The Haolonggood Huayangosaurus was a determine initially teased on the 2024 Haolonggood announcement poster and because it’s a genus for which figures are few and much between quite a lot of collectors had been keen to accumulate one, me included. However then got here the unhealthy information, the Huayangosaurus was a bonus determine included with the Argentinosaurus pre-order. Why Haolonggood selected to incorporate a Jurassic Chinese language stegosaur with a Cretaceous South American sauropod is anybody’s guess, however Haolonggood confirmed that it could not be bought by itself, claiming that its small measurement made it troublesome to set a worth for it as a standalone determine. For these with out the sums and/or area for the Argentinosaurus it regarded like we had been SOL when it got here to the Huayangosaurus.
The Huayangosaurus then grew to become out there a second time, this time included with the Brachiosaurus pre-order and in two completely different coloration choices. Whereas the primary launch of the determine was inexperienced these newer variations got here in orange and purple. Then, fairly lately, a vendor on Aliexpress began promoting the Huayangosaurus by itself. Mannequin Toy Heart was promoting the determine for $16.99, and I jumped on the probability to personal a determine I’d in any other case in all probability by no means purchase. With delivery the entire got here to $24.24, and the determine shortly bought out, grew to become out there once more, after which bought out once more. Maybe proving that the Haolonggood Huayangosaurus is sort of marketable regardless of its small measurement.
Alright, with all that preamble out of the best way let’s focus on Huayangosaurus itself. Huayangosaurus is a stegosaur that lived in the course of the mid-Jurassic in China. It’s the most basal stegosaur genus for which we have now respectable stays and possesses traits that later stegosaurs wouldn’t have, like premaxillary enamel within the entrance of its mouth. Along with tail spikes there’s some hypothesis that it could have had a small membership on the tip of its tail however that’s not included right here. Huayangosaurus is understood from the decrease Shaximiao Formation, a formation extra broadly recognized for a big assortment of stegosaurs together with Chialingosaurus, Chungkingosaurus, Gigantspinosaurus, and Tuojiangosaurus. Huayangosaurus itself would have rubbed shoulders with Shunosaurus, Omeisaurus, and Gasosaurus. Hopefully it wasn’t rubbing shoulders too onerous, what with these shoulder spikes and all.
Huayangosaurus was one of many smallest recognized stegosaurs with an estimated size of 13’ (4 meters). Haolonggood’s determine measures about 5.5” (14 cm) which places it at 1/28 in scale. The determine is positioned with its head wanting down, as if grazing. It brings to thoughts the Kaiyodo Huayangosaurus which is positioned equally. I don’t suppose that’s a coincidence and it could be a homage of types.
The determine properly illustrates the broad and boxy cranium of Huayangosaurus. The forelimbs and hindlimbs are of comparable size and the plates are small, erect, spiked, and paired. The plates in the direction of the entrance of the determine are shorter and broader whereas the anterior plates are taller and spikier. The determine has a powerful set of shoulder spikes, however these are speculative for Huayangosaurus. The ft are anatomically correct with 5 digits on every of the forelimbs and three on every of the hindlimbs. The forelimbs are oriented outwards barely with claws on solely the primary three digits. 4 spikes on the tail make up the thagomizer and so they’re pointed up and outwards.
Regardless of its small measurement this determine possesses simply as a lot element as Haolonggood’s bigger choices. The determine is roofed in small pebbly scales with rows of osteoderms within the area between the plates, shoulder spikes, and hips. The plates have grooves etched into their floor and organically emerge from the pores and skin with clusters of huge scales round their bases. The shoulder spikes are inserted into the sculpt and there’s a skinny hole between them and the physique. One facet even has some extra glue popping out from between the seam nevertheless it’s all too small to take problem with. Bunches of sagging pores and skin might be seen alongside the edges and underside of the neck, torso, and limb joints. The ribs and hips are barely seen beneath the pores and skin.
As talked about, this determine has been produced in three completely different colours. Though I most popular the inexperienced one, I needed to take what I might get and selected the orange over the purple (I’ve the purple Wuerhosaurus). The patterning on them is all the identical and also you guessed it…stripes and squiggles are the order of the day. Black stripes run down the again and are properly aligned with the plates. Black horizontal squiggles run over the shoulders and thighs. The mixing between the darker orange parts and the paler flanks and underside is nicely executed. The plates and spikes are darker at their bases after which loosen up towards their tan ideas. The toe claws, beak, and eyes are black. The eyes are massive and glossy with darkish eyeshadow round them that offers the determine a peaceable cow-like look. The paint software is a bit sloppy on my copy although.
It ought to be famous that the plates and spikes are sharp and fragile, to the purpose the place inspecting the determine in my arms was a fragile process. A few of the plates and spikes are barely warped and I even broke off a tiny piece of one of many plates whereas testing its flexibility. Deal with with care and don’t drop it! Points like these could be good examples of why Haolonggood is reluctant to make small figures.
The Huayangosaurus is a improbable determine that doesn’t sacrifice element or paintwork for its measurement. It’s additionally not a lot smaller than fashions just like the Diabloceratops that it shouldn’t be made out there as a standalone determine. That mentioned, it’s a tad brittle, and I can perceive Haolonggood’s reluctance in promoting it by itself. Hopefully Haolonggood catches wind of its reputation on the secondary market and reconsiders their distribution of this determine. Within the meantime, will probably be troublesome to accumulate however not not possible. Along with presumably displaying up on Aliexpress once more I’m positive there are collectors prepared to half with theirs, particularly in the event that they acquired doubles of it with the sauropods it was launched with. In fact, if you happen to bought the big sauropods then you have already got this determine.
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