New DinoToyBlog entries

[DinoToyForum]

http://dinotoyblog.com/2014/06/15/olorotitan-collecta/

[Gwangi]

The Deluxe Carcharodontosaurus gets a review!
http://dinotoyblog.com/2014/06/16/carcharodontosaurus-deluxe-prehistoric-collection-by-collecta/

[Takama]

I'm kinda surprised at the number of collecta models that are getting reviewd.      (I'm talking about the ones that came out years ago).   I'm still trying to practice my writeing so Dr admin don't have to take a day to edit.      Gwangi. You are one of my favorite reveiwers, I like how you took the opertunity to review something, evean though its something you did not want(I'm talking about the carnotaur). I'm also glad to see someone review the tamba before it gets scarce and nobody have time to review it or forget about it.

[Simon]

Thanks for the tip.  Very good reviews indeed - the Collecta Carcharodontosaurus review contains some incredible photos-can't wait for Martin to paint it up....

[Gwangi]

I'm kinda surprised at the number of collecta models that are getting reviewd.      (I'm talking about the ones that came out years ago).   I'm still trying to practice my writeing so Dr admin don't have to take a day to edit.      Gwangi. You are one of my favorite reveiwers, I like how you took the opertunity to review something, evean though its something you did not want(I'm talking about the carnotaur). I'm also glad to see someone review the tamba before it gets scarce and nobody have time to review it or forget about it.

Thanks Takama, glad you liked my review. I decided to review that Carnotaurus simply because I had it in hand. Making lemon-aid out of lemons sort of thing. That review was supposed to be humorous but it may have come across as being bitter. I don't know.

Simon, thanks for the compliment regarding my photos. I'm particularly fond of the last one myself.

[Pawnosuchus]

I wish someone would review the Collecta Mapusaurus. I keep seeing comments in various threads about what an abomination it is, so I'd like to see someone with some expertise explain it. I understand that the figure didn't exactly match the pre-released photos but from what I can see the arms are a bit smaller and the posture is more horizontal. What am I missing?

[tyrantqueen]

I wish someone would review the Collecta Mapusaurus. I keep seeing comments in various threads about what an abomination it is, so I'd like to see someone with some expertise explain it. I understand that the figure didn't exactly match the pre-released photos but from what I can see the arms are a bit smaller and the posture is more horizontal. What am I missing?

I liked the CollectA Mapusaurus. I think most people were complaining about how "fat" the final model was compared to the prototype. It seems to have a thicker neck and more bulk around its undercarriage. Anthony Beeson himself stated he wanted to move away from the GSP skinniness that a lot of theropods are depicted with. That was his explanation for the change in the model. The hands are also different- the fingers are outstretched in the prototype, but pressed together in the final product.

I think the Tyrannosaurus rex with prey (with or without a stand) was worse than the Mapusaurus. It's funny, ever since All Yesterdays started talking about it, it's become "vogue" to depict dinosaurs with plenty of body fat. I don't see the problem with the Mapusaurus in that regard.

[Gwangi]

I wish someone would review the Collecta Mapusaurus. I keep seeing comments in various threads about what an abomination it is, so I'd like to see someone with some expertise explain it. I understand that the figure didn't exactly match the pre-released photos but from what I can see the arms are a bit smaller and the posture is more horizontal. What am I missing?

If I had the model, I would review it but I don't intend on getting it because I really don't think I like it. I'm only speaking for myself though. Without having the model in hand all I can say is that it just looks wrong. It looks too low to the ground and too horizontal. The neck is really beefy and there is something off with the head, looks too long and shallow I think. It might be too long in the torso too or the legs are set too far back, either way it appears as though if it were a real animal it would tip forward. The paint application looks sloppy and the details less crisp than the new Carcharodonotosaurus. Again, this is all based on pictures. Models often look different once they're in your hands.

This is what we wanted.


This is what we got.


Mapusaurus skeleton, just because.

[Simon]

The wonderful thing about Collecta is that they took the lessons learned from the Mapusaurus disaster and ramped up the quality - and accuracy - as a result, the most recent example of which is that incredible Carcharodotosaurus, as opposed to say - ummm - Carnegie, which basically does whatever the heck it wants and ignores customer input.

One can only hope that Collecta is eating into Carnegie's sales, though based on their tone-deafness in the past, they are unlikely to ever put 2 and 2 together.  Carnegie's theropods are awful, awful, awful and their sculptor is incompetent when it comes to two-legged dinosaurs.

[tyrantqueen]

The wonderful thing about Collecta is that they took the lessons learned from the Mapusaurus disaster and ramped up the quality - and accuracy - as a result, the most recent example of which is that incredible Carcharodotosaurus, as opposed to say - ummm - Carnegie, which basically does whatever the heck it wants and ignores customer input.

