The Carnegie Collection Pteranodon (1989)
Original paint master / prototype
414-01 Pteranodon
Species: Pteranodon longicepsFirst release: 1989
Retired: 2011
Model number: 414-01 / 4014-10 (renumbered 1993)
Schleich number: 15414 (retired 1993)
Size: 16 cm wingspan
Scale: 1:40
Sculptor: Forest Rogers
Both the 1993 and 1997 variants are the easiest to come by today. Much rarer are the original 1989 version and the totally repainted 2007 version, which is completely re-done in shades of chocolate brown and comes with the new tag style of the refreshed line, with the 2000s version of the Carnegie logo (the "exclamation point").
For comparison photos showing the original, 1991, and 2007 versions of Carnegie's Pteranodon, visit this page on the Dinosaur Toy Wiki.
1st Mold
Mold: 1
Version: 1
Release: 1989
Status: Original
Version: 1
Release: 1989
Status: Original
Variant type: Dull wash
Material: Soft white rubber
Paint: Matte. 5 colors. Light tan (base color); brown (highlights, wash), white (throat); orange-pink (mouth); black (eyes).
Stamp text: Left-aligned: PTERANODON / 23 FT (7 METERS) / (C) 1988 THE CARNEGIE / SAFARI LTD MIAMI, FL / MADE IN CHINA
Material: Soft white rubber
Paint: Matte. 5 colors. Light tan (base color); brown (highlights, wash), white (throat); orange-pink (mouth); black (eyes).
Stamp text: Left-aligned: PTERANODON / 23 FT (7 METERS) / (C) 1988 THE CARNEGIE / SAFARI LTD MIAMI, FL / MADE IN CHINA
CE mark: None.
TDR rating: 9/10
This seems to be part of the rubbery, dull-color set that was among the earliest release of the Carnegie Collection replicas. However, it is unusual that a Pteranodon would have been produced in this format when no other post- 409-01 models were. Like other "dull wash" figures, it is made of a very rubbery white material, with a base coat of pale beige and an airbrushed wash of light brown, with other details being restricted to the head. Also like other dull wash figures, there is a single patch of thicker, glossier paint, in this case the white paint on the throat.
Version: 2
Release: 1989
Status: Minor repaint
Variant type: Twilight sand / Gloss wash
Material: Medium weight brown rubber
Paint: Matte. 5 colors. Light tan (base color); brown (highlights, wash), white (throat); orange-pink (mouth); black (eyes).
Stamp text: Left-aligned: PTERANODON / 23 FT (7 METERS) / (C) 1988 THE CARNEGIE / SAFARI LTD MIAMI, FL / MADE IN CHINA
Material: Medium weight brown rubber
Paint: Matte. 5 colors. Light tan (base color); brown (highlights, wash), white (throat); orange-pink (mouth); black (eyes).
Stamp text: Left-aligned: PTERANODON / 23 FT (7 METERS) / (C) 1988 THE CARNEGIE / SAFARI LTD MIAMI, FL / MADE IN CHINA
CE mark: None.
TDR rating: 8/10
I'm unclear if this one, or the one I have labelled version 1 made of white rubber with a much lighter and more matte paint scheme, is the original. This one is definitely the "twilight sand catalog version", and with its glossy paint, it matches the other 1989 first-issue models. This same variant seems to have been photographed both in 1989 for the "gloss wash" set and it 1990 for the "twilight sand" set. Note that in my sample, the tip of the crest and some other small, thin details were lost during removal from the mold. This issue may have led to the second tool being created.
Twilight sand catalog version (left) vs. second mold (right)
Twilight sand photo shoot image as it appeared in a 1993 collectors guide.
Mold: 1
Version: 3
Release: 1992
Status: Minor repaint, retool
I'm unclear if this one, or the one I have labelled version 1 made of white rubber with a much lighter and more matte paint scheme, is the original. This one is definitely the "twilight sand catalog version", and with its glossy paint, it matches the other 1989 first-issue models. This same variant seems to have been photographed both in 1989 for the "gloss wash" set and it 1990 for the "twilight sand" set. Note that in my sample, the tip of the crest and some other small, thin details were lost during removal from the mold. This issue may have led to the second tool being created.
Twilight sand catalog version (left) vs. second mold (right)
Twilight sand photo shoot image as it appeared in a 1993 collectors guide.
Version: 3
Release: 1992
Status: Minor repaint, retool
Variant type: Classic version
Material: ?
Paint: Matte. 6 colors. Light tan (base color); brown (highlights, wash), white (throat); orange-pink (mouth); yellow (eyes); black (pupils).
Stamp text: Left-aligned: PTERANODON / 23 FT (7 METERS) / (C) 1988 THE CARNEGIE / SAFARI LTD / CE
CE mark: Small
Material: ?
