My Cetacean collection

[callmejoe3]

Since my last crucial item has arrived!, let's begin


All listings are from left to right



Bottlenose Dolphins

• Safari ltd 2006
• Safari ltd 1998

Pilot Whales

• Safari ltd 2014
• Collecta 2013

Miscellaneous

• Blainville's beaked whale (Collecta:2016)
• Ganges River Dolphin (Collecta:2013)
• Great White Shark (Monterey Bay Aquarium:1991)<- this has no claspers, so it's a female

Monodontidae

• Beluga Whale (Monterey Bay Aquarium:1991)
• Beluga Whale (Collectible Wildlife Gifts)
• Narwhal (Monterey Bay Aquarium:1997)

Killer Whales

• Schleich:2004
• Maidenhead:2010
• Schleich:1995
• Safari ltd:1996
• Monterey Bay Aquarium:1991
• Toy Major:2006 (My favorite one because of the sculpt and pose, but it's rare!. I repainted it so the eyes are black and patched up the ventral body and fluke. I also sanded down the tip of the dorsal fin to remove a weird notch)
• Safari Ltd:2019

Sperm Whales


This is my favorite cetacean species

• Safari ltd:1996
• Safari ltd:2019
• Collecta:2018
• Yep, all three of the Maia&Borges sperm whales. (Top->Down) Mojo:2018/Schleich 2000/Papo:2016
  (I use these as physically immature males called ''bachelors'' for my 1:40 scale)
• Monterey Bay Aquarium:1991
  *This one has mammary slits, so it's a female. These slits are present for all the other MBA cetaceans models I have except for the Narwhal, which is good attention to detail because females don't typically have tusks.

Balaenidae

• Right Whale (Schleich:2005)<- My best guess is North Altantic, Eubalaena glacialis
• Right Whale (Safari ltd:2017)<- Best guess is North Pacific Eubalaena japonica
• Bowhead Whale (Safari ltd: 2014)

Gray Whales

• Collecta:2018
• Generic Maia and Borges:2018<- This is not the Mojo one, it's some generic brand I found on amazon called ''Fantarea'', though it is the same Maia and Borges sculpt. The paintjob generally lacks the white spots across the body, flippers and flukes that were present on the Schleich and Mojo versions. The inside of the blowhole wasn't painted either, so I had to do that.
• Monterey Bay Aquarium:1991

Humpback Whales

• Mojo:2012
• Mojo:2020
• Monterey Bay Aquarium:1991

Balaenoptera



Blue Whale (Schleich:2004)
Minke Whale (Collecta:2018)
Blue Whale (Papo:2020)
Blue Whale (Kaiyodo:2015) (Behind it is a painting done by a dolphin that I held the canvas for).

Now I divide most of my collection into two groups based on scale: the Alpha and Beta scales.

Beta scale is 1:70 and I measured each animal using mm before converting. I tried my best to measure the animal's length using the scientific standard of measuring to the notch within a fluke rather than the tips. Approximations were made for animals in inconvenient poses, part of the reason why I generally prefer cetaceans to be in a neutral arch or completely straight when it looks attractive.

Beta scale

Papo Blue Whale- 87ft
Humpback Whale- 54ft (unusual, but below record max)
Sperm Whales (Bulls)-53 ft (average size of physically mature males)
Bowhead Whale-56 ft
Gray Whale-48 ft
Right Whale-45 ft.

The 2017 right whale was excluded because even though I'm okay with the length, I didn't like how it was even more massive than the bowhead whale. I used the size charts from Mark Cawardine's Handbook of Whales, Dolphins, and Porpoises of the World from 2020 to evaluate its exclusion. The 2005 figure was relatively too skinny, but its length was good enough where I figured it works well enough as an average-length male. It was ultimately a judgement call on choosing which to include.

