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Papo the prehistoric animal model manufacturers of France, have been in the model making business for more than 25 years. Over this time they have built a significant reputation for their hand-painted and elaborated animal, models and historical figures. The range of prehistoric animal figures offered has not so long ago been extended and a number of new models are being introduced for 2010, however, it is one of their littler dinosaur models, one that is seldom seen that deserves special attention. Less than two years ago, Papo introduced into their Prehistoric Animal range, a model of a baby Pachycephalosaurus. This peculiar model is often overlooked by high street retailers, they may prefer to stock the larger, T. rex or Triceratops. They are plainly not conscious that Pachycephalosaurus was a contemporary of these two other dinosaurs, “the bone-heads” lived at the same time and in the same share of the world as their more illustrious relatives. Pachycephalosaurids – the “Bone-Headed” Dinosaurs Although the Pachycephalosaurids are named after the dinosaur genus Pachycephalosaurus, the best known of all the bone-headed dinosaurs is Stegoceras from the Upper Cretaceous strata of Montana (USA) and Alberta (Canada). Dozens of skull fragments have been ascribed to Stegoceras as well as a partially articulated skeleton. The finding of parts of the body gave scientists the chance to reconstruct a Pachycephalosaur for the basi time and it is upon the reconstruction of Stegoceras that the model of the Pachycephalosaurus is based. Pachycephalosaurs (and the Papo model is no exception), are depicted as entirely bipedal with strong hind legs, and short, forelimbs ending in delicate five-fingered hands. The most prominent feature of this group of plant-eating dinosaurs is the dome-like skull made of solid bone and the respective lumps and bumps that surround the skull and may be found on the snout of most of these creatures. A number of partial skulls were known from Cretaceous deposits of North America but it was not until 1940 that an closely finish skull of a bone-headed dinosaur was found. It is from this skull that the Pachycephalosaurus genus was named and described. This queer fellow member of the bone-headed dinosaurs, is in truth the greatest known from the existent fossil record. Scientists estimate that Pachycephalosaurus was regarding 8 metres long and perchance would have weighed as much as 1,000 kilogrammes. The Papo model measures just fifteen centimetres long and stands underneath 10 centimetres tall. This explains why this animal model was marketed as a baby Pachycephalosaurus as an adult animal, if produced to the same scale as the Pachyrhinosaurus reproduction from Papo would have exceeded 18 centimetres in length. The Papo Pachycephalosaurus Model The Papo Pachycephalosaurus is very finely crafted with a lot of fine detail on the head and a fantasti skin texture. The bipedal stance is well demonstrated but the tail seems somewhat thicker and deeper than fossils of other Pachycephalosaurs such as Stegoceras would indicate. The length of the tail is likewise rather short, very similar to fossils of another Pachycephalosaurid called Dracorex. The stumpy looking tail may have more to do with giving this bipedal model extra stability and permitting the model to be supported by the tail touching the ground rather than anatomical accuracy. The dome-like head is exceptionally well sculpted with the bumps, horns and nodules surrounding the skull painted very cautiously in black. The beak is likewise painted black and this contrasts well with the blue and grey mottled colours of the body. The tail is finished off with blue vertical stripes giving this model a very striking appearance. With the Papo range set to exaggerate and with the popularity of the T. rex and Triceratops models, it is to be hoped that this well-crafted Pachycephalosaurus model is not retired too soon. It is strange to see a model of this dinosaur in a museum quality range, but the sculptors and designers at Papo have developed a reproduction full of fine detail and it is surely one to look out for as it would fit in well with any severe model collection. |
Excellent detail. Very exact according to latest research.
cute but small