Paint: Matte. 6 colors. Light tan (base color); brown (highlights, wash), white (throat); orange-pink (mouth); yellow (eyes); black (pupils).
Stamp text: Left-aligned: PTERANODON / 23 FT (7 METERS) / (C) 1988 THE CARNEGIE / SAFARI LTD / CE
CE mark: Small
TDR rating: 7/10
This version has the missing "Miami" stamp and added small CE mark, suggesting this was released circa 1992.
Mold: 2
Release: 1993
Status: Retool
Mold: 2
Version: 1b
Release: c. 1993
Status: Mold variant
This version has the missing "Miami" stamp and added small CE mark, suggesting this was released circa 1992.
2nd Mold
Version: 1
Release: 1993
Status: Retool
Variant type: Secondary mold
Material: ?
Paint: 6 colors. Tan (base color); glossy beige (highlights, wash); glossy white (throat, mouth); glossy orange-pink (mouth); glossy yellow (eyes); glossy black (pupils).
Stamp text: Left-aligned: PTERANODON / 23 FT (7 METERS) / (C) 1988 THE CARNEGIE / SAFARI LTD / CE CHINA
CE mark: Small.
Material: ?
Paint: 6 colors. Tan (base color); glossy beige (highlights, wash); glossy white (throat, mouth); glossy orange-pink (mouth); glossy yellow (eyes); glossy black (pupils).
Stamp text: Left-aligned: PTERANODON / 23 FT (7 METERS) / (C) 1988 THE CARNEGIE / SAFARI LTD / CE CHINA
CE mark: Small.
TDR rating: 2/10
Like some of the other 1980s-era Carnegie models, Pteranodon had an inferior copy of its mold in use during the early '90s. The factory probably used a pantograph machine to copy an original model in order to have a second copy of the mold. Note that the head is no longer inclined backwards over the body. Instead, the head and neck are stretched into a more forward position. The head itself is also more bulbous, unlike the blade-thin head of the originals. The wing texture has been "enhanced" with small lumps or striations.
Like some of the other 1980s-era Carnegie models, Pteranodon had an inferior copy of its mold in use during the early '90s. The factory probably used a pantograph machine to copy an original model in order to have a second copy of the mold. Note that the head is no longer inclined backwards over the body. Instead, the head and neck are stretched into a more forward position. The head itself is also more bulbous, unlike the blade-thin head of the originals. The wing texture has been "enhanced" with small lumps or striations.
Release: c. 1993
Status: Mold variant
Variant type: Secondary mold
Material: Medium weight gray vinyl
Paint: 6 colors. Tan (base color); glossy beige (highlights, wash); glossy white (throat, mouth); glossy orange-pink (mouth); glossy yellow (eyes); glossy black (pupils).
Stamp text: Left-aligned: PTERANODON / 23 FT (7 METERS) / (C) 1988 THE CARNEGIE / SAFARI LTD / CE CHINA
CE mark: Small.
Material: Medium weight gray vinyl
Paint: 6 colors. Tan (base color); glossy beige (highlights, wash); glossy white (throat, mouth); glossy orange-pink (mouth); glossy yellow (eyes); glossy black (pupils).
Stamp text: Left-aligned: PTERANODON / 23 FT (7 METERS) / (C) 1988 THE CARNEGIE / SAFARI LTD / CE CHINA
CE mark: Small.
TDR rating: 2/10
Similar to other figures from the secondary mold group, this has less accentuated striations on the wings, possibly lost due to mold fatigue or covered up by thicker paint layers. Most notably, the upper beak is cut short, likely due to a defect in the mold. Because none of these appear to be intentional changes, it is listed here as a mold variant but kept separate to note the significant mold defect (beak) and fatigue (lack of wing detail).
Mold: 2
Release: c. 1994
Status: Minor repaint
Similar to other figures from the secondary mold group, this has less accentuated striations on the wings, possibly lost due to mold fatigue or covered up by thicker paint layers. Most notably, the upper beak is cut short, likely due to a defect in the mold. Because none of these appear to be intentional changes, it is listed here as a mold variant but kept separate to note the significant mold defect (beak) and fatigue (lack of wing detail).
Version: 2
Release: c. 1994
Status: Minor repaint
Variant type: Secondary mold
Material: ?
Paint: 6 colors. Tan (base color); matte beige (airbrush wash); glossy off-white (throat, mouth); glossy orange-pink (mouth); glossy yellow (eyes); glossy black (pupils).
Stamp text: Left-aligned: PTERANODON / 23 FT (7 METERS) / (C) 1988 THE CARNEGIE / SAFARI LTD / CE CHINA
CE mark: Small.
Material: ?
Paint: 6 colors. Tan (base color); matte beige (airbrush wash); glossy off-white (throat, mouth); glossy orange-pink (mouth); glossy yellow (eyes); glossy black (pupils).
