Tyrannotitan (Mateo) (Prehistoric Animal Models by PNSO)

Carcharodontosaurid-heads have had a lot to celebrate since PNSO hit the scene. The company has produced 6 members of the clade and most of them within the last couple of years. This has allowed fans of these mega theropods to amass a high-end collection of all the clade’s major players, and unlike other dinosaur groups, PNSO has given each an attractive and visually distinct paintjob. This is good, because carcharodontosaurids largely look the same, as it turns out. I don’t need to tell you that there’s a subset of this hobby that was getting tired of seeing what is essentially the same dinosaur getting released over-and-over again. I must admit, I’m kind of in that group. While happy for those that wanted them, carcharodontosaurids kind of bore me (morphologically unique genera notwithstanding). That’s not to say that I didn’t want any in my collection though, I eagerly purchased (and reviewed) the PNSO Carcharodontosaurus and when they unveiled their latest carcharodontosaurid I had to have it too. Today we’re looking at the PNSO Tyrannotitan.

I didn’t have to have it because it’s a Tyrannotitan. I have no real interest in a genus that is frankly too fragmentary to generate much interest. But since it’s a carcharodontosaurid it can also stand in for a different genus, like Giganotosaurus, if you so desire. No, I didn’t buy it for what it is, but rather because of the group it represents. Tyrannotitan lived in the early Cretaceous in what is now Argentina and was described in 2005. Among the carcharodontosaurids it is thought to be most closely related to Giganotosaurus and Mapusaurus.

Mateo measures 13” (33.02 cm) long and stands 4.25” (10.76 cm) tall at the hips. Tyrannotitan is estimated to have measured 40-43’ (12.2–13 meters) in length which puts Mateo in the 1/35 scale range that he is advertised in. The figure is posed in mid-stride with the right foot gently stepping forward, with only the toe tips touching the ground. The head is lifted high, as if scenting the air. The body gently curves towards the right while the tail curves to the right and then to the left.

The pose is dynamic without being dramatic and gives the impression that this animal is thoughtful and cautious despite being the apex predator of its environment. It’s one of the figure’s greatest attributes but unfortunately, stability is an issue. The figure comes with a support rod, and you will absolutely want to use it. It can stand on its own, but it doesn’t take much to tip it over. Even though there is a support rod I’m sad that the figure cannot stand better, and I wish PNSO would work on the stability of their models. I prefer stability in my models over posture.

Accuracy for Tyrannotitan is difficult to gauge given the fragmentary nature of its remains but the model is clearly a large carcharodontosaurid and displays all the features of that group faithfully. The head is large, long, and narrow with a prominent chin, and the neck is short and muscular. The torso is well rounded, but the entire body is laterally narrow, at least when compared to a tyrannosaur. The three fingered arms are appropriately small but muscular, with the thumb being the shortest of the three fingers and the middle finger being the longest. The figure isn’t shrink wrapped but a faint outline of the fenestra can be seen under the skin, a shallow ridge runs down the back, and the legs are lean and muscular.

The only issue I see for accuracy pedants is that the teeth are exposed. I would have preferred them to have been hidden, but exposed teeth are rarely a dealbreaker. It’s when they’re oversized that it bothers me, but PNSO avoids the “mouth rot” effect that some of their other theropods have.

Fine details are top notch, as usual, and if you’re familiar with PNSO then you know what to expect by now. Large pressure sensitive scales adorn the snout and then give way to fine pebbly scales over the rest of the body with scutes running down the feet and toes. Shallow crests run over the eyes and larger scales encircle the orbits. Skin folds and creases are most prominent around the limb joints and underside of the tail. All bodily orifices are accounted for. The inside of the mouth is highly detailed, as usual, with exposed nasal passages on the roof of the mouth, grooves for the bottom teeth to rest in, and a nicely textured tongue.

Another of Mateo’s highlights is his paintjob, which is a far cry from the brown-on-brown paintjobs that PNSO typically favors. One must wonder if they’ve taken a page from Haolonggood because their paintjobs have become increasingly more varied and vibrant as of late. Mateo is mostly dark purple with a dull yellow underside. Dark stripes running down his back create a chain-like pattern over his flanks and thighs, and they transition to bands that run down the tail. A horizontal mulberry colored band runs along each side of the otherwise dark face and fades away along the torso.

A yellow band runs down the midline of the back and is broken up by the dark stripes. Starting at the hips the sides of the tail transition to blue, and the center of the dark bands is lighter than the edges. The inside of the mouth is painted in various blended shades of pink and the teeth are white with a brown wash over them. The eyes are brown with black pupils.

Honestly, my writing probably doesn’t convey just how elaborate the paintjob is, so hopefully the pictures help. Writing about the colors of a figure is usually my least favorite part of writing reviews and there was a lot to say about this one! Although there are a lot of colors in play I still find the figure quite naturalistic. It’s overall much darker than promotional pictures would suggest but some might prefer the less vibrant coloration of the actual figure.

The PNSO Tyrannotitan might be the company’s sixth carcharodontosaurid but it might also be their best. Whether displayed alongside other carcharodontosaurids or standing alone as a sole representative of the group, it commands attention through it’s dynamic pose and colorful palette. If it were better able to stand on its own and had its teeth covered it would be even better. Mateo the Tyrannotitan retails for about $42.99 so it might also make for a suitable Giganotosaurus stand-in for those unwilling to pay the $54.99 than PNSO’s Giga costs. Possibly the best praise that I can give it is that it got me excited about a group of dinosaurs that rarely piques my interest.