CollectA 2015 Spinosaurus' models and WS Sauropelta are Awarded-Best of 2015

[PaleoMatt]

I'm going to order Sauropelta in honour! I already own the deluxe spino. Actually I take something back, I'm going to get the Nasutoceratops, Sauropelta and Archaeopteryx! Since I have the velo and yutyrannus already.

[stargatedalek]

I must say I'm actually rather disappointed that the shrink wrapping overly-crocodile-influenced trio got a tie for first place, they are certainly sculpted beautifully but alas they are far from the pinnacle of scientific accuracy. I think CollectA had other figures far more deserving of this win than their Spinosaurus trio, but I'm very glad to see Doug's lovely Sauropelta get in first place.

[Blade-of-the-Moon]

The sauropleta was certainly deserving of a win, with CollectA , though I applaud their keeping up to date, I rather thought their Guidraco was the best of their batch this year.  I mean the Spinos technically were supposed to be 2016 right?

[suspsy]

Personally, I think both the Feathered T. rex and the Guidraco are better toys than the Spino trio, but I'm still pleased with the win.

Also, I know at least some of the PT staff are savagely opposed to the notion of feathers on the tyrant king.

[Doug Watson]

Also, I know at least some of the PT staff are savagely opposed to the notion of feathers on the tyrant king.

The voting is limited to subscribers only of which there are some 10,000. Actually it was suggested staff break the tie and Mike said he didn't want to.

[Concavenator]

I must say I'm actually rather disappointed that the shrink wrapping overly-crocodile-influenced trio got a tie for first place, they are certainly sculpted beautifully but alas they are far from the pinnacle of scientific accuracy. I think CollectA had other figures far more deserving of this win than their Spinosaurus trio, but I'm very glad to see Doug's lovely Sauropelta get in first place.

1) The Spinosaurus are not shrink wrapped
2)The crocodilian influence makes sense having in mind Spinosaurus' habitat and lifestyle.
3)The winner is not only the Sauropelta but the Spinos as well.

[Doug Watson]

3)The winner is not only the Sauropelta but the Spinos as well.

Maybe you could change the name of the thread to reflect that then. 

[Concavenator]

3)The winner is not only the Sauropelta but the Spinos as well.

Maybe you could change the name of the thread to reflect that then. 

Don't know how to do that,please someone,change it 😅

[Dilopho]

3)The winner is not only the Sauropelta but the Spinos as well.

Maybe you could change the name of the thread to reflect that then. 

Don't know how to do that,please someone,change it 😅

Only you can change it. Just go to the first post you made in this thread and edit it- then you can also edit the title.

[Concavenator]

3)The winner is not only the Sauropelta but the Spinos as well.

Maybe you could change the name of the thread to reflect that then. 

Don't know how to do that,please someone,change it 😅

Only you can change it. Just go to the first post you made in this thread and edit it- then you can also edit the title.

Done 👌

[Doug Watson]

Maybe you could change the name of the thread to reflect that then. 

Done 👌
[/quote]

Thank you.

[A.Garcia]

I'm glad to see recognition for the Sauropelta. It is one of my all-time favorites (even though I haven't owned it for long), and a real benchmark for quality in this type of toy figure. Right now I can't say I'm a fan of the two Spinosaurus quadrupeds, but the swimmer seems rather graceful and well-done (being able to stand on a surface but still appear to be swimming/suspended).

[Roselaar]

I'll allow this. The trio of Spinosaurs are great figures, though the Sauropelta beats them in terms of detail.

Personally I would have gone for the Collecta Guidraco, now that is a truly daring figure (obscure species, large figure, poseable mouth, great price and what not).

[Dinomike]

Congratulations to Doug and CollectA! I own copies of both of these winning sculptures and they are stunning!

[stargatedalek]

I must say I'm actually rather disappointed that the shrink wrapping overly-crocodile-influenced trio got a tie for first place, they are certainly sculpted beautifully but alas they are far from the pinnacle of scientific accuracy. I think CollectA had other figures far more deserving of this win than their Spinosaurus trio, but I'm very glad to see Doug's lovely Sauropelta get in first place.

1) The Spinosaurus are not shrink wrapped
2)The crocodilian influence makes sense having in mind Spinosaurus' habitat and lifestyle.
3)The winner is not only the Sauropelta but the Spinos as well.

1) They are very distinctively shrinkwrapped. CollectA does it a lot more often than one might think what with all the complaints about giant hips. They should not have thin Jurassic Park style sails let alone a "spiderweb" of flesh between them. This would have been not only impractical but actually painful for an animal to have on it.
2) It's an artistic element, not scientific. Spinosaurus would probably not have behaved like a crocodilian at all given that it seems to be built as an aquatic (even bottom dwelling) pursuit predator and would fair very sorely as a surface based ambush predator. It does give them a very nice aesthetic, but that doesn't make it any less speculative to make them look crocodilian.
3) I addressed that very clearly, I wouldn't have even said anything otherwise.

