New CollectA Models 2020 (Part 2)

Time to reveal the second part of our blog series that highlights the new for 2020 prehistoric animal models that are due to be released by CollectA.  Today, we announce the addition of two new 1:40 scale prehistoric animal replicas, representing dinosaurs that have only recently been scientifically described.

The two CollectA models are:

• CollectA Deluxe Saltriovenator in 1:40 scale (S. zanellai) – a large, predatory dinosaur from the Early Jurassic of northern Italy.
• CollectA Bajadasaurus in 1:40 scale (B. pronuspinax) – a member of the Dicraeosauridae family of Sauropods, known from the Early Cretaceous of Argentina.

The New for 2020 CollectA Deluxe Saltriovenator Dinosaur Model (1:40 Scale)

Picture credit: CollectA

CollectA Saltriovenator 1:40 Scale Dinosaur Model

Known from fragmentary fossils found at the Salnova marble quarry in the municipality of Saltrio from which the dinosaur is named, Saltriovenator is the largest known predatory dinosaur to have been described from fossil material associated with the Sinemurian faunal stage of the Early Jurassic.

The quarry workers used explosives to blast the rocks, which resulted in the fossilised bones being blown into hundreds of fragments.  Careful, painstaking preparation by scientists from the Natural History Museum of Milan and the Geological Museum of Bologna enabled this dinosaur to be “pieced” together.  This new replica for 2020 is sure to make an explosive impact!

Model designer Anthony Beeson explained that Saltriovenator is an ancestor of Ceratosaurus, so this new for 2020 addition will work well with the CollectA Ceratosaurus introduced in 2018.  It is only the third dinosaur known from Italy and the second carnivore.

The single specimen known to science is believed to represent a sub-adult, so the full size of this Early Jurassic monster is unclear, although it could have been around 8 metres long when fully grown and weighed as much as a tonne.  Intriguingly, in line with a recently published theory, this carnivore has been given lips.

The New for 2020 CollectA Bajadasaurus (1:40 Scale)

Picture credit: CollectA

CollectA Bajadasaurus 1:40 Scale Dinosaur Model

The second new for 2020 prehistoric animal from CollectA to be announced this week is the spectacular Bajadasaurus (B. pronuspinax).  A spectacular dicraeosaurid from Patagonia, closely related to Amargasaurus, a model of which, is already present in the CollectA range.  This plant-eating giant was described even more recently than Saltriovenator (published in Scientific Reports in February 2019).  Like Saltriovenator it is known from fragmentary remains, but skull material has been recovered and a single neck bone (the fifth cervical vertebra), sports an elongated and curved neural spine.

Commenting Upon the New CollectA Models

Designer Anthony Beeson commented that it was this spine that gave the dinosaur its name “Bajada reptile bent over forwards”.  The relatively short neck was probably crowned with a double row of tall curved spines that may have helped this herbivore defend itself from theropod dinosaurs.  The ornamentation on the neck could have also played a role in thermoregulation or perhaps even visual display.

At around nine to ten metres in length, Bajadasaurus was quite sizeable and Anthony explained that he had based this model on the better known Amargasaurus.  It certainly makes an amazing addition to the CollectA 1:40 scale model range and just like Saltriovenator, this dinosaur model has been given lips.

Tale of the Tape

• CollectA Deluxe Saltriovenator 1:40 Scale Model – length 27.5 cm, with a head height of around 14 cm.  Expected mid 2020.
• CollectA Bajadasaurus (1:40 scale) – length 35 cm with those amazing neural spines standing around 10 cm high.  Expected early 2020.

To view the current range of CollectA models available from Everything Dinosaur: CollectA Prehistoric Life.

To view the Deluxe range of CollectA figures available: CollectA Deluxe.

We look forward to posting up more information and images of other new for 2020 prehistoric animal models from CollectA next week.

To view the first of our blog posts featuring new for 2020 CollectA models: New CollectA 2020 (Part 1).

The award-winning, user-friendly Everything Dinosaur website: Everything Dinosaur.

New CollectA Models 2020 (Part 1)

It’s that time of year when our chums at CollectA release details of their new for 2020 prehistoric animal models.  A number of announcements are due to be made in the next few weeks, but today, we start the palaeontological ball rolling by introducing the first of the new for 2020 CollectA figures.

