Collecta Oviraptor New Pics Put onto Everything Dinosaur Website

Team members at Everything Dinosaur continue to be big fans of the dinosaurs and other prehistoric animal models that feature in Collecta’s “prehistoric life” model range.  However, every once in a while we can be caught out by subtle changes that we miss, or in all honesty, we have forgotten about.  Take for example, the Oviraptor dinosaur model that is one of the replicas in that company’s not-to-scale prehistoric animal model series.  The images on the Everything Dinosaur website, were out of date and we had not noticed.

The Original Oviraptor Image

Oviraptor with nothing to stand on.

There are over one hundred different prehistoric animal models in the Collecta series to collect, everything from Achelousaurus to Wuerhosaurus and the Oviraptor replica was first introduced in 2010.  Like many long-tailed, thin-legged dinosaurs, creating a stable model of this biped proved difficult.  It had been developed as a free-standing sculpt without a base.  However, the base was added before mass production as the model proved very difficult to balance on its finely crafted toes.  That’s what having a digitgrade stance can do for you.  The base was added after photos were taken for the company’s 2010 product catalogue and Everything Dinosaur received a set of original photos of the intended model in early 2010 before the base plate had been added.

The fact that this model now comes with a base was pointed out to us by a keen-eyed customer, so we have made it our business to ensure that this model is properly represented on the Everything Dinosaur website.

The Collecta Oviraptor Model (with Base)

Securing a stable future for Oviraptor.

Picture Credit: Everything Dinosaur

The base plate has a lovely texture and it looks like this little dinosaur is walking over sand, quite appropriate really as fossil material ascribed to the Oviraptor genus has been found in rock strata that indicate seasonally arid habitats.

To view Everything Dinosaur’s full range of Collecta prehistoric animal models: Collecta Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Animal Models

One thing that is for sure, anyone who says that we don’t listen to our customers, we can only say that such comments are “baseless”.

A Review of the Papo Woolly Rhinoceros Prehistoric Animal Model

The new Papo Woolly Rhino model is an excellent replica of the shaggy coated Rhinoceros whose fossils have been found in Pleistocene aged deposits across Europe.  A number of Woolly Rhino fossils from the genus known as Coelodonta have been found in France, so it is fitting for a replica of this iconic Ice Age beast to be added to the French manufacturer’s model range.

From the tip of its stubby tail (an adaptation for living in a cold climate), to the front edge of the model’s large anterior, nose horn, the replica measures approximately 17 centimetres long and stands a little over 9 centimetres high at the shoulder.  If we compare this figure to the fossil record for Coelodonta in Europe, the size of this model can be estimated to be around 1:25 scale.

The Papo Woolly Rhino Prehistoric Animal Model

New for 2013 – Papo Woolly Rhino

Picture Credit: Everything Dinosaur

The model is very well painted and the individual strands of long, shaggy hair that make up the coat of this animal can be clearly seen.  The ears are pricked and facing forward, the eyes are relatively small, whilst the nostrils are quite large, suggesting that as with most members of the rhino family, the Woolly Rhino had poor eyesight and relied more heavily on its other senses such as hearing and its sense of smell to detect danger.

This nicely detailed replica represents a grazing mammal that probably originated in Tibet, the descendants of these first Woolly Rhinos quickly spread across a wide geographical area, and fossil remains have been found over much of Europe including the United Kingdom, although there is very little evidence found to date to suggest that these large mammals, some of whom could have weighed up to 2,000 kilogrammes, ever got as far west as Ireland.

The large, anterior horn (the one on the tip of the nose), has been carefully crafted and appears flattened.  Like modern rhinos, the two horns of Coelodonta were made of keratin (compressed, fibrous hair).  However, fossil evidence suggests that the anterior horn was not pointed but had a rather flattened,  keeled appearance.  Scientists believe that the horn of the Woolly Rhino got its strange, keeled shape as the rhino grazed moving its head from side to side wearing the sides of the horn down.  The Woolly Rhino may have also used its horn to clear snow in order to find food.  This prehistoric mammal could have had its own built-in snow plough.

In conclusion, this is an excellent Woolly Rhino model, one that works well with the other prehistoric  mammals and cavemen in the Papo range.

