Best orca figure 20cm and above

[JimoAi]

I currently have the Schleich orca (which seems to be based on a female orca), but am still waiting for a better version because this one lacks a saddle patch.

The only two other good versions I can think of are the Papo one, but I'm really bothered by the lower jaw seam. It's not so visible on promo photos, but I've seen photos from other users and it's blindingly obvious. And it lacks a saddle patch. The other one is the new Safari Ltd. orca, but it's way too small and it doesn't seem to have a blow hole.

I mean, is it really that difficult to make a great orca figure in 2020 that would have accurate proportions and a realistic saddle patch? 

Both collectA and mojo have saddest but they also have proportion issues. The saddle you can paint it on your own

[Arctinus]

Thanks, JimoAi! But like you said, their proportions are off.  And I've never tried painting figures on my own and I doubt I'd be good at it.  I guess I'll just wait if there's a better orca figure comes out in the next few years.

I still have lots of figures I'm missing, so I guess I'll focus on acquiring those in the meantime. 

[callmejoe3]

I currently have the Schleich orca (which seems to be based on a female orca), but am still waiting for a better version because this one lacks a saddle patch.

The only two other good versions I can think of are the Papo one, but I'm really bothered by the lower jaw seam. It's not so visible on promo photos, but I've seen photos from other users and it's blindingly obvious. And it lacks a saddle patch. The other one is the new Safari Ltd. orca, but it's way too small and it doesn't seem to have a blow hole.

I mean, is it really that difficult to make a great orca figure in 2020 that would have accurate proportions and a realistic saddle patch? 

I guess there is the current paint job for the Monterey Bay Aquarium figure. Meets those requirements. It's a bit lean, but not unrealistically so. The only other issue is the lack of teeth sculpted for the upper jaw.

[JimoAi]

@JimoAi

Here you go.

I know the Papo orca is chunky but safari is that small?! How long is it measures with a curved ruler?

[callmejoe3]

I know the Papo orca is chunky but safari is that small?! How long is it measures with a curved ruler?

It's about 162mm. The Monterey Bay Aquarium figures, based on the official tags, were made at two official scales: 1:20 and 1:40. The 1:20 scale was used for most of the chondrichthyans, bottlenose dolphin, narwhal, beluga, and giant squid. The 1:40 scale was used for all the large whales, the killer whale, and the whale shark.

At its intended scale of 1:40, the killer whale corresponds to a 21.25-foot female. Pretty above-average for a female orca.

Keep in mind that most whale species larger than the typical dolphin aren't manufactured larger than the 1:40 scale. That's really why there aren't that many quality killer whale figures larger than 20cm.

Technically speaking, the MBA figure sorta works better than the Schleich figure as a female example to compare against the Papo figure in terms of reflecting the sexual dimorphism.

[JimoAi]

What do you think on the 3013 Schleich orca?

[callmejoe3]

What do you think on the 3013 Schleich orca?

I think it's pretty good. Probably the best orca Schleich released and works well as a female example. Not a fan of the pose though.

[JimoAi]

What do you think on the 3013 Schleich orca?

I think it's pretty good. Probably the best orca Schleich released and works well as a female example. Not a fan of the pose though.

2013 one released along side the male great white shark, manta ray, etc. Not the 2018 one. What do you think of collectA's attempt? Are you planning to get it?

[callmejoe3]

2013 one released along side the male great white shark, manta ray, etc. Not the 2018 one. What do you think of collectA's attempt? Are you planning to get it?

Okay, I couldn't tell if the ''3013'' you were using the first time was either a mistyped year or product ID. That one looked fine, but I had no compelling reason to get it. Most of the time I don't care for orcas with open mouths. I think I already addressed my thoughts on the collectA in the Recent Acquistions thread.

