Review by Paleo Flo, edited by DinoToyBlog.
When it comes to dinosaur figures and models we are actually living in some kind of wonderland. There are so many companies which all produce wonderful offerings of the animals from deep time. As a dinosaur enthusiast you have the trouble of choosing. In recent years two companies became the greatest players in this game: PNSO and Haolonggood. While PNSO delivered us high-tech-crafted models with relatively modest prices, Haolonggood filled a different niche. They started with species with no good representations in toy form that been “forgotten” by other companies. So they made an updated version of Ouranosaurus for example. Our community quickly became aware of Haolonggood and we could hardly believe our luck: Modest prices, well-crafted state-of-the-art models, and often a minimum of two colour-offerings per genus. So Haolonggood rose very quickly in our favour in early 2023.
After a few months in we learned that this company meant it is serious when they gave us a big surprise.
It turned out that the preferred scale for many collectors became 1:35. I guess PNSO played a big role in this. At the same point sauropods in this scale were very rare. Well, W-Dragon offered a Giraffatitan and Rebor a Diplodocus. This had been the only sauropod offerings which had not been Nanmu’s “knock-offs” of the dinosaurs from the “Jurassic Park/World”-franchise, if I remember it right. So, big, non-franchised sauropods for your collection, well-crafted and modestly priced? We don’t have so much we can actually offer to you.
But then in May 2023 Haolonggood made a stand. They released a 1:35 scale model of the mighty Apatosaurus. Apatosaurus of course is not on the same level of popular recognition as Brachiosaurus, Brontosaurus or Diplodocus, but is nonetheless a star-name in terms of sauropods which needs no introduction. It has been featured in so many books, documentaries, movies and toys that most people with even just a little interest in dinosaurs could possibly identify it, even if they would call it Brontosaurus (you know what I mean).
For me it is connected deep to my childhood memories. Next to Diplodocus and Brachiosaurus it was 1/3 of this sauropod-trinity. It’s appearance in the classic Invicta line, which nowadays owns a rightful legendary status, was one of my first dinosaur toys. As a plus, three Apatosaurus (called Brontosaurus of course) starred in the 1985 motion picture “Baby: Secret of the Lost Legend”. Despite its flaws I love this movie. The younger audience of course knows Apatosaurus from the last four movies of the “Jurassic Park/World”-franchise. The question is: was the early praise for the Haologgood Apatosarus justified? Let’s have a look…
The model itself measures about 65 cm long and 15.5 cm at its highest point. That puts it in the 1:35 scale for the genus Apatosaurus louisae with an expected average length of 23 metres. Of course it could serve as a member of the Apatosaurus ajax species as well, which reached a length of 25 metres and possibly more. So it is a nearly fully grown Apatosaurus in 1:35 scale.
As always when it comes to models from Haolonggood you have to make a decision: which color variant should I choose? In the “old times” when the Apatosaurus was released you had to choose between two colour options. Shortly after, nearly all big sauropod offerings from that company have at least three options. For the Apatosaurus I preferred the brown-yellow one over the grey variant. First I have to say that I like my sauropods with colours which are not “dull”. As a sidenote I should mention that none of Haolonggood’s paint schemes are “boring-dull”. But I saw and own to much grey dinosaurs in my life that I go with a statement from palaeontologist Robert “Bob” Bakker, well known as initiator of the “dinosaur renaissance”. In the terrific documentary “Dinosaur!” (1991) hosted by the great Walter Cronkite he claims Brontosaurus and kin had often been portrayed as “grey, stupid, slow, up to its armpits in a swamp”. He instead thought of an active animal with no sloth attributes. And so it does with its colours: “brilliant crimson, bright blue or metallic green” had been his suggestions. When I watched the documentary in my childhood days, that line was branded into my brain. So when it comes to sauropod-colours I think about that specific scene of the documentary which I adore since nearly 35 years and which still has an impact on me. So the masterful crafted grey one was not my choice for this model. Instead I choosed the one which I nicknamed “tiger”.
“Tiger” has a complex paintjob. Various tones of brown, yellow, black an orange have been combined. The head starts with an orange snout which fades into a prism of brown-tones, combined with black markings or stripes all down the neck. The main body has a lighter tone in all. Honey and amber comes to mind when I think about it. All masterfully done in combination with the various brown-tones combined with black markings which are fading nicely in the overall appearance. This warm “honey-feeling” is also seen in the front of the four legs and nearly the half of the tail. The last half of the tail has a mix of brown markings and plain ivory-like spaces, which reminds me on a snake’s tail and doesn’t come with the usual colour-accented tail-tip often used by Haolonggood for their models as some kind of trademark.
