For people which have learn various my earlier evaluations, then one ought to know that I’m fairly keen on the Dinosaur Park Formation fauna. Ever since getting my arms on the pair of Dromaeosaurus albertensis (in goshawk and American kestrel colours) from the Beasts of the Mesozoic 1:6 scale Raptor Sequence, I’ve longed for extra from that formation. Fortunately with the Ceratopsian Sequence which adopted it, we did get Centrosaurus (in two physique sorts, and the smaller in each inexperienced or brown), Chasmosaurus, and Styracosaurus, which then fueled my want for the apex predators of the ecosystem to function rivals, which had been none aside from the tyrannosaurids. Of the 2 current within the Dinosaur Park Formation, Daspletosaurus and Gorgosaurus, it was the latter that had me probably the most, and lengthy earlier than it might make its debut within the eventual Tyrannosaur Sequence. The truth is I had fairly the hope for a Gorgosaurus to go alongside the Styracosaurus I pledged for whereas the Ceratopsian Sequence Kickstarter was nonetheless underway. If I needed to guess why I used to be extra in favor of that one, it is likely to be that it’s carefully associated to Albertosaurus, if not its depiction within the 2013 Strolling with Dinosaurs movie.
In fact it was love at first sight as soon as I noticed the prototype for the gorgeous Gorgosaurus first unveiled in September of 2021, shortly previous to the Tyrannosaur Sequence Kickstarter marketing campaign’s launch. The Gorgosaurus was one of many later stretch targets, however like all the figures deliberate for the Tyrannosaur Sequence Kickstarter, it was efficiently funded fortunately. Ever since then I had been dying to get my arms on one. Regardless of backing the marketing campaign, I used to be on a good funds and went with the Wave 1 figures (the unique 1:35 T. rex, the Guanlong and Yutyrannus). Nonetheless I had hoped the day would come after I may get this. I used to be fortunate sufficient to see the prototype again in Legions Con in 2021 (may be seen here), and the paint pattern again there in 2023 (and here). Properly it lastly got here into inventory in early 2024, together with the remainder of the wave 3 figures, however I couldn’t afford it then, and it quickly bought out after. It did fortunately obtain a restock through the first wave of the Cyberzoic figures in March 2025. With many of the tyrannosaur sequence figures promoting off and being discontinued I jumped on it this previous November, through the Black Friday sale on Artistic-Beast. Between the sale, and a few factors stashed away from some prior purchases (such because the Qianzhousaurus I plan to assessment subsequent), I used to be in a position to get this magnificence after such an extended wait. I’m very glad to lastly have this stunning Gorgosaurus determine in my arms now, and I’m so pleased to have the ability to share it right here with you all. First a bit of historical past lesson although.
Gorgosaurus is without doubt one of the greatest understood theropod dinosaurs due to various close to full skeletons starting from juveniles to adults. The primary specimen was found by Charles M. Sternberg in 1913 throughout an expedition by the Pink Deer River in what’s now the Dinosaur Park Formation (then considered a part of the Stomach River Formation), of Alberta, Canada. The primary materials was described by Lawrence Lambe in January 1914. It consisted of the now acquainted two fingered forelimb that characterizes this group of animals. It was the primary time an entire forelimb from any tyrannosaurid was but found, shedding new perception on the distinctive anatomy of those animals. A couple of months later he named the beast Gorgosaurus liberatus in another publication, the species identify in reference to its balanced gait. He would then write in additional element on the specimen (published in 1917), and supplied detailed illustrations of the skeleton and cranium (and images of the expedition), and a few lovable in-life reconstructions of it. Extra close to full specimens would quickly be revealed upon by W. D. Matthew and Barnum Brown in 1923. Amongst these was the primary juvenile specimen, which was found by Charles H. Sternberg (the daddy of Charles M. Sternberg) in 1917. Nevertheless it was not acknowledged as such at first, and was handled as a special species, “Gorgosaurus sternbergi” till a 1970 paper from Dale Russell (the place he additionally synonymized the genus with Albertosaurus, as “A. liberatus“). Many specimens of various levels have been found within the time since, together with one not too long ago revealed upon in 2023 (Therrien et al), a juvenile with the hindlimb stays of two juvenile Citipes, an oviraptorosaur.