Stamp text: Left-aligned: PTERANODON / 23 FT (7 METERS) / (C) 1988 THE CARNEGIE / SAFARI LTD / CE CHINA
CE mark: Small.
TDR rating: 2/10
Same as the previous version, but with a much lighter coloration and less glossy finish. It retains the shortened upper beak.
Same as the previous version, but with a much lighter coloration and less glossy finish. It retains the shortened upper beak.
Version: 2b
Release: c. 1995
Status: Material variant, minor retool(?), minor repaint(?)
Variant type: Secondary mold
Material: Hard light gray vinyl
Paint: 7 colors. Tan (base color); matte beige (airbrush wash); glossy light brown-gray (wash); glossy off-white (throat, mouth); glossy orange-pink (mouth); glossy yellow (eyes); glossy black (pupils).
Stamp text: Left-aligned: PTERANODON / 23 FT (7 METERS) / (C) 1988 THE CARNEGIE / SAFARI LTD / CE CHINA
CE mark: Small.
Material: Hard light gray vinyl
Paint: 7 colors. Tan (base color); matte beige (airbrush wash); glossy light brown-gray (wash); glossy off-white (throat, mouth); glossy orange-pink (mouth); glossy yellow (eyes); glossy black (pupils).
Stamp text: Left-aligned: PTERANODON / 23 FT (7 METERS) / (C) 1988 THE CARNEGIE / SAFARI LTD / CE CHINA
CE mark: Small.
TDR rating: 8/10
I will preface this entry by stating I am not 100% convinced this is a "real" variant rather than a somehow warped sample of mold 2 version 2. It is, for the most part, identical to that variant (though it might be made of a different underlying plastic). However, the outer wings are significantly bent upwards past the point of the hands, in what collector Joe DeMarco (from whom I purchased this sample, thanks Joe!) called a "soaring" position. My initial thought was that this is probably just due to being warped, like someone left it in a box under a pile of other dinosaurs for a long time. But, once I had it in hand, I became skeptical of this first impression. First of all the plastic is extremely rigid, unlike most other 1990s era Pteranodon variants. If I were to try and manually bend any part of this model to the same degree as the wings, due to the nature of the plastic, I think it would be more likely to snap than bend. Secondly there are no visible signs of warping, the plastic has not bunched up or creased around the bend in the wings at all, and both wings are bent significantly and to the exact same degree, over 45 degrees from the body. All in all I suspect this is either an intentional variant likely produced to add interest to the model towards the end of the production of mold 2 (since it carries forward the clipped upper beak mold defect), or possibly the result of some kind of factory defect during the cooling process possibly due to the thin wings combined with the different, harder plastic (the way that shrink paper kids draw on and put in the oven tends to curl up at the edges). If anyone has any other examples of this model with bent wings, please let me know!
I will preface this entry by stating I am not 100% convinced this is a "real" variant rather than a somehow warped sample of mold 2 version 2. It is, for the most part, identical to that variant (though it might be made of a different underlying plastic). However, the outer wings are significantly bent upwards past the point of the hands, in what collector Joe DeMarco (from whom I purchased this sample, thanks Joe!) called a "soaring" position. My initial thought was that this is probably just due to being warped, like someone left it in a box under a pile of other dinosaurs for a long time. But, once I had it in hand, I became skeptical of this first impression. First of all the plastic is extremely rigid, unlike most other 1990s era Pteranodon variants. If I were to try and manually bend any part of this model to the same degree as the wings, due to the nature of the plastic, I think it would be more likely to snap than bend. Secondly there are no visible signs of warping, the plastic has not bunched up or creased around the bend in the wings at all, and both wings are bent significantly and to the exact same degree, over 45 degrees from the body. All in all I suspect this is either an intentional variant likely produced to add interest to the model towards the end of the production of mold 2 (since it carries forward the clipped upper beak mold defect), or possibly the result of some kind of factory defect during the cooling process possibly due to the thin wings combined with the different, harder plastic (the way that shrink paper kids draw on and put in the oven tends to curl up at the edges). If anyone has any other examples of this model with bent wings, please let me know!
In addition to the bent wings, this model has what appears to be an additional wash of very light brown paint over the standard beige airbrush wash. The paint appears to be slightly glossy and not airbrushed. It is very hard to see without examining it under bright light so I cannot say this feature is excusive to this variant.
Note the wings are flexed to such a degree the model can stand upright without support!
3rd Mold
Version: 1
Release: 1998
Material: White vinyl
Status: Retool
Variant type: Classic version
Paint: Matte. 6 colors. Beige (base color); brown (highlights, wash); white (throat); orange-pink (mouth); yellow (eyes); black (pupils).
