Magazine Reviews

Reviews of Magazines and other dinosaur and prehistoric animal publications.

22 10, 2014

Prehistoric Times Issue 111 Reviewed

By Mike|2023-03-17T11:34:34+00:00October 22nd, 2014|Dinosaur Fans, Magazine Reviews, Main Page|1 Comment

A Review of Prehistoric Times (Issue 111) Autumn 2014

Summer may be over for us in the Northern Hemisphere and for the UK the clocks go back next week heralding some months when nights are going to be longer than days. However, perfect fireside reading has arrived in the nick of time, in the shape of the latest edition of the quarterly magazine “Prehistoric Times” and once again it is jam packed with interesting articles, fantastic artwork and features.

“Prehistoric Times”

Decorating the front cover is a beautiful rendering of a Cretaceous fight scene between an unfortunate Hippodraco (iguanodontid) and a mob of Utahraptors. This artwork was created by the very talented Julius Csotonyi and inside this issue there is a super interview with the palaeo-artist and a review of his new book “The Palaeoart of Julius Csotonyi” by Julius and Steve White. Everything Dinosaur team members were sent a copy of this hardback a few months ago, it really is an excellent book showcasing the talents of a remarkable artist.

Julius Csotonyi Interviewed

The interview with Julius conducted by “Prehistoric Times’s” editor Mike Fredericks, is supported by lots of illustrations which show the range of prehistoric animals and time periods covered by Julius in his new publication. The scene featuring several Late Cretaceous herbivores demonstrating “dietary niche partitioning” is my personal favourite, although my nephew likes the eyeball-plucking raptor best – still that’s kids for you.

The Front Cover Artwork (Prehistoric Times Issue 111)

Prehistoric Times magazine.

Picture credit: Prehistoric Times

Baryonyx Featured

One of the featured prehistoric animals is Baryonyx and there are oodles (scientific term), of great illustrations sent in by readers on this member of the Spinosauridae and we greatly appreciated the article by Phil Hore on this theropod. We too, like Phil, have speculated on how many fossil specimens ascribed to prehistoric crocodiles in the past may well turn out to be evidence of widely dispersed spinosaurids. Special mention to our chum Fabio Pastori for a simply stunning Baryonyx drawing.

The magazine has a bit of an “English theme” running through it. Dinosaur discoveries of southern England are documented in another article, which features the artwork of John Sibbick and there is a well written piece by John Lavas that discusses the impact of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s “Lost World”, a novel that we are informed has not been out of print since its publication back in 1912. Bringing things right up to date, our review of “Dinosaurs of the British Isles” is featured, a book which documents and catalogues the Dinosauria known from these shores.

How to Draw Dinosaurs with Tracy Lee Ford

Tracy Lee Ford continues his series on how to draw dinosaurs by discussing integumental coverings – feathers, quills and bristles on the Dinosauria. He makes some excellent points and it is great to see a piece that features one of our favourite dinosaur discoveries of recent times, Kulindadromeus zabaikalicus. This little feathered, plant-eating dinosaur makes another appearance in the Palaeo News section, along with updates on the Spinosaurus quadruped/bidped debate, giant prehistoric birds, a newly described Archaeopteryx specimen and a short report on Dreadnoughtus schrani . Dreadnoughtus is important as a large number of bones have been found, helping palaeontologists such as Dr Kenneth Lacovara (Drexel University), to estimate the body mass of this huge titanosaur. This dinosaur discovery adds a whole new dimension to body mass estimations using femora radii.

Everything Dinosaur wrote a short article on this discovery, it was favourably commented upon by the scientists behind the research paper and we basked in the glory of being praised by the researchers (for a few days at least).

To read more about “Prehistoric Times” and to subscribe: Prehistoric Times Magazine.

The Battat “Terra” Model Range

Dan LoRusso is interviewed about his work on the Battat “Terra” model range and there is a special feature on the bizarre, sabre-toothed Thylacosmilus. The “English” theme is re-visited once again with a fascinating article penned by Allen A. Debus which examines the way palaeontology was depicted in the popular press of the 19th century, the list of references at the end of this article is especially helpful.

To view replicas and figures of prehistoric animals: Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal Models and Figures.

