Post by bokisaurus on Feb 26, 2010 23:24:52 GMT
One of the joys of collecting is finding something new and totally unexpected.
Such is the case with my newest acquisition. For those of you who are fans of prehistoric mammals and birds, and I know there are a few of you, this new set of six prehistoric animals is something to get excited about.
For starters, the category of prehistoric mammals and birds are both neglected by the major toy companies. Besides CollectA’s attempt last year, it’s been a few years since we have seen any new prehistoric mammals and birds figures released. The prehistoric birds in particular are almost none existent. With the continued decline and retirement of major lines of prehistoric mammals/birds, CollectA is not issuing any new additions to their line this year and perhaps in the future, it is nice to know that not all hope has vanished…yet.
So what is this new line I am talking about? Well, the company is called Excite; it seems like a generic company that produces mass market toys. I don’t know much about them at all. The quality is what we would call “Chinasaurus”, but it is by far the best I have seen. It is up to par with the AAA and TS Toys line a few years ago.
The set includes five mammals and one bird. As collection goes, the first half of the set includes the standard mammoth, woolly rhino, and smilodon found in almost every prehistoric collection. What is interesting is the other half, which includes some true gems: Macreuchenia , Paraceratherium, and the Terror bird titanis!
The sculpting is good, and for the most part accurate. The figures are hollow and molded in two parts, you can see the seams in the middle of each figures, typical of “Chinasaurus” figures.
Let’s take a look at each figure closely….
Mammoth: The T-rex equivalent of prehistoric mammals in terms of popularity. It is a standard species, and almost every line of prehistoric animal figures produced has it in their collection even if the majority of the figures are dinosaurs (Invicta, Papo, and CollectA). Nothing special about this figure, but a nice one nonetheless.
Predecessors: Too many to list.
Smilodon: Right next to the mammoth as far as popularity goes, and just like the mammoth, is an industry standard figure. No collection is complete without one. This figure has some character. Interesting note is that the head look “slimmer” than normal, as a result, the figure have this “weasel-like” look to it. Yellowish in coloration with some darker stripes.
Predecessors: Too many to list.
Coledonta or Woolly rhino: Coming in third behind the mammoth and smilodon. This figure has some interesting qualities to it. The most unusual feature of it is the numerous small “bumps” that covers its face and feet.
Predecessors: Too many to list.
Paraceratherium: It seems like the species is trying to make a comeback after being neglected for decades. Right on the heels of CollectA’s 2009 release, this figure is slightly smaller and is grey in color. The muzzle is much shorter, more like a bulldog look, than it probably should. It has some nice quality to it and is one of the true gems in the collection. Predecessors: Nabisco, TEDCO, CollectA
With the CollectA figure
Macreuchenia: Another figure that is attempting to make a comeback. This one is almost the same size as the Schleich figure, the only other large figure of this most unusual species. The coloration is reddish brown with some darker highlights. The head is nicely done, with the trunk showing little “ridges”. The ears point outwards, giving the figure an alert look to it.
Predecessors: Ajax, JaRu, Safari prehistoric life toob set, Schleich.
Titanis: At long last, a big terror bird figures! This figure should make all the prehistoric birds fan something to be happy about. It is very a well sculpted figure, and for the most part fairly accurate. No teeth on this big bird! To date, it is the best large toy figure of the species ever produced. It stands impressive with ruffled feathers, with the beak closed. It comes with a base to help stabilize the figure, inevitable given how small the feet are. The feathers are black in color, the beak and legs yellow. Truly a figure that is very much worth acquiring.
Predecessors: I can only think of the small kaiyodos and Starlux figures.
The entire set:
Makes a good companion for the Wild Republic set:
So there you go Prehistoric mammal fans, a new set to hunt! ;D
Hope you all like it.
Such is the case with my newest acquisition. For those of you who are fans of prehistoric mammals and birds, and I know there are a few of you, this new set of six prehistoric animals is something to get excited about.
For starters, the category of prehistoric mammals and birds are both neglected by the major toy companies. Besides CollectA’s attempt last year, it’s been a few years since we have seen any new prehistoric mammals and birds figures released. The prehistoric birds in particular are almost none existent. With the continued decline and retirement of major lines of prehistoric mammals/birds, CollectA is not issuing any new additions to their line this year and perhaps in the future, it is nice to know that not all hope has vanished…yet.
So what is this new line I am talking about? Well, the company is called Excite; it seems like a generic company that produces mass market toys. I don’t know much about them at all. The quality is what we would call “Chinasaurus”, but it is by far the best I have seen. It is up to par with the AAA and TS Toys line a few years ago.
The set includes five mammals and one bird. As collection goes, the first half of the set includes the standard mammoth, woolly rhino, and smilodon found in almost every prehistoric collection. What is interesting is the other half, which includes some true gems: Macreuchenia , Paraceratherium, and the Terror bird titanis!
The sculpting is good, and for the most part accurate. The figures are hollow and molded in two parts, you can see the seams in the middle of each figures, typical of “Chinasaurus” figures.
Let’s take a look at each figure closely….
Mammoth: The T-rex equivalent of prehistoric mammals in terms of popularity. It is a standard species, and almost every line of prehistoric animal figures produced has it in their collection even if the majority of the figures are dinosaurs (Invicta, Papo, and CollectA). Nothing special about this figure, but a nice one nonetheless.
Predecessors: Too many to list.
Smilodon: Right next to the mammoth as far as popularity goes, and just like the mammoth, is an industry standard figure. No collection is complete without one. This figure has some character. Interesting note is that the head look “slimmer” than normal, as a result, the figure have this “weasel-like” look to it. Yellowish in coloration with some darker stripes.
Predecessors: Too many to list.
Coledonta or Woolly rhino: Coming in third behind the mammoth and smilodon. This figure has some interesting qualities to it. The most unusual feature of it is the numerous small “bumps” that covers its face and feet.
Predecessors: Too many to list.
Paraceratherium: It seems like the species is trying to make a comeback after being neglected for decades. Right on the heels of CollectA’s 2009 release, this figure is slightly smaller and is grey in color. The muzzle is much shorter, more like a bulldog look, than it probably should. It has some nice quality to it and is one of the true gems in the collection. Predecessors: Nabisco, TEDCO, CollectA
With the CollectA figure
Macreuchenia: Another figure that is attempting to make a comeback. This one is almost the same size as the Schleich figure, the only other large figure of this most unusual species. The coloration is reddish brown with some darker highlights. The head is nicely done, with the trunk showing little “ridges”. The ears point outwards, giving the figure an alert look to it.
Predecessors: Ajax, JaRu, Safari prehistoric life toob set, Schleich.
Titanis: At long last, a big terror bird figures! This figure should make all the prehistoric birds fan something to be happy about. It is very a well sculpted figure, and for the most part fairly accurate. No teeth on this big bird! To date, it is the best large toy figure of the species ever produced. It stands impressive with ruffled feathers, with the beak closed. It comes with a base to help stabilize the figure, inevitable given how small the feet are. The feathers are black in color, the beak and legs yellow. Truly a figure that is very much worth acquiring.
Predecessors: I can only think of the small kaiyodos and Starlux figures.
The entire set:
Makes a good companion for the Wild Republic set:
So there you go Prehistoric mammal fans, a new set to hunt! ;D
Hope you all like it.
Boki you do realize that the Titanis has hands, which is not accurate. ;D
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