| The Carnegie Safari Dinosaur Model - Giganotosaurus | | | | resisted the urge to make this an outsized model. |
| When it comes to models of dinosaurs and other | | | | After all, they are trying to depict one of the largest |
| prehistoric animals, the American based company | | | | meat-eating dinosaurs known in the fossil record. A |
| Safari has a deserved reputation for making realistic | | | | member of the Allosauridae that may have measured |
| dinosaur replicas and other models of animals from | | | | over 46 feet long and weighed 8,000 kilos or more. |
| pre-history. They have been making models for more | | | | The scale chosen is 1:50, permitting the model |
| than twenty years now and it is such a pleasure to | | | | makers to produce a reasonably sized dinosaur model |
| see Safari introducing new replicas of dinosaurs, not | | | | that is light enough to be carried by a small child. The |
| just animals such as Tyrannosaurus rex but more | | | | Giganotosaurus model at the 1:50 scale has been |
| unusual, but equally spectacular creatures such as the | | | | produced in the same scale as the Safari |
| Giganotosaurus model. | | | | Tyrannosaurus rex model, this permits collectors to |
| Each replica in the Carnegie Dinosaur Collectibles | | | | exhibit these models together allowing observers to |
| range, a range that surprisingly, despite its name | | | | see the differences between these two top |
| includes other prehistoric creatures as well, is to scale | | | | predators. The Tyrannosaurus rex and |
| and they are sculpted under the guidance of the | | | | Giganotosaurus models make a fine display when |
| Carnegie Museum of Natural History in Pittsburgh. | | | | placed adjacent to each other. |
| Before a dinosaur model is put into full production it | | | | Getting the Hands Right |
| has to be authenticated by the palaeontologists at | | | | One of the problems encountered by model makers |
| the museum. Having worked with a number of | | | | when tackling large Theropod dinosaurs is how to get |
| institutions developing dinosaur models and other | | | | the fore-limbs and hands (manus) looking right. In |
| merchandise we know what a rigorous process this | | | | Giganotosaurus the arms are much reduced and the |
| can be. The end result is a collection of highly detailed | | | | three-fingered hands (digits 1, 2 and 3 anatomically), |
| prehistoric animals and the Giganotosaurus model is | | | | could not reach the mouth. When creating a model |
| no exception. | | | | these arms and hands can look ungainly and out of |
| Giant Southern Lizard - Giganotosaurus | | | | proportion but the designers at Carnegie Safari have |
| Giant Southern Lizard, for that is what the name | | | | avoided this keeping the arms slung low under the |
| Giganotosaurus means, is coloured a pale blue, greyish | | | | body but angled forward in a grasping form of |
| colour with darker banding along the back and | | | | pronation. This is an accurate depiction if the |
| partially along the flanks. This colouration contrasts | | | | re-constructed skeletons in the museums are |
| markedly with the other large Theropod models in | | | | anything to go by. |
| the range such as the Tyrannosaurs. Clearly care has | | | | Sticking our Necks out About the Neck |
| been taken to ensure that this model looks very | | | | The tall but narrow skull is well-detailed and contrasts |
| different from the scale models of T. rex within the | | | | with the box-like skull of the T. rex model. |
| Carnegie Dinosaur Collectibles range. The animal is | | | | Interestingly, although the skull was much lighter than |
| posed in an aggressive posture with jaws wide open | | | | an equivalent sized Tyrannosaur, my only slight |
| as if this particular Giganotosaurus is roaring. Nice | | | | complaint is that the neck does not look muscular |
| detail is revealed in the open mouth, with well painted | | | | enough to carry the large head on the model. |
| teeth and fine detail in the palate. The teeth are of | | | | Allosaurs (Giganotosaurus is a member of the |
| different sizes, in recognition of this dinosaur's ability | | | | Allosauridae), have strong "S" shaped necks and I can |
| to shed teeth and replace them throughout its life. | | | | imagine the neck being quite powerful to help drive |
| These features, in combination with the superb paint | | | | the jaws into the flesh of this dinosaur's prey. A |
| job on the face, eye crests and the top of skull | | | | strong neck would also have resisted the forces |
| make the Giganotosaurus model really stand out. At | | | | applied to the skull as a wounded animal struggled as |
| just over 28 cm long and standing 15 cm tall this is a | | | | well as helping Giganotosaurus feed by being strong |
| substantial replica and surprisingly, it is very stable on | | | | enough to help tear pieces of meat from the carcass |
| its two small feet. The tail is not used as a third point | | | | of any dead animal. |
| of contact with the ground to help balance the | | | | This one small criticism aside, the Giganotosaurus |
| model, instead it is held out behind the animal in a | | | | model from Safari is a welcome inclusion into their |
| more natural pose. | | | | Carnegie Dinosaur Collectibles range and would make |
| A Question of Scale | | | | a worthwhile addition to the collection of any |
| It is a relief to note that Carnegie Safari have | | | | dinosaur model enthusiast. |