To view the range of prehistoric animal models in the Papo series available from Everything Dinosaur: Papo Prehistoric Animal Models

Woolly Rhinoceros from Papo Shows Remarkable Detail

One of the most iconic prehistoric animals associated with the periods in geological history known as the Ice Ages is the Woolly Rhinoceros, a large, shaggy coated rhino that lived in Europe from approximately 500,000 years ago to around 10,000 years ago (Pleistocene to the beginning of the Holocene epochs).  Papo, the French model and figure manufacturer, are about to introduce a new model of a Woolly Rhino into their highly acclaimed prehistoric animal model range.  Having had the chance to view the model up close, it is clear that this new interpretation of Coelodonta antiquitatis elevates Woolly Rhino model making to a higher plain (or should that be higher plateau – see below).

There were in fact several species of prehistoric rhinoceros that lived in Europe during the Pleistocene epoch, although the ancestors of the two-horned Woolly Rhino (Coelodonta antiquitatis) are believed to have migrated across the continent from Asia, having originally evolved on the Tibetan plateau.  The fossilised remains of Woolly Rhinos have been found all across Europe, including southern Spain, however, no fossils have been found in Ireland or North America so it seems these grazers did not reach the American continent or indeed the Emerald Isle.

A number of very well-preserved carcases of these prehistoric mammals have been discovered in the higher latitudes of Russia during the spring thaw which leads to flooding in some areas and the subsequent erosion which exposes the animal remains.  So numerous were these animal remains and so strange the preserved horns of these rhinos, that up until the late 19th Century many of the native people thought that the horns were actually the talons of a giant bird.

The large, anterior horn (the one on the tip of the nose), of C. antiquitatis does not resemble the horn found on extant species of rhinoceros.  The horn is much longer. the largest horns belonged to males and could grow to over two metres in length.  Like modern rhinos, the two horns of Coelodonta were made of keratin (compressed, fibrous hair).  The horns would have been very effective weapons used in self defence against attacks from creatures such as the European Lion (Cave Lion – Panthera genus), however, fossil evidence suggests that the anterior horn was not pointed but had a spatulate or keeled appearance.  Scientists believe that the horn of the Woolly Rhino got its strange, keeled shape as the rhino grazed moving its head from side to side wearing the sides of the horn down.  The Woolly Rhino may have also used this horn to clear snow in order to find food.  This prehistoric mammal, the largest of which could weigh up to two thousand kilogrammes could have had its own built-in snow plough.

The New Papo Woolly Rhino Model

Great care has been taken to depict the anterior horn on the new Papo model.

Picture Credit: Everything Dinosaur

A number of cave paintings depict Woolly Rhinos, the long shaggy coat and the short tail can be clearly made out in a number of the better preserved examples of Stone Age artwork.  The very last Woolly Rhinos were to be found in Western Siberia.  The demise of these large herbivores was probably due to the retreat of its glacial habitat and rapid climate change.  As the Woolly Rhino had co-existed with both modern humans and Neanderthals for thousands of years it is unlikely that hunting caused its extinction.

Just as our ancestors depicted Woolly Rhinos with their cave art, so today’s model and figure manufacturers are keen to capture the beauty and power of this Ice Age icon.  A number of models of Woolly Rhinos have been produced but the latest introduction to Papo’s “Dinosaures” range of prehistoric animal figures sets new standards.  For example, not only is the French manufacturer’s new model extremely well crafted, the anterior horn on the model shows the spatulate, keeled shape suggesting that the design team have extensively researched the data on Woolly Rhinoceros fossils.

T. rex with Prey Gets a Base

One of the difficulties faced when making accurate models of dinosaurs that walked on just their hind legs (bipedal stance), is to get the replica to balance so that it stands up without support.  As the Dinosauria had a mostly digitigrade (walking on their digits) stance, compared to the plantigrade stance of the likes of bears, mice and humans this is a difficult task, even for the most accomplished model maker.  It is surprising to think, that just like a garden bird, dinosaurs like Tyrannosaurus rex walked on their toes, no other part of the foot playing a role in weight-bearing in conjunction with the ground as this fearsome Theropod moved around.

