Recent acquisitions

[bmathison1972]

very good choices there, @Koifish

[bmathison1972]

My latest:

First, five 2021 figures from Takara Tomy A.R.T.S.

Primary Color Mimetic Insects:
1. giant Malaysian leaf insect, Pulchriphillium giganteum
2. Southeast Asian dead leaf mantis, Deroplatys lobata [could have been unqiue but Bandai also released on in October]
3. orchid mantis, Hymenopus coronatus
4. tropical shield mantis, Choeradodis stalii [unique species] (EDIT: Initial images on line had this marketed as C. rhombifolia, which is a common misspelling online; there is no Choeradodis rhombifolia. However, the accompanying paperwork indicates it is C. stalli)

From the Deep Sea:
1. giant deep sea isopod, Bathynomus giganteus - this is a new sculpt and its very nice!



Two 2021 figures from PNSO (Livyatan melvillei and Cretoxyrhina mantelli) and the Papo cave bear:



Finally, some random eBay purchases to add some more species:
1. Play Visions aquatic genet, Genetta piscivora
2. Play Visions Asian palm civet, Paradoxurus hermaphroditus
3. Play Visions ring-tailed vontsira, Galidia elegans
4. Cadbury Yowie maxima clam, Tridacna maxima [this might be my next Blog review]
5. Cadbury Yowie green and gold bell frog, Ranoidea aurea
6. Play Visions zebra duiker, Cephalophus zebra [a small figure, but it's a small species so it works well!]



Also, on its way tome but not shown here, the complete Evolution of Men by Bullyland. I had the Safari collection, but I like these a little better and there is an additional species (Dryopithecus).

[Gwangi]

The Playvision toys really make me wish I had gotten into this hobby sooner.

[bmathison1972]

The Playvision toys really make me wish I had gotten into this hobby sooner.

you and me both :-D. At least you're investing in the next generation - Yowies! Eikoh I bet will follow a similar pattern!

[JimoAi]

My latest:

First, five 2021 figures from Takara Tomy A.R.T.S.

Primary Color Mimetic Insects:
1. giant Malaysian leaf insect, Pulchriphillium giganteum
2. Southeast Asian dead leaf mantis, Deroplatys lobata [could have been unqiue but Bandai also released on in October]
3. orchid mantis, Hymenopus coronatus
4. tropical shield mantis, Choeradodis rhomboidea [unique species] (this was marketed as C. rhombifolia, which is a common misspelling online; there is no Choeradodis rhombifolia)

From the Deep Sea:
1. giant deep sea isopod, Bathynomus giganteus - this is a new sculpt and its very nice!



Two 2021 figures from PNSO (Livyatan melvillei and Cretoxyrhina mantelli) and the Papo cave bear:



Finally, some random eBay purchases to add some more species:
1. Play Visions aquatic genet, Genetta piscivora
2. Play Visions Asian palm civet, Paradoxurus hermaphroditus
3. Play Visions ring-tailed vontsira, Galidia elegans
4. Cadbury Yowie maxima clam, Tridacna maxima [this might be my next Blog review]
5. Cadbury Yowie green and gold bell frog, Ranoidea aurea
6. Play Visions zebra duiker, Cephalophus zebra [a small figure, but it's a small species so it works well!]



Also, on its way tome but not shown here, the complete Evolution of Men by Bullyland. I had the Safari collection, but I like these a little better and there is an additional species (Dryopithecus).

did you skip the Himalayasaurus?

[bmathison1972]

Yes; for 'traditional' dinosaurs and prehistoric reptiles (pterosaurs, mosasaurs, etc.), I try my best to stick with the Wild Safari line. I use PNSO, CollectA, etc. for things like prehistoric mammals, fish, and unusual reptiles.

This might change over time. Right now, I am not a 'taxa completist' with prehistoric animals as I am extant/recently extinct taxa. I really just get whatever grabs my interest.

[Isidro]

My last additions: all figures are Safari LTD. Bought at the shop of the incredible Naturistorisches Museum Wien (Vienna's natural history museum), and old-style museum filled with endless cabinets of preserved specimens in taxonomic arrangement. The shop in the museum have more than Safari, and in fact it was the first time that I see Bullyland for sale in a shop. However Safari was the prevalent brand in the shop and all the figures that I wanted from here are of this brand.

1. Giant squid (Architeuthis dux)


A very good figure. Safari also have a much bigger one in the Incredible Creatures line, but this smaller one is the one I wanted.


Right eye have a bad paintjob, don't fitting the eye sculpt. Probably I will repaint it some day.


Siphon is correctly made and well done.


The beak is sculpted, tough very simplistic (only a bump). Probably nothing more needed for a part of the figure that remains always hidden. The two longer arms are in inner position respect the other tentacles, which is realistic.


