Our thanks to dinosaur model collector William who sent into Everything Dinosaur a detailed review of his recently purchased CollectA Megalosaurus in ambush model. This dinosaur figure had been introduced by CollectA earlier this year and William was keen to sing the model’s praises.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Megalosaurus in Ambush Reviewed

William recommends this updated version of the famous Jurassic theropod stating:

“Yes, the CollectA Megalosaurus is that good in hand – really worth purchasing”.

The enthusiastic model collector explained that Megalosaurus bucklandii was the first dinosaur to be scientifically described and named, referring to this genus as the “pride of the United Kingdom palaeo community”.

He is quick to point out that the 2021 figure replaces an earlier Megalosaurus replica in the CollectA Prehistoric Life Model series.

The Megalosaurus Head Sculpt

William commented that with this new CollectA replica there was a more accurate representation of the fossil material ascribed to this genus. Specifically, when discussing the head of the new model, he stated that the muzzle was well defined and the skin folds under the jaws were a nice touch. William added that there was excellent definition with the nostrils, eyes and ear vents commented upon. He also noted the addition of lips on the model, a detail that reflects current palaeontological debate.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

The Limbs, Arms and Torso of the Megalosaurus Figure

The position of the limbs and arms were praised for their anatomical accuracy, although the reviewer commented that the feet on the model were a little over sized, presumably to help with model stability and to prevent the need for a display base. William liked the long and sleek torso and briefly commented upon this theropod body plan being reflected in later allosaurids and tyrannosaurids.

When commenting on the tail, the model collector explained that the tail was well proportioned and he liked the dorsal raised scales that ran down the body and along the tail.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

The Everything Dinosaur website: Dinosaur Toys and Prehistoric Animal Models.

Colouration and Skin Texture

William described the model’s colour scheme stating that the main base colour was a grey-beige with black muzzle points and dark colouration around the ears. Striping ran down the flank and the tail, before giving way on the torso to black spots. He commented on the “natural appeal” of the figure and praised the fine sculpting along with the throat and belly folds and wrinkles.

CollectA Megalosaurus Size and Scale

In William’s review he provided the following measurement information and proposed a scale of approximately 1:38 for the CollectA figure.

• Length = 6.25 inches
• Height = 2 inches
• Scale 1:38

William’s Megalosaurus Biography

In addition to making comments about the CollectA model, William provided some information on the discovery and scientific description of Megalosaurus.

He explained that strange, unexplained fossil bones and been unearthed from stone quarries in England and that they had caught the attention of leading academics of the day such as Professor Robert Plot of Oxford University.

• Time: 166 mya (approximately) – Bathonian faunal stage of the Jurassic
• Location: England and Europe
• Family: Megalosauridae
• Subfamily: Megalosaurinae
• Species: Megalosaurus bucklandii
• William’s size estimate 20 feet/6 metres long, weight 15,000 lb (7,000 kilograms)

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

A Predator of the Jurassic

Concluding his comprehensive review William explained that Megalosaurus was one of the largest theropods known from the Middle Jurassic and it probably was the apex predator in the ecosystem, often stealing from the kills of other smaller theropods such as Cruxicheiros and Iliosuchus.

Finally, the reviewer commented on the work of the Reverend William Buckland and the French comparative anatomist Georges Cuvier that led to the formal description of this large, meat-eater at a meeting of the Geological Society of London on the 20th of February 1824.

William commented:

“The first named dinosaur Megalosaurus was the spark that set the world ablaze with a deep passion for dinosaurs”.

To view the range of CollectA Age of Dinosaurs figures available from Everything Dinosaur: CollectA Prehistoric Life Models.

Our thanks to dinosaur and prehistoric animal model and figure collector Anne who sent into Everything Dinosaur some pictures of the stunning, limited-edition PNSO bronze Sinosauropteryx figure that she had recently purchased from us. Marketed as the “Galley Series”, only 300 of these remarkable sculptures have been produced.

Limited-edition Bronze Dinosaur Statues

Of the 300 sculptures only a handful have been made available for sale outside of China. As Everything Dinosaur has the longest relationship with PNSO of any company based outside China, we were given special permission to bring some of these fantastic figures out of China and to our warehouse in the UK.

The PNSO Yuyan the Sinosauropteryx bronze statue is in 1:3 scale and comes in a beautiful presentation box complete with a certificate of authenticity, a Zhao Chuang Sinosauropteryx illustration and notes from Zhao Chuang and Yang Yang.

Views of the PNSO Yuyan the Sinosauropteryx Bronze Sculpture

This beautiful figure will take pride of place in the family home and it was very kind of Anne to send some pictures to Everything Dinosaur of her latest acquisition.

The model measures a fraction under 17.5 cm high and the figure is 17 cm long.