Alpha scale




Blue whale-107ft
Humpback whale (MBA)-47 ft.
Humpback whale (Mojo)-45ft
Gray whale (MBA)-41ft
Gray whale (Maia&Borges)-34ft
Sperm whale (Bachelors)-42ft
Sperm whale (Female)-37ft
Minke whale-25ft
Pilot whale (Collecta)-25ft
Pilot whale (Safari)-20ft
Orca(MBA)-21ft
Orca(Toy Major)-21ft
Orca (Safari)-20ft
*Blainville-22ft
*Bottlenose (1998)-18ft
*Bottlenose(2006)-16ft.
*Ganges-17ft
*Unrealistic compared to record maximum lengths, but they're small enough to not be distracting.

Right now my brother and I are working on a 15+inch sperm whale figure that can represent physically mature bulls @52-63ft.

The MBA Great White, Beluga and Narwhal were excluded from the alpha collection because they were way too large to represent the 1:40 scale. They were much closer to the 1:20-1:30 scale.

I'm still not done collecting. Planning on scouring a few more dolphins, a legitimate M&B gray whale from Mojo, a pygmy sperm whale, a sei whale, and the PNSO Basilosaurus. Maybe if I'm REALLY compulsive, the Schleich Maia & Borges gray whales and humpbacks.

Ones that I hope eventually get made is a 1:40 scale False Killer Whale and probably more beaked whales.

I'll probably get started on reviewing these figures starting tomorrow. You guys can make suggestions so I know which ones to prioritize. Right now I'm thinking on doing Collecta's Minke whale.

*8/27/2020

I accidentally forgot to add the minke Whale in my photos for the Alpha scale. I took new photos as similar to the originals as I could, but with the minke included. All of the whales are basically in the same position, but the camera angles are slight different.

[Isidro]

Really nice collection of cetaceans (and a shark, haha), with many must haves and some wished figures. You even have the massive Mega Sofubi blue whale!

[callmejoe3]

Really nice collection of cetaceans (and a shark, haha), with many must haves and some wished figures. You even have the massive Mega Sofubi blue whale!

Yeah, that one was the last one I had waiting for me. Apparently, a sperm whale in the lineup existed too, but that seems nearly impossible to find. The Mega Sofubi Blue Whale is really the only way to got for the 1:30-1:40 scale other than the PNSO model.

[bmathison1972]

WOW, very nice, Joe!!

And I look forward to your reviews!

[CetaceanFan]

Wow we have a lot in common. Cetaceans are my favorite extant group of animals but in particular my favorite species is the Sperm Whale.

[Gwangi]

Very jealous, I don't really collect toy animals but really want to expand my marine mammal collection. The sperm whale is a personal favorite of mine too, I have one tattooed on my arm!

[callmejoe3]

Wow we have a lot in common. Cetaceans are my favorite extant group of animals but in particular my favorite species is the Sperm Whale.

Physeter solidarity!

[callmejoe3]

Very jealous, I don't really collect toy animals but really want to expand my marine mammal collection. The sperm whale is a personal favorite of mine too, I have one tattooed on my arm!

Yeah, they're amazing animals.

[CetaceanFan]

Wow we have a lot in common. Cetaceans are my favorite extant group of animals but in particular my favorite species is the Sperm Whale.

Physeter solidarity!

Yes!!

[Isidro]

By the way, your pics helped me to choose a model of Humpback and Blue whales for my collection - for both species I always had trouble to find the perfect one and swichted from one to other model in my wishlist, but now I see more clear.

[callmejoe3]

By the way, your pics helped me to choose a model of Humpback and Blue whales for my collection - for both species I always had trouble to find the perfect one and swichted from one to other model in my wishlist, but now I see more clear.

Neat!, which did you decide on?

[callmejoe3]

I just now realized I left the Minke Whale from my Alpha Scale collection photo! I'll probably do correction photos later!

[Isidro]

Neat!, which did you decide on?

Safari LTD, Monterrey Bay Aquarium for humpback (very expensive, but it's a price according with the size of figure). I was very doubtful because of the blue eyes but if I get it I will repaint the eyes. I love the dynamic pose and it have not the weird short muzzle of the Schleich figure that some friends vividly recommended for me (that muzzle deterred me for buying it for years).

