Introduction to Project/ General Business

[bokisaurus]

May 17, 2009 10:28:40 GMT dinonikes said:

The juvenile Rex would be 20 feet in length- it seems to be chasing some sort of small ostrich type theropod based on the concept sketch I was given to estimate with-

To sculpt that size piece I would start with a steel armature welded together, then use chicken wire to shape it, then fiberglass the surface and only skin the surface with clay-

Please don't compare my Spino to the Safari one- it wouldn't be fair to either of us- they are both made in such different circumstances- one thing I can say is that mine will have sharp teeth with definite separations- look at my T-Rex to see what I mean-and mine will be on a base so it won't have the tail touching down if that is any comfort to any of you-

I really like the safari Spino- not enough to buy one, but it is a cool toy- they never had dino toys like that when I was a kid- Marx,MPC,Tootsie Toy were about it back then in bins and bags at the local Woolworth's-kids today are so spoiled aren't they-lol

;D Don't worry, I won't compare any of your figure to the toy lines ;D
As far as I am concerned, I don't consider your line as toys at all, but more like desktop models/figures. And it has the added distinction of being a one-man production ;D
I don't think that it is fair to compare them to any of the toy lines. Period. And I have them ;D
So for those of you who have requested for me to post a picture of Malcolm's figures with the other figures for comparison, and I have received a few, sorry to disappoint you I won't do that

[Blade-of-the-Moon]

Yeah I asked for those pics...I admit it. I want to see how they look with the Safari ones..which I do own and it would let me tell more about size and what they will fit best with.... don't tell me no one else here mixes figures or models with other figures and models.

It's one thing to say you like them and want to be supportive..but really...not taking photo comparisons because they " might " not look as good with them ? Really ?

I don't think that was the spirit of Malcolm's request at any rate...if you read over it again it's more about understanding his methods and thus the resulting product...I get that... but more information and feedback is never a bad thing in the case of any product..it actually helps...Malcolm has said he understands that.

If it helps..many of us have Kintos..I have the Ptero and Plesio ...take pics with those " models "... it won't help as much as Carnegie pics which are roughly the same scale..but I'll take what I can get.

I've already paid for the pieces you have anyway..and I'm not canceling them...if that's the worry...I just can't stand the yes-man behavior you know ?

You take some amazing pics Boki...why limit yourself when comparisons are a big part of collecting...you can bet when I get mine there will be some dios mixing both lines..

Sorry if sounds like I'm being harsh or anything..

[dinonikes]

i really don't mind side by side photos to show comparisons between mine and others - I was talking more about details in production like Blade said in his post- the fact that they use injection molding allows for some things I can;t do- but I have some advantages on my side as well - I am not unhappy with the quality of my pieces- the only thing that I have ever said is that I won't be held up to the harsh macro lens as far as what sort of level of finish I will be worrying about- I don't have any of these other toys and probably won't ever get them, and to be honest would be curious to see some of those type photos myself- if anyone feels like taking them-

[tetonbabydoll]

You know, I was just sitting here playing with---I mean scrutinizing-- the Battat gallimimus. People are very quick to tell you about Battat detail, and accuracy blah, blah, myself included.

Now, I mention this because, the Gallimimus is about half again as large as Malcolm's dilopho. Now, this bastion of excellence we all adore, this Battat, has hands a bit larger than the dilopho by a bit, and guess what?? They are little more than clubs, a solid hand with the fingers differentiated only by paint.

So, if Battat was not able to squeeze out delicate lil fingers and toes on their smaller figures, and we still adore them, why are we worried about Malcolm's pieces? Trust me, I have dealt with most company toys up close, and photoed them that way too. At that zoom level, the flaws on all are VERY obviouse.I think these new pieces of Malcolm's seem quite nice. I have only looked over the dilopho in person, but it is quite nice. It is far above Carnegie's dilopho pair, and the Battat mini dilopho. I like the closed mouth, and the action pose. This is really the only dilopho I have that looks like the deadly hunter he must have been.