A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur commented:

“The bronze 1:3 scale Yuyan the Sinosauropteryx was created to celebrate 10th anniversary of PNSO. It is wonderful to be able to supply these exceptionally rare and beautiful figures to our customers.”

To view the range of PNSO prehistoric animal models and figures available from Everything Dinosaur: PNSO Age of Dinosaurs.

The website of Everything Dinosaur: Dinosaur Models and Figures.

The new for 2021 Wild Safari Prehistoric World Spinosaurus and Daspletosaurus dinosaur models are in stock at Everything Dinosaur. These are the last of five new prehistoric animal models that were introduced by Safari Ltd this year, after the armoured T. rex and Triceratops and the Baryonyx figures that came into stock at Everything Dinosaur earlier in 2021.

Two New Dinosaur Figures

Safari Ltd may have reduced the number of new prehistoric animal models they have introduced this year compared to 2020, (nine prehistoric animal models were introduced in 2020), but there is no denying the quality of these new additions. Each model is beautifully painted and reflect the very latest scientific thinking. It is wonderful to see a new model of a tyrannosaur introduced into a product range, a refreshing change from the ubiquitous T. rex models.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

The Spinosaurus Tail

Last year (2020), a team of international scientists including researchers from the University of Portsmouth, the University of Detroit Mercy and Leicester University published a paper in the journal “Nature” that concluded that Spinosaurus was indeed an aquatic dinosaur. A review of fossil tail bones (caudal vertebrae), revealed that it had a wide and flexible tail which was very fin-like. The tail of Spinosaurus was well adapted to propelling this huge predator through the water.

The design team at Safari Ltd have worked hard to incorporate this research into their model. The tail of the Wild Safari Prehistoric World Spinosaurus, is broad and accounts for around half the model’s entire length. It seems ideally suited to propelling this dinosaur through the rivers and lakes of early Late Cretaceous North Africa.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

The Everything Dinosaur website: Buy Dinosaur Toys and Models.

Attractive Markings

Collectors have contacted Everything Dinosaur and commented on the beautiful markings and colouration. The Spinosaurus figure has attracted praise for its striking paintwork.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

The new for 2021 Wild Safari Prehistoric World Daspletosaurus and Spinosaurus figures along with the rest of the prehistoric animal models in this range can be found here: Wild Safari Prehistoric World.

Whilst working in one of Everything Dinosaur’s packing rooms a PNSO Parasaurolophus model was spotted. This gave team members the opportunity to take some photographs of this superb, duck-billed dinosaur model. The Parasaurolophus figure (Wyatt the Parasaurolophus), is a recent introduction into the PNSO mid-size model range and it is the third hadrosaur to be added after the Corythosaurus and Lambeosaurus that came out last year.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

A Blue-eyed Ornithopod

PNSO have built up a strong reputation in the last few years or so for the quality of their dinosaur models and figures. The Parasaurolophus has been beautifully painted with fantastic countershading, a spectacular, brightly coloured head crest and this ornithopod has been given a blue eye. The details on the skin are praiseworthy with lots of skin folds and texture giving the impression of bulk and movement. Stripes descending down the flanks and running along to the end of the tail would have helped to break-up the outline of this large herbivore and helped to camouflage it from marauding tyrannosaurs.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

The Everything Dinosaur website: Dinosaur Models and Prehistoric Animal Toys.

Rave Reviews from Dinosaur Fans and Model Collectors

Although this dinosaur model has not been out for long, it has already received rave reviews from dinosaur fans and model collectors.

For example, in a 5-star Feefo review posted on Everything Dinosaur’s website the reviewer described Wyatt the Parasaurolophus as “Perfect!”

Another reviewer who commented on their purchase on our website referred to this Parasaurolophus model as:

“very scientifically accurate, beautiful colour scheme and natural relaxed pose”.

The Parasaurolophus model measures a fraction under 28 centimetres in length and that magnificent head crest is around 11 cm off the ground.

To purchase the PNSO Wyatt the Parasaurolophus and to see the rest of the amazing PNSO prehistoric animals available from Everything Dinosaur: PNSO Age of Dinosaurs.

One of the new for 2021 CollectA prehistoric animal models in stock at Everything Dinosaur is the gory Brontosaurus prey figure. Everything Dinosaur takes a look at this fascinating dinosaur model. This replica of a dead Brontosaurus is the fourth carcass model to be introduced by CollectA in their not to scale Age of Dinosaurs Popular range. The Brontosaurus prey follows on from a dead Triceratops, a Stegosaurus carcass and a deceased feathered Tyrannosaurus rex.

