Austroraptor (Wild Safari by Safari Ltd.)

While companies like PNSO and Haolonggood might be in vogue these days there are some niches that are still dominated by the old standbys. In the case of dromaeosaurs, Safari is the only company that’s consistently delivering accurate figures of our favorite maniraptoriformes. Any year that sees the announcement of a new Doug Watson sculpted dromaeosaur is one to be celebrated. And while companies like CollectA may dabble in dromaeosaurs (with their recent Velociraptor) it’s clear that only Mr. Watson seems to know how to restore dromaeosaurs in a convincingly birdy way. Today we’re looking at the Wild Safari Austroraptor, new for 2024.

Austroraptor lived during the late Cretaceous in what is now Argentina. It was described in 2008 and is known from two specimens, both fragmentary skeletons that preserve a decent amount of skull and leg material, among other bits and bobs. Austroraptor is interesting in that it has an elongated skull containing non-serrated, conical teeth, like a spinosaurid, which has led to speculation that they may have preyed primarily on fish. This piscivorous behavior was shown in the documentary, Prehistoric Planet. They also had short forelimbs for a dromaeosaur and show adaptations in their hindlimbs for running. These features are also shared by other members of the Unenlagiinae subfamily, which some regard as its own family separate from Dromaeosauridae.

Austroraptor is one of the largest known dromaeosaurs, with an estimated length of 16-20’ (5-6 meters). The Safari Austroraptor measures about 9.5” (24.13 cm) and stands 3.5” (8.89 cm) tall to the top of the head. This puts it in the 1/20-1/25 scale range. The figure is presented in a static pose, with its mouth open and looking rightward. The tail has a gentle downward curve with the tip touching the ground, allowing the figure to stand soundly.

The feathers are held close to the body on this one, without as much fluff obscuring the underlying anatomy as Doug Watson’s previous dromaeosaurs. This is most evident on the neck, and it gives the figure a heron-like silhouette, which is appropriate if we’re to assume Austroraptor was hunting in aquatic habitats. A hoopoe-like crest is sculpted on top of the head, so I suppose this figure brings a few different birds to mind.

The detail work is exquisite, as should be expected. Pebbly scales are sculpted over the featherless portions of the body: the snout and feet. And tarsal scutes are sculpted on the toes. The fingers are feathery, which is accurate. Doug erroneously put scales on the fingers of his Velociraptor but every dromaeosaur since has correctly included feathers on the fingers.

Fine feathers are etched into the face and crest and are gradually replaced by contour feathers over the body. The forearms are proper wings, with feathers continuing down the middle finger, as they should, and large feathers run down the length of the tail. The feathers have a layered appearance and are wonderfully textured, including vanes along a central rachis on individual feathers. These details are most easy to appreciate on the monochrome underside. The claws are all as refined and sharp as you could expect from a toy.

The figure is olive green dorsally, with white bands along the back, and a gray underside. The snout is gray, and the head is dull orange with the crest tipped in black. The wings are green, orange, and blue, and the tail feathers are tipped in blue. The feet are gray, and all the claws are shiny black. The glossy eyes are bright red with round, black pupils and encircled by white rings. The inside of the mouth is pink, and the teeth are white. The paint application is decent overall, particularly on the teeth, which Safari often struggles with. Doug Watson uses extant birds to influence his paintjobs, and it was the female blue pitta (Hydrornis cyaneus) that influenced this one.

With the Safari Ltd. *Deinonychus*, *Velociraptor*, and *Utahraptor*.

The only nitpick I could muster up is with the pose, because it feels a bit static and boring when compared to the elegant stroll we see with the Deinonychus. And I prefer closed mouths. That’s a nitpick if ever there was one though. Doug Watson’s mastery over dromaeosaurs cannot be understated and if you’re a fan of his past efforts you’ll like this one too. Safari once again proves that when it comes to dromaeosaur figurines, they are without equal. The Safari Austroraptor is currently available and retails for about $20.