Dino Toy Line Questions- Original Thread -

[bmknj17]

Okay, as long as it was mentioned already...

biology.plosjournals.org/perlserv/?request=get-document&doi=10.1371/journal.pbio.0050204

Disclaimer: My providing this link in no way speaks to my opinion of any proposed, partially sculpted, or completed figure. Though if considered a definitive inaccuracy it could call the integrity of the line into question, particularly in publications such as PT and in on-line forums wherein M is a faceless manufacturer.

Another consideration might be seeing if it would sell based upon the science.

[kuni]

Not interested in a skimming quetzalcoatlus - they weren't found near oceans and there are strong scientific reasons to think skimming the water was not a biomechanical possibility. On top of that, pterosaurs in that pose are a dime a dozen.

A walking one, on the other hand, would be something very special, and a figure I would definitely buy.

[tomhet]

Well, talking about uniqueness, and even if I like Quetzalcoatlus a lot, truth be told, there are lots of them right now (I know, none in that pose but still, I can think of 6 right now) so I'd rather see a less known genus, like Pterosaustro or Sordes

[Dinotoyforum]

NB - I'm just about to migrate this post to a new subforum, I know it's a busy thread so I hope no posts are lost in the crossover. Apologies for the inconvenience if they are! If you read this, please refrain from posting here until it has been moved...this will happen in the next few minutes.

EDIT - Done!

[sbell]

Mar 13, 2009 17:42:33 GMT @tomhet said:

Well, talking about uniqueness, and even if I like Quetzalcoatlus a lot, truth be told, there are lots of them right now (I know, none in that pose but still, I can think of 6 right now) so I'd rather see a less known genus, like Pterosaustro or Sordes

I would be just as happy to see one of the old classic ones done--Rhamphorhynchus has not been well done for a long time (save the small WwD Quick figure); and Dimorphodon is reasonably well known, yet poorly represented.

[tomhet]

Oops, typo, I meant Pterodaustro, and yes sbell, you're right, those are very cool pterosaurs

[deanm]

There are a number of other interesting genera besides those already listed:

Thalassodromeus
Tupuxuara
Pterodactylus
Nemicolopterus
Nyctosaurus
Ornithostoma




Still other intereseting and not done at all genera.
Chaoyangopterus
Eoazhdarcho
Shenzhoupterus
Lonchodectes
Huaxiapterus
Sinopterus
Cycnorhamphus
Feilongus
Elanodactylus
Gegepterus
Beipiaopterus
Ctenochasma
Eosipterus
Pterodaustro
Cearadactylus
Gnathosaurus
Huanhepterus
Plataleorhynchus
Germanodactylus
Herbstosaurus
Kepodactylus
Normannognathus
Tendaguripterus

And there are many more...

[Meso-Cenozoic]

What about an Ornithocheirus? Since alot of us seem to be envious of not having the elusive WwD's one, here's our chance to get a really good replica, with Malcolm's talents! And, like in WwD, it flew over oceans and fished. Also, since Malcolm wanted to do a large species, this one is right up there with the biggest!

[[][][]cordylus[][][]]

hey M, why not just make a copy of the WwD with the few pictures we have of it? I'm sure MANY a collector would want one-- Especially if it is like other WwD's.

[Blade-of-the-Moon]

I'd like an Ornithocheirus myself... big, looks mean, and already has a good backstory and popularity since it was featured in WWD.

[dinonikes]

^I really am not interested in copying an existing WwD figure- although that pterosaur was one i would like to do- love the head-

I really wasn't very concerned about showing a feeding style- I just wanted the lower jaw to be in the water slightly as an excuse to have it meet a base- other than just having one with its feet on the ground about to take off or whatever--I just wanted a way to have a pterosaur with its wings spread out without having to have it on a post which although is something that seems necessary for marine reptiles- isn't a very good way to have a base in my opinion- so if some of these pterosaurs ate fish how did they get them out of the water? Why couldn't this pose be the moment when a pterosaur is reaching in to grab a fish from the water- certainly this happened- I can't picture these guys landing on the water and floating around like a pelican or a seagull- or diving in - how would they get out of the water? I admit that although I did take the Gregory Paul book on pterosaurs out of my library- i didn't read it too thoroughly- mostly was interested in the illustrations, so I really didn't retain much detailed info about these animals- my main concern is to get the lower beak in the water to hold up the animal-

[bmknj17]

Just a few hours ago I was feeding the ducks swimming in the flooded pool cover and the grackles were lowering themselves as best they could and grabbing the pieces of bread with their beaks when they could manage it and flying off with them.

