The Carnegie Collection Diplodocus (2008)


Prototype
Name: Diplodocus
Species: Diplodocus carnegii
First release: 2008
Retired: 2015
Model number: 405401
Size: 71 cm long
Advertised scale: 1:40
Actual scale: 1:40
Sculptor: Forest Rogers

Note that while this figure was released in 2008, the info text lists the copyright date as 2006. It is possible the mold was created in 2006 for a 2007 release but was delayed a year for one reason or another.




Version: 1
Release: 2008
Material: Hard pale yellow plastic
Paint: Matte and glossy. 10 colors. Moss green (back); dark green wash (sides, dorsal scales, tail stripes); light green wash (dorsal stripe); glossy black (claw tips, pupils, side stripe, head wash); blue wash (throat, snout markings, tail markings); glossy gray (claws); glossy cream (teeth); glossy yellow (eyes); glossy pink (mouth); orange wash (sides).
Stamp text: Left-aligned: Diplodocus / (C) 2006 Safari Ltd.,Miami,FL / Made in China CE
CE mark: Large
TDR rating: 8/10

The remake of the old Carnegie Diplodocus gives it an entirely new pose and paint scheme, as well as an updated anatomy, with a straighter back and clawless front feet. The head also has a lot of additional detail and definition compared with the original. Despite all these changes, the model is the same length as the original. It is much lighter though, being both slimmed down considerably and made of a lighter-weight hard plastic.








Version: 2
Release: c. 2010
Material: Hard pale yellow plastic
Paint: Matte and glossy. 10 colors. Moss green (back); dark green wash (sides, dorsal scales, tail stripes); light green wash (dorsal stripe); glossy black (claw tips, pupils, side stripe, head wash); blue wash (throat, snout