Amongst the many other features and news stories is an interview with Todd Miller, the director of the film all about the controversy surrounding the Tyrannosaurus rex named “Sue”, the thirteenth documented T. rex dinosaur discovery hence the film’s title “Dinosaur 13”. We had the very great pleasure of meeting Pete Larson in London just a few weeks before the film’s August 15th premier. Pete chatted about the documentary and Everything Dinosaur did some work on behalf of the media company responsible for the distribution of this excellent film in the UK back in the summer.

Ah well, summer may be over but at least we have another super edition of “Prehistoric Times” to keep us occupied over those long autumn evenings.

20 09, 2014

Autumn Edition of Prehistoric Times

By Mike|2023-03-16T14:55:14+00:00September 20th, 2014|Dinosaur Fans, Everything Dinosaur News and Updates, Magazine Reviews|0 Comments

Issue 111 (Autumn 2014) on its Way

The front cover of the next edition of Prehistoric Times depicts a dramatic scene. A flock of Dromaeosaurs are attacking and over powering an ornithopod. We suspect that this is an interpretation of a fossil site whereby the carcases of a number of ferocious dinosaurs called Deinonychus were found in close proximity to the body of a much larger, herbivorous Tenontosaurus. The scene was created by the highly talented Julius Csotonyi (interview with him in this magazine), it shows a group of Utahraptors overpowering a Hippodraco. It is a digital painting created in 2013.

Prehistoric Times

Front Cover of Prehistoric Times (Autumn 2014)

Prehistoric Times magazine.

Picture credit: Mike Fredericks

To read more about Prehistoric Times and to subscribe: Prehistoric Times Magazine.

What a dramatic and beautifully crafted scene depicted on the front cover of the autumn edition. We note also that the film “Dinosaur 13” will be discussed, we look forward to reading this article, after all, we had a small role in the pre-publicity with regards to this movie that hit selected cinema screens in August. There is also an interview with the very talented Julius Csotonyi.

Team members at Everything Dinosaur had the great honour of reviewing Julius’s latest book earlier this year “The Palaeoart of Julius Csotonyi” and what an excellent publication it is to. On the subject of excellent publications, we are really looking forward to the next edition of Prehistoric Times.

27 07, 2014

Prehistoric Times Issue 110 Reviewed

By Mike|2023-03-14T10:26:45+00:00July 27th, 2014|Dinosaur Fans, Magazine Reviews|0 Comments

A Review of the Summer 2014 Edition of Prehistoric Times Magazine

Featured on the front cover of issue 110 is a fantastic sculpture of an Giganotosaurus by the highly talented prehistoric animal sculptor Galileo Hernandez Nunez and inside the magazine, editor Mike Fredericks conducts an in depth interview with the Mexican artist and some of his amazing work is showcased. Nice to hear that señor Hernandez loves the English language, his English is obviously much better than our Spanish.

Prehistoric Times

During the interview, what inspires him is discussed as well as his influences and he makes some very interesting points about the future of palaeo-sculpture with the advent of affordable three-dimensional printers. The theme of 3-D printing is taken up by Mike Eischen in a special feature on digital dinosaurs.

The Front Cover of Prehistoric Times Magazine (110)

Giganotosaurus on the front cover.

Picture credit: Mike Fredericks

Fans of prehistoric snakes will be delighted to hear that Titanoboa (T. cerrejonensis) and other massive serpents are featured in the magazine.

Titanoboa

The description of this enormous snake certainly captured imaginations when it was first described over five years ago now. Phil Hore does a splendid job writing about the multitude of “twenty footers plus” that have left traces of their existence preserved in the fossil record.

Titanoboa Museum Quality Maquette

The assembled Rebor Titanoboa Museum Class Maquette Brian Diccus prehistoric animal model. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

To view the Rebor range of figures and replicas: Rebor Models and Figures.

Our article on the discovery of Titanoboa remains one of the most popular news stories that we have covered on this blog site.

To read an article on the discovery of Titanoboa: Huge Prehistoric Snake from Columbia.

Phil is also responsible for producing the article on the early representative of the centrosaurine horned dinosaurs “Devil Horned Face” – Diabloceratops and once again the article is very informative and accompanied with lots of reader submitted artwork. Reports on visits to a number of dinosaur exhibits, museums and attractions are provided including an article about the Der Sauiermuseum in Switzerland, an establishment that we at Everything Dinosaur know very well.

