For today’s review we will be looking at the Goliath beetle (Goliathus goliatus) by Stasto 3D File in the 2022 collection, Ladybugs Cetoniinae. Unlike most blogposts, which focus on the animal and the figure itself, I am going to focus on how the figure is packaged and assembled (especially since I recently reviewed this species). Figures in the Statso 3D file collections have an ingenious design for distribution that minimizes packaging. There are eight figures in a given collection. Two figures come connected to form their own gashapon capsule. The two figures are separated by gently twisting them. Once apart, the bottom of the figure extends, revealing the legs and antennae. The legs and antennae are extended and placed in the desired position and then the body is closed back up, revealing the final product. I have described the process on some of my forum posts, but I have yet to demonstrate it. The first collection with this design (that I am aware of) featured eight ladybugs. The second collection featured four ladybugs, each paired with a ruteline scarab. The third collection, which included today’s figure, featured four ladybugs paired with four goliathine scarabs. So now, let’s take a look at a step-by-step process for unraveling the figures! I chose the Goliath beetle as it’s probably the most familiar species in the set.
For starters, this is how a pair of figures come, encased in cellophane:
The first step is to remove the outer cellophane and then remove the accompanying paper that is secured between the two figures:
Next, gently twist the two figures in opposite directions to release them from one another:
This next image shows a dorsal view of the two separated figures:
The next step is to pull the bottom of the figure away, revealing the tucked in legs and head:
Gently reposition the head and each of the legs:
Close the bottom portion and reposition the legs, as necessary. You now have the final product. The Goliath beetle measures 6.7 cm long (excluding appendages), putting it in the 1:1 scale range.
Below is the complete 2022 Ladybugs & Cetoniinae collection, with each scarab and its corresponding ladybug; species with an asterisk are new in toy form (and I don’t think any of the other have been made more than 4-5 times)!
- Cheilomenes sexmaculata* + Goliathus goliatus
- Aiolocaria hexaspilota* + Goliathus regius
- Synona consanguinea* + Mecynorhina ugandensis* (blue)
- Propylea japonica + Mecynorhina ugandensis* (green)
This is a fun set for those who appreciate interesting taxa and novel ways of presentation (also, more environmentally friendly packaging since there is less waste). The insects themselves are somewhat stylized, I must admit, but they represent some new and rarely-made taxa (each of the Stasto 3D File sets mentioned above have multiple new species).