Recent acquisitions

[bmathison1972]

Nice JimoAi. I have tossed around the idea of getting the Kaiyodo Trochosaurus; I think it scales OK for my 'non-scale specific' collection

[JimoAi]

Nice JimoAi. I have tossed around the idea of getting the Kaiyodo Trochosaurus; I think it scales OK for my 'non-scale specific' collection

Thing is, I found zero information regarding Trochosaurus's size

[sbell]

Congrats on the piranha--nice to have one that isn't a red belly!

As for the size of actual Trochosaurus...there really isn't much, is there?

[bmathison1972]

Congrats on the piranha--nice to have one that isn't a red belly!

As for the size of actual Trochosaurus...there really isn't much, is there?

@Halichoeres has it at scale 1:10 on his DTF thread; Tim, was that based on body size? Skull? Thanks.

[Halichoeres]

Congrats on the piranha--nice to have one that isn't a red belly!

As for the size of actual Trochosaurus...there really isn't much, is there?

@Halichoeres has it at scale 1:10 on his DTF thread; Tim, was that based on body size? Skull? Thanks.

At some point I hunted down a paper that gave measurements for the skull. I don't think there is much postcranial material known, so the skull is all there is to go on.

[bmathison1972]

OK I have gotten A LOT of figures toward the end of August, mainly due to the timing of 2021 releases from Japan and CollectA. These have all trickled in during the last 2 weeks or so. I batched them for upload here.

First some random eBay purchases:

1. Andrewsarchus mongoliensis by Safari Ltd. This figure might be outdated, as it was sculpted when Andrewsarchus was believed to be a mesonychid and it is now believed to be an entelodont. Still, I really like the figure (and it looks much better in hand). And since it's only known from its skull, the body is speculative anyway. The CollectA figure might be more accurate, but a little too big for my tastes.
2. Albert's lyrebird (Menura alberti), new for 2021 by Yowie Group [this was actually from a trade with pipsxlch and not eBay, but didn't feel the need to take a separate pic for it]
3. Estemmenosuchus mirabilis by CollectA. I was going to get this. And then I wasn't because of size. And then I was. And then I wasn't. Screw it, it's too cool of a figure not to get! I am learning things are not as big in-hand as they appear in pics online...
4. colossal squid (Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni) by Ikimon. When comparison pics of this figure and Safari's WS Sealife giant squid were posted on STS, I realized it was a good size for my needs!
5. great grey owl (Strix nebulosa) by Bullyland! Thanks to STS member Joliezac for selling this to me!



Speaking of eBay, I won a mixed lot of cool North American herps by Wing Mau (WM) and Play Visions (PV). Common names are stamped on the bottom. Clockwise from top:
1. long-toed salamander, Ambystoma macrodactylum (PV)
2. red salamander, Pseudotriton ruber (PV)
3. leaf-toed gecko, Phyllodactylus xanti (WM)
4. blue spiny lizard, Scelporus serrifer (WM; I prefer the other color variant which is more blue, but happy to finally get this species)
5. five-lined skink (juvenile), Plestiodon fasciatus (WM)
6. desert grassland whiptail lizard, Aspidoscelis uniparens (WM)
7. desert iguana, Dipsosaurus dorsalis (WM). This is awesome! I already have a figure with this sculpt, but that figure is painted after the Catalina species, D. catalinae. Today's is an alternate paint (probably the original) that is better suited for typical D. dorsalis (check out my review of D. catalinae in my Museum post on April 18, 2021)
8. Arizona night lizard, Xantusia arizonae (WM). This is another suprising alternate paint! My previous version of this sculpt is more inline with Bezy's night lizard (X. bezyi; see my Museum review of it from August 28, 2001). The one featured today is much better for typical X. arizonae!
9. desert short-horned lizard, Phrynosoma platyrhinos (WM). I almost didn't accept this figure into my collection because the tail is too long. But, I like the paint and sculpt, and until something better comes along... (note: the lot also included Wing Mau's flat-tailed horned lizard, P. mccalli, but I didn't retain it because the sculpt is really off with that one; the head armature is wrong and the tail is WAY too long, much more so than in this P. platyrhinos).