The magazine is also packed full of information for model makers, book reviews and news stories, we especially like the feature by Robert Telleria on dinosaur calendars and the hints and tips on prehistoric dioramas written by Fred M. Snyder.

Once again a very well written and produced magazine for the dinosaur enthusiast.

To learn more about Prehistoric Times and to subscribe: Prehistoric Times Magazine.

To conclude this brief review, we ought to give a special mention to Tracy Lee Ford, who tackles the eye-opening topic of palpebral bones in ornithischian dinosaurs. The palpebral is a small bone found in the region of the eye socket in certain groups of animals such as monitor lizards and eagles (Everything Dinosaur team members think crocodilians have them too).

It is also found in the fossil record in marine reptiles and ornithischian dinosaurs but not as far as we are aware in the Saurischia. The function of this bone remains a bit of a mystery. It can be pointed, prong-like or curved and Tracy Lee Ford covers how this anatomical feature would alter the appearance of a dinosaur such as an iguanodontid. Dinosaurs with scowls and fierce looking expressions indeed.

18 06, 2014

Prehistoric Times Next Issue out Soon

By Mike|2023-03-13T19:29:14+00:00June 18th, 2014|Dinosaur Fans, Magazine Reviews, Main Page|0 Comments

Prehistoric Times Issue 110

The next issue of Prehistoric Times, the quarterly magazine for dinosaur fans and model enthusiasts is out shortly. Mike Fredericks (editor) sent team members a sneak preview of the magazine’s front cover.

Prehistoric Times

Prehistoric Times (Summer 2014)

Next issue out soon.

Picture Credit: Mike Fredericks

How time flies, it does not seem that long since we were celebrating issue 100. The dinosaur featured on the front cover is “giant southern lizard” – Giganotosaurus (Giganotosaurus carolini).

For models of Giganotosaurus and other prehistoric animals: Eofauna Scientific Research Models.

This is a wonderful sculpture by the highly talented Galileo Hernandez of Mexico. An interview with the artist is included in this edition. We are also expecting a review of the new book written by Julius Csotonyi and Steve White entitled “The Paleoart of Julius Csotonyi”, can’t wait for the magazine to arrive at the Everything Dinosaur offices.

To visit the Prehistoric Times website: Visit Prehistoric Times.

Once team members have received their copy and read it a review will be posted up on our blog.

15 04, 2014

New Prehistoric Times Magazine Issue 109 Reviewed

By Mike|2024-01-01T17:27:06+00:00April 15th, 2014|Magazine Reviews, Prehistoric Times|0 Comments

A Review of Prehistoric Times Magazine (Spring 2014)

Another bursting at the seams edition of Prehistoric Times with its front cover of a Chasmosaurus (model by Shane Foulkes) highlighting the fact that “Chasm Lizard” is one of the prehistoric animals featured in issue 109. Phil Hore does an excellent job on summarising the rather convoluted history of this genus and his article has some super Chasmosaurus inspired artwork sent in by readers. Not to be undone, Tracy Lee Ford chips in with a detailed explanation of the various species assigned to Chasmosaurus and does a splendid job in sorting out which of the former members of the Chasmosaurus genus have been reassigned elsewhere and why.

Prehistoric Times

In addition, he even manages to insert a little bit of the work of Charles Dickens and we though Dicken’s only wrote about megalosaurs (Bleak House).

Prehistoric Times (Issue 109)

Beautiful Chasmosaurus on the front cover.

Picture credit: Prehistoric Times/Everything Dinosaur

Nanuqsaurus hoglundi

In the news section, there is information on Nanuqsaurus hoglundi, whose fossils were find well inside the Arctic Circle. It’s name means “polar bear lizard” which is very appropriate. News stories featured include Anzu wyliei from North Dakota and possibly the largest theropod dinosaur known from our side of the Atlantic, Torvosaurus gurneyi. T. gurneyi fossils have been found in Portugal, this is a specimen that we at Everything Dinosaur know quite well, what with the amount of new discoveries being reported to us by our friends on the Iberian peninsula.

To read more about Torvosaurus gurneyi: Meet “Savage Lizard” – Europe’s Largest Meat-Eating Dinosaur Described to Date?

Allen Debus takes us back to the 1930s a time when Chicago was host to the Worlds Fair which featured an exhibition of life-size prehistoric animals. Part two of this highly informative article will be in the next edition.

To read more about Prehistoric Times/subscribe: Prehistoric Times Magazine.