They could never skim the water, but they can do this. Maybe some pterosaurs could as well, though the animal would be more or less hovering and the beak would be lowered straight downwardish into the water, not skimming it.

Just my observation and assessment.

[[][][]cordylus[][][]]

Mar 13, 2009 23:51:35 GMT dinonikes said:

^I really am not interested in copying an existing WwD figure- although that pterosaur was one i would like to do- love the head-

I really wasn't very concerned about showing a feeding style- I just wanted the lower jaw to be in the water slightly as an excuse to have it meet a base- other than just having one with its feet on the ground about to take off or whatever--I just wanted a way to have a pterosaur with its wings spread out without having to have it on a post which although is something that seems necessary for marine reptiles- isn't a very good way to have a base in my opinion- so if some of these pterosaurs ate fish how did they get them out of the water? Why couldn't this pose be the moment when a pterosaur is reaching in to grab a fish from the water- certainly this happened- I can't picture these guys landing on the water and floating around like a pelican or a seagull- or diving in - how would they get out of the water? I admit that although I did take the Gregory Paul book on pterosaurs out of my library- i didn't read it too thoroughly- mostly was interested in the illustrations, so I really didn't retain much detailed info about these animals- my main concern is to get the lower beak in the water to hold up the animal-

Actually, the figure is kind of "unreleased"--- It was a magazine givaway, and only one person is known to have one. That is why I think it would be a hit with collectors.

[bmknj17]

And, with respect to your noting that the posts aren't a good base for flyers, you might consder a Lucite/Acrylic type base (not just post) instead of wood. This way the whole support system would be clear/invisible-ish.

[stoneage]

Mar 14, 2009 0:16:53 GMT bmknj17 said:

Just a few hours ago I was feeding the ducks swimming in the flooded pool cover and the grackles were lowering themselves as best they could and grabbing the pieces of bread with their beaks when they could manage it and flying off with them.

They could never skim the water, but they can do this. Maybe some pterosaurs could as well, though the animal would be more or less hovering and the beak would be lowered straight downwardish into the water, not skimming it.

Just my observation and assessment.

Quetzalcoatlus was a big pterosaur that glided. It couldn't hover like little grackles.

[Blade-of-the-Moon]

As far as an Ornithocheirus goes..it doesn't need to be an exact copy of the WWD one..I think you could a much better one than there's anyway.

So Pterosaurs couldn't fish like a pelican or seagull ? I always thought they could..if not land at least grab fish or squid near th surface.

Bases don't have to be poles...but to do something eles would require a bit more work...marine reptiles, you can sculpt a base like some kind of coral or rock going so far up the pole leaving just a tab to attach the animal to...you can also make water/wave bases and cast them in a clear green/blue color..that could work for flying Pterosaurs or leaping / swimmimg marine reptiles.

Unless you planned to cast the Ptero skimming the water in one piece I'm doubtful it would work out...there would be the whole body's weight on the beack tip to hold it up... could lead some problems.not sure though.

EDIT:

You know, you could just have the belly touching a bit of sea spray or splash...stable, no pole, and well balanced.

[bmknj17]

I didn't say Q could; I said maybe some pterosaurs could.

[dinonikes]

I have been made a mod of this subforum- I have posted a new thread in this subforum for any general posts regarding this line of figures- this would be for any figures that are still being discussed in a speculative or planning stage like this pterosaur figure, or just general Dino Toy Forum Figure line talk, such as my asking general questions, or about future figures planned - there will be threads for each individual figure being worked on- until it is finished- I will be locking this thread down to sort of seal it up for posterity- its been a nice run 65 pages of interesting interaction-