Today, we make the third announcement with regards to new CollectA prehistoric animal models for 2024. CollectA will introduce a 1:20 scale armoured dinosaur and a new set of mini-dinosaur figures.

• CollectA mini sauropod model set.
• CollectA Deluxe Polacanthus.

At this time, we are not sure as to when the CollectA mini-sauropod set will be available. The CollectA Polacanthus is due to be in stock at Everything Dinosaur in the middle of 2024 or thereabouts.

Team members will discuss the mini-sauropod set in detail in a future blog post. For the moment we will focus on the new for 2024 Polacanthus foxii figure.

If Polacanthus had a parascapular spine it was a splate. A splate being a spine raised on a plate of bone (combination of plate and spine). This has been located over the shoulder.

CollectA Deluxe Polacanthus

Polacanthus (P. foxii) was scientifically described in 1865. The fragmentary holotype (NHMUK PV R175) was excavated from Upper Wessex Formation strata on the Isle of Wight. Numerous other specimens have been assigned to this genus in the past. The polacanthids have undergone an extensive revision. Today, only the holotype material is assigned to P. foxii.

The animal has a triangular shaped head. It broadens out considerably towards the back of the skull. The head is more typical of an ankylosaur. The narrow skull seen in some life reconstructions has been abandoned in favour of a skull shape that reflects the known polacanthid body plan. The model has two cervical rings of armour on the neck. It may have had three rings, but the fossil record of this dinosaur is quite poor. Only two cervical rings can be demonstrated by the fossil material, so the model has just two cervical rings. The limb proportions seem appropriate and great care has been taken in the placement and orientation of the dermal armour.

A Revision of the Wealden Group Armoured Dinosaurs

Work is continuing to revise and define the armoured dinosaur fossil material associated with the extensive Wealden Group. CollectA were keen to introduce a revised Polacanthus figure with a sacral shield. This new model is a considerable improvement on the CollectA Prehistoric Life Polacanthus which did not have a sacral shield.

In addition, CollectA wanted to introduce an updated figure as recent research has continued to define the genus and has led to the erection of new armoured dinosaur species. For example, earlier this year, a new Wealden Formation ankylosaur was named Vectipelta barretti.

To read about the discovery of Vectipelta: New Armoured Dinosaur Species Honours Natural History Museum Professor.

Although fossils assigned to Vectipelta were once thought to represent Polacanthus, studies have revealed that these two dinosaurs were not that closely related. In addition, Vectipelta could be as much as eight million years older than the holotype Polacanthus foxii material.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

To view the CollectA Deluxe models in stock at Everything Dinosaur: CollectA Deluxe Prehistoric Life Models.

Model Measurements

The Polacanthus figure has a declared scale of 1:20. The CollectA Deluxe Polacanthus dinosaur model measures 27.5 cm in length and the tip of the beautiful tail is held 13 cm high in the air.

The model will be available from Everything Dinosaur in the middle of 2024.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

To view the first part of our new CollectA model series: New CollectA Models Part 1.

To view part 2 of this series: New CollectA Models for 2024 Part 2.

Visit the Everything Dinosaur website: Everything Dinosaur.