Lots of model news and reviews, plus a super section dedicated to giant prehistoric birds, with a focus on the Ratites. Once again, the article is accompanied by some excellent reader artwork and imagery.

Sculptor and artist John Gurche is interviewed and there is a special feature on how John was tasked with creating fifteen hominin sculptures for the Smithsonian Institute and its “Hall of Human Origins”. Some of the models he has produced are simply breathtaking, the Smithsonian will shortly become the museum for all other palaeoanthropologists to look up to. John’s book “Shaping Humanity: How Science, Art and Imagination Help Us to Understand Our Origins” is reviewed in the excellent Mesozoic Media section and the book is already on our Christmas shopping list along with ironically, another book reviewed, “At the Top of the Grand Staircase”, which documents the fauna and flora from the Upper Cretaceous deposits to be found in this part of southern Utah.

All in all, an excellent magazine jam packed with lots and lots to keep dinosaur fans entertained and informed.

For dinosaur models and prehistoric animal figures: Prehistoric Animal and Dinosaur Models.

18 01, 2014

Prehistoric Times (Winter 2014) Reviewed

By Mike|2023-03-02T13:26:07+00:00January 18th, 2014|Magazine Reviews|0 Comments

Prehistoric Times Winter 2014

With team members at Everything Dinosaur undertaking a lot of work in schools over the next few weeks, any members of staff staying away from the office will have plenty to read as the new edition of Prehistoric Times (issue 104) has arrived. Editor, Mike Fredericks proudly states that this latest edition of the quarterly magazine for fans of prehistoric animal models and everything to do with dinosaurs is “really special” and we are not going to disagree, as it is packed from cover to cover with lots of amazing prehistoric animal artwork, model and book reviews, articles and updates on the world of palaeontology.

Prehistoric Times

Let’s start by singing the praises of the front cover. Issue 108 (winter 2014) is adorned by a brilliantly evocative piece of art by that very talented artist and illustrator Fabio Pastori. Fabio depicts a feathered Allosaurus battling a Stegosaurus, whilst Late Jurassic birds flap their wings in earnest to escape the mayhem.

Prehistoric Times (Issue 108)

*Everything Dinosaur reviews Prehistoric Times (winter 2014).*

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur/Prehistoric Times

Super artwork Fabio, one of our favourite covers was your Dilophosaurus illustration on the front cover of issue 88, now we might just have to change our minds having seen the wonderful artwork on the latest edition of Prehistoric Times.

“How to Draw Dinosaurs”

One of the great things about this magazine is the regular feature “How to Draw Dinosaurs”, written by Tracy Lee Ford. His contribution deals with recent developments in the study of hadrosaurs (Saurolophinae), updating readers on changes in how these ornithopods may be illustrated with the discovery of a soft crest on the skull of a specimen of Edmontosaurus regalis discovered near the city of Grande Prairie in Canada. Everything Dinosaur wrote a short article about this amazing fossil find, one that could change the way that duck-billed dinosaurs are depicted in the future, when the academic paper was published in “Current Biology”.

To read Everything Dinosaur’s article: Duck-Billed Dinosaur with a Comb like a Rooster.

The article contains lots of interesting insights into Saurolophinae skull morphology, with some handy line drawings to help get the main points across.

The two prehistoric animals featured in this issue are Australovenator and the enormous ancient ape Gigantopithecus. Phil Hore goes over the finer details of these very diverse members of the fossil record and there are lots of amazing reader’s artwork included too. A big opposable thumbs up to Phil, especially for his highly informative and well-written article on Gigantopithecus.

Amongst all the updates on dinosaur collectibles and new model releases, there is an interview with artist David Krentz and his involvement in the 3-D “Walking with Dinosaurs” movie that is currently on release, plus the latest news concerning the Canadian-produced spin-off to the British television series “Primeval”. Look out for the book reviews and the highly informative overview of 2013 from a palaeontologist’s perspective written by the well-travelled Steve Brusatte. Now residing north of the border, Steve’s passion for palaeontology has taken him to Scotland to take up a post as a research fellow for the University of Edinburgh.