Stamp text: Left-aligned: PTERANODON / 23 FT (7 METERS) / (C) 1988 THE CARNEGIE / SAFARI LTD MIAMI, FL / MADE IN CHINA / CE
CE mark: Large
Paint: Matte. 6 colors. Beige (base color); brown (highlights, wash); white (throat); orange-pink (mouth); yellow (eyes); black (pupils).
Stamp text: Left-aligned: PTERANODON / 23 FT (7 METERS) / (C) 1988 THE CARNEGIE / SAFARI LTD MIAMI, FL / MADE IN CHINA / CE
CE mark: Large
TDR rating: 1/10
The mid-1990s version of the Carnegie Collection Pteranodon got a complete overhaul, with a much sharper sculpt featuring finer detailing across the wings, limbs, and head. The noodle arms are gone, and the beak is less warped. The head still angles forward like the one from the second mold group. Like other models produced from the third mold group, this was initially released fully painted (in this case with underlying white vinyl like some of the latter 2nd mold group figures), and would soon be reissued in color vinyl.
The mid-1990s version of the Carnegie Collection Pteranodon got a complete overhaul, with a much sharper sculpt featuring finer detailing across the wings, limbs, and head. The noodle arms are gone, and the beak is less warped. The head still angles forward like the one from the second mold group. Like other models produced from the third mold group, this was initially released fully painted (in this case with underlying white vinyl like some of the latter 2nd mold group figures), and would soon be reissued in color vinyl.
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| 1st, 2nd, and 3rd molds compared. |
Status: Repaint, minor retool
Variant type: 2007 repaint
Release: 2007
Material: Hard light brown plastic
Paint: Matte. 5 colors. Brown (head, body, highlights, wash); white (throat, mouth); orange-pink (mouth); yellow (eyes); black (pupils).
Stamp text: Left-aligned. Carnegie Pteranodon / (C) 1988 Safari Ltd. / Miami,FL USA / Made in China / CE
CE mark: Large.
Release: 2007
Material: Hard light brown plastic
Paint: Matte. 5 colors. Brown (head, body, highlights, wash); white (throat, mouth); orange-pink (mouth); yellow (eyes); black (pupils).
Stamp text: Left-aligned. Carnegie Pteranodon / (C) 1988 Safari Ltd. / Miami,FL USA / Made in China / CE
CE mark: Large.
TDR rating: 9/10
The 2007 version of the Carnegie Collection Pteranodon is the same sculpt as the 1996 version, but completely re-cast in light brown plastic and painted with shades of chocolate brown. It comes with the new tag style of the refreshed line, with the 2000s version of the Carnegie logo (the "exclamation point"). It was retired along with the cancellation of the line in 2015. The imprint stamp has been updated, removing the size information, and splitting the Safari Ltd. / Miami, FL onto two lines. No scale information is given on the model itself.
Although the 2007 Pteranodon looks quite different from all previous models, it was not given a new model number, and Safari likely didn't consider it to be a "major" repaint, but rather a tweaked paint job similar to the contemporary adjustments to Saltasaurus, Tyrannosaurus, etc.
For comparison photos showing the original, 1990, and 2007 versions of Carnegie's Pteranodon, visit this page on the Dinosaur Toy Wiki.
The 2007 version of the Carnegie Collection Pteranodon is the same sculpt as the 1996 version, but completely re-cast in light brown plastic and painted with shades of chocolate brown. It comes with the new tag style of the refreshed line, with the 2000s version of the Carnegie logo (the "exclamation point"). It was retired along with the cancellation of the line in 2015. The imprint stamp has been updated, removing the size information, and splitting the Safari Ltd. / Miami, FL onto two lines. No scale information is given on the model itself.
Although the 2007 Pteranodon looks quite different from all previous models, it was not given a new model number, and Safari likely didn't consider it to be a "major" repaint, but rather a tweaked paint job similar to the contemporary adjustments to Saltasaurus, Tyrannosaurus, etc.
For comparison photos showing the original, 1990, and 2007 versions of Carnegie's Pteranodon, visit this page on the Dinosaur Toy Wiki.
Interestingly, my sample of the brown Pteranodon was made in 2011 according to the DOP stamp. It includes the 2007 tag style, and based on catalogs and collector guides, 2011 was the last year this species was produced, so my sample must be one of the last Carnegie Pteranodons made. I bought my original Pteranodon in 1989, which must have been shortly after its initial release. I have commemorated this by taking a photo of one of the first and one of the last-produced Pteranodon samples, below.
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ReplyDeleteThanks, the latest changes were helpful- enabled me to positively ID my Pteranodons as versions 2 and 6.
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ReplyDeleteHave you heard of an early (tan) version w a red stripe on the crest?
ReplyDeleteNo, I haven't seen one like that, do you have one? If you do and you would like to donate some pics, drop me an email! (dactyl.terrible@gmail.com)
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