Safari Ltd.: New for 2018

[Doug Watson]

Actually if you look at an Apatosaurus and a Giraffe I have a theory, (cough) (cough) here it is (cough) (cough) okay the next thing I will say is my theory (COUGH) They are both thin at one end; much, much thicker in the middle and then thin again at the far end. That is the theory that I have and which is mine and what it is, too. 


With apologies to Monty Python

[stargatedalek]

I think birds are probably the best example for sauropod necks, while unlikely sauropod necks were nearly as flexible they have a (more) similar number of vertebrae. Additionally birds and sauropods while fairly distantly related both got their necks from a common ancestor, and are not convergently long-necked as giraffes are.

Even something as stocky seeming in profile as a gull, penguin, auk or a sparrow has a very long neck.

[Patrx]

Actually if you look at an Apatosaurus and a Giraffe I have a theory, (cough) (cough) here it is (cough) (cough) okay the next thing I will say is my theory (COUGH) They are both thin at one end; much, much thicker in the middle and then thin again at the far end. That is the theory that I have and which is mine and what it is, too. 


With apologies to Monty Python

Thank you, Ms. Elk 

On topic, near as I can tell, based on the aforementioned 2014 paper, the neck on the WS Apatosaurus still holds up (no pun intended). I recall that the folks at SV-POW were never really sold on the "straight beam" diplodocid neck posture in the first place. However, it's been a long time since I've looked into it, so I may recall incorrectly.

Interesting to hear that you'd considered the forward nostril placement idea, Doug!

[Neosodon]

I imagine a giraffe would be the best modern animal for a comparison.

Not in the slightest. A giraffe has only seven neck vertebrae, long, spindly limbs that are taller in front, and a relatively tiny tail.

I never said it would be a good comparison. Just the best modern animal to examine because it is the only modern animal today that has a large neck. By dissecting it you may get an idea of the how the cartilage and tissue affects the neck flexibility.

Birds may have allot of neck vertebrate but their necks are hardly a comparison for sauropods. Well maybe birds would work for estimating the vertebral flexibility of a small prosaurapod. But the neck of large sauropods would have been more robust and heavily reinforced to support the weight. It's hard to determine exactly how flexible the neck of a large diplodacid would be but the up and arched back pose you see on cheap toy chinasaur sauropods is highly unlikely. The wild safari Apatosaurus neck pose is within reason I guess but I prefer more conservative neck poses like on on the diplodacus.

Maybe we should move this to another thread.

[Gwangi]

I would imagine that large tortoises are perhaps a better sauropod analogy than giraffes but truly there is nothing alive today like the sauropods. And in the end it's all speculation anyway, no matter the science involved. For that reason the neck posture of any dinosaur toy really doesn't bother me as long as the model is well made, and the WS Apatosaurus is certainly that.

[Faelrin]

I like the turtle and tortoise analogy. Even if there's no real science behind it, my turtle does remind me of a sauropod when he stretches that neck of his out. Yet it's just a slight passing resemblance, as like you said there's nothing else around today that's quite like them (except birds being their theropod cousins).

[microraptorgui]

Doug,

We don't know each other, but for what it's worth, I LOVE your Apatosaurus sculpt.  I also really appreciate how involved you are in checking the primary literature and modeling your figures accordingly.  Keep 'em coming!

[suspsy]

The WS Apatosaurus is still my favourite rendition of the animal.

[Loon]

Maybe we should move this to another thread.

I agree, while on topic to Safari in general, this Apatosaurus discussion isn't really related to the topic of the thread. Mayhaps a new thread about the the Safari Apatosaurus is in order?

[Shonisaurus]

I pass a Spinodude video about the new dinosaurs and prehistoric animals of Safari 2018. Their figures are still packed but you can see how big is the amargasaurus and the beauty of the anzu. Apart from these two figures are the American mastodon and the daeodon.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvy3a4buKyY

[Bokisaurus]

Beautiful new Safari 2018 landed I really love the mastodon.

[Concavenator]

I pass a Spinodude video about the new dinosaurs and prehistoric animals of Safari 2018. Their figures are still packed but you can see how big is the amargasaurus and the beauty of the anzu. Apart from these two figures are the American mastodon and the daeodon.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvy3a4buKyY

That Anzu sure is stunning! 

Anyone knows when will the rest of figures be available?I don't think they ever announced their new releases later than this year.

[Jose S.M.]

I'm crossing my fingers for a Friday reveal this week. Hopefully the other sauropod or the ceratopsian are included... or both, that would be the best!

[Halichoeres]

I'm crossing my fingers for a Friday reveal this week. Hopefully the other sauropod or the ceratopsian are included... or both, that would be the best!

And/or something completely out of left field. There are about 20 items that were either in the video teaser or in the mystery photos that haven't yet been shown. I don't think we'll get 13 prehistorics like last year, but since the Anky wasn't in any teasers, there's at least the possibility that there's stuff yet to come that we have no clue about.

Also, it wouldn't surprise me if this Friday we saw the first batch of CollectA.

[Shonisaurus]

I'm crossing my fingers for a Friday reveal this week. Hopefully the other sauropod or the ceratopsian are included... or both, that would be the best!

And/or something completely out of left field. There are about 20 items that were either in the video teaser or in the mystery photos that haven't yet been shown. I don't think we'll get 13 prehistorics like last year, but since the Anky wasn't in any teasers, there's at least the possibility that there's stuff yet to come that we have no clue about.

Also, it wouldn't surprise me if this Friday we saw the first batch of CollectA.

The Collecta does not surprise me either in fact at http://shop.modellpferdeversand.de it seems that they announce their imminent arrival I passed the link,

http://shop.modellpferdeversand.de/CollectA-Figuren/CollectA-Neuheiten-2018:::2_666.html

[Reptilia]

November is Collecta's month, here come the good stuff guys! And regarding Safari, I dare say the new Anzu is the best prehistoric model they've ever done.

[Ravonium]

OK, my opinion on the dinosaur figures that have been released since my last post:


Anzu: Yes, I'll admit that the neck and leg feathers may look a bit soft, but in my opinion, this is probably the best oviraptorsaur that a major company has released. It'll take Collecta quite a lot of effort to make something that can compete with this. I'm probably getting this one


Amargasaurus: My main problem with the figure is the price compared to the size (and the size), Last year's Diplodocus was longer than this figure, yet it was cheaper. Amargasaurus also wasn't particularly large for a sauropod, so why is this model 15 inches long? I am also not particularly impressed with the head. Other than that, this isn't the worst figure Safari Ltd has ever made. I'm not going to get this one.

[Daspletotyrannus]

Amargasaurus: My main problem with the figure is the size, They should have honestly made last year's Diplodocus as long as this figure. I am also not particularly impressed with the head. Other than that, this isn't the worst figure Safari Ltd has ever made. I'm not going to get this one.

According to their website Diplodocus is 18.5 inches long and 4.5 inches tall. Amargasaurus is 16 inches long and 4.5 inches tall. So Amargasaurus is shorter then Diplodocus and they are the same height. One of my problem with the  Amargasaurus is the price. It is more then the Diplodocus. 

[suspsy]

Who else is becoming impatient for the rest of the 2018 line to be unveiled?

[Reptilia]

Today should be the day for more stuff, hopefully the other sauropod or the ceratopsian will be in the new batch. And Collecta just unveiled five extant figures, so the prehistorics must be next. Pretty soon we'll need a Collecta 2018 thread.