Next, a complete set of the Mushi King Animal Kingdon by Sega. I don't really need more Sega beetles, but it's good to get a complete set when available. The figures sit loosely on their bases; the bases appear to interconnect and come with a cardboard placard with measurements and biological information in Japanese:

1. Chalcosoma chiron
2. Dorcus curvidens
3. Allomyrina dichotoma
4. Prosopocoilus inclinatus
5. Megasoma elephas
6. Prosopocoilus giraffa
7. Hexarthrius parryi
8. Mesotopus tarandus
9. Allotopus rosenbergi
10. Dynastes hercules



The four stag beetles from Volume 2 of the Kuwagata collection by Bandai, new for 2021 (assembly is required for the three adults and all four figures are large and articulated).

1. Prosopocoilus inclinatus (larva)
2. Lucanus maculifemoratus
3. Hexarthrius mandibularis
4. Rhaetulus didieri



Two figures by Kaiyodo's most recent Capsule Q Museum Collection, Wondercomer Vol. 1, new for 2021: the smokybrown cockroach (Periplaneta fuliginosa) and earthworm (Metaphire communissima). The figures are not identified at the species level, and the IDs are inferred based on previous CQ figures. They are large and rubbery, quite a change for the Capsule Q Museum line. Normally at this point in my collecting I wouldn't get things like this, but since they are from Kaiyodo I decided to get them. The earthworm also comes in blue and the roach in white (freshly molted?) and blue. I only got the traditional brown versions:



Three crayfish by Tarlin, new for 2021. Substantial assembly is required and the final products are articulated. One normal specimen each in red and blue and a red specimen with one claw smaller!



Eight figures in the lastest set by Sasto 3D File, new for 2021. Two figures come together as a 'gashapon' capsule; they are separated and then the legs and antennae slide liberated from within the base. Another ingenious design by a Japanese company:

1. Cryptogonus orbiculus
2. Mimela splendans [new species in the toy realm]
3. Mimela splendans
4. Mimela splendans
5. Coccinella septempunctata
6. Coccinella septempunctata
7. Chrysina resplendens [new species in the toy realm]
8. Callicaria superba [new species in the toy realm]



The female Megasoma mars in the DeAgostini collection! There were four females produced that were 'secret' figures; this is only the second one I have been able to acquire (despite having the entire collection of non-secret males):



Lastly, the remaining CollectA 2021 figures I wanted:

1. donkey (replaces the older CollectA figure in my collection)
2. Texas longhorn cattle (joins my growing collection of cattle breeds)
3. Xiphactinus
4. boxer (When I started my non-arthropod collection, I thought I'd only get one each domestic dog and cat. However, these 2021 figures, including the next two, by CollectA are too good. Going forward, I might dab into domestic dogs and cats more, but only on a case-by-case basis when the figure and breed really calls out to me).
5. beagle
6. Exotic shorthair cat
7. Doedericus (replaces Safari figure; I wasn't going to get this but the more I studied suspsy's DTB review, the more I wanted it)



Not shown above are the two Arinko collections that I already presented on the Blog.

September should be much more quiet...

[BlueKrono]

Nice haul! Are you looking to keep it all? I've been looking for the PV red salamander.

[bmathison1972]

Nice haul! Are you looking to keep it all? I've been looking for the PV red salamander.

yeah this is everything I am keeping

[JimoAi]

New aquatics

[bmathison1972]

the Favorite Archelon is on my eventual to-get list

[Beetle guy]

Two figures by Kaiyodo's most recent Capsule Q Museum Collection, Wondercomer Vol. 1, new for 2021: the smokybrown cockroach (Periplaneta fuliginosa) and earthworm (Metaphire communissima). The figures are not identified at the species level, and the IDs are inferred based on previous CQ figures. They are large and rubbery, quite a change for the Capsule Q Museum line. Normally at this point in my collecting I wouldn't get things like this, but since they are from Kaiyodo I decided to get them. The earthworm also comes in blue and the roach in white (freshly molted?) and blue. I only got the traditional brown versions:

Funny Kaiyodo named it 'Wondercomer' while they most certainly mean the german name 'Wunderkammer'. :-)

[Isidro]

What a giant batch! I have the colossal squid - a perfect masterpiece - and two days ago I bought Safari giant squid (one of my "pending-list" figures since years), and indeed they match together perfectly!
It's nice to see that with almost a single sculpt you can do half dozen of species - even if the scarabs (Mimela and Chrysina) are too short or too wide for being realistic. P. D. Chrysina resplendens is purely golden, this pale greenish-golden colour reminds me more Chrysina argenteola.