I’ve already talked about that Gorgosaurus is from the Dinosaur Park Formation, and fairly a number of of the dinosaurs from it, however others nonetheless embrace hadrosaurids Corythosaurus, Gryposaurus, Lamebosaurus (named after Lambe talked about above), Parasaurolophus, and ankylosaurs Edmontonia and Euoplocephalus, the troodontid Stenonychosaurus, and one other dromaeosaurid Saurornitholestes (which the latter two even have figures within the 1:6 scale Raptor Sequence). The opposite fauna consisted of animals like fish, amphibians, crocodilians, pterosaurs like Cryodrakon (relative of the extra well-known Quetzalcoatlus), a freshwater plesiosaur Fluvionectes, birds, mammals, turtles, lizards, bugs, freshwater mussels, and snails. Flora included varied ferns, horsetails, conifers, Sequoia, ginkgos, and quite a lot of flowering vegetation from bushes, aquatic vegetation, and even grape vines. The Dinosaur Park formation was set through the Campanian stage of the Late Cretaceous interval, 76.5 to 74.4 million years in the past. Gorgosaurus was current through the decrease (oldest) center a part of the formation, from 76.5 to 75 million years in the past, and would have been lived alongside (if not preyed upon) the dinosaurs Centrosaurus, Chasmosaurus, Corythosaurus, Edmontonia, Euoplocephalus, Gryposaurus, Parasaurolophus, and naturally fellow tyrannosaurid Daspletosaurus. As a lot as I desired to make use of the Gorgosaurus in a face off with the Styracosaurus, it’s price noting that the latter was from the higher/later a part of the formation, and might need lived after Gorgosaurus, and maybe not essentially alongside it. That mentioned Styracosaurus is my favourite ceratopsian from the formation (if not on the whole), and Lambe did identify it a brief bit previous to his description of the Gorgosaurus forelimb in 1914 for what it’s price (see the paper linked above, and scroll up).
Earlier than transferring onto the determine correct, let’s check out the packaging, and a number of the contents inside. The paintings on the entrance was accomplished by Raul Ramos, who additionally contributed to a number of the sculpt work (extra on that later). It depicts the Gorgosaurus searching a younger Centrosaurus, one of many figures from the Ceratopsian Sequence, and the colours of it had been impressed by the “Monoclonius” from Phil Tippett’s unbelievable quick movie Prehistoric Beast. Contained in the packaging are two trays, the highest containing the determine itself (which has the static standing legs hooked up), and the alternate toes, whereas the underside one consists of the bottom, the tail, and the pair of articulated legs, which is fairly typical for many figures within the Tyrannosaur Sequence. There’s additionally the background insert, which is of a forest clearing overlooking a waterway, and a few mountains within the distance. A really good little bit of surroundings. Lastly there’s a collector card that includes the paintings as seen on the packaging. The bottom is properly sculpted, coloured merely in gray and inexperienced, and pretty typical of those figures. It’s normally solely the colours that set them aside (aside from the smaller physique sorts that get their very own base kind). I don’t assume it was supposed to, however I really feel like the colours on it enable for it to make a pleasant companion piece to the bottom included within the 1:6 scale Raptor Sequence Mountain accent pack. The tree in that pack would most likely scale much better with the 1:18 figures in any case (if not a number of the 1:35 ones). Sadly whereas I do personal that set, no comparability right here with it, and even the Styracosaurus I had dreamed of so way back, since each have sadly been in storage for a while. In any case, one of many criticisms of the bigger Tyrannosaur Sequence figures was the dearth of a standing rod to permit for higher assist, which has now been rectified with the Medium Theropod Show Stand, launched in late 2024. I made certain to order a type of alongside my Gorgosaurus late final 12 months.
