We’re just going all over the place this time. Kind of a little of this, a little of that. Sometimes things are really, really random!
Nayab/FUL/Lontic Lobsters and Spiny Lobster
I’m going to start with a trio of crustaceans that, I think, are all from the same company (Lontic, Nayab, FUL, whatever…) The style is very similar of course, but they are still designed and painted well. Given that there are two very distinct types of lobster here, they did make them very clearly different species. The Spiny lobster is represented by two models, a larger and smaller one. I recall finding both of them at different times in dollar store bins, parts of larger and fairly interesting sets of marine animals. The more conventional Lobster (like the prototypical Atlantic lobster) came from a small package that my son bought (it also contained…a spearfish and an octopus? I think?) The figures are pretty much unidentifiable to species of course, and in every sculpt and size show up in a number of colour variations. But for a little extra variety in a toy box or in a diorama, they’d probably be great figures. And overall pretty easy to find–they are often included as accessories to larger figures, especially that lobster.
FUL/Nayab/Lontic Chuckwalla
Sticking with the Nayab for a bit…next up, a few FUL lizard figures from that nifty set. This time, a species that doesn’t see a lot of attention. The colour varies (as expected with these figures) but is a decent overall black colour and does a decent job representing a Chuckwalla. As always, there’s more attention to the sculpt than one might expect, and the body textures and overall rough skin texture, including the scaly tail, are all present. A talented painter could probably do wonders with these little models. As is, I’m okay with having these little lizards in a bin somewhere (let’s be honest, they’re aren’t display worthy). But it’s always great to see less common reptile figures–these ones are currently sold in reptile packs from Wild Republic (who long since stopped making their own superior small figures). So if these appeal to you, at least they’re easy enough to get.
Colorata Ueno Zoo Aye-Aye
Now moving into some more interesting figures. This is the Aye-Aye from the Colorata Ueno Zoo Real Figures Box. As far as primate figures go, this species is so very cool! And, being a Colorata figure, it is of course very well made although…the weird fingers aren’t there. Which is disappointing. Overall, the figure is pretty good though, and it’s great to have a representative of a lemur that isn’t a ringtail (seriously, there are so many other species…) The set that this box is of course less available than would be nice–it was only really available as a set from the Ueno Zoo, early on with Colorata. And of course, now it appears to be unavailable. I was lucky to actually have two of these figures for a short time*; I was able to get one individually once, and then eventually found the whole set on a Japanese auction set for a surprisingly low price. But I’ll be honest, that probably wouldn’t happen again. Still, if there’s ever an opportunity to get one, you really should (your only other option I’m aware of is an even more rare figure from Play Visions, good luck with that).
*I eventually traded it to a fellow collector. No reason to hoard!
Safari Carnegie Collection Beipiaosaurus
Finally, a figure that is a really great one. This is the Beipiaosaurus from Safari’s Carnegie Collection. Released in 2006 it was one of a number of feathered dinosaurs released as some kind of promotion that I believe was somehow tied in with the American Museum of Natural History. The series was later folded in with the Carnegie series overall–even though I don’t think the sculptor was their usual Carnegie sculptor, and the figures were very much out of scale when Carnegie was often (but not completely) to a rough scale. Of course, this also means that when the Carnegie line was halted in 2016, this was one of the discontinued figures. They were still around for some time after, but of course are harder to come by. Interestingly, there still hasn’t been a new version of the species made since, other than a small figure in the feathered dinos toob. Hopefully you can still find one if you want one (honestly, I’ve been looking for a new home for mine…limited space and all…)
