Skull Knobs
 |
US $17.00
Bullyland, the German based model manufacturers have built a solid reputation over the years for creating authentically designed figures and models showing exceptional detail. An example, of their craft is the excellent Museum Line model series of dinosaurs and other prehistoric animals. Although, there have been a number of retirements from this range in the last two years or so, the company is committed to adding some new models each year to their prehistoric animal model series.
One of this German company's aims is to help spark children's imagination through creative play, whilst also remaining true to their ideal of producing high quality, very accurate prehistoric animal models for the serious model collector. With the introduction of the new 1:30 scale Pachycephalosaurus model, they have achieved both these goals, combining scientific knowledge with their craftsmanship to create a super, scale model of this Cretaceous dinosaur.
Bone-Headed Dinosaurs
The Pachycephalosaurids were a family of Ornithopods closely related to the Ceratopsians (horned dinosaurs such as Torosaurus and Triceratops). Very few articulated fossil skeletons are known from the fossil record, but these particular dinosaurs seem to have been limited to the northern hemisphere. Fossils of Pachycephalosaurs are known from North America and China. Most of what we know about this particular group of late Cretaceous dinosaurs is based on the range of heavily armoured skulls that have been found. Subtle differences in skull ornamentation and shape have led palaeontologists to believe that there were probably far more genera of Pachycephalosaurid than first appreciated.
Although the dinosaur Pachycephalosaurus is the most famous of all the "bone-headed" dinosaurs and also the dinosaur from which the entire group is named. Little is actually known about this animal, although from a model manufacturer's point of view' producing a model Pachycephalosaurus in 1:30 scale makes sense as this dinosaur is very much the best known of all the Pachycephalosaurs, so creating this model does make commercial sense.
Pachycephalosaurus is the biggest known member of this particular group of dinosaurs. Estimated lengths vary from 5-8 metres and this animal probably weighed more than one metric tonne. This dinosaur was formerly named and described in the early 1940s but only skull material and a few fragments of fossil bone have only ever been found. Restorations and models such as the new Bullyland creation are based on comparisons with other members of the Pachycephalosaurs group, known from more abundant fossil material such as Stygimoloch, Stegoceras and Tylocephale.
This new model from Bullyland has been designed in co-operation with the scientists, researchers and palaeontologists at the Stuttgart Museum of Natural History in Germany. It has been meticulously painted with a dusky, brown colour with contrasting patches of blue on the head, around the eyes and skull ornamentation. There are also patches of blue running along the back and on the limbs, most noticeably on the hind quarters. The model is posed with the head down but the sculptors have avoided the error of depicting this animal in the head down charging pose. Head butting and charging behaviour (if indeed these animals ever did such a thing), would have only formed a tiny fraction of these animals social behaviour. Certainly, using the thickened and strengthened skulls in butting contests with rivals or to see off predators makes sense. This is the explanation given by many scientists when they come to explain how Pachycephalosaurus for example, had a skull that was over 20cm thick.
The model Pachycephalosaurus depicts the five fingered hands nicely, a detail often overlooked in other models of Pachycephalosaurs that are on the market. The knobs, lumps and bumps on the skull are portrayed in vivid detail, obviously the result of the model makers studying the preserved skull material very carefully. The feet are not too oversized and the model is well balanced and very stable, even in the bipedal pose. The mouth is shown open in the model, teeth can be seen in the front of the upper jaw (this type of Pachycephalosaurus is believed to have had three types of different teeth in the jaws), the beak is prominent and the facial detail beautifully reproduced. Looking at this new model, it is approximately 22cm long, in our view it does represent an accurate depiction of a Pachycephalosaurus and one replica that is a welcome addition to the current range of models offered by this company. Bullyland of Germany have won a number of design awards for excellence in design and quality over the last few years, this new model of a Pachycephalosaurus keeps up their fine tradition of producing accurate and highly detailed model dinosaurs.
Everything Dinosaur is a company run by parents, teachers and real dinosaur experts. It specialises in developing educational dinosaur toys, models, clothing and games and strives to help young people learn more about science through their fascination with prehistoric animals. Many of the items featured on the Everything Dinosaur website http://everythingdinosaur.com/ have been designed and tested by the teachers and real dinosaur experts in the company.
To learn more about the products and services we offer at Everything Dinosaur click on our website links.
Our aim is to help young people learn more about Earth sciences through their fascination with dinosaurs and other prehistoric animals. Team members are happy to provide advice and support supplying free quizzes, drawing materials, puzzles, games even recipes for dinosaur themed biscuits and birthday cakes. With something like 600 products on line including dinosaur party supplies, Everything Dinosaur http://everythingdinosaur.com/ has built up a strong reputation assisting parents, guardians and fellow teachers, helping young people to learn more about science through creative play.
|
|
The skull of a Dracorex with spikes and pointed knobs $39.99 Ira Block The skull of a Dracorex with spikes and pointed knobs - Photographic Print |
|
|
Q Parts Skull Knobs Gold Single $9.99 Q Parts Skull Knobs Gold Single |
|
|
Q Parts Skull Knobs Black Single $9.99 Q Parts Skull Knobs Black Single |
|
|
Skull Full of Spikes and Knobs Belonging to a Dracorex $39.99 Skull Full of Spikes and Knobs Belonging to a Dracorex - Photographic Print |
|
|
A skull full of spikes and knobs belonging to a Dracorex $39.99 Ira Block A skull full of spikes and knobs belonging to a Dracorex - Photographic Print |
|
|
Skull $799.99 Skull |