Prehistoric animals on stamps are a theme for the winter edition, with an article by James Gurney that details the work behind the production of a set of postage stamps commissioned by Australia Post showcasing the diversity of Mesozoic fauna from down under. British prehistoric animals get a look in too, as there is a feature on the twelve first class stamps illustrated by John Sibbick for Royal Mail. The stamps, originally commissioned to celebrate the centenary of the book “The Lost World” by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle were delayed by Team GB’s success at the 2012 Olympics but were released in October of last year.

To read more about the stamps from Royal Mail: Royal Mail Issues New Prehistoric Animal Stamps.

John Sibbick’s artwork is superb and in Prehistoric Times he talks through how he went about depicting prehistoric fauna strongly associated with the British Isles. The stamps were released to celebrate over 150 years of the study of palaeontology in the United Kingdom, Everything Dinosaur got involved with this project when they were asked to write the cover notes and information on the extinct creatures featured in the set. It was fun!

There’s a lot packed into the latest edition, look out for the review of a visit to the famous Natural History Museum of Berlin, as well as interviews with dinosaur sculptors Allen Debus and Bob Morales, Everything Dinosaur even gets a mention in the editorial.

We asked our chum, Mike to give our Facebook page a plug, we are on a mission to get “likes” for our boss “Tyrannosaurus Sue”.

Hit the Facebook Logo to Visit Everything Dinosaur on Facebook

Click the logo to visit our Facebook page and to give our page a “like”.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

All in all, thoroughly recommended, a definite inclusion in our travel bags and overnight gear as team members spend the next few weeks on their adventures.

To learn more about Prehistoric Times visit the website: Prehistoric Times Magazine.

Congratulations to Safari Ltd, as their Gryposaurus dinosaur model was voted “Best New Toy” by Prehistoric Times readers.

To view the award-winning Wild Safari Prehistoric World model range: Wild Safari Prehistoric World Models and Figures.

5 01, 2014

Deposits Magazine (Issue 36) Reviewed

By Mike|2023-03-02T09:40:42+00:00January 5th, 2014|Magazine Reviews|0 Comments

A Review of Issue 36 (Winter 2013/14) of Deposits Magazine

The latest edition of Deposits magazine arrived at Everything Dinosaur the other day and what a jam-packed edition it is. In the previous issue there was an article all about Pliocene micro-fossils and a beautiful image of the foraminifera Polystomiella vuispa, can be seen on the front cover.

Inside, there is an eclectic mix of articles on fossils, geology and palaeontology from a number of international contributors. For example, there is a brief feature summarising the latest research into Late Cretaceous elasmosaurid fossils from Morocco and the preceding pages detail a successful fossil hunting trip to Abereiddy Bay (Pembrokeshire, Wales) to study those enigmatic, bizarre graptolites. Graptolites are/were (see below) a group of tiny animals that lived in colonies and built minute tubular homes for themselves.

Deposits Magazine

Graptolite fossils look like pencil markings or saw-blades preserved in strata and a number of species are important in helping to identify geological biozones. If you thought that the graptolites were extinct then this article is worth reading as it proposes a link between Graptolites and extant Pterobranchs.

Deposits Magazine Issue 36

Issue 36.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

A Trip to Iceland

Geologists will get their kicks from a very informative article from Dr Trevor Watts and his trip to Iceland to journey down the emptied-out magma chamber of a volcano. For those of us who stay closer to home there is an article all about classifying ammonites as well as a super article all about Doncaster (South Yorkshire) and this part of Yorkshire’s hidden treasures in terms of geology and palaeontology. Lots of fossil finds, a number of news snippets and an update on a series of articles on how the tropics drives speciation. All in all, this magazine makes a wonderful read, and with the dark nights and long days in the Everything Dinosaur offices, it is a welcome magazine, one that will help us plan a few fossil hunting excursions of our own.

Visit the website of Everything Dinosaur: Everything Dinosaur.

17 10, 2013

New Prehistoric Times Issue 107 Reviewed

By Mike|2024-01-01T17:27:24+00:00October 17th, 2013|Magazine Reviews, Prehistoric Times|0 Comments

Everything Dinosaur Reviews the Autumn Issue of Prehistoric Times Magazine

Issue 107 of Prehistoric Times, the magazine for dinosaur fans and serious model collectors has arrived in the office and fans of the artwork of John Sibbick are going to be delighted with the front cover. The illustration of two allosaurs fighting over the carcase of a Camptosaurus was painted by John, a man who has been much in demand recently, as he was responsible for the prehistoric animal paintings that now adorn the new Royal Mail First Class stamps that came into circulation last week.

