Smithsonian Collection Centipede and Scarab Beetle from 1997

[Weaselfan93]

Friends, recently I was very lucky to add not one but four of my missing Smithsonian arthropod figures to my collection! two of them were at the top of my safari ltd wishlist. all were in new condition with tag and at a reasonable price. I now have almost the entire series of top quality 2:1 scale insects. I am only missing the flea, dragonfly, monarch butterfly and tarantula. the other 13 models are proudly on display in my room. here are two of my favorites from the best insect series of all time 
Giant Centipede

Scarab Beetle

[sbell]

I love that centipede, and still curse that I didn't pick one up 10 years ago from a store's discount table...nice find.

[bmathison1972]

A lot of the collection can be found here: http://www.ebay.com/itm/SAFARI-LTD-SMITHSONIAN-COLLECTION-EDUCATIONAL-DISPLAY-STAND-WITH-INSECTS-/351058330114?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item51bcb50202

But, it is not complete and several of these (tarantula, dragonfly, monarch) are actually Hidden Kingdom figures. I really need to find that monarch larva!

[Weaselfan93]

Here is the monarch larva. It is in stock I bought from this site and it arrived today
http://www.naturestore.com/site/index.cfm?action=item&prod_id=2211&;

[bmathison1972]

Thanks! Just bought it (and the morpho, which I hope is not the same figure as the Hidden Kingdom model).

[widukind]

Congrats here too my friend 

[brontodocus]

Congrats, those are wonderful. Argh, I still haven't got the scolopender... Although I'm not 100% sure since there are so many similar species, the beetle may be representing Coprophanaeus ensifer (formerly Phanaeus ensifer), quite a giant dung beetle capable of reaching 60+ mm length. Or what does it say on the tag?

A lot of the collection can be found here: http://www.ebay.com/itm/SAFARI-LTD-SMITHSONIAN-COLLECTION-EDUCATIONAL-DISPLAY-STAND-WITH-INSECTS-/351058330114?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item51bcb50202

But, it is not complete and several of these (tarantula, dragonfly, monarch) are actually Hidden Kingdom figures. I really need to find that monarch larva!

I'm not sure, there is also a genuine Smithsonian Collection Dragonfly which is bigger than the Hidden Kingdom version at nearly 200 mm wing span. It could be that one. Here's a photo of mine:

And the tarantula looks like the Smithsonian one, too. Too bad the figures in the auction seem to be glued onto the mountain.

Thanks! Just bought it (and the morpho, which I hope is not the same figure as the Hidden Kingdom model).

The photo from this Nature Store shop is about the same angle as mine (which is the original Smithsonian version):

So it looks like you'll be getting the real thing! 

Now I have to find out if the shop ships internationally. Keep your fingers crossed. If not, I hope someone in the U.S. can help me out getting figures from there (I could offer acquiring Bullyland or other stuff that's easier to get in Germany in return).

[Jetoar]

The Luna Moth is awesome  .