The new for 2021 CollectA Kamuysaurus dinosaur model is in stock and what a wonderful addition it makes to the CollectA Age of Dinosaurs Popular range. It’s great to see CollectA introduce another hadrosaur replica, a replica of a dinosaur that was only formally named and described in 2019.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

A Japanese Hadrosaur

Named and described based on a single, nearly complete specimen Kamuysaurus heralds from exposures of the Upper Cretaceous Hakobuchi Formation on Hokkaido. The dinosaur nicknamed the “Mukawa dragon” has been skilfully recreated by the design team at CollectA. The model possesses a small, straight nasal crest that extends to the top of the head, a feature remarked upon in the scientific paper when the rugose nature of the nasal and frontal bones was discussed. In contrast, the row of small spikes running from the back of the graceful neck to the very tip of the tail are speculative but they do not detract from the appearance of this replica.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Model Measurements

The CollectA Kamuysaurus measures 14 cm in length and it stands a fraction under 5.5 cm high. It is a relatively small model, but it has been beautifully painted and the individual scales on the well-sculpted flanks can be made out with the skin folds at the base of the tail adding realism.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Japanese Dinosaurs

The flash of bright yellow leading from the orbit (eye socket) to the side of the animal’s beak contrasts with the more muted tones of the belly and flank which indicate counter shading. The dark stripes present on the limbs and along the neck, back and tail give the impression that this dinosaur would have been well camouflaged, a good defence against predators – although palaeontologists have yet to uncover any evidence to suggest the presence of large, terrestrial predators that shared the same palaeoenvironment.

The introduction of the CollectA Age of Dinosaurs Popular Kamuysaurus continues the trend of CollectA adding models of Japanese dinosaurs into their product portfolio. In 2019, a model of Fukuiraptor (F. kitadaniensis) an Early Cretaceous predator known from the island of Honshu was introduced. Approximately twelve months later CollectA added a Deluxe 1:40 scale version of the contemporaneous Fukuisaurus (F. tetoriensis).

A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur exclaimed:

“It’s great to see another hadrosaurid model added to the CollectA range, even better to have a dinosaur representing the unique biota associated with the Late Cretaceous of Japan”.

The Everything Dinosaur website: Dinosaur Toys and Models.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

To purchase the new for 2021 CollectA Kamuysaurus and to see the rest of the range in the CollectA Age of Dinosaurs Popular range: CollectA Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal Models.

The new for 2021 CollectA Deluxe Mamenchisaurus dinosaur model is now in stock at Everything Dinosaur. This is one of the biggest sauropod figures that CollectA have made and this beautifully detailed replica has certainly impressed model fans and collectors.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Scale Dinosaur Model

CollectA have declared a scale of 1:100 for their Mamenchisaurus. As the model measures around 40 cm in length this figure represents a dinosaur that would have measured approximately 40 metres, this is perhaps a little too large for most of the Mamenchisaurus species named to date.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

The Everything Dinosaur website: Dinosaur Toys.

The model has been exquisitely designed. The neck is slightly curved and the small head is turned towards the animal’s left shoulder. This pose gives the model a more natural look, the animal is moving along and looking towards its left as it walks. The head has been beautifully crafted, the nostrils are visible and the mouth is open displaying the small teeth. There were teeth present all along the jawline and this has been accurately portrayed in the CollectA model.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Fine Detail of Scales and Dermal Armour

As well as having a row of prominent spikes that descend from the back of the head down to the end of the tail, the design team at CollectA have added rows of raised scutes along the neck, flanks and down the tail of the figure. There is much to be admired in the fine skin texture and the limbs have been proportioned to reflect the fossil record. The claws and toes have been painted in the same tan tone as the spikes and this realistic dinosaur model has been given a cloaca.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

An Asian Sauropod

It is refreshing to see CollectA create a scale model of a Chinese sauropod rather than a replica of a sauropod associated with western North America and the Morrison Formation. Due to the large number of fossils assigned to this genus, thanks to huge numbers of bones found in Shaximiao Formation exposures (Sichuan Province, China), Mamenchisaurus is one of the best known of all the Jurassic members of the Sauropoda. It is great to see a mainstream manufacturer such as CollectA make a model of this dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Highly Recommended

The figure has been given a small defensive club on the end of its tail, reminiscent of Shunosaurus. There may be some debate as to whether this dinosaur possessed such a club, fused caudal vertebrae in at least one specimen does suggest that a tail club was present.