I thought CollectA's was alright, but I didn't care for the open mouth, head shape, and the overall pose. Had no compelling reason to get it. Killer Whales are a very oversaturated animal where a figure that's simply average is basically next to worthless. If a company dares to release another orca, it needs to be exceptional in some capacity, because there's definitely room for that.

[JimoAi]

 
 
I did my Papo orca as an Offshore ecotype. From what I heard, they have a more faded saddle

[callmejoe3]

@JimoAi

If you're aiming to make the saddle patch look accurate, you should decrease the posterior length. While you currently have the right shade for the coloration, the larger saddle-patches are a trait of transients. Offshore saddle patches are smaller, like resident's.



Note how most of the saddle patch doesn't extend that far posteriorly, nor does it extend anteriorly past the midline of the dorsal fin.

[JimoAi]

@JimoAi

If you're aiming to make the saddle patch look accurate, you should decrease the posterior length. While you currently have the right shade for the coloration, the larger saddle-patches are a trait of transients. Offshore saddle patches are smaller, like resident's.



Note how most of the saddle patch doesn't extend that far posteriorly, nor does it extend anteriorly past the midline of the dorsal fin.

One reason it's tht big is to cover  up some scuffing. I'll redo it later and post it for your feedback

[JimoAi]

    
How's this @callmejoe3

[callmejoe3]

Good border, looks just about right.

[JimoAi]

Outside great whites and sleepers, what other species of sharks have the offshores been recorded eating with direct evidence and am I correct to say that only the orcas around the Antarctic get to the great size of 8 metres and above?

[callmejoe3]

Outside great whites and sleepers, what other species of sharks have the offshores been recorded eating with direct evidence and am I correct to say that only the orcas around the Antarctic get to the great size of 8 metres and above?

As for the first question, they would also eat blue sharks and spiny dogfish.

And no, killer whales larger than 8 meters are not exclusive to the Antarctic ecotypes at all. I've pointed out earlier in this thread that Bigg's killer whales are known to typically reach lengths beyond 8 meters. In fact, the largest orca widely accepted in the scientific literature was a 9.4-9.6 meter specimen from Japan that's currently accepted to have likely been a transient ( residents and offshore are not known to surpass 8 meters, let alone 9 meters). 9+ meter outliers were also recorded from other mammal-eating specialists from the North Atlantic as well, with plenty of individuals surpassing 8 meters as well. Basically, most mammal-hunting specialist ecotypes are known to have some individuals reach 8-9 meters.

[JimoAi]

This sound odd but the schleich one maybe can be used as a female of a larger ecotype compared to my offshore Papo? And sorry for a really dumb one buys re there any orcas born without a saddle patch? I should probably email safari to do another killer whale

[callmejoe3]

This sound odd but the schleich one maybe can be used as a female of a larger ecotype compared to my offshore Papo? And sorry for a really dumb one buys re there any orcas born without a saddle patch? I should probably email safari to do another killer whale

Yes, the Schleich female could totally work as a female from a larger ecotype. You should make her a transient, to stick with the North Pacific theme.

Your second question is technically a trick question. All orcas are born without a saddle patch. They are absent in newborns and it doesn't develop until about 2 years of age. However, I think your question is more so if are there any orcas that never develop a saddle patch, and the answer would still be yes. I haven't found too many explicit records of an adult without a saddle patch, but the reality is that there's a great deal of variability in the coloration of the saddle patch and they can often be very faint. So to me, it seem very reasonable that among the very diverse amounts of saddle patches out there, there are some that are straight-up absent.

[JimoAi]

I emailed safari ltd to suggest an 8 inch orca to be produced with a blowhole and accurate patterning. I think upsizeing the 2019 one and giving it a blowhole is suffice

[Arctinus]

I emailed safari ltd to suggest an 8 inch orca to be produced with a blowhole and accurate patterning. I think upsizeing the 2019 one and giving it a blowhole is suffice

A larger version of their 2019 orca with a blowhole and a more accurate (connected) saddle patch would be perfect.