Though I now not maintain The Misplaced World: Jurassic Park in excessive regard, I do have nostalgia for it. I used to be 13 when the film was launched and I don’t assume I used to be ever extra hyped for a movie, other than the primary Jurassic Park, maybe. The advertising marketing campaign for it was intense and with the film being introduced two years earlier than its launch the wait felt everlasting. I beloved the film after I noticed it, however I used to be a child, and a lot of the movie’s shortcomings weren’t apparent. It delivered what I needed most on the time, cool motion sequences and dinosaurs. My love for the film might have waned however a few of my favourite designs within the franchise got here from it. The bull T. rex, Stegosaurus, Pachycephalosaurus, and the tiger striped Velociraptor.
Though perhaps not as placing because the designs of the JP3 raptors, the tiger striped raptors have all the time appealed to me most, and a Hammond Assortment determine of these raptors has been on my want record for the reason that line was launched. The determine is simply now hitting retailer cabinets however the reception over it has been blended. Some collectors hail it as Mattel’s greatest raptor up to now, and others assume it’s amongst their worst. What do I believe? Properly, learn on!
First off, the packaging. Just a few issues are notable right here. For one, the determine is erroneously marketed as a Jurassic World determine. All Hammond Assortment figures have packaging that displays the film the determine is from. There aren’t any raptors like this one within the unique Jurassic World, so this denotes an oversight on Mattel’s half. Secondly, there’s the addition of this “True FX” graphic on the entrance. That appears to indicate that the figures have enhanced paint apps, particulars, or higher movie accuracy however to me it seems to be like a advertising gimmick. Lastly, the Velociraptor picture on the entrance of the packaging isn’t a Misplaced World raptor however quite a re-painted JP3 raptor. That’s not fairly as unhealthy as what we get on the Troodon packaging however I’m not reviewing (and even shopping for) that one. That is in all probability disappointing for in-box collectors however I’m not a type of so…transferring on!
The determine stands about 4” (10.16 cm) tall and measures about 8.75” (22.225 cm) lengthy. Scaled down from a top of 6’ (1.8 meters) we get a scale of 1/18, as meant. I gained’t go over the articulation an excessive amount of because it’s the identical as the opposite 5 Hammond Assortment raptors, two of which have been reviewed already (somebody wanna do the remainder?). What I’ll point out is that the neck articulation has been significantly downgraded with the articulation on the base being functionally nugatory. There’s barely any up and down movement and you can not even get the determine to look over its shoulder like you possibly can with previous raptors.
Some awful articulation apart, the determine seems to be in any other case incredible. I’ve seen some complaints about reused components from different raptor figures, and even the Atrociraptor determine, however I actually see nothing mistaken with recycling components from figures of the identical animal, or related ones. I don’t have the Hammond Assortment Atrociraptor so can’t evaluate them straight. I’ve additionally seen some declare that the lacrimal crests are too pronounced, however I’m pictures of the tiger raptors as I sort and I see no drastic distinction between them and this determine. They could be barely extra exaggerated right here.
Wanting on the wonderful particulars, the enamel are a marked enchancment over previous Hammond Assortment raptors. Delta had finely detailed dentition too, however I didn’t get that one. The enamel within the higher jaw are all individually pointed and properly outlined. The enamel within the decrease jaw are sculpted in opposition to the tongue and never as individually discernable however I’m alright with it, since we’ve got to suit these enamel right into a lipped mouth and the determine is quite small. I’ve seen some collectors point out an underbite on their figures. And it’s true, a minimum of a number of the figures include it. The underbite is definitely fastened on my determine nonetheless, because the jaw could be pushed again and pulled ahead barely. I skilled this situation with my Blue determine, the jaw would pop ahead if the mouth was opened too extensive.
Mattel lastly appears to have found out the glass eyes. Earlier raptors had painted eyes however Blue and Echo had soulless trying glass eyes that solely appeared actual underneath particular lighting situations. This raptor’s eyes shine from all angels and in any gentle situations. Nice particulars over the physique are additionally higher than its predecessors, with wonderful scale element throughout, labial scales alongside the mouth, scutes on the fingers and toes, ample wrinkles and pores and skin folds the place applicable, and good muscle definition. The claws on the palms and toes are finely sculpted and properly pointed. The toes are proportional, however the determine isn’t as secure as its bigfooted cousins, a good commerce for my part.
Naturally, the determine is orange with black tiger stripes. The colours and distinction are crisp, shiny, and vibrant, so I suppose which means it is a male raptor, because the females have been duller coloured. In comparison with these within the film, the stripes are too skinny and clustered collectively. The film’s raptors had wider stripes that have been spaced additional aside. Additionally, the stripes alongside the face are solely painted on the perimeters and will join, up and over the snout. Additionally, the orange coloration leans a bit too far pink and will have been a pinch duller.
I’ve seen complaints that the colours don’t match on totally different components of the determine, however I really feel like that is an phantasm that’s exacerbated by brightly lit images. As an example, the tail seems to be a brighter shade of orange than the remainder of the physique however in actuality it’s carrying over the intense orange coloration that’s alongside the again, between the stripes, and is simply extra seen on the tail. Likewise, the legs haven’t any shiny orange, so that they distinction considerably with the blended tones on the primary physique. Any inconsistencies that seem apparent in footage all however vanish when seen in particular person.
The underside of the determine has a boring orange-tan colour that properly blends with the brighter orange alongside the flanks. The claws are shiny black apart from the hallux toes, that are unpainted. The enamel are white, and the tongue is pink. The eyes are yellow with black elliptical pupils.
Though not an ideal illustration of the tiger raptors we see in The Misplaced World, the failings of the Hammond Assortment Velociraptor have been significantly exaggerated by many collectors. My solely actual criticisms about it are that the striping is simply too skinny and heavy and the neck articulation is nugatory. Something past that might represent as nitpicking and people flaws apart I believe that is Mattel’s greatest Hammond Assortment raptor to this point. I solely want the Hammond Assortment was this good from the start and that Mattel needn’t expertise so many rising pains. As is, a number of the older figures within the assortment don’t even seem like they belong in it anymore.
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