I think Boki should compare. He has done so with all the rest of his collection, why treat Malcolm differently. I think, his stuff should be held to the same standard as we do any other toy. His stuff more than holds up. And the best way to generate business here is to get as many customer pics up as he can.

I don't think he wants us to treat him differently, he wants our honest opinions, how else will he know if there are problems that need looking into. He knows it is not personal critisism. As a professional artist, working for others, he has had his stuff reviewed by others and revised many times, I would expect, and I doubt he takes it so personally anymore.

Any of the "flaws" I might see with a zoom, or squinting at it while painting, are not visible with the naked eye, seen from a normal distance, and I have become quite fond of it. I wonder if I can convince Kuni if it esca[ped from its box during the return trip?? It will be a shame to see this one go. After spending time with it, and looking at it sitting in my collection, I think it is a very fine piece indeed.

Let them be compared directly, I think they will fare well.

[Blade-of-the-Moon]

The Battats are prob about as good as Safari's current pieces aren't they ? All I have of the Galli to compare is the mini one and those are far from detailed. I believe all the Battat figures started out as resin models right ? I've seen pics i nthe old issues of PT where they were sold as such...maybe that accounts for the detail ? I know some sculpters don't carve the fingers seperatly..just indent enough that it looks like they are seperate.

I'd love to see pics of Malcolm's with the Battats as well if anyone does them..I'll certainly try myself if no one else does them first..my limit is I only have the 1/40 Rex and Amargasaurus though.

[bokisaurus]

Oh my, what reactions Hmmm, maybe, I will think about doing a comparison photo reference.
And just to make it clear again where I stand, I personally don't consider this line toys. Some of you might, thats just fine, but I don't. It's the reason I am hesitating. They are more like desktop models and I treat them as such. If I had or collected desktop model, I would do a comparison. I am not treating this line different, it's just not the same category as far as I am concerned. Have you seen me do comparison pictures with desktop models and toy? No, not really. And, Frankly? I have posted Battat figures and this line already, all you really have to do is look at them. If I ever do a lineup comparison pics, ,it would be with all my favorite figures. So stay tuned, I must succumb to peer pressure ;D

[Blade-of-the-Moon]

Any links to Malcolm's pieces with the Battat ones ? I haven't seen them myself.

You don't consider many of the pieces you have more model than toy ? I see a few in your sig that I wouldn't call toys...prob more like models in that fine line that collectibles falls under. ;D

Safari's pieces are technically toys or figures...but the recent ones look more like desktop models...they are more fragile, paint is applied better but easier to damage, they are more suited to shelf sitting and would be fine for comparisons...but as I said I mix figures in dios and displays...seeing an image of Malcom's , the Battat and Safari Rexes together would be most informative..or his Rex chasing the Safari Corythosaur...something I might do as well..and these images would prob not just help me either I'm sure.

[tetonbabydoll]

Help to do what though? I guess I am not understanding just what it is you want? What wouls seeing them side by side do for you that the walkaround pics can't? I understand, seeing them together to be fun, but beyond that, what??

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

May 18, 2009 13:31:51 GMT @tetonbabydoll said:

You know, I was just sitting here playing with---I mean scrutinizing-- the Battat gallimimus. People are very quick to tell you about Battat detail, and accuracy blah, blah, myself included.

Now, I mention this because, the Gallimimus is about half again as large as Malcolm's dilopho. Now, this bastion of excellence we all adore, this Battat, has hands a bit larger than the dilopho by a bit, and guess what?? They are little more than clubs, a solid hand with the fingers differentiated only by paint.

So, if Battat was not able to squeeze out delicate lil fingers and toes on their smaller figures, and we still adore them, why are we worried about Malcolm's pieces? Trust me, I have dealt with most company toys up close, and photoed them that way too. At that zoom level, the flaws on all are VERY obviouse.I think these new pieces of Malcolm's seem quite nice. I have only looked over the dilopho in person, but it is quite nice. It is far above Carnegie's dilopho pair, and the Battat mini dilopho. I like the closed mouth, and the action pose. This is really the only dilopho I have that looks like the deadly hunter he must have been.