I feel it is likely to be protected to say that the Gorgosaurus is definitely my favourite tyrannosaurid of the Tyrannosaur Sequence (whereas the Yutyrannus is my favourite non-tyrannosaurid tyrannosauroid), and a superb a part of that’s owed to its stunning coloration, past years of wanting one for my assortment. In all of the years I’ve desired one, lengthy earlier than there have been plans underway for one, I’ve all the time desired it to be blue. Little doubt impressed due to the beautiful Gorgosaurus design (due to David Krentz), from the 2013 Strolling with Dinosaurs film. Whereas this determine isn’t in any approach based mostly upon it, as its coloration was derived from a mixture of the North American racer snake (Coluber constrictor), and Mako shark, it certain does go an extended approach to fulfill these lengthy held needs. And other than the animal inspiration, the ultimate coloration does differ from the sooner idea artwork from David Silva, after Shane Foulkes painted the prototype up. Whereas the vast majority of it’s in varied shades of blue (with some indigo spots), there are some stunning yellow markings upon the edges, operating from the neck right down to the physique, and persevering with from the again of the thighs down the tail. There’s counter shading with a cream underside, which additionally covers many of the head. The tip of the jaws finish in a gray shade, and the underside of the neck is coloured in a salmon pink shade. The lacrimal crests and nasal ridge are in a darker yellow orange, contrasting with the deep blue of the physique, drawing consideration to the pinnacle. The tip result’s so eye catching, and I’m not stunned it has gone on to earn the nickname “blue T. rex“.
So far as the sculpt goes, most of it shares elements with the Tarbosaurus physique, or physique kind #4 (sculpted by Raul Ramos, with half separation by Aaron Doyle), aside from the pinnacle and neck (which was sculpted by Jake Baardse). The truth is I’ve each figures in hand, and may say that is the case. I’d anticipate some minor proportional variations with remainder of the physique then (just like the forelimbs maybe), as Tarbosaurus was bigger, if no more strong. This physique kind was additionally used for Albertosaurus and Daspletosaurus, however I imagine the latter did have distinctive forelimbs, other than totally different head and neck items amongst all 4. The top is predicated upon grownup specimens just like the holotype CMN 2120, if not others like AMNH 5458 (see the earlier linked papers, and in addition Carr, 1999, Currie, 2003, and Voris et al, 2022 for extra info on the assorted materials, and comparability with different life levels). There’s after all tissue (or “lips”) masking the enamel, and with the proportions of the cranium, I can’t assist however discover it somewhat endearingly dog-like. Many of the physique has been sculpted in nice scales, which is in keeping with the present proof for tyrannosaurid pores and skin. A specimen of Gorgosaurus does in actual fact have a piece of scaly pores and skin preserved (if not one other, that was misplaced), and I think about many of the sculpt relied on what little materials was accessible from it, Tarbosaurus, and from different family corresponding to Albertosaurus, Daspletosaurus, and Tyrannosaurus (see the supplemental materials from each Bell et al, 2017, and Hendrickx et al, 2022). In any case it provides the sculpt a nice texture to carry in hand (or to take a look at up shut). And for these curious, the cloaca is surprisingly absent. The sculpt is about 20 inches (50.8 cm) lengthy from the tip of the snout to the tip of the tail, kind of relying on the pose. Grownup Gorgosaurus ranged from 8 to 9 meters (or 26 to 30 ft), which might put this determine across the 1:15 to 1:18 vary, relying on the specimen used. Price noting that the determine is meant to be within the 1:18 scale vary, so the utilizing the bigger estimate of 9 meters (30 ft) places this proper on the mark for it. The top on the determine is about 3.25 inches lengthy. The cranium of CMN 2120 was measured to be 3 ft, and a pair of inches by Lambe in 1914 (or 38 inches), or about 96.52 cm lengthy, although is measured to be 100 cm in Voris et al, 2022. In the meantime the cranium of AMNH 5458 was measured to be 99 cm by Matthew and Brown in 1923, and it seems to carry up in that 2022 paper. Out of curiosity I wished to match the pinnacle sculpt with these measurements, and see the way it scales, give or take. So utilizing Lambe’s estimate of CMN 2120’s cranium would put the pinnacle at about 1:11.6 scale. Utilizing Voris et al’s would put it at round 1:12. Utilizing the estimate of AMNH 5458 places the pinnacle round that 1:12 mark as nicely. And evaluating the determine to the traditional AMNH 5458 mount, the pinnacle on the determine does look like a bit too massive proportionally. Undoubtedly somewhat curious, and is little question simply the unlucky results of sharing the vast majority of the physique with the Tarbosaurus.
