Japan isn’t usually the first country to come to mind when we think of dinosaurs; we all know the famous fossil bone beds and the dinosaurs they contain from western North America, China, or Argentina, but most people, even dinosaur enthusiasts, would be hard pressed to name a single Japanese dinosaur. That is unless of course you’re from Japan; they appear to take great pride in their dinosaurs. Japanese toy makers regularly produce figures of their local dinosaurs that those of us in other countries often have a hard time acquiring, museum exclusives and the like that end up on eBay with inflated price tags. Well thanks to CollectA one genus from Japan has now been produced for us collectors here in the western world. I’m talking of course about the Fukuiraptor, new for 2019.
Since this is the first review of a Fukuiraptor for the DTB, I feel compelled to give some information. Firstly, the name, it’s not as hard to pronounce as you might think and translates to “thief of Fukui”, named after the Fukui Prefecture where it was found. But don’t confuse this dinosaur with Fukuisaurus or Fukuivenator, two totally different dinosaurs. Japan might want to start thinking up some other names for dinosaurs from this region. The raptor bit in the name comes from this animal’s original classification as a dromaeosaur but it’s now classified as a megaraptoran so I suppose the name still works. The type specimen of Fukuiraptor measures about 4.2 meters (13.7 ft) but is not thought to be a mature specimen.
Initially classified within neovenatoridae subsequent studies have placed megaraptora within tyrannosauroidea, and more recently somewhere at the base of coelurosauria but outside of tyrannosauroidea. Whatever it is the Fukuiraptor by CollectA has a decidedly Allosaurus-like quality and you would be forgiven if you initially thought this toy actually was an Allosaurus. Measuring 6” long this toy is in the CollectA standard range and also 1/40 in scale.
It’s been an embarrassingly long time since I’ve acquired, let alone reviewed, a CollectA model but one of the things that immediately stands out to me is the improvements made to the base. Past CollectA models have had ugly weak bases prone to warping where the models, over time, would start to lean forward. That doesn’t seem to be the case here, the base is quite thick and sturdy and the toy appears nicely anchored to it. The one thing I don’t like about the base is the fallen leaves on it. They’re a nice touch but the same color as the base, it would have been better to have omitted them altogether. Brown leaves on a brown base doesn’t make any aesthetic sense, maybe some footprints instead?
The figure itself is what we’ve come to expect from CollectA, high quality for its low price, well researched, and nicely detailed. The pose is dynamic and active with the feet spaced far apart to help aid in stability and it’s visually appealing from virtually every angle. I particularly enjoy the up and leftward sweeping motion of the tail, the skin folds along the flanks, and the small raised osteoderms down along the sides of the body. Collecta continues to improve on the finer details in these small models, year after year. The color choices are naturalistic with an olive drab body, dull orange stripes, maroon colored brow horns, and pale underside.
I must say that because of its pose this model does feel a bit repetitive when compared to other standard size theropods by CollectA. The Lurching forward with mouth agape posture is kind of overdone and it would be nice to see some more variety. In the past CollectA wasn’t afraid to experiment with dinosaurs resting, feeding, drinking, etc. On occasion they still do this, the Mantellisaurus for example, but they generally seem to be playing it safer as of late. Because of its pose it would be easy to lose this model on a shelf of similar roaring theropods, but standing alone this is still a beautiful little piece and being a Fukuiraptor really makes it a must have. On a final note I would like to thank my fellow reviewer, Suspsy, for forwarding me this model.
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Superb review and better figure. Collecta fukuiraptor is an excellent little “obrita”. Its finish is impressive perhaps not as bright as the baryonyx and carnotaurus but its finish is great. I am very happy that there is a premature review of this figure of a dinosaur little treated in the toy market with the exception of Favorite and share the editor’s appreciation of the article that the Collecta bases have improved and are much safer but that yes they would need more adornments like those made by other toy dinosaur companies like PNSO or Rebor but with the difference that Collecta’s bases fortunately for me are fixed, attitude that I value a lot of Collecta as well as that the jaws of fukuiraptor are not jaws articulated, although I agree that a theropod with a closed jaw is also a nice and realistic theropod, although it is also true that details such as the tongue and the essential teeth would not be appreciated when making a theropod in this case.
His dynamic pose is highly valued by me and the details are outstanding and hyperrealistic in spite of the smallness of this theropod done masterfully.
My note on this great theropod is 10 out of 10, although it is not as detailed as Collecta’s carnotaurus because I greatly value the more realistic paint colors of the fukuiraptor, it is perhaps one of the best fukuiraptor figures made to date and it rivals in genius terms other figures of this Japanese theropod made in Asia.
Great review!
Gwangi, how were you able to get this so fast? Anyway, I hope to see a Fukuisaurus figure from a company on the west side.
Another reviewer from Canada sent it to me, how he got it I don’t know!
Anyway, I hope to review a Tianyulong.
That was pretty strange for this figure to come to you.
Finally got a Fukuiraptor for myself. I really love it. Appropriate colours, excellent sculpting, dynamic pose, and certainly a unique species. I recall there was some complaining about this toy when it was first revealed, and for the life of me, I don’t understand why anyone would do so.