I just intended to give my thoughts on the figures but I can see an insistence on creating a negative atmosphere for disagreement so I will give Doug a final congrats and leave this thread for the time being.

[suspsy]

To be perfectly blunt, stargate, you're really not in a position to make backhanded comments considering that you're the one who created the negative atmosphere in the first place with your criticism of the spinosaurs. Surely you didn't think your words would go unchallenged.

[Arul]

Totally agreed, glad i have the sauropelta already. Swimming spino coming soon

[Bucklander]

To be perfectly blunt, stargate, you're really not in a position to make backhanded comments considering that you're the one who created the negative atmosphere in the first place with your criticism of the spinosaurs. Surely you didn't think your words would go unchallenged.

I don't think that's fair. Posting an opinion is surely (at least (a very big) part of) what this forum (any forum) is about. On this matter I have no opinion myself as I do not yet (though I intend to) own the Spinosaurus figures and, as we all know, figures often look very much better "in person" than they do in photos (especially stock photos).

It certainly isn't my intention to fan a flame here. Hopefully the opposite. I've seen, in more than one place elsewhere, animosity develop because members were not simply happy to agree to disagree. If Stargatedalek were to keep pushing her opinion over a number of replies, without warrant, there might be room for reprimand, but all she did was express her disappointment, and state the reasons for that disappointment. Free speech.

Of course, you have every right to "challenge" the reasoning, or the assumptions that form the basis of that reasoning, all of which lies behind her opinion, but, given there is no objective right or wrong here, so much is dependent on taste or beliefs, for which, though we may assign a probability, we cannot know for certain (to what extent are the skulls shrink wrapped, was Sinosaurus a bottom dweller or a swimmer, etc.) not the opinion itself.

I suspect Suspy, and please don't be upset by this, that you are a little overly defensive of CollectA in general, and Spinosaurus in particular. It was very surprising that CollectA brought out, not one but three revised Sinos, so shortly after publication of the new data, and for that alone, they deserve credit (which they have received) but do the Sinos deserve this win? It's a silly question, if it's a popular poll. Of course they do. Popular polls are not necessarily reflective of truth. What is the best figure according to a popular poll? The most popular! And popularity isn't always quality. Do I think it (CollectA Spino) is (the best)? Won't know until I hold it and examine it up close. I do know, I think the Sauropelta (and the Nasutoceratops) did deserve it (congatulations Doug, and thank you very much for very many truly beautiful figures), as did the Guidraco, feathered T. rex and I'm sure, one or 2 others. All these polls are just a bit of fun. I suggest we see them that way and not worry too much should someone feel differently about our favorite figures than we do.

BTW. I've been checking out your collection thread Suspy. Very nice!

Please all, forgive the length of this post.   

[suspsy]

I'm afraid you completely misread the point of my post, Bucklander. I'm not telling stargate or anyone else that they shouldn't share their opinion if they so desire. I've never advocated such totalitarianism in my life. What's more, stargate raised some salient points in her criticism. The Spinosaurus trio are fantastic toys, but they do have their share of issues, not the least being that they are based on a tenuous reconstruction that a good many paleontologists are justifiably skeptical of. I said that myself in my review of the two Standard versions.

No, what I objected to was stargate's rather backhanded claim that Concavenator was guilty of having "an insistence on creating a negative atmosphere for disagreement" simply because he had the audacity to challenge her statements. That's quite unfair, and it doesn't matter whether or not she can back up her words with science. The fact is, she made negative comments about the toys---in a thread celebrating them---and then when someone called her on it, she accused them of fostering negativity. That is the proverbial pot calling the kettle black.

If you want to criticize a certain toy, go right ahead. If you can back up your argument, great. But don't go complaining when other people call you on your complaining.

Hope you understand now.

[amargasaurus cazaui]

Just  my thoughts here, but as popular as Spinosaurus is given the recent reconstruction and even prior the popularity the dinosaur had been given.....I found it rather high praise that Doug's model of the Sauropelta still battled the guy to a share of first place despite being a non theropod, and somewhat...to the average person, unknown species.It speaks well for his work I think and I am proud of that for him , and for having the chance to own the figure itself.  I see that as nothing but postive....
        I did not purchase the spinosaurus figures and so I will not comment regarding the pros and cons , the ins or outs. I steer clear of most theropods, as a personnal choice.
   I did see something on Facebook that made me wonder a bit...someone posted a cartoon of the reconstructed spinosaurus asking why it could not get any love, and a promiment paleo figure, who shall remain nameless, came along and posted......because you are a fraud!...ouch.....it will be interesting to see the coming years how this spinosaurus stands up to scrutiny. I myself am split down the middle, personally