The articulation predates the advances made with the put up Cyberzoic waves, and so is a little more restricted within the vary than later figures just like the Allosaurus, and Dilophosaurus. Of word particularly is the criticized neck hoodie piece. Whereas this was significantly limiting on each the 1:18 and 1:35 scale T. rex figures, there have been some enhancements made for the wave 2 (physique kind #3) and wave 3 (physique kind #4) with cuts made to the neck piece to permit for extra vary of motion. Though not practically as spectacular because the later figures, there’s a respectable vary permitting for some attention-grabbing poses with the neck and head. Okay however truthfully it’s nonetheless fairly limiting. Not a lot up and down, however simply sufficient aspect to aspect (a lot better then the Yutyrannus for instance). Like many within the Tyrannosaur Sequence, it has a pair of articulated and static legs (from the knees down). They’re comparatively straightforward to swap out. There’s additionally a number of pairs of toes that may be swapped out for the articulated legs, and people will not be so enjoyable to swap out (so far as placing them on, taking off is less complicated). Newer figures just like the Allosaurus and Dilophosaurus have disc joints that aren’t solely simpler to swap out, however have way more vary of motion. The ft are hooked up to a ball joint, they usually completely must be warmed up first earlier than switching them out (or at the very least with mine), along with some brute energy. They clearly lack the vary of the newer disc joints on the put up Cyberzoic figures, and due to this fact the toes can solely be posed up and down a lot earlier than they pop off.
That brings me to the subsequent little bit of articulation on the remainder of the determine. So far as the pinnacle goes, the jaws can shut flush, and may be opened somewhat broad as nicely. As normal there may be tongue articulation, nevertheless it has by no means been one thing that me, though I suppose it’s good to have extra choices for those who need them. The arms have some fairly respectable vary in any respect joints, the shoulders, elbows, and wrists, permitting for quite a lot of posing choices. Though they do really feel somewhat delicate from how tiny they’re, so greatest to watch out and mild. There’s a torso joint which additionally permits for a good quantity of vary of motion (in actual fact greater than the animal may do in life because of its gastralia, and stiff vertebrae. Additionally a bit of enjoyable truth, Gorgosaurus was the primary theropod during which an entire set of gastralia was found in, per the second 1914 paper from Lambe, and illustrated within the 1917 one). The remainder of the hip and leg joints are much like the smaller Dilophosaurus I reviewed prior. Mixed with the ankle joints, you’ll be able to form of get the determine right into a sitting posture, nevertheless it does require fairly a bit of labor between swapping the toes out (and hoping they don’t pop off), and dealing the joints in (which ought to be warmed up first if stiff). I feel the most important handicaps to the sitting pose is the hip joints and the bends on the knee that are a bit limiting than like the sooner Raptor Sequence. It’s one other space I hope may be improved in future figures, particularly since they’ve made glorious progress with the neck and ft. Lastly the tail has a number of joints, however there isn’t a complete lot of vary as a result of form of the tail, although there may be aspect to aspect movement at the very least. The tip does have a flexible wire.
General I feel this is a superb determine, and I’m fairly pleased to have this in my assortment after wanting one for therefore lengthy. There’s after all the restrictions with the articulation, however there’s nonetheless sufficient to provide a superb quantity of show choices. If it had been to ever get a elements improve equipment within the distant future just like the latest Dryptosaurus, and the upcoming Yutyrannus, I’d make sure you scoop it up. Nevertheless unlikely, I’d additionally like to see this within the 1:35 scale sometime, as it might be fairly enjoyable to have a smaller model of this to toy round with (and maybe a lot simpler). And naturally I nonetheless hope to see Corythosaurus, Lambeosaurus, and Parasaurolophus within the line as nicely. If anybody can also be simply as behind on this one like I used to be and nonetheless desires to get it, your solely possibility (at the very least that I’m conscious of) is thru Creative-Beast. With how most of the tyrannosaur sequence which have gone out of inventory all over the place, and with older figures being discontinued, together with this one, greatest to get it earlier than it goes extinct.
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