All in all, this is a very detailed model and it is a very welcome addition to the CollectA Deluxe model range.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

To view the CollectA Deluxe Mamenchisaurus and to see the other figures available from Everything Dinosaur in this this range: CollectA Deluxe Prehistoric Life Models.

Beasts of the Mesozoic Zuniceratops Dinosaur Model

One of the first wave of horned dinosaur figures to be introduced under the Beasts of the Mesozoic banner, Zuniceratops is one of those dinosaur models that since its introduction it has helped inform and educate model collectors about the huge diversity now associated with the Ceratopsia.  Models of this Late Cretaceous horned dinosaur are few and far between and the inclusion of this figure, a replica of a member of the Ceratopsidae which was about the size of a cow, helped broaden the understanding of dinosaur fans and model collectors.

Zuniceratops represents a “transitional form”, a dinosaur with a combination of primitive traits and more derived characteristics.  Roaming around the southern United States approximately 90 million years ago (Turonian faunal stage), it is one of just a handful of dinosaurs known to science from this time, some twenty-four million years prior to the evolution of more famous horned dinosaurs such as Triceratops.

The Beasts of the Mesozoic Zuniceratops (Z. christopheri) Dinosaur Model

Beasts of the Mesozoic Zuniceratops (lateral view).  Showing the colourful markings on this articulated dinosaur model.

Zuni Horned Face

Measuring a fraction under 22 cm in length, this is one of the smallest of the horned dinosaurs in the Beasts of the Mesozoic series.  In order for it to be given the standard scale for this range (1/18th scale), a small replica was required as this dinosaur measured around three metres long and weighed approximately 200 kilograms, making it considerably smaller and lighter than its much more famous horned dinosaur distant relatives such as Styracosaurus, Triceratops and Pachyrhinosaurus.  The figure might measure just under 22 cm long but it does have 19 points of articulation crammed into its small but sturdy frame.

A Close-up View of the Horns Possessed by Zuniceratops

The Beasts of the Mesozoic Zuniceratops christopheri dinosaur model.  Despite its formidable appearance, Zuniceratops was actually quite small for a member of the North American ceratopsids.

A Fantastic Paint Scheme

The colours chosen for this articulated dinosaur model are certainly bold and striking.  The body shows signs of counter shading which then give way to contrasting orange flashes which blend with the deep blue to be found at the top of the front legs, around the eyes and framing the long neck shield.   The two brow horns are beautifully painted.  These horns may have played a role in visual communication or as defensive weapons to deter the advances of theropod predators.  Ironically, as far as Everything Dinosaur team members know, there have been no large carnivorous dinosaurs from the Moreno Hill Formation of New Mexico formally described.  Fossils of Zuniceratops are associated with this geological formation and nowhere else.

The Beautiful and Very Colourful Head of the Zuniceratops Model

The beautiful, detailed head of the Beasts of the Mesozoic Zuniceratops articulated dinosaur model.

The Everything Dinosaur website: Models of Dinosaurs.

A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur commented:

“Because it represents one of the smaller Late Cretaceous ceratopsians from North America, this Beasts of the Mesozoic figure is a little smaller than the rest of the first wave of these dinosaur models.  We have subsequently priced it a little cheaper so it has become the ideal entry point for model collectors who wish to familiarise themselves with this exciting dinosaur model series.”

To view the Beasts of the Mesozoic ceratopsians and the rest of the models in this series: Beast of the Mesozoic Models.