Late Cretaceous Tyrannosaurs Feature in Dinosaur Diorama

Our thanks to Robert Townsend who set us some more photographs of the prehistoric animal inhabitants of his large dinosaur inspired diorama.  This time, the theme is Late Cretaceous Tyrannosaurus and the enthusiastic model maker has created a number of mini scenes featuring “Tyrant Lizard Kings” and their contemporaries.

A Pair of Tyrannosaurs Feeding on the Carcass of a Titanosaur

A pair of tyrannosaurs feeding on the carcass of a titanosaur.

Picture credit: R. Townsend

The picture above shows a Wild Safari Prehistoric World T. rex (foreground) with a now retired, Carnegie Collectables special anniversary T. rex replica (background).  Titanosaurs did co-exist with tyrannosaurs, especially in the more southern parts of Laramidia.  The titanosaur Alamosaurus sanjuanensis is known from Upper Cretaceous (Maastrichtian faunal stage) deposits, there is some evidence to suggest that T. rex scavenged carcasses of this huge sauropod, whether or not they actively hunted these giants remains open to debate.  If you look carefully a series of three-toed dinosaur prints can be seen in the photograph, a nice touch from the model maker, adding realism.

An Adult T. rex Feeds a Juvenile

T. rex mother and baby (feeding time).

Picture credit: R. Townsend

Late Cretaceous Tyrannosaurs

One of the benefits of building such a large diorama is that various mini-scenes can be incorporated into the bigger scenario.  The photograph above shows an adult T. rex feeding a juvenile, one of the Schleich mini dinosaur figures.  In the picture below, an armoured dinosaur Euoplocephalus (from the Battat Terra range of figures) battles a T. rex.

Tyrannosaurus rex Attacks Euoplocephalus

T. rex confronts Euoplocephalus.

Picture credit: R. Townsend

Detailed Prehistoric Animal Replicas and Models

As the number of detailed prehistoric animal models and replicas have increased, collectors have been keen to find new ways of displaying their collections.  Mr Townsend has constructed a substantial three-metre-long landscape that lends itself to a wide variety of scene building concepts representing different parts of the geological record.

For example, the Late Cretaceous of North America was the inspiration behind these images and horned dinosaurs made up a substantial portion of the megafauna in this part of the world at the end of the Mesozoic.  Robert does not disappoint dinosaur fans as he has included several ceratopsians in his diorama.

Horned Dinosaurs (Einiosaurus and Achelousaurus) Confront Marauding Tyrannosaurs

Two tyrannosaurs face a pair of horned dinosaurs Einiosaurus.

Picture credit: R. Townsend

It is the attention to detail that elevates this dinosaur diorama, such as the skilfully painted backdrop complete with pterosaur stickers.  The attention to detail is demonstrated in this aerial shot of the landscape, a tyrannosaur is making its way across the model and its tracks can be clearly made out in the substrate.

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

An Aerial Shot of the Dinosaur Diorama Showing a Theropod Trackway

T. rex footprints in a diorama.

Picture credit: R. Townsend

The image (above) also demonstrates the clever use of other props that add authenticity, such as the strategic placement of boulders and the use of various model plants to help represent the flora of the Mesozoic.

Plant Model Takes Centre Stage

The Carnegie special edition Tyrannosaurus rex model behind a CollectA Monathesia and Cycad model.

Picture credit: R. Townsend

In this cleverly composed photograph, it is the model of the prehistoric plants that take centre stage (CollectA Monathesia and Cycads), this model is seen in sharp focus, whilst a Tyrannosaurus rex model is in the background, other prehistoric plants frame the photograph and provide perspective.

To view the CollectA Prehistoric Life model range: CollectA Age of Dinosaurs Popular Range.

A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur commented:

” A large landscape such as this lends itself to all sorts of possibilities when it comes to depicting life in the past.  Much thought and care has gone into its construction and it is always a pleasure to see how Everything Dinosaur’s customers display their purchases.”

Visit the award-winning Everything Dinosaur website: Everything Dinosaur.

Papo New Releases and Retirements (Les Dinosaures)

Just arrived at Everything Dinosaur, a limited edition Papo gift box dinosaur model set.  This Papo special edition gift box features two dinosaurs, a Papo juvenile Spinosaurus and a Papo Ceratosaurus.  The Papo Juvenile Spinosaurus is a new figure, Everything Dinosaur team members saw this model around twelve months ago, it is not known whether this super Spinosaurus will be available as an individual model in 2018.

The Papo Juvenile Spinosaurus and the Papo Ceratosaurus Special Edition Gift Box

The Papo juvenile Spinosaurus and the Papo Ceratosaurus gift box.

Papo Juvenile Spinosaurus (Papo Dinosaur Models)

The Papo juvenile Spinosaurus measures eighteen centimetres in length and like the similarly sized Ceratosaurus, it has an articulated lower jaw.  The skull and body proportions have been skilfully modelled by the Papo design team and this figure does look like a young animal.  The sail on the back is not quite as pronounced as it is in the Papo adult Spinosaurus replica and the paint scheme on the juvenile Spinosaurus is exquisite.  This pair of models are offered for sale in a special presentation gift box, or as the French would say “offre speciale”.

The Papo Juvenile Spinosaurus Model

The Papo juvenile Spinosaurus.

The Papo range of prehistoric animal figures can be found here: Papo Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal Models.

Papo Prehistoric Animal Model Retirements

There are going to be several models retired from the Papo “Les Dinosaures” range in 2018.  The Papo Pachyrhinosaurus figure, the Papo Baby Woolly Mammoth model and the baby brown T. rex are out of production and no more of these figures will be made, according to sources close to Everything Dinosaur.

Proposed Papo Model Retirements in 2018

A trio of Papo figures.  The Papo Pachyrhinosaurus, Baby Woolly Mammoth and the Baby Brown T. rex are due to be retired in 2018.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

The Papo baby Woolly Mammoth and the baby brown Tyrannosaurus rex figures were introduced into the model range in 2012.  Originally, there were two baby T. rex figures, however, the green variant was retired some years ago.  As for the Papo juvenile Woolly Mammoth, as far as Everything Dinosaur team members are aware, this model will continue to be made next year.  It is the Papo baby Woolly Mammoth that is becoming extinct.

It is also sad to see the retirement of the Papo Pachyrhinosaurus figure.  This horned dinosaur model has proved to be very popular amongst Papo collectors.  The Papo Pachyrhinosaurus was introduced in 2010, within the Papo range there are still two ceratopsians, naturally there is a Triceratops (adult and young), plus a brightly coloured Styracosaurus.

The Papo Pachyrhinosaurus is Being Retired

The Papo Pachyrhinosaurus dinosaur model.

Announcing Papo Model Retirements

All three of the retired models are still available from Everything Dinosaur, whilst stocks last.  The Papo prehistoric animal range can be viewed here: Papo Prehistoric Animals.

A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur commented:

“We are delighted to see this special edition box set and the juvenile Spinosaurus is a very welcome addition to the Papo model portfolio.  We don’t know whether this model will be available as an individual piece but we have lobbied the senior management of Papo about this, however, no decision as to its future has been made.  Providing information on model retirements allows collectors and dinosaur fans to snap up any models before they become rare and start to sell on auction sites for silly prices.  There are some exciting new models from Papo coming next year and when we have permission to talk about them and show pictures we will post them up.”

Visit the Everything Dinosaur website: Everything Dinosaur.