The toes and claws have a rather simple brown colouration which could have benefited from a wash.
The underside of the model has a very fleshy tone mixed with white sandy tones on the scales. This colour-scheme is also seen in the back of the legs and in 2/3 of the tail. The feet have a classic muddy brown colour. The eyes are carefully painted in yellow with a black pupil.
The head reconstruction of the model could be a little downer because it doesn’t conform perfectly with the shape of the latest skull reconstructions. So it is a little rounder than it should be. To me personally it is just a minor nitpick. If you have a side-view of it you won’t even notice. Better than if it had been given a Camarasaurus-like head I guess. As a plus the head comes with lips and so we don’t have to make an appointment with the dentist. A little speculative attribute are the little iguana-like spikes at the top of the underside of the neck, an attribute which suits this Apatosaurus very well. In works well with the “spikes” which are running all the way down on the necks underside. These spikes are running down in six rows with two different sizes.
The idea of a spiked underside of the neck has a scientific basis. Sauropod palaeontologist Mike Taylor and colleagues examined the so called “ventrolateral processes” on the cervical ribs and suggest these could have supported thickened bosses or keratin-build spikes or fat pads. The way these spikes have been added to the model doesn’t quite confirm to this theory but it seems safe to say that this served as an inspiration for Haolonggood. Speaking of the neck: the massive and robust neck screams for attention. It also follows one of the most spectacular theories, in which Apatosaurus and kin may have used their thick necks like modern elephant seals in combat. If that theory is right than these spikes or maybe pads could have served these animals a lot.
Following the modern depiction of the other big name in the clade, Dilplodocus, the Haolonggood Apatosaurus has a row of small spines running all the way down the animals back. This row starts at the top of the head and ends relatively abrupt after the first third of the tail. The spines – or osteoderms – of the head and neck are quite small, in fact even smaller than the underside-Iguana-spikes. When the row reaches the main barrel-like and compact body the osteoderms get bigger but have a variation of sizes nevertheless. At the hip-region the osteoderms reach their highest points. This all works very well for the model. It looks so natural for me.
The skin is detailed to a degree which comes close to perfection based on the time when it had been released. Only PNSO outreached Haolonggood in these terms. Nowadays I would consider both companies as equal when it comes to crafting the skin. Various folds and scales cover the body of the Apatosaurus. The scales and folds vary in sizes and form, which are essential parts in the procress of creating a believable representation of that genus. The texture of the model is so rich in details that you call it a home run for sure. The hands of the Apatosaurus are shaped in the correct form, it is so pleasing that they are not the “classic” elephant feet so often and incorrectly seen in various movies and toys.
In the end it is safe to say that the model looks good from nearly every angle. Its ‘chocolate’ side is definitively the position “head left/tail right”. It surely makes an impression on your shelf and calls for attention. Before I got other big Haolonggood-models this Apatosaurus was the centrepiece of my collection. It marked the starting point for Haolonggood’s 1:35 scale sauropod line. Quickly after, the company released other big sauropod-models: Mamenchisaurus, Alamosaurus, Brachiosaurus, Argentinosaurus, Diplodocus, Sauroposeidon and even Brontosaurus. When Haolonggood released their model of Apatosaurus the success was not ensured. But it seemed that the sales were a true success and the feedback it gained maybe gave Haolonggood faith in that line from which we all are benefit. Well, maybe not our wallets…and maybe not our shelf spaces…but you know what I mean!
Today we are kind of spoiled by big sauropod models from Haolonggood. Nowadays it seems to be the standard and quite normal that we could expect such an offer. Almost three years ago it was a true surprise. How times could change that kind of fast.
For me this model put Haolonggood on my radar. And it was my personal start of acquiring models from them. Now my shelf has a full sauropod-“band” throning on the top. I can’t tell you which is my favourite 1:35 sauropod, because all of them look very naturalistic, cool and believable. Golden times for dinosaur enthusiasts like you and me I would say.
This Apatosaurus still has a meaning to me and when I look at it and see it next to my beloved classic Invicta models of that genus I can’t hide a smile. So much time has passed, so many events have happened in my life, but sauropods like Apatosaurus are still something that give me a sense of wonder.
They are here to stay.
See you in the next review!
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