The end of the two longer tentacles is very well made with suckers of different sizes. The point of attachment between the expanded part and the tentacle penduncle is very abrupt. THe peduncle is decorated with groups of white dots (they represent suckers? I'm not familiar with detailed morphology of giant squids)


It fits very well with my only other squid, the Ikimon/Kitan Club colossal squid.


It also fits very well with some deepwater fishes from Japanese brands.


And obviously the completely unavoidable photo to take when one buy the Safari's giant squid figurine.

[Isidro]

2. The right whale, Eubalaena glacialis.




An absolute masterpiece from every point of view.


The perfection of the barnacle callosities, the spiracle, the eyes...


It fits very well with CollectA whales such as these. Needless to say that the figure is too small when compared to any non-whale marine life from any brand. Big whales are beyond scale possibilities, unless one have a lot of space and a lot of money.

[Isidro]

3. Megamouth shark, Megachasma pelagios. A very little known species, but a spectacular one. Safari is the best brand regarding sharks, and here it demonstrates it perfectly.





The mouth is really very well done and the spotting on the chin is very realistic.


It fits very well with other Safari sharks.

[Isidro]

4. Clouded leopard, Neofelis nebulosa.
A figure that at the moment have no rival. Even if Mojo Fun also released this species, with very wide variation in paintjob quality, I think Safari one is far better.







The face shape is very good. Maybe the eyes need a slight adjustment but they're not bad.


My usual silly histories: Oh dear bear, what beautiful flower are you guarding!
Yes Ms Panther, but I would prefair to have you far from here... you have very long fangs!


Safari clouded leopard fits very well sizewise with other cats such as Schleich leopard and Papo ocelot

[Isidro]

5. Common octopus, Octopus vulgaris

Picked from a box full of Good Luck Minis. As all GLM figures, it's not very detailed, but size don't allows more. It have two siphons instead one, eyes are plain black, and suckers are represented by tiny holes in double rows. I wanted this figure because, at least, it fits sizewise with my other animals, unlike the thunderous octopus released by many brands.



All my cephalopods for now:

[Isidro]

6. Walrus, Odobenus rosmarus

The Safari walrus is undoubtedly the best walrus figure by any brand



Arctic pinnipeds (are these three species really sympatric??)


Unfortunate encounter, and also unfortunate photo (with the feet of the bear in the air), but it's the best I got when tried to show comparison with Papo polar bear


A more friendly encounter with the magnific PNSO beluga

[Isidro]

7. Blue shark (Prionace glauca). Again, Safari show us as the master of rendering shark figurines. I think this mould was released by Maia & Borges and used for several brands including Safari.





The very long head profile, the big melty eyes, the fine mouth, gills, fins... everything is so perfect in this figure! 


It fits very well with other pelagic creatures....




And also very good with several other sharks from diverse brands:

[Isidro]

8. Lesser kudu (Tragelaphus imberbis)
The last figure, a very well done antelope, at the same level than CollectA's antelopes.





It fits very well with CollectA's other Tragelaphus species.


And also is good with many other African savannah megafauna.

[EpicRaptorMan]

 
These were my most recent ones I took photos of. All Safari LTd.

• Sumatran Rhinoceros
• Kookaburra
• Nudibranch
• Red-necked Wallaby
• Wolverine

[bmathison1972]

those are all great EpicRaptorMan; I have all but the nudibranch (I have a Kitan/Ikimon version of the nudibranch since it's a bit smaller)

[EpicRaptorMan]

@bmathison1972 it was rather cheap so I pulled the trigger on the nudibranch. Also saw someone on here got it and posted about it recently too which inspired this purchase.

[Isidro]

Looks like the Safari nudibranch represent Hypselodoris bullockii. Ikimon/Kitan made several nudibranch species, did they the same species than Safari? To say nudibranch is almost so vague as to say mammal.

[JimoAi]

7. Blue shark (Prionace glauca). Again, Safari show us as the master of rendering shark figurines. I think this mould was released by Maia & Borges and used for several brands including Safari.





The very long head profile, the big melty eyes, the fine mouth, gills, fins... everything is so perfect in this figure! 


It fits very well with other pelagic creatures....




And also very good with several other sharks from diverse brands:

This blue shark is unique to safari and that has to be a really large blue shark or the other sharks like the great whites are juveniles

[EpicRaptorMan]

@JimoAi the Blue Shark is lengthy. It's approx 5" long from snout to base of the tail. And 7" long including the caudal fin.

It also stands at ~1.75" tall (~2.25 including dorsal fin) but that's mostly because of it's standing position as the figure rests on its rather erect pectoral fins. All in all at least it's not too bulky.