I like a lot the Archelon too and is nice the idea of having being sculpted and painted just like an extanct Fly River turtle.

[JimoAi]

  got some colorata figures. The ray was supposed to be the leopard whip ray from the shark box but I have since converted it to a dwarf whipray(Himantura walga) due to the size of the figure. My main complaint is the color scheme should be more brown

[bmathison1972]

Nice! I love the coconut crab! So few figures of this interesting species.

[JimoAi]

Nice! I love the coconut crab! So few figures of this interesting species.

Finally decided to pick that guy up after more than a year of delay. Unsurprisingly, the ray needs to be a custom in order to add that obscure species to my collection

[bmathison1972]

Here are some recent eBay finds.

First, three of the six insects in Trendmaster's 'Insect Predators' line: honey bee, praying mantis (Stagomantis), and giant stag beetle (interesting, considering the latter two are never predaceous).



Next, the 2012 Schleich white stork. Chatter about the 2022 stork from Schleich made me aware of this older version which is probably the best of its species made. Replaces the Papo adult with chick in my collection. Speaking of Papo, picked up two of the 2021 figures from a German eBay dealer (was sick of waiting for them the show up in the US): the European robin and Old World swallowtail caterpillar. The caterpillar will be a blog review alongside the adult when the latter finally releases. The robin is probably one of the best passerine birds made outside of Japan!

[endogenylove]

I'm glad this older version of the stork is getting more recognition! It's always been my personal favorite example of the species and is the representative in my collection

[bmathison1972]

My September acquisitions round off with three hymenopterans. First two Asian giant hornets (Vespa mandarinia) by Takara Tomy A.R.T.S. The figure on the right is from the 2019 B.I.G. Insects collection; the one on the left is from the 2021 Encyclopedia of Dangerous Organisms collection. I originally hadn't gotten the 2019 figure, as I thought it was the same sculp shared with Subarudo. Not only was it an original sculpt, but so was the 2021 version. So, both of these are new sculpts! The third is the rusty patched bumblebee (Bombus affinis) by Yowie Group for the 2021 Animals with Super Powers Collection.

[Fembrogon]

I ended up adding a few stuffed animals to my collection recently.



I picked up this collared lizard after visiting Zion National Park in UT. It's quite a well-made plush, imo; the toy is part of the Conservation Critters series by Wildlife Artists, but it seems to be something of an exclusive item for the parks, as I can't find it anywhere in the company's online catalog or other online retailers, save the cnha main site shop. this makes me glad I picked the fellow up when I did!


These two came from Amazon and eBay, but ended up arriving on the same day. I've wanted a plush giant squid for a while now, but couldn't really decide between the different brands available. I finally bit the bullet and went with one from Adore Plush Toys, for now; it looks a bit more stylized than the other options, but the size and price seemed best for what I wanted. I'll probably buy the other brand versions at some point anyway. 
The frilled lizard is a retired toy from the Wild Republic series. After ordering the squid, I started browsing around to see what other species have gotten the "stuffed" treatment, and I discovered this one being offered for a good price. Frilled lizards have always been one of my favorite reptiles (which are also my favorite animal "group"), so if I was going to collect smore stuffed critters, this seemed like the right one to start with. It's not as finely made as the other acquisitions, but I still like it and think it's cute.

[Koifish]

I'm back finally after a long hiatus (well, 5 month hiatus) after some life-changing stuff, getting married, moving to another state and just starting my life over.. BUT I decided to splurge on my birthday.. once these lovelies come in, I'll share better pics. I also need to update my zoo a bit.