The Curious Compendium 2023-2025: The end!

[Saarlooswolfhound]

Moving into the reptiles in the sky!


I don't know a whole lot about these reptiles, and in the last years they have diversified and had many new studies come out. I would say that I am most interested in the azhdarchids as that is one group I got to learn a bit about in college. But the diversity in these animals is incredible!

[Saarlooswolfhound]

And the other half of my flying reptiles:


Again, I have no particular attachment to these animals but for this particular set of models its all the head gear; whether it be teeth or crests these animals are all so crazy!

[Saarlooswolfhound]

And now to address the dinosaur in the room... Just a reminder, this has been a part of my collection that has been in hibernation for some time. And of course I do love dinos, but I also really enjoy what I feel like are the much less popular prehistoric animals (many you have seen already, and some you will see later). Anyhow- here we go!

Carnotaurus!


These have been a favorite for a long time. The Disney movie Dinosaur probably has a lot to do with that. But the extremely shortened face, tiny arms, and horned crests just seal the deal for me. That performance in Apple's Prehistoric Planet re-endeared them to me! I really like the whole abelisaur family.

[bmathison1972]

That's a rather meaty collection of Carnotaurus!

[Saarlooswolfhound]

Ha, thanks Blaine! I could do with a few more. 

Velociraptors!

These are one of my few larger "families" to show. One thing I have learned in my years as a dino enthusiast is to appreciate the older versions of animals as well as whatever is the most accurate representation. I do struggle a little with these raptors due to their movie monster rap, but on the one hand they are very nostalgic and familiar to me (as they are to many including the lay-person) but there is a little niggling voice in the back of my head that reminds me that these are about turkey sized little predators and should be appreciated as they are. I really enjoyed Prehistoric Planet's presentation of them and similar little predators and I hope they get as much love from my young nieces and nephews who are dino obsessed as a nostalgic version for them someday.

[Saarlooswolfhound]

Thank you both!

My other ceratosaurians!

I love all of these for different reasons. Masiakasaurus is a lot of fun to say, ceratosaurus was another JP 3 favorite design of mine, and any of the bulldog like therapods really intrigue my brain and paired with their teeny arms they just hold a spot in my heart.

[Saarlooswolfhound]

Brachiosaurus!


I will admit (please don't hate me) this is a species I find somewhat underwhelming nowadays. Its been so heavily represented alongside its cohorts like T rex, triceratops, and stegosaurus, that in general it just doesn't pique my interest much anymore. But with that being said, I do love sauropods (and I have other species in toy form)! And we are finding out exciting new things all the time, I just haven't heard anything about this species recently that lights that imagination fire, if that makes sense.

So if anyone has any fun facts to share here, I'm all ears! I know its gotta have something exciting hidden behind all that weird giraffe-ness.

[bmathison1972]

...and yet is a species (Brachio or Giraffa) that I don't have yet in my collection. I missed the boat on Carnegie and Haolonggood is too big and expensive!

[Saarlooswolfhound]

I assume you mean the last model of a brachi they produced? It looks incredible from photos (I missed it too) but maybe someday one will land in your collection! I would love to spring for some of the mainline dinos from PNSO and Haolongood but I truly have to draw the line somewhere. :lol: I have the PNSO minis and would like to continue to get the off hand releases (their sharks, marine reptiles, etc.) but even there I have been dragging my heels!

These are just a few random groups I had to put together at the end of the photoshoot-


These are all fairly unique species (at least to my mind). The tawa was a recent post retirement catch I think I was lucky not to pay out my nose for, I sprung on the megalosaurus given its historical significance though I don't love this model, compys obviously have a nostalgia factor, and the monolophosaurus here by Schleich I think isn't half bad in this color (there is a more vibrant green version out there I don't find as palatable).

[sbell]

I don't mind that Megalosaurus by CollectA, but I'll probably add the Safari one soon.

[bmathison1972]

I wish I had gone for the Tawa earlier. I dismissed it initially because I generally don't like Schleich's style when it comes to dinosaurs but now in hindsight I wish I had gotten it.

[sbell]

I wish I had gone for the Tawa earlier. I dismissed it initially because I generally don't like Schleich's style when it comes to dinosaurs but now in hindsight I wish I had gotten it.

I only bought it because it's weird. It's not a great figure (I mean, it's Schleich, so usually goes without saying)

[Saarlooswolfhound]

Triceratops!

This is another species that generally underwhelms me because of its over use in media. BUT when you get right down to it, these must have been amazing animals! I grew up living only 4ish hours from Yellowstone National Park and spent several vacations a year visiting. I approximate these guys to the American bison- big, brutish, well armed, and I would suspect wily or at least with an attitude for survival. In this respect, triceratops deserves a lot of respect IMO.

[bmathison1972]

Trikey was always one of my favorite dinos, but then again the ceratopsians are my favorite group of dinos. Cretaceous ungulates LOL.

[Sim]

I wish I had gone for the Tawa earlier. I dismissed it initially because I generally don't like Schleich's style when it comes to dinosaurs but now in hindsight I wish I had gotten it.

The Schleich Tawa is still in stock online for a reasonable price.  I got mine that way last year and I'm happy I did, it's not a perfect figure but I still like it and it's of a species I find interesting and one that's unlikely to get another figure.

[Saarlooswolfhound]

Giganotosaurus, Acrocanthosaurus, Sinraptor, and Concavenator!


To be clear- the Schleich gigas happen to be gifted to me and while I don't really appreciate them as is, they are hefty suckers and could prove as worthy self defense weapons some day.

Anyway, I think the takeaway for me from this group is the concavenator- what a strange animal!

[bmathison1972]

I wish I had gone for the Tawa earlier. I dismissed it initially because I generally don't like Schleich's style when it comes to dinosaurs but now in hindsight I wish I had gotten it.

The Schleich Tawa is still in stock online for a reasonable price.  I got mine that way last year and I'm happy I did, it's not a perfect figure but I still like it and it's of a species I find interesting and one that's unlikely to get another figure.

I was going to say 'not in the US' but then I found one pretty cheap on eBay based out of Texas! Thanks.

[Saarlooswolfhound]

Spinosauridae friends!


I love Spinosaurus and its relatives! I love them all and get so excited with any and all discoveries that are made for existing species and new ones found.

[Saarlooswolfhound]

More long necks!


I have a book as a kid that I vividly recall an arti piece of a saltasaurus in and that is a sauropod I remember being strongly intrigued by. And funnily enough, I realize I don't have one! I will need to change that.

[Saarlooswolfhound]

More mixed therapods:

I love sinosauropteryx since it's the first dino we got color and pattern information from, Yi Qi is such an odd species, and even if it looks much different in media who doesn't recognize dilophosaurus?