What I Like, and why.

[dinoboy]

This is not meant as an all inclusive list. It is drawn from what I see when I look around my "office".

I like all The Papo Carnivores, The Raptor, T-Rex, Spinosaur and new Allosaur (from its photos so far). I particularly like their 'jaw action' and the different 'looks' they can be given. Despite a certain tipsy-ness the Spinosaurus is surprisingly amenable to a variety of poses. The Raptors can get into lots of trouble while maintaining their innocence. To date I find the T-Rex the least animated of the group.

I like the Battat T-Tops and Styracosaurus. I think that these two are just beautifully done. I have never sold a Battat T-Tops.

I like the new Safari Allosaurus and I even like the old Safari T-Rex with the three point stance and the mouth that needs painting.
I like the Safari Tiger Striped Velociraptor, with a tail bob.

I like all the Invicta Sauropods and the Stegosaurus. Partly because of their size, largely because of their look. Having a mixed herd of Sauropods just makes me feel good.

I like the JP original T-Rex, (JP.09), T-Rex Jr, (JP.06) and the little wire skeleton Coelophysises. I was absolutely thrilled when these came out. The Coelophysis was very much of a surprise. The two T-Rexes (I consider the dino-damage bite piece to be a major flaw) are not only very "realistic" looking (as if we really knew what these guys looked like) but also rate very highly on the playability scale. Almost indestructible. I have several that I bought when they first came out and they all stand flawlessly today as they have since I got them (okay, I did have to boil water to get the .09 to do that regularly) sixteen years ago. They put up with play, anything short of wanton destruction, and come through with flying colors. For my money these are among the best toy dinosaurs ever made.

I like the Bullyland Allosaurus and even their new feathered raptors. These feathered raptors are made of a softer rubber and hence are more malleable for attacks at the dinner table. The Allosaurus is just a beautiful rendition and has a very serious/ominous quality. Moreso than for instance, the new Papo Alllosaur who actually seems to be happy going about, doing Allosaurian things.

I like the Marx sleek T-Rex, Triceratops, Hadrosaur and Struthiomimus. I have loved these for fifty years now. These were among my very first toy dinosaurs and these four just slipped their little toy claws, horns and beaks into my heart. I love the entire Marx lineup but these four especially. Like my first car, only different.

There are dozens of brands and hundreds of figures out there and these are some of my very favorites. One reason is because I have these. I know them. Another is that they are all affordable, either right now or when they came out, and I could afford them. I like toys that I can handle without fear of breaking. I also greatly prefer toys that do as little as possible on their own. Apart from the battery powered stomp/roar of the JP.09 all of these are battery free and do what I imagine them to be doing. I think that toys that are battery operated/remote controlled tend to limit the imagination. And are of course dependent on the undependable.

[bowheadwhale]

What I like the most is when a toy manufacturer represents animals we don't see very often. Among my favorites (that I succeeded getting) are: Bullyland Paratypothorax, Indricotherium, Anchitherium, Archeopteryx, Ammonites, Belemnite, Jellyfish, Trilobite; Safari ltd Caudipteryx, Jellyfishes, Sally Lightfoot Crab, Pelican Eel, Inostrancevia, Microraptor, Bat Star, Horseshoe Crab, Hermit Crab, Dragonfish, Amebelodon; Papo Pachyrhinosaurus, Dodo; Schleich Whale Shark, Minke Whale, Megatherium, Right Whale...

You see, I'm tired of seeing T-Rexes, Triceratopes, Stegosauruses, Lions, Tigers, African Elephants and Giraffes everywhere. I think there are so many more animals that deserve our attention. Children must be told, to my opinion, that there is more in our world than lions, T-Rexes and giraffes. There are River Hogs, Calaos, Babyrussas, Geladas, Guanlongs, Placoderms and Caseids. Besides, Nature Conservation people do complain about species receiving tons of money for their conservation, like giant pandas, while others, like long-nosed bats, hardly receive anything. It's like "the cutest, the most popular, are the most deserving to be saved" in people's mind. Everyone wants to save tigers: everyone knows them, everyone loves them. But what about Partula Snails? People don't know them, they usually don't like snails, because they are just silly slow bugs, they are not spectacular predators like tigers or golden eagles. So, why bother for snails? In result, in January 1996, the last Partula Turgida Snail was found dead in the laboratory where it was kept. But who noticed? What company represented one? And what about Partula Umbilicata which also disappeared from our planet? OK, everyone knows about the Dodo, but who knows about the Huia, I'm asking you? I even find people who still confuse the extinct Passenger Pigeon with the overcommon Rock Pigeon! There is really need for nature education, here. And it's not by releasing the very same T-Rexes, Lions, Tigers, Giraffes, Triceratopses and African Elephants that toy manufacturers will help change things. This is why I always say BRAVO! when a toy manufacturer breaks the clichés by releasing animals we don't see often. What do you think?