One can only hope that Collecta is eating into Carnegie's sales, though based on their tone-deafness in the past, they are unlikely to ever put 2 and 2 together.  Carnegie's theropods are awful, awful, awful and their sculptor is incompetent when it comes to two-legged dinosaurs.

Is the personal attack on the sculptor really necessary, though? She is only following through with the instructions Carnegie gives her.

[Yutyrannus]

The wonderful thing about Collecta is that they took the lessons learned from the Mapusaurus disaster and ramped up the quality - and accuracy - as a result, the most recent example of which is that incredible Carcharodotosaurus, as opposed to say - ummm - Carnegie, which basically does whatever the heck it wants and ignores customer input.

One can only hope that Collecta is eating into Carnegie's sales, though based on their tone-deafness in the past, they are unlikely to ever put 2 and 2 together.  Carnegie's theropods are awful, awful, awful and their sculptor is incompetent when it comes to two-legged dinosaurs.

Is the personal attack on the sculptor really necessary, though? She is only following through with the instructions Carnegie gives her.

Yeah, exactly, it's not the sculptor's fault.

[Simon]

We have had this discussion in the past. 

I don't think that saying that she has shown herself to be incompetent when sculpting THEROPODS is a "personal attack". 

Its a statement of my opinion.  And its not gonna change until she sculpts one up to the standards shown by the Collecta Carcharodontosaurus.

Assuming that Collecta has been using the same sculptor, he/she has improved their work on theropods by several orders of magnitude.

We have not seen anything like that with carnegie over the past, lets say 6 years.

And I don't buy the "she's only doing what they tell her to do" argument completely either. 

I DO believe that she is a GIFTED ARTIST, and if the above statement was strictly true, I don't think she would be being true to her art. 

[tyrantqueen]

And I don't buy the "she's only doing what they tell her to do" argument completely either.

She is. Doug Watson does the same thing. He sculpted overly large feet for the theropods at Safari's behest, if I remember correctly.

I DO believe that she is a GIFTED ARTIST, and if the above statement was strictly true, I don't think she would be being true to her art.

I don't think it has anything to do with "being true to her art". Artists take commissions because they want to make money. The client calls the shots on the final product.

For what it's worth, I don't care for Carnegie's toys any more, either.

[Gwangi]

I'm correct in stating that Forrest Rogers has sculpted all the dinosaurs in the Carnegie line right? If so, I would say the trend towards inferior theropods is a recent event. The Albertosaurus and Sinraptor models prove she/Carnegie can sculpt bipedal theropods without the aid of a tail to stand. Others theropods are really quite good like the Spinosaurus and Carnotaurus. The feathered releases are still some of the best feathered dinosaur models out there. These last two theropods have fallen short for some reason. Maybe she's getting tired of theropods? Maybe Carnegie has too many hands in the pot? And it's not even that the 2014 Tyrannosaurus or the Concavenator are completely awful sculpts (though they do have inaccuracies). We're just tired of the roaring tripod pose and the recent paint job application has been awful. Personally those are the only two theropods I don't like. I like her Giganotosaurus and Cryolophosaurus in addition to the others I previously mentioned.

[amargasaurus cazaui]

I dont wish to overly stir the drama pot here or add to an argument, however it needs to be remembered at the end of the day Forest Rogers is hired and told what to sculpt and then paid for that work. She likes to earn her money and be paid, and it is a job. Sometimes she herself does not care for the direction that takes her work, but she does work for someone else when sculpting these dinosaurs. She herself has expressed frustration with the tripod issue to me . She does not have the control one might assume she does. She follows what she is commissioned to create period.
  The other thing I will add to that is if you have ever seen her other sculpting, her forest beings, fairies, and so forth you would quite quickly understand you are dealing with a world class artist who is quite capable of making whatever she is asked. Her other artwork is stunning and without equal and regularly wins awards and shows.
  At the end of the day she works for someone else, and follows instructions. It is just that simple and has little to do with ability or competency.If you ever wish to truly delve into that look at the various social media pages out there featuring her artwork and you will quickly develop a very well seated respect for her as a sculpter . I did and was stunned . Aside from that she is also a class act as a person and someone I deeply respect.

[tyrantqueen]

I think I will try writing a review for the Papo Dilophosaurus. I want to get back into reviewing again.

[Gwangi]

I think I will try writing a review for the Papo Dilophosaurus. I want to get back into reviewing again.

Go for it! Good luck and I look forward to reading it. Reviewers for the blog seem to be few and far between lately. Most of the older reviewers aren't doing them anymore.

[Concavenator]

Looking forward to your review,tyrantqueen!

[tyrantqueen]

Thanks guys It's been submitted. I'm on a roll today

[DinoToyForum]

Good work TQ! Much appreciated! http://dinotoyblog.com/2014/06/29/dilophosaurus-papo/