For the blue whale I chosen Papo seeing your photos and size comparison with other figures I have: it's not ridiculously small as other brands blue whales are, but is not too big for not fit into my shelves like the Kaiyodo one. However, after some comprobations in Internet I saw that it have an articulated jaw so I deleted it from my wishlist again. I think I will stick with the Recur blue whale, despite a slightly more poor general appareance.

[callmejoe3]

Safari LTD, Monterrey Bay Aquarium for humpback (very expensive, but it's a price according with the size of figure). I was very doubtful because of the blue eyes but if I get it I will repaint the eyes. I love the dynamic pose and it have not the weird short muzzle of the Schleich figure that some friends vividly recommended for me (that muzzle deterred me for buying it for years).

For the blue whale I chosen Papo seeing your photos and size comparison with other figures I have: it's not ridiculously small as other brands blue whales are, but is not too big for not fit into my shelves like the Kaiyodo one. However, after some comprobations in Internet I saw that it have an articulated jaw so I deleted it from my wishlist again. I think I will stick with the Recur blue whale, despite a slightly more poor general appareance.

Yeah, from a sculptural standpoint, I generally prefer the MBA figure and precisely because of the muzzle, though I still like the Maia&Borges Schleich/Mojo figure. It's a shame the Papo figure's articulated jaw turned you off. Outside of that, it's probably one of the best Blue Whale figures out there other than the PNSO and Kaiyodo models, since its one of the few that actually works well at the 1:70th scale along with being a pretty good sculpt. So many brands would makes 11-13 inch Sperm Whales and Humpbacks, but DOWNSCALE the the Blue Whale to under 10 inches. The only major downside is the pretty meh paintjob with a basic solid blue for the dorsal side and a white ventral body rather than the more accurate blue-gray with pale spots and streaks. Though if you already have the Recur, then that atleast has the plus of being pretty big and lacking the articulated jaw.

[bmathison1972]

Balancing whales can be tough with regards to size. I went with the CollectA humpback, because it was the best (to me) that was not bigger than my CollectA blue whale! I am not super scale-conscious, but the blue whale should be the largest in the collection, right 

The MBA figures are stunning, especially considering their age!

[callmejoe3]

Balancing whales can be tough with regards to size. I went with the CollectA humpback, because it was the best (to me) that was not bigger than my CollectA blue whale! I am not super scale-conscious, but the blue whale should be the largest in the collection, right 

The MBA figures are stunning, especially considering their age!

Papo's a godsend with the jaw and paintjob aside. It's a really good option for those collecting at around the 1:70 scale. Though I'm someone who also prefers around the 1:40, so for the blue whale I only had 3 options: Kaiyodo, PNSO, or custom. The Kaiyodo really did make my Alpha collection feel complete. It substantially allowed my collection to resemble the very numerous cetaceans of the world size charts , all of which featuring an arched blue whale dwarfing the rest

As for the MBA figures, they're great. I've owned the humpback, beluga and gray whale for years from some aquarium gift shop. The Sperm Whale and narwhal were recent additions. The one figure I think that's been dethrowned upon the advent of newer figures is the gray whale, the Maia&Borges one is certainly superior in terms of detail. However, that's simply in relative terms, it's still an easy recommend. The sperm whale is still probably the best out there, same with the narwhal. The humpback trades blows with Maia&Borges, but the superior rostrum ultimately gives it the edge.

[AnimalToyForum]

Whoa, spectacular collection!

I only just got the Moby Dick reference in your username.

[callmejoe3]

Whoa, spectacular collection!

I only just got the Moby Dick reference in your username.

Okay, you're giving me too much credit there. The real reason is that ''Joe'' is a nickname that was used so heavily when people addressed me in my early years, I actually had no idea what my actual legal name was until I was four. But now that you mention it, I'm gonna go with the Ishmael reference going forward!

[sirenia]

It is quite the collection. Would you ever consider delving into ancient whale models?

[Lanthanotus]

Awesome collection... I definetly need more whales in my collection