Bistahieversor, Saurophapganax and a Mosasaurus
Another week and another announcement from CollectA about new model releases for 2014. CollectA promised that once other projects were out of the way in 2013 that more replica figures, including prehistoric animals would be introduced and they have certainly not let us down with the announcement of a further three additions to their popular not-to-scale range.
Prehistoric Animal Models
Let’s kick off by taking a close look at Bistahieversor (B. sealeyi) a tyrannosaur, like T. rex but one that was not too closely related to the “Tyrant Lizard King”. Known from two specimens including an immature adult, Bistahieversor was the top predator in the New Mexico region during the Campanian faunal stage. At between eight to nine metres in length, and perhaps weighing as much as 2.5 tonnes this was a formidable predator, the largest known from this part of the world.
Bistahieversor
Bistahieversor (pronounced Bis-tah-he-ee-ver-sore See-lee-eye ) comes from the Hunter Wash member of the Kirtland Formation, the fossils date from around 74.5 million years ago. Named and described just a couple of years back, the model has been portrayed with a feathered crest and a body covered in a shaggy coat of proto-feathers. This is a first for CollectA – a feathered Late Cretaceous tyrannosaur.
Bistahieversor – Late Cretaceous “Destroyer”
New for Summer 2014.
Picture credit: CollectA
The first specimen material was discovered in 1998, in the remote and rugged Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness of San Juan County (New Mexico). This dinosaur’s name means “destroyer of Bisti”, an appropriate name for a deep, snouted, strong-jawed carnivore.
Saurophaganax
Late Jurassic theropods are also represented in the latest model releases from CollectA. Say hello to Saurophaganax, which for some may be a new name to conjure with, but for us at Everything Dinosaur Saurophaganax is an old friend. The 2011 BBC television series featured a short piece on dinosaurs from the Morrison Formation. The production team wanted to portray an Allosaurus encountering another carnivore in a fight over a recently brought down Camptosaurus.
Step forward Saurophaganax maximus a super-sized allosauroid, one that some scientists state may be just a very big example of A. fragilis. Only fragmentary fossils have been found so the genus name remains a “nomen dubium” – the name is in doubt. However, Saurophaganax appeared in the television series, seeing off an Allosaurus, although it was not included in the book that accompanied the television production, a point we made when we at Everything Dinosaur were given the task of reviewing the book.
Saurophaganax Makes Its Debut
Fearsome predator of the Late Jurassic.
Picture credit: CollectA
For the time being let’s leave Saurophaganax leaving the last word to the very clever model designer Anthony Beeson who states:
“I designed Saurophaganax to look either as if it was attacking a smaller prey or eating (with the Stegosaurus corpse in mind).”
The Stegosaurus corpse is another 2014 release from CollectA, to see images of this earlier CollectA new for 2014 announcement: The CollectA Dead Stegosaurus Dinosaur Model.
Mosasaurus Marine Reptile Model
Last but not least comes a spectacular model of a marine reptile, a Mosasaurus and very good it looks too. The Mosasaurus model measures approximately 27 centimetres in length and it has been give a tail fluke, a very modern interpretation based on a number of scientific papers published over the last three years or so.
To read an article about how the Mosasaurus got its tail: Mosasaurus with a Shark’s Tail.
The colouration on this replica looks excellent and in the mouth the row of pterygoid teeth in a “v” shape located in the upper jaw have been portrayed – top marks CollectA!
Mosasaurus Will Make Its Mark in 2014
Fearsome marine predator from CollectA due in 2014.
Picture credit: CollectA
Anthony Beeson comments:
“Mosasaurus incorporates my interpretation of the new belief that their tails bore a fluke like a shark or an Ichthyosaur. The model also shows the body held more rigid like that of a shark when swimming and the propulsion given by the tail rather than it swimming like a snake as has often been the case. Although it cannot be seen in the photograph, the model also displays the pterygoid teeth in the roof of its upper jaw.”
All these models are in the CollectA not-to-scale model series and very good they look too.
A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur added:
“CollectA continues to bring out some amazing prehistoric animal models. The “Prehistoric Life Collection” just keeps growing and going from strength to strength. We have already commissioned illustrations of these replicas in preparation for our fact sheets that we will supply with these replicas. We expect stocks to be with us at Everything Dinosaur by summer 2014″.
To view Everything Dinosaur’s existing range of CollectA figures: CollectA Prehistoric World/Prehistoric Life Figures.
Collecta’s latest models are superb and far surpass the competition in accuracy and bravery. However I am very sad that yet again there is no ornithopod. With the exception of last year’s Parasaurolophus Collecta have not introduced any ornithopod since 2009/2010. Collecta used to be the market leader in producing rarely or never before produced ornithopods such as Tsintaosaurus and Tenontosaurus. For a company that has been so ground breaking in the diversity of models produced this is especially sad and also rather ironic considering that ornithopods were the most successful of all dinosaur groups! I am well aware that without sharp teeth, armour of massive size ornithopods are not always going to be the best sellers of the dinosaur model world. Again this is a great shame as this gives children in particular a false view of the fossil record and down grades the importance of a group, that includes in the hadrosaurs, possibly the most advanced and socially complex large animals of the Mesozoic.
All we can say is wait and see, Collecta are rather drip feeding models into the media at the moment, we know of a number of Ornithopoda projects in the pipeline and when you consider the success in bringing Muttaburrasaurus into the market place a few years ago, we think you can be confident that Collect’s focus remains on bringing as many different genera of the Dinosauria to the market as possible. We keep a ratio on model ranges looking at the number of herbivores versus carnivores and other issues. The ratio was heavily skewed in favour of herbivores when the not to scale “Prehistoric Life” figures (just Dinosauria) range is examined up to the beginning of 2012. Recent model introductions have seen more carnivores but at the same time Collecta have continued their work on Ornithischians which led to the introduction of Pachycephalosaurus and Diabloceratops this year as well as the 1:40 scale Parasaurolophus you mentioned. Meat-eaters tend to sell better than plant-eaters but we at Everything Dinosaur remain committed to stocking as many of the Collecta range as possible and you can expect further news about new model releases shortly. If you have any particular model suggestions perhaps a member of the Ornithopoda that you would like to put forward, please let us know, all suggestions welcome. Recent proposals from ourselves include Mantellisaurus, Dollodon, Hypacrosaurus and Saurolophus.
Thanks for your input, hope this helps.
Many thanks for your prompt, helpful and informative reply which is much appreciated. I am delighted that there are forthcoming Ornithopod projects. Your suggestions are brilliant and I would like to add Thethyshadros, Rhabdodon.
Consider these European Ornithopods added to the “pot”.
Excellent models once again, but where, oh where, is the Ichthyosaur ???
There will be more models from CollectA due to release in 2014?
We are aware of a number of projects, remember these models will not be made until the spring and they won’t be available for a couple of months after this. Collecta have made their intentions clear they want to extend their model ranges, including the Prehistoric Life range, expect more news from us soon. Thanks for your input.
Hello Mike. Please, the size of these models are already available?