I think Boki should compare. He has done so with all the rest of his collection, why treat Malcolm differently. I think, his stuff should be held to the same standard as we do any other toy. His stuff more than holds up. And the best way to generate business here is to get as many customer pics up as he can.

I don't think he wants us to treat him differently, he wants our honest opinions, how else will he know if there are problems that need looking into. He knows it is not personal critisism. As a professional artist, working for others, he has had his stuff reviewed by others and revised many times, I would expect, and I doubt he takes it so personally anymore.

Any of the "flaws" I might see with a zoom, or squinting at it while painting, are not visible with the naked eye, seen from a normal distance, and I have become quite fond of it. I wonder if I can convince Kuni if it esca[ped from its box during the return trip?? It will be a shame to see this one go. After spending time with it, and looking at it sitting in my collection, I think it is a very fine piece indeed.

Let them be compared directly, I think they will fare well.

My galli has separate fingers Maybe yours is the mini? The mini does have clubbish hands

[Blade-of-the-Moon]

May 19, 2009 10:45:42 GMT @tetonbabydoll said:

Help to do what though? I guess I am not understanding just what it is you want? What wouls seeing them side by side do for you that the walkaround pics can't? I understand, seeing them together to be fun, but beyond that, what??

Not just fun...but informative..like I mentioned above, I usually mix figures...see how this line would look with that line..is it compatible enough , ect...

Say I repainted a Safari Rex to go with Malcolm's Rex...would they match up well ? Seeing pics of both side would help determine that to a point....if it's not apparent by now I'm quite anal when it comes to details and usually stress over them...not good I know..but it's something I can't help really..

[tomhet]

May 19, 2009 20:37:36 GMT [][][]cordylus[][][] said:

My galli has separate fingers Maybe yours is the mini? The mini does have clubbish hands

I have the mini galli right here and its fingers are NOT stubby at all, they are sculpted together but they are clearly divided.

*goes and checks the other version* The same, they are very well sculpted

[tetonbabydoll]

You are both wrong. I do not have the mini, but the regular. The fingers are most def not sculpted separately. The fingers are there, but all one piece, and like most smaller Battats, ill defined. The nails and tips all blend into one point.

But, thanks for the sarcasm Tom. Nice to see such behavior from a moderator. least we all know where we stand , right??

[tomhet]

As all can see, I didn't even use sarcasm in my post, I'm just stating that they are clearly sculpted. The paintjob and the poor quality ruin the fine details but I think dinonikes figure has more problems.

[dinonikes]

There was no sarcasm in Tomhet's post as I see it-

Really don't understand the post right above by Tomhet- you say my figure has 'more problems'and is of 'poor quality'- but you haven't even seen one in person, haven't even held one in your hand to judge it--all of those that have seen one in person have given me nothing but positive reactions to it-it seems unfair of you to publically rip into my figure like that without seeing one in person- Mike Fredericks, Sepp, Boki, Kuni (who even said he liked the miscast he unfortunately received)Teton have all seen one in person and have said they really liked the figure- I recall how many of you here on this forum were ripping into the Safari Tylo before seeing it in person, then were raving about it once getting them in hand-photos are not a good way to judge a figure you haven't seen in person-
I have seen so many of these super zoomed photos of so many toys of many different toy companies here on this forum and am shocked sometimes by how rough and ill defined the sculpts are in these type photos- especially in the Battats like the diplo- the details when blown up to that level are surprisingly rough- just look at the thread Bored with Camera or whatever the title of that thread is- I am tired of this discussion about the hands of my dilophosaurus to be honest- I have already said that the one that Teton repainted for Kuni is a miscast hand and had apologized and offered Kuni to return it for another cast- I just measured one of the Dilo casts about to go out and the hands are smaller then 1/8 inch- look at a ruler to see how small that is- I try not to let criticisms bother me, but when I am being judged and criticized for details seen in macro type photos as opposed to what a figure looks like when held in the hand and looked at with the naked eye- the view any person would NORMALLY see it in-it makes me want to just give up on this whole thing here on this forum-as it is a losing battle if I have to worry about that much level of scrutiny and have potential collectors read that my figures have 'more problems' and ar of 'poor quality' or whatever, criticism based off of zoom photos and not first hand veiwing of my work- better to just go off word of mouth generated from collectors that have them and can judge them from actual encounters with my work in their hands-