The first four models are:

1. CollectA Deluxe Protoceratops 1:6 scale
2. CollectA Deluxe Fukuisaurus 1:40 scale
3. The CollectA Deluxe Microraptor 1:6 scale
4. CollectA Baryonyx (Prehistoric Life)

The New for 2020 CollectA Protoceratops Dinosaur Model

Picture credit: CollectA

New CollectA Models

Over the years, CollectA have produced a wide range of horned dinosaur figures.  Everything Dinosaur team members had lobbied to have Protoceratops included, it is one of the most intensely studied of all the Dinosauria and dinosaur model fans will be able to pick up this figure in early 2020.  It should provide a suitable companion piece to the 1:6 scale CollectA Velociraptor model that was introduced back in 2011.

CollectA Deluxe Fukuisaurus (1:40 Scale)

Coming to Everything Dinosaur in Early 2020 – CollectA 1:40 Scale Fukuisaurus

Picture credit: CollectA

Fukuisaurus (F. tetoriensis) was first described from partial skull material found at the famous Kitadani Dinosaur Quarry (Honshu Island, Japan).  The CollectA model draws on other known iguanodontids for inspiration, for very little fossil material has been ascribed to this genus.

Some academics describe this Early Cretaceous herbivore as having “nomen nudum” status, that is, it’s an animal for which no holotype fossil material has been designated.  This dinosaur model might be in the CollectA Deluxe portfolio, but don’t expect a figure the size of the bulky Iguanodon model released by CollectA in 2018.  Fukuisaurus is believed to have been a relatively small animal, perhaps measuring 4.5 metres long and weighing around 350-450 kilograms.

The size of Fukuisaurus is in truth, not known, but Iguanodon bernissartensis for example, was nearly twice as long and perhaps ten times heavier.

Designer Anthony Beeson commented:

“In response from our Japanese fans we produced this model to go with Fukuiraptor that we issued in 2019.  An Early Cretaceous herbivorous ornithopod dinosaur from Japan living some 129.4- 125 million years ago.”

CollectA Deluxe Microraptor (1:6 Scale)

Available from Everything Dinosaur in Early 2020 – The CollectA Microraptor Dinosaur Model

Picture credit: CollectA

The third new for 2020 CollectA figure is another Asian dinosaur from the Early Cretaceous, but this time, this dinosaur heralds from China, not Japan.  It is a model of the feathered dromaeosaurid Microraptor and it has certainly been depicted in a spectacular pose.  In email correspondence with model designer Anthony Beeson, Everything Dinosaur team members were fascinated to learn that magpie feathers had been despatched to China to help the model makers re-create the iridescence on the animal’s plumage. 

We also learned that CollectA had been specifically requested by a museum in China to make this figure.  Museum staff have approved the CollectA model design.

The CollectA Baryonyx (Prehistoric Life)

Making up the quartet of new figures, the first of the new for 2020 announcements from CollectA, is a splendid replica of Baryonyx.

New for 2020 The CollectA Prehistoric Life Baryonyx Dinosaur Model

Picture credit: CollectA

Collectors will probably recall that last year, a 1:40 scale CollectA Deluxe Baryonyx was introduced.  The 2020 “Prehistoric Life” version follows the same design and updates the original Baryonyx figure that was introduced by CollectA into this range more than ten years ago.  Note the rows of “crocodilian scutes” that can be seen on the side of the tail.  This figure looks beautifully crafted and we look forward to welcoming this Baryonyx and the other new models early next year.

Tale of the Tape

• CollectA Deluxe Protoceratops – length 24 cm, with that bristle-tail standing some 11 cm high.
• CollectA Deluxe Fukuisaurus – length 14 cm and standing around 5.5 cm high.
• The CollectA Deluxe Microraptor – length 20 cm, approximate wingspan 15.5 cm and the height of the model is estimated at 12.5 cm.
• CollectA Prehistoric Life Baryonyx – length 19 cm, approximate height 7 cm.

To view the current range of CollectA models available from Everything Dinosaur: CollectA Prehistoric Life.

To view the Deluxe range of CollectA figures available: CollectA Deluxe.

We look forward to posting up more information and images of other new for 2020 prehistoric animal models from CollectA.

The Everything Dinosaur website: Everything Dinosaur.

Eofauna Scientific Research Deinotherium Model is in Stock

The new for 2019 Eofauna Scientific Research Deinotherium model is in stock at Everything Dinosaur.  The Deinotherium becomes the fourth figure to be added to Eofauna’s range, it joins a Steppe Mammoth (Mammuthus trogontherii) and a Straight-tusked elephant (Palaeoloxodon antiquus), as extinct members of the Order Proboscidea to be represented in this exciting portfolio of prehistoric animal replicas.

