspsy, I wonder if we were there on the same day, like two ships passing in the night? Do you have more coming or would you like me to fill in some of the others?

suspsy · August 18, 2015, 06:06:53 PM

That's very kind of you, Doug, but I have lots more pics to go. I just like to spread out the posts.

I don't recall exactly when I visited the exhibit. Sometime in the summer, probably. Given how many times I went to the CMN back in the days, it is quite possible that we crossed paths back in the day. It's a pity they treated you poorly. I went there back in July to check out the Animals Inside Out special exhibit. Loved it!

Doug Watson · August 18, 2015, 06:19:18 PM

Quote from: suspsy on August 18, 2015, 06:06:53 PM
That's very kind of you, Doug, but I have lots more pics to go. I just like to spread out the posts.

I don't recall exactly when I visited the exhibit. Sometime in the summer, probably. Given how many times I went to the CMN back in the days, it is quite possible that we crossed paths back in the day. It's a pity they treated you poorly. I went there back in July to check out the Animals Inside Out special exhibit. Loved it!

I figured you might have more but thought I would ask just in case.

I hate to say it but I haven't been back to CMN since my last contract working on the the last renovations on the first half of the building. I haven't seen the second half now that they have opened it. A real shame since growing up I was there all the time and then worked there for 17 years. If you ever saw anyone doing maintenance to or installations of any of the displays between 1976 to 1981 or 1985 to 1997 that may have been me.
Hey you know in the end it was the best thing that could have happened to me, I have never worked for anyone that appreciates my work the way Safari Ltd does and I would never have done this many sculptures for CMN.

suspsy · August 19, 2015, 01:12:31 PM

Majungasaurus attacking a juvenile Rapetosaurus.

Carnotaurus and Amargasaurus.

I really, REALLY want this one made as a toy.

Patrx · August 19, 2015, 03:07:29 PM

Looks like an impressive exhibit! I like the way the displays are done.

suspsy · August 19, 2015, 05:30:04 PM

I especially liked how the names were done. Really easy for casual museum goers to identify what they're looking at.

Jetoar · August 19, 2015, 07:27:54 PM

Really beautiful exhibition

Doug Watson · August 19, 2015, 07:48:50 PM

Quote from: suspsy on August 19, 2015, 05:30:04 PM
I especially liked how the names were done. Really easy for casual museum goers to identify what they're looking at.

Did you try the special 3D imaging app that was available for certain dinosaurs if you had an iPad?

suspsy · August 20, 2015, 12:09:46 PM

I didn't have an iPad with me, but I did try it out on one of the units they had set up in the exhibit. Very clever. It's something more museums should incorporate into their exhibits.

suspsy · August 20, 2015, 12:18:05 PM

Time for the final gallery. First, Giganotosaurus. This was the first time I'd seen a mounted skeleton of one.

And here's the only non-Gondwana resident in the exhibit, the unstoppable Tyrannosaurus rex. This one is based on AMNH 5027.

Convergent evolution is an amazing thing.

And that's Ultimate Dinosaurs, folks!

Doug Watson · August 20, 2015, 02:38:07 PM

Quote from: suspsy on August 20, 2015, 12:09:46 PM
I didn't have an iPad with me, but I did try it out on one of the units they had set up in the exhibit. Very clever. It's something more museums should incorporate into their exhibits.

My wife had her iPad, she was able to save some of the 3D appearing images that were generated. As you know they were based on the Julius Csotonyi artwork that graced the backdrops to some of the mounts. They even had one spot out on the sidewalk in front of the ROM that generated a dinosaur image.

suspsy · August 20, 2015, 02:44:32 PM

Nice!

I hope that the exhibit makes its way to the CMN someday.

And on a slightly unrelated topic, I wish they'd scrounge up the money to get a T. rex skeleton mounted outside the front entrance (since there really isn't any space for one indoors). Ottawa is the national capital of Canada, after all. We should have a representation of the tyrant king, especially given that it was a Canadian dinosaur. A cast of Scotty or Black Beauty would be a dream come true.

Viking Spawn · August 24, 2015, 05:07:32 AM

Thanks for all of the great photos! I especially liked the Giganotosaurus and T-Rex displays!!!!

suspsy · August 25, 2015, 03:33:19 PM

Quote from: Viking Spawn on August 24, 2015, 05:07:32 AM
Thanks for all of the great photos! I especially liked the Giganotosaurus and T-Rex displays!!!!

You are welcome. I like how the display highlights the differences between the two animals. The Giganotosaurus is huge, but the T. rex is clearly the heftier and stronger of the two.

stargatedalek · August 25, 2015, 04:41:52 PM

I remember this display! I was lucky enough to be in Toronto at the time.

I'm with you on Austroraptor Suspy, I want a dromaeosaur-stork figure!

suspsy · August 25, 2015, 05:44:48 PM

Quote from: stargatedalek on August 25, 2015, 04:41:52 PM
I remember this display! I was lucky enough to be in Toronto at the time.

I'm with you on Austroraptor Suspy, I want a dromaeosaur-stork figure!

I really love how dainty Austroraptor is for a dromaeosaur. Sure, it's huge, but it has tiny teeth, tiny arms, and even tiny killing claws. It's such a contrast from say, Utahraptor, although I have no doubt it could kill a human being with great ease.

suspsy · July 30, 2016, 02:24:36 PM

The Ultimate Dinosaurs exhibit is currently on at the Canadian Museum of Nature until Sept. 7. Sadly, it's not as impressive as it was when I saw it at the ROM in Toronto three years ago. The Prestosuchus, Massospondylus, Cryolophosaurus, and Tyrannosaurus rex are absent, and I overheard more than one child complaining about the lack of the tyrant king. Just goes to show that there's no substitute for the best!

Still, I did have a good time, as did the friends I was with. I was especially happy to get more shots of the Austroraptor, my favourite mount in the exhibit. Oh, and the gift shop selection of dinosaur toys was abysmal, as is usually the case. Anyhoo . . .

Simosuchus.

Rahonavis.

Majungasaurus and Rapetosaurus.

Jose S.M. · July 30, 2016, 02:47:18 PM

I haven't seen the older pictures, they are really good and the exhibition was amazing I think. Too bad about the absents, specially Tyrannosaurus, because even if T-rex it's everywhere, the display against the Giganotosaurus was a good way to make it "meaningfull" to have it, no just for the sake of having T-rex. And I like that Simosuchus !

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Ultimate Dinosaurs Exhibit