Jakapil is a genus of basal thyreophoran found within the Candeleros Formation of Argentina and described in 2022, it’s also one of many coolest dino-discoveries in recent times, though I is likely to be biased since I’ve a factor for basal thyreophorans. Naturally, this dinosaur was sensationalized within the information with headlines like “Newly Found Dinosaur Seems to be Like a Cross Between a Stegosaurus and a T. rex”, which conjures up a picture of one thing extra akin to Godzilla than one thing the dimensions of a cat that’s actually not too dissimilar to different basal thyreophorans.
Jakapil is a Puelchean phrase which means “protect bearer” and the species identify, kaniukura, means “crest stone” in Mapudungun, in reference to the dinosaur’s deep jaw. Jakapil is thought from a single partial skeleton that features a full decrease jaw, some osteoderms and vertebrae, and components from the limbs and pelvis. The deep decrease jaw seems to be an adaptation for processing powerful plant materials. Jakapil lived in the course of the late Cretaceous.
Not surprisingly, however maybe frustratingly to some, Mattel is the primary firm to present us a consultant of this distinctive dinosaur. It’s a part of their Hazard Pack vary of figures, which implies it’s small however nonetheless far bigger than it must be for Mattel’s usually 1/18 line. Jakapil is estimated to have reached 4.9’ (1.5 meters) whereas the toy measures 7.5” (19.05 cm) lengthy, placing it at about 1/8 in scale. Jakapil would have been an incredible candidate for Mattel’s two-packs of smaller figures, just like the one containing Eoraptor and Stegouros.
There is no such thing as a motion function with this toy, just a few very restricted articulation. The legs and arms can rotate round, and the neck can transfer up and down. That’s it. The arms don’t even swing out and in.
With its deep jaw, armor-clad conceal, small arms, and bipedal posture, the toy will get the broad strokes for the genus appropriate, but it surely additionally possesses a lot of Mattel’s oft frowned upon traits. The top is simply too giant, the theropod-like toes are too giant and lacking their dewclaws, the tail is means too quick, the arms are too giant, and the arms possess solely three fingers when they need to have 5.
Positive particulars are a bit overdone right here, with an excessively tough texture over the face, and unlikely giant, armored plates over the again and thighs. Except for the osteoderms alongside the again they’re additionally on the jaw, arms, torso, and legs. Once more, it’s a bit a lot. I believe a protecting of pebbly scales between a conservative protecting of osteoderms would have been preferable however hey, it’s Mattel.
A lot of the osteoderms are a part of the sculpt however there are two rows of rubbery inserts working down the again with the scan code hidden beneath a pair of them and some extra alongside either side of the torso. I’m wondering why Mattel would trouble with rubbery inserts however possibly it was cheaper than portray them for the reason that osteoderms which are a part of the sculpt aren’t painted, save for some on the pinnacle. Like the opposite toys on this wave the determine has some battle wounds, together with osteoderms with damaged ideas and deep gouges within the pores and skin. One of many rubbery osteoderms on my copy appears prefer it was chewed off and I’ve to imagine it’s a manufacturing facility defect.
This toy is a two-toned mixture of brown and creamy white, with a few of the osteoderms on the pinnacle painted mild brown and the rubbery osteoderms forged in mild brown. All of the osteoderms on the tail are unpainted. The legs are forged in brown with no further paint and the arms are forged in white with no further paint. The eyes are yellow with black pupils and the higher beak is black whereas the decrease beak is unpainted. I like that the 2 main colours run throughout your entire physique and though I can settle for the unpainted limbs (typical of Mattel) I actually don’t just like the unpainted jaw.
I’m going to be sincere; that is an unpleasant toy. I actually don’t like the intense quantity of element, just like the knobby face and armored plating, and the wonky proportions trouble me extra right here than they often do. The colour selections are unattractive too, and the unpainted jaw is off placing. I doubt that Jakapil was a lovely trying animal, but it surely needed to have appeared higher than this factor. The one cause I actually wished it’s as a result of it’s a Jakapil, a dinosaur that I like quite a bit that we would not get one other toy of anytime quickly. It’s uncommon that I purchase a Mattel dinosaur for that sole cause, however I’ve carried out it earlier than (Mononykus involves thoughts) and fortunately the worth level is low for this hideous abomination. If nothing else, it’s neat that Mattel made a toy of this dinosaur two years after it was described.
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