The Demise of a Sauropod

The carefully sculpted Brontosaurus prey figure shows evidence of a theropod dinosaur attack as well as feeding. There are deep wounds obvious on the tail, at the base of the neck and on the throat, which we deduce was probably the fatal bite. The exposed stomach cavity, the defleshed femur and damage immediately behind the left hind leg probably depict feeding traces.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

An Ideal Figure for Dinosaur Dioramas

The CollectA Brontosaurus prey would certainly add a degree of visceral realism to any prehistoric animal scene that is being created by a model collector. It is an ideal figure for use in dinosaur dioramas. Team members have been asked to comment on the dislocated right front leg on this particularly gruesome dinosaur model.

A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur stated:

“The position of the right forelimb could have come about as a large theropod dinosaur such as an adult Allosaurus fragilis pulled at the limb in order to remove it from the corpse and carry it away so that this carnivore could feed in safety. Alternatively, the limb could have been dislocated as the bulky Brontosaurus collapsed as a result of the theropod attack.”

The Everything Dinosaur website: Buy Dinosaur Models and Toys.

What Attacked the Brontosaurus?

As the CollectA Age of Dinosaurs Popular Brontosaurus prey measures around 25 cm in length, it could represent a sub-adult animal in a dinosaur diorama. If this is the case, then the range of suspects that could have attacked it is enlarged to some degree. As well as an Allosaurus, the attack could have been undertaken by a Ceratosaurus such as C. dentisulcatus or perhaps the unfortunate Brontosaurus was brought down by a megalosaur. The megalosaurid Torvosaurus tanneri is known from the Brushy Basin Member of the Morrison Formation, it was one of the largest theropods described to date from the Late Jurassic of western North America.

We shall leave it to the imagination of our readers as to whether the Brontosaurus was brought down by a single animal or as the result of an attack by a hungry pack of theropods.

Whether the Brontosaurus was attacked and killed, or the figure represents dinosaurs scavenging a corpse, this is a fascinating and very welcome addition to the CollectA range of not to scale prehistoric animal models.

To purchase the CollectA Brontosaurus prey and the rest of the prehistoric animal figures in the CollectA Age of Dinosaurs Popular range: CollectA Prehistoric Life Models and Figures.

Everything Dinosaur team members have been so impressed with the first batch of new for 2021 CollectA prehistoric animal figures that they have decided to review them all. Today, it is the turn of the CollectA Neovenator scenting prey dinosaur model. This figure replaces an earlier version of the theropod Neovenator within the CollectA Age of Dinosaurs Popular range.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

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

Neovenator salerii

The CollectA Neovenator scenting prey has been beautifully painted. The light green tones contrast well with the striking darker green stripes that run from the nape of the neck right down to the model’s long tail. The tail makes up around 50% of the entire figure’s length. The body proportions of the Neovenator model reflect the graceful and lightweight nature of the dinosaur’s skeleton. Neovenator being regarded as relatively lightly built for a large predator with a gracile body plan. The grasping hands have been sculpted extremely well and the claws are skilfully painted. Their battleship grey colour matches the toe claws.

The pale underside provides a sharp contrast to the colouration on the flanks and the CollectA model has been given a row of small wattles that run down the neck. There is a row of similarly coloured spines that extend from the back of the skull to the tip of the tail. These spines are enlarged over the hips and immediately behind the head.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Features of the Skull

The figure is named “scenting prey” as an analysis of Neovenator cranial material published in 2017 revealed a substantial network of neurovascular canals in the upper jaw (premaxilla and maxilla) that were linked to the external surfaces of the bones in the jaw. The scientists concluded that this may have been a specialised tactile organ, enabling Neovenator to sense its environment through its jaw. These canals could have sensed jaw pressure, assisting this dinosaur to avoid bone when feeding, or this sensory organ could have played a role in intraspecies recognition and behaviour, or even assisted Neovenator in locating suitable nesting sites. The large nostrils suggest that this dinosaur had a powerful sense of smell. To read more about this research: The Sensitive Face of Neovenator.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Taxonomic Position Uncertain

The taxonomic classification of Neovenator remains uncertain, despite nearly 70% of the fossil skeleton being known to science. When first described in 1996, it was thought to have affinities with the Allosauridae family. Subsequent studies have challenged this suggesting a placement within the carcharodontosaurids.

The elevated head shows lots of amazing detail. The dark green markings that run from the eye socket down to the bottom jaw and then up to the postorbital bone are in stark contrast to the bright yellow jaw tips and the yellow patch that surrounds the eye.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

This is an exquisitely created dinosaur model and Everything Dinosaur highly recommends the CollectA Age of Dinosaurs Popular Neovenator scenting prey.

To view the CollectA Neovenator scenting prey figure and the rest of the models in the CollectA Prehistoric Life range: CollectA Prehistoric Life Models and Figures.