Eofauna Scientific Research Deinotherium

In Stock at Everything Dinosaur the New for 2019 Eofauna Scientific Research Deinotherium Model

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Complete with Deinotherium Data Card

The Deinotherium prehistoric elephant model comes complete with a data card.  Everything Dinosaur team members have been assisting Eofauna Scientific Research with the text associated with their models.  Purchases of this figure from Everything Dinosaur will also be accompanied by a fact sheet on Deinotherium giganteum complied by our staff.  Our fact sheet also includes a scale drawing so that readers can assess the true size of this extinct member of the elephant family.

A Close-up View of the Eofauna Scientific Research Deinotherium Model

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Model Measurements

The Deinotherium replica measures around 20 centimetres in length and it stands around 13 centimetres high.  This beautifully detailed model has been developed based on analysis of actual fossil material and the Eofauna range of replicas is rapidly becoming a firm favourite amongst model and figure collectors.

A View of the Carefully Sculpted Trunk on the Eofauna Scientific Research Deinotherium Replica

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

The texture on the skin has been carefully crafted and the paint job is excellent, particularly the work on those downward pointing tusks which have a roughened  and weathered look to them.  The downward pointing tusks were used by these prehistoric elephants in a variety of ways.

The Everything Dinosaur website: Everything Dinosaur.

The tusks probably served a variety of functions to assist with feeding.  For example, some palaeontologists suggest that the tusks were used to excavate tubers and roots.  Other scientists have proposed that the tusks were used to help to scrape bark from trees.  The curved tusks would have made very effective hooks to help Deinotherium pull at tree branches, from which they could strip the leaves.

The Posterior of the Eofauna Scientific Research Deinotherium Figure

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

To purchase the Eofauna Deinotherium model and to see the rest of the figures in the Eofauna Scientific Research range: Eofauna Scientific Research Prehistoric Animal Models.

TetZooCon 2019

Just a few more sleeps until the start of the annual TetZooCon event in London.  This is the meeting of fans of the tetrapods (living and extinct), amphibians and the amniotes (reptiles, birds and mammals).  Once again Everything Dinosaur is delighted to announce that we will be sponsoring this prestigious meeting themed around the world-renowned blog Tetrapod Zoology.

TetZooCon 2019

TetZooCon is bigger and better than ever and it takes place on Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th October at the spacious “The Venue” in Malet Street, London.  Speakers from the TetZooCon universe will be presenting on topics as diverse as whale strandings, the diseases of theropod dinosaurs, natural history film making and hunting with eagles.  Amongst the activities there will be a quiz and Everything Dinosaur has donated the prizes.

Eofauna Scientific Figures – Part of Everything Dinosaur’s TetZooCon Slide Show

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Conservation and Cryptozoology

The two-day conference covers a variety of special interests, from conservation projects looking into the demise of UK amphibian populations to using citizen science to investigate the impact of roadkill.  There is a lot for cryptozoologists too.  Cryptozoology looks at the evidence to prove the existence of animals from myths, legends and folklore, such as the Mokele-mbembe from the Congo Basin of Africa, which some believe to be a type of sauropod dinosaur.  Conference organiser Darren Naish, an authority on the subject, will be taking time out from his duties at the event to sell and sign copies of his latest book – “The Cryptozoologicon (Volume 1)” – the biology, evolution and mythology of hidden animals.  TetZooCon will include plenty of time to meet authors, peruse their publications and to get some favourite copies signed.

Everything Dinosaur has Prepared Slide Shows for the Event

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

A Haven for Palaeoart and Palaeoartists

Talented artist and fellow organiser John Conway will be leading some of the exciting palaeoart activities and workshops.  Noted luminaries in the world of prehistoric illustration will be attending such as Bob Nicholls and Beth Windle will be leading a discussion on “women in palaeoart”.  This annual event is turning into a haven for palaeoart and palaeoartists, the extensive social media coverage will give plenty of opportunity to all those unable to attend to view and appreciate the artwork and scientific illustrations on display.

The quiz might even feature a Beasts of the Mesozoic model or two.  We could not possibly comment, other than to say that as the exclusive distributors for this exciting range of articulated collectible figures, they epitomise the link between beautiful scientific illustration and imaginative scale models.  On the subject of scale models, look for a presentation by Agata Stachowiak on how to produce accurate models of prehistoric animals – fascinating stuff.

Beasts of the Mesozoic – Combining Articulated Models with Beautiful Palaeoart

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

We look forward to viewing all the tweets, Instagram pics and Facebook posts from the event that kicks-off in just five days’ time.

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