[tetonbabydoll]

My point about the Battats is that any toy seen close up reveals certain "flaws", mold seams, etc. Malcolm's dilopho is no different. I am saying that in my opinion, as someone who routinely sees these things very close up, Malcolm's pieces hold up just as well as any other toy line. If seen in a group photo, as I took for Kuni, someone not in the know would not be able to point out which one was not produced by a major company.

Malcolm never promised us perfect little models, he promised to make the best toys at this size that he could, and I and others seem to think he has succeeded. No one I know of, who has seen the actual items, has had any problems with them. That should be testimate enough.

[sbell]

May 21, 2009 11:18:47 GMT dinonikes said:

There was no sarcasm in Tomhet's post as I see it-

Really don't understand the post right above by Tomhet- you say my figure has 'more problems'and is of 'poor quality'- but you haven't even seen one in person, haven't even held one in your hand to judge it--all of those that have seen one in person have given me nothing but positive reactions to it-it seems unfair of you to publically rip into my figure like that without seeing one in person- Mike Fredericks, Sepp, Boki, Kuni (who even said he liked the miscast he unfortunately received)Teton have all seen one in person and have said they really liked the figure- I recall how many of you here on this forum were ripping into the Safari Tylo before seeing it in person, then were raving about it once getting them in hand-photos are not a good way to judge a figure you haven't seen in person-
I have seen so many of these super zoomed photos of so many toys of many different toy companies here on this forum and am shocked sometimes by how rough and ill defined the sculpts are in these type photos- especially in the Battats like the diplo- the details when blown up to that level are surprisingly rough- just look at the thread Bored with Camera or whatever the title of that thread is- I am tired of this discussion about the hands of my dilophosaurus to be honest- I have already said that the one that Teton repainted for Kuni is a miscast hand and had apologized and offered Kuni to return it for another cast- I just measured one of the Dilo casts about to go out and the hands are smaller then 1/8 inch- look at a ruler to see how small that is- I try not to let criticisms bother me, but when I am being judged and criticized for details seen in macro type photos as opposed to what a figure looks like when held in the hand and looked at with the naked eye- the view any person would NORMALLY see it in-it makes me want to just give up on this whole thing here on this forum-as it is a losing battle if I have to worry about that much level of scrutiny and have potential collectors read that my figures have 'more problems' and ar of 'poor quality' or whatever, criticism based off of zoom photos and not first hand veiwing of my work- better to just go off word of mouth generated from collectors that have them and can judge them from actual encounters with my work in their hands-

I think you might then be better off ignoring the criticisms of the extremely picky (this isn't the first time it's come up...)--especially (apparently) Battat defenders. You can't please everybody all the time, but you can please dinosaur scientists at an auction with your T.rex model, so you know what? Decide which opinion carries more weight.

As you have said, no larger-scale figure is meant to be macro-zoomed in a photo. That's almost being ridiculous. They are meant to be held as an item in the hand, or looked at on a shelf. It's like blowing a photo up 1000 times normal (or standing with your nose pressed to said photo), and then lamenting the pixel organization--it wasn't meant to be looked at that way, and it is the viewers own d**n fault for doing so.