Inside the magazine, its sixty-two pages are jam packed with lots of features, articles and illustrations. There is a profile and interview of commercial illustrator Jerry LoFaro and in the light of the news that Jurassic Park IV (Jurassic World) is likely to be in cinemas by the summer of 2015, dinosaur expert Gregory S. Paul gives his view on the “JP” franchise.

Prehistoric Times Autumn 2013

The autumn (fall) edition of Prehistoric Times magazine.

Picture credit: Mike Fredericks/Everything Dinosaur

Utahraptor and Uintatherium

Utahraptor and Uintatherium are the prehistoric animals showcased in this edition. There are lots of pictures and drawings submitted by readers and Phil Hore provides a highly informative text, focusing on the largest of the dromaeosaurs and on the mighty Eocene, herbivorous mammal with the strange and bumpy appearance. Surprisingly, Utahraptor features in a Star Trek novel, the things you learn about when reading Prehistoric Times.

Tracy Lee Ford gets in on the act and provides a master-class in dromaeosaurid illustration, including some interpretations of the very latest scientific data. He also edits the Paleonews page, covering topics as diverse as ichthyosaur evolution, Chelonia and giant pterosaurs.

On the subject of the Pterosauria, for all those who haven’t quite got their fill of flying reptiles after reading the wonderful “Pterosaurs” by Mark Witton, there is a super article all about the attempts to replicate pterosaur flight, in particular that of the likes of the azhdarchid Quetzalcoatlus. Amongst the reviews and product updates, the magazine’s editor, Mike Fredericks sheds some light on some amazing dinosaur themed items from the past in collector’s corner, look out for the “deliberate” mistakes on Mike’s “What’s New in Review” page, whoops!

Issue 107 even features an article on prehistoric themed roadside attractions in the United States, there is something for everybody in the autumn edition, the Prehistoric Times team must have some sort of space-aged print compactor that enables them to squeeze it all into one magazine. Another triumph, one to read by the fireside as the nights draw in.

To subscribe to Prehistoric Times: Prehistoric Times Magazine.

22 07, 2013

New Prehistoric Times Issue 106 Reviewed

By Mike|2024-01-01T17:27:46+00:00July 22nd, 2013|Magazine Reviews, Prehistoric Times|1 Comment

A Review of the Summer 2013 Edition of Prehistoric Times Magazine

The first prolonged period of hot, summer weather in the UK for quite a while has been made all the more enjoyable with the arrival of the latest edition of “Prehistoric Times”, the magazine for dinosaur model fans and prehistoric animal enthusiasts. It is ideal reading material for sitting outside the office and soaking up some sunshine, if only the other Everything Dinosaur team members would let go of the magazine for long enough.

“Prehistoric Times”

This issue (number 106), marks the first copy to be produced after the twentieth anniversary issue and it sets the standard for the next two decades with some excellent articles and features. The two prehistoric animals given most prominence are Tyrannosaurus rex and the “T. rex” of its day the fearsome Triassic predator Postosuchus. We expect that Mike Fredericks, the editor would have been swamped with artwork and indeed, lots of reader’s illustrations are featured, especially of T. rex. There are some wonderful depictions, even feathered versions of T. rex.

How to Draw Dinosaurs

Tracy Lee Ford’s excellent series, “How to Draw Dinosaurs” focuses on this apex predator. He compares the arm bones of Tyrannosaurus rex with those of other Tyrannosaurids and sets about building up a picture of a powerful predator with exceptionally strong hind legs, a deeper body and a more massive tail. He concludes that such a dinosaur was not a particularly fast runner, but still an immensely capable and powerful opportunistic hunter.

Amongst all the collector news and model releases, there is a special tribute to Ray Harryhausen, whose stop motion special effects amazed us all in such fantastic films as “Jason and the Argonauts”, “The Valley of the Gwangi” and “Clash of the Titans”. Ray sadly passed away on May 7th, William Stout has produced a super article with artwork in tribute to Ray and there is a model diorama of the monster from the 1953 film “The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms”, it looks like lighthouses were not monster proof!

Front Cover Artwork

The front cover artwork (featuring T. rex), was created by up and coming Ukrainian artist Sergey Krasovskiy. Sergey has chosen to depict this fearsome Late Cretaceous carnivore with a conspicuous red head ala theories from Bob Bakker et al. Sergey also contributes to the feature on Postosuchus with some great drawings of Prestosuchus chiniquensis, Ornithosuchus longidens and Postosuchus kirkpatricki.

