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Source for Dinosaur Models?

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  • Member since
    October 2009
Source for Dinosaur Models?
Posted by Scott MacPhee on Sunday, June 17, 2012 9:01 PM

I'm a long time armor and figure modeler.  I have a son who is nuts about dinosaurs, and I think he would get a kick out of helping me build a model.

 

I have no idea where to find good quality dinosaur models, and my Google searches have not turned up anything promising.  Can anyone recommend a dealer?

  • Member since
    April 2010
  • From: Somewhere in MN
Posted by El Taino on Sunday, June 17, 2012 9:07 PM

My LHS, has plenty of them in stock, Tamiya and oldies from Jurassic Park the movie which nowadays are more on the collectible side.

Do a search on Google for Tamiya Dinosaur kits and you'll come across some other brands as well. Dino kits are very popular in Japan.

Here is one result from Mega Hobby.

  • Member since
    December 2009
Posted by ww2psycho on Sunday, June 17, 2012 9:28 PM

Theres a dino kit from Tamiya at the hobby shop I visit, Viloceraptors (spell check) I believe, dont know a price,

  • Member since
    April 2009
  • From: Longmont, Colorado
Posted by Cadet Chuck on Sunday, June 17, 2012 9:34 PM

I have seen some in the Squadron catalog recently.

Gimme a pigfoot, and a bottle of beer...

  • Member since
    August 2005
  • From: Sydney, Australia
Posted by Phil_H on Monday, June 18, 2012 12:45 AM

I'm pretty sure Revell reissued some of the ex-Aurora dinosaurs a few years back. Some of these should still be available.

Note that the Tamiya dinosaur kits are (were?) 1/35 scale and may provide some interesting diorama opportunities. Big Smile

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Massachusetts
Posted by ajlafleche on Monday, June 18, 2012 6:29 PM

Phil_H

Note that the Tamiya dinosaur kits are (were?) 1/35 scale and may provide some interesting diorama opportunities. Big Smile

The Tamiya kits reflect relatively newer research, but do not incorporate the latest theories and findings such as the likelyhood many dinos were feathered.

Here's a dio I did a couple years ago using the Tamiya velociraptors and a couple 54mm figures:

Remember, if the women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy.

  • Member since
    September 2005
  • From: Illinois: Hive of Scum and Villany
Posted by Sprue-ce Goose on Monday, June 18, 2012 6:42 PM

ajlafleche:

Nice dino diorama!

As for who sold dinosaur kits,

did Lindberg re-issue some old kits from Life-Like a few years back?

  • Member since
    April 2009
  • From: Longmont, Colorado
Posted by Cadet Chuck on Monday, June 18, 2012 7:17 PM

Dinosaurs and Humans did not exist together in the same time period- I'm just saying.  Nice dio, any way!

 

 

 

 

 

Gimme a pigfoot, and a bottle of beer...

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Massachusetts
Posted by ajlafleche on Tuesday, June 19, 2012 6:31 AM

Cadet Chuck

Dinosaurs and Humans did not exist together in the same time period- I'm just saying.   

Really? Confused You mean

 

and

weren't scientific texts?

Chuck, it's fantasy. It's based on the 1960's comic books Turok, Son of Stone. That's why there's a label "Turok, Son of Stone" visible in the first picture.

Remember, if the women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy.

  • Member since
    March 2006
Posted by TD4438 on Tuesday, June 19, 2012 6:58 AM

Here you go.Most are more than affordable.

http://www.squadron.com/SearchResults.asp?offset=0

  • Member since
    November 2009
  • From: SW Virginia
Posted by Gamera on Tuesday, June 19, 2012 7:49 AM

Yeah, the Tamiya kits are the most accurate according to modern knowledge although as AJ pointed out what we know these days is changing so fast even they're not totally accurate. The Revell and Lindberg kits I believe were designed back in the '50s-'60s and so are almost totally inaccurate such as the tail-dragging T.rex. So I guess it would depend on if your son insists on accuracy or if he just wants a cool looking dino in which case I think any would fit. Maybe you should just go to Tamiya's, Lindberg's, etc websites and let him look at them and decide which ones he wants?  

AJ: I think I've said it before but yeah, great work there, love the concept and the execution. Makes me want to try a 'Valley of Gwangi' dino, just need to kitbash some vaqueros (Mexican cowboys)! Cowboy

"I dream in fire but work in clay." -Arthur Machen

 

  • Member since
    October 2004
  • From: NE Oklahoma
Posted by Allen109 on Saturday, June 23, 2012 5:06 PM

Try Atlantic(?) models.

  • Member since
    September 2006
  • From: Bethlehem PA
Posted by the Baron on Tuesday, July 3, 2012 11:55 AM

The older Tamiya kits are somewhat behind the times, as Al pointed out, but the newer ones are a little more accurate (though, true, Al, you have to supply your own feathers! Big Smile)  Look for their newer T-Rex, for example.  The old one is a tripod/tail-dragger, while the newer one reflects more current understanding of how the bones fit together.  It even comes with a paleontologist figure, for a "Jurassic Park" dio.

Lindberg also has two generations of dino kits.  They have the old LifeLike/Pyro kits, which were fun for me to build as a kid in 1970, but which are really just toys you assemble, like the smooth-skinned Tyrannosaurus or Apatosaurus (fmr Brontosaurus (the Corythosaurus in that series is probably the best), and with serious fit issues.  But they have newer kits, developed in the wake of "Jurassic Park" that are better (like a Velociraptor).

Revell-Monogram have re-issued the old Aurora kits, true, but those, too, are more fun for young kids to snap together and play with.  If you're looking for museum-quality detail, they're not for you.

If you are looking for something extremely detailed and accurate to the latest theories, you'll most likely get resin, and pay some hefty prices for it.  Here is one site where you can see the kinds of exquisite kits are produced today:

stores.homestead.com/.../StoreFront.bok

or you might consider buying finished toys, which, while being toys, are relatively well detailed and can be repaintined or modified.  Museum gift shops often have some nice examples, and here is another website for a seller who carries various lines:

www.dejankins.com/.../About_DeJankins.html

I also used to browse Link and Pin Hobbies, but that seller appears to have closed up and gone out of business.

Hope that all helps!

Brad

The bigger the government, the smaller the citizen.

 

 

  • Member since
    November 2009
  • From: SW Virginia
Posted by Gamera on Tuesday, July 3, 2012 7:21 PM

Brad: This wasn't aimed at me but still thanks for the link to Dan's Dinosaurs webpage. I wish I had the money and the talent to do some awesome models like these.

"I dream in fire but work in clay." -Arthur Machen

 

  • Member since
    September 2006
  • From: Bethlehem PA
Posted by the Baron on Thursday, July 5, 2012 11:49 AM

Gamera

Brad: This wasn't aimed at me but still thanks for the link to Dan's Dinosaurs webpage. I wish I had the money and the talent to do some awesome models like these.

Sure thing, Gamera!

Me, too!  There are some really beautiful resin kits available, and though I understand the cost of producing them, the price keeps me from buying any of them (at least at this time).

I'm still trying to decide whether to spring for the Corsair Armada resin kit of the old USS Ranger, which is $150.  A lot of geld, and I really have to think about my budget in that case.

The bigger the government, the smaller the citizen.

 

 

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