I think that some people, in their attempt to express opinions, may forget that they are still speaking to people here--and if you are expressing an opinion on somebody's incredibly skilled hard work, either back it up with something real, or think 7 times about why you think you need to say what you are saying.

All because people want comparison photos? Since when do we need that? Dino Farm, Link&Pin, TGF Toys, etc, don't group photos of rexes (etc) so that we can compare how they look together--why should that matter? You like the appearance, you purchase it.

Of course, one could wonder why Battat hands are even being discussed in this thread--which is your other option Malcolm; just make it all go away (you have that authority).

[tetonbabydoll]

Well, I know I could nevr do what malcolm does. I would have no idea how to even begin, so my hat's off to him. And I drool at every piece he's done. So that is my last word on that. If some think that the "problems" are unbearable, they should go off and make their own figures, then get back to us, so we can comment on their attempts.....

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

Ah. I know what you mean teton I thought you meant the galli had a "club" for a hand

[tomhet]

May 21, 2009 11:18:47 GMT dinonikes said:

There was no sarcasm in Tomhet's post as I see it-

Really don't understand the post right above by Tomhet- you say my figure has 'more problems'and is of 'poor quality'- but you haven't even seen one in person, haven't even held one in your hand to judge it--all of those that have seen one in person have given me nothing but positive reactions to it-it seems unfair of you to publically rip into my figure like that without seeing one in person- Mike Fredericks, Sepp, Boki, Kuni (who even said he liked the miscast he unfortunately received)Teton have all seen one in person and have said they really liked the figure- I recall how many of you here on this forum were ripping into the Safari Tylo before seeing it in person, then were raving about it once getting them in hand-photos are not a good way to judge a figure you haven't seen in person-
I have seen so many of these super zoomed photos of so many toys of many different toy companies here on this forum and am shocked sometimes by how rough and ill defined the sculpts are in these type photos- especially in the Battats like the diplo- the details when blown up to that level are surprisingly rough- just look at the thread Bored with Camera or whatever the title of that thread is- I am tired of this discussion about the hands of my dilophosaurus to be honest- I have already said that the one that Teton repainted for Kuni is a miscast hand and had apologized and offered Kuni to return it for another cast- I just measured one of the Dilo casts about to go out and the hands are smaller then 1/8 inch- look at a ruler to see how small that is- I try not to let criticisms bother me, but when I am being judged and criticized for details seen in macro type photos as opposed to what a figure looks like when held in the hand and looked at with the naked eye- the view any person would NORMALLY see it in-it makes me want to just give up on this whole thing here on this forum-as it is a losing battle if I have to worry about that much level of scrutiny and have potential collectors read that my figures have 'more problems' and ar of 'poor quality' or whatever, criticism based off of zoom photos and not first hand veiwing of my work- better to just go off word of mouth generated from collectors that have them and can judge them from actual encounters with my work in their hands-

When I said poor quality and bad paintjobs I meant the Battats, I didn't mean the Dilopho. The Battats lost many details in the casting process.

As for the Dilopho, I don't have it, true, but I did see boki's pics of it and it had serious problems, like those tiny holes. The others seemed fine as I recall. That's all. I never meant to be rude or anything.

[kuni]

Never thought my dilo would get people so riled up!

I think the fair comparison is Malcolm's dilo to the Battat Mini dilo, a comparison I performed a few weeks ago. Neither sculpt is perfect and each has particular flaws the other does not, BUT on average, Malcolm's wins on pose, correctness of length, better jaw morphology, etc etc. The weakest point of Malcolm's Dilo is the differentiation between digits on the limbs....but it's a VERY small figure, almost Kaiyodo size, and you simply can't get details like that unless you a) use fragile resin to cast or b)splay the hands and feet. Neither of these options really fits within the parameters of Malcolm's line.

I'm happy with the Dilo, and I think it's being judged a little harshly when it's the very first figure of the line, and at a very tricky size. (I do like the Rex better, though - it's the totally awesome pose and paintjob )