The Front Cover of Prehistoric Times – Summer 2013

Marking the 20th anniversary of the magazine.

Picture credit: Prehistoric Times/Everything Dinosaur

Life-size Prehistoric Animal Models

There are also articles on the life-sized prehistoric animal models sculpted by Josef Pallenberg, updates on dinosaur discoveries and a special interview with artist Ricardo Delgado, part of a series the commemorates twenty years since the first Jurassic Park movie. Team members at Everything Dinosaur even spotted some prehistoric animal drawings that we know very well in this edition and it was particularly interesting to see how clever Steven B. DeMarco “made over” three dinosaur model kits which were manufactured by Pyro many moons ago.

Once again, a great magazine and a great read.

To view the “Prehistoric Times” website: Prehistoric Times.

16 04, 2013

Prehistoric Times Magazine (Spring 2013) Reviewed

By Mike|2023-02-15T18:05:52+00:00April 16th, 2013|Magazine Reviews|0 Comments

A Review of “Prehistoric Times” Magazine (Issue 105)

The weather has at last improved, we can say goodbye to the chilly easterly breeze and say a warm welcome to the spring edition of “Prehistoric Times” magazine. Yes, spring has finally come and it is marked by the arrival of the spring edition of Prehistoric Times, a magazine that provides news and views on anything and everything to do with prehistoric animals.

The Front Cover of “Prehistoric Times” (Issue 105)

T. rex faces off against a Triceratops.

Picture credit: Mike Fredericks

Prehistoric Times Magazine

Issue 105 is the 20th anniversary of the first edition of this quarterly publication. Coincidently, 2013 is also the 20th anniversary of the premier of the dinosaur film “Jurassic Park” and there are special features on both inside this issue. Editor Mike Fredericks provides a potted history of the publication, a fascinating insight into what has become an institution for “dino-philes”. Dotted throughout the article are contributions from other regular writers and it was interesting to read how they met Mike and started to work with him on various projects. The feature entitled “Sketch me a Spitter”, pays homage to Jurassic Park the movie, and renowned artist Mark Hallett recalls his work on the film working as a concept artist and palaeo consultant. There are some wonderful illustrations of the theropod dinosaurs that appeared in the first of the Jurassic Park trilogy. If you have always wanted to know how the venomous dinosaur that killed the character known as Dennis Nedry, came about then read this article and all will be revealed.

Triceratops Featured

The first of the prehistoric animals featured in this issue is Triceratops and the magazine includes lots and lots of artwork sent in by readers. Phil Hore provides a very informative article on this famous horned dinosaur and even Tracy Lee Ford gets in on the act with a superb piece in his long running series “How to Draw Dinosaurs”. The morphology of the skull and horns changed as ceratopsians got older. He kindly summarises the main points to remember when it comes to illustrating juveniles, mature adults and very old specimens of Triceratops. There is also a rare picture of a Triceratops skull in situ, discovered by the famous palaeontologist George Sternberg in 1908.

Amongst the usual items such as correspondence from readers, collectors corner, book reviews and updates on new model introductions, Ron Lemery provides information on a technique known as photoetching, a great way to build detail into dinosaur themed model scenes. Talking of models, Steven B. DeMarco showcases how to make and paint a fearsome mosasaur, a marine reptile he aptly refers to as “Mosa Jaws”!

The second prehistoric animal to feature prominently in this edition of “PT” is the fearsome, highly resourceful Dire Wolf (Canis dirus). Phil Hore writes a very entertaining piece explaining the differences between the Dire Wolf and the Grey Wolf and discusses their fossil record including the exquisitely detailed specimens that have been retrieved from the La Brea Tar pits in Los Angeles (California, USA).

To learn more about this excellent publication: Visit Prehistoric Times Website.

For slightly older dinosaur fans there is a very insightful article written by Allen A. Debus on the beautiful post card illustrations of Neave Parker, a real trip down memory lane when looking at the wonderful black and white illustrations of the various prehistoric animals.

Jam packed full of dinosaur themed goodies, issue 105 of Prehistoric Times is definitely a ” must read” and on this form we can expect this publication to keep on going for at least another twenty years.

Well done to all involved.