Prehistoric Times Reaches its Century

Prehistoric Times, the magazine for dinosaur fans and prehistoric animal merchandise collectors is celebrating its 100th edition.  Yes, in a feat not matched by any English batsman in the current Test series against Pakistan, Prehistoric Times (PT to its friends) has reached 100 not out.

Prehistoric Times

First of all we should congratulate all those dedicated people involved in producing such an excellent quarterly magazine.   Issue 100, in common with all the other editions of this magazine is absolutely jam-packed full of interesting articles, updates and Dinosauria related data.

Mike Fredericks, the dedicated editor of the magazine published the last issue with two different front covers, a boon for collectors, and in keeping with this very special publication, the 100th issue has also been produced with two front cover versions.  Spanish artist Raul Martin has provided the artwork for one of the covers.  His picture depicts an encounter between Deinosuchus and the tyrannosaur; Albertosaurus.  However, we received at Everything Dinosaur’s office the second front cover version.  A beautiful illustration done by our chum Fabio Pastori entitled “The Airbender”.  Fabio’s front cover picture features Albertosaurus, Gorgosaurus and a prehistoric bird known as Enantiornithes.   Super artwork – both pictures are worthy of gracing issue 100 of PT

 The Two Front Covers of Prehistoric Times

Celebrating 100th Issue with two front cover versions.

Picture credit: Raul Martin/Fabio Pastori

Inside this issue, palaeontologist Steve Brusatte provides a review of the last twelve months from a palaeontology perspective, there is a fascinating interview with the highly talented and entirely self-taught Australian artist Peter Schouten – some amazing prehistoric artwork indeed.

Another highlight is a thought provoking article by Tracy Lee Ford – asking the question “Could some Dinosaurs Perch?” For the answer, as to whether the likes of dromaeosaurs were arboreal – well, you will have to buy a copy and see for yourself what conclusions can be drawn.  Talking of drawings, lots of wonderful readers artwork in the features covering one of the front cover stars – Albertosaurus.  There is also a well-written article on our favourite pelycosaur – Dimetrodon, produced by Phil Hore.

Look out for the feature on the Royal Belgian Museum (iguanodontids a plenty) and an update on the Dinosaur discoveries of Portugal plus lots more (thanks for the Origin of the Series article to Anthony Beeson), and the Coelodonta replica masterclass by Steven B. DeMarco.

All in all, a super edition of PT, ten out of ten (or should that be 100 out of 100)?

For dinosaur toys and prehistoric animal themed gifts: Visit Everything Dinosaur.

Prehistoric Times Autumn 2011 – Reviewed

And so the penultimate edition of “Prehistoric Times” is here,  the dinosaur fan’s magazine before that all important centenary issue arrives and what a treat it proves to be.

In a novel twist, this issue of “Prehistoric Times” is available with two different front covers.  One copy has the armoured dinosaur Gastonia on the front cover, an illustration done especially for the magazine by William Stout.  The second version has a picture of a Styracosaurus model created by that highly talented sculptor and model maker Steve DeMarco.  We think (well actually we know because the editor told us), that there are plans to do something similar with the 100th edition.  For the record we were sent the Styracosaurus cover version and it was great to read the story of how Steve made this model in a feature entitled “One Horned Army”.

Our Prehistoric Times Featuring Styracosaurus

“One Horned Army”.

Picture credit: Mike Fredericks

Amongst all the dinosaur and prehistoric fossil news, there is a super feature written by Tracy Lee Ford on how to draw Terror Birds, all part of his acclaimed “How to draw Dinosaurs” series, we won’t split hairs between avian and non-avian members of the Dinosauria but this article points out some potentially fundamental differences in bird versus dinosaur locomotion.  This suggests that birds may not be a good study model when considering how dinosaurs moved about.

James Field, that fantastic British prehistoric animal artist is interviewed and this edition features several of his beautiful illustrations.  Keeping up the British theme to this edition of “Prehistoric Times” there is a wonderful article by our dear chum Anthony Beeson on the development of the prehistoric animal model figures produced by the London Natural History Museum in conjunction with Invicta Plastics (Leicester). The black Scelidosaurus (cost me 27 pence) is still amongst my favourite possessions and it was fascinating to read the first part of this article.  Part two will feature in the next edition.

For dinosaur replicas created by the scientists at the London Natural History Museum: Natural History Museum Dinosaur Models.

As if all this and the “Mesozoic Mail” and letters page was not enough, there is even an article celebrating the 150th anniversary of Archaeopteryx and a pictorial tour of the new dinosaur halls at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles.

With a feature on how to build your own model T. rex, an article on Gastonia, product reviews and the chance to enter the annual “Prehistoric Times” awards there really is so much in this edition, it is going to be hard for the team behind this magazine to top it for that special 100th issue.

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