In the past, when bipedal dinosaurs were often depicted with their tails dragging on the ground behind them, the position and size of the feet of any figure did not matter so much.  The tail could act as an additional support for the model, what is termed a “tripodal” stance.  Ironically, although most palaeontologists agree that the majority of the Dinosauria held their tails clear of the ground, there is some evidence to suggest that some dinosaur could at least use their tails to form a tripodal stance.  The animals concerned are quadrupeds, dinosaurs such as the Stegosaurs.  Some of these armoured dinosaurs had more cervical vertebrae (neck bones) than many long-necked Sauropods.  It has been suggested that dinosaurs such as Miragaia and Dacentrurus (both European Stegosaurs) could have reared up onto their back legs and rested on their tails whilst stretching up into trees to feed on the understorey of leaves.

For dinosaur model enthusiasts the extra security of a base for their model is often welcomed.  To improve the stability of the Collecta T. rex with prey model, the designers at Collecta have added an unobtrusive base to this replica.

Tyrannosaurus rex Gets Grounded

The "prey" is an unfortunate Struthiomimus

Picture Credit: Everything Dinosaur

 The base permits the animal to be depicted in a much more active pose.  A Tyrannosaur that had just grabbed an Ornithomimid (Struthiomimus) would probably want to get away from the scene of the attack in order to prevent its meal being stolen by a larger Tyrannosaurus that could “sniff out” the opportunity for a free meal.  Such behaviour is seem amongst members of the Carnivora today.  The addition of a base broadens the range of poses that a model can be put in, helping to depict an anatomically accurate replica of a long extinct carnivore.

Papo Brachiosaurus (Prototype) seen at Chinese Exhibition

We have received the first pictures of the Papo Brachiosaurus dinosaur model (thanks Yang).  These pictures were taken at a recent Chinese exhibition, Papo were exhibiting their model and figure range and of course new models such as the Papo Brachiosaurus were prominent in their display.

Papo Brachiosaurus (Prototype) Model

Pictures at an exhibition - Papo Brachiosaurus.

Picture Credit: Yang Gu/Everything Dinosaur

The Papo Brachiosaurus figure was due to be launched in July of this year, but it has been delayed for a number of reasons.  This is one of the largest figures to be attempted by the French manufacturer, it is certainly the largest replica in the company’s “Dinosaures” range.

To view Papo prehistoric animal models at Everything Dinosaur: Papo Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Animals

Team members at Everything Dinosaur have kept in close contact with Papo, for example, the latest information on this model, an update on its progress in the factory was posted only 24 hours ago.  One of the reasons for the delay in production has been that the design team have been keen to ensure the models received the attention and care that is a trademark of the Papo figure ranges whilst in the paint shop.  The first batches of production figures are currently being painted and finished prior to their despatch to the European distribution hub in France.  The figure in the picture is painted a greenish colour, all the pre-production prints that we saw (and have posted on this web blog), suggest that the model was going to be brown in colour, reminiscent of the Brachiosaurus seen in the Jurassic Park movies.

A Close up of the Brachiosaurus seen in China 

Detailed skin texture can be made out on the new model.

Picture Credit: Yang Gu/Everything Dinosaur

The close up picture shows the fine details on the skin, with lots of skin texture and muscle definition.  The sculpting team have really been able to give an impression of a powerful animal that is moving in this particular replica.   There is some excellent tonal contrast between the upper body and the undersides of the animal and the thick, muscular neck is well depicted.  It does remind us of the recently retired Carnegie Collectibles Brachiosaurus, although with the released pictures showing a model painted brown, it will be interesting to see whether the final versions of this figure show the colour change from brown to green.

We are expecting our stock of these models to be with us around the end of the month, we have been promised that Everything Dinosaur will be one of the first companies to receive their stock and we have a video review script already prepared so that we can review this model as soon as it arrives.  We shall soon see whether this new replica is green or brown.

Six different dinosaur models to collect

Picture Credit: Everything Dinosaur

Part of the Everything Dinosaur Collecta/Procon range, a set of six prehistoric animal models to collect. There is a Tyrannosaurus rex, Triceratops, Stegosaurus, Velociraptor, Brachiosaurus and the Pterosaur Pteranodon.  A popular set with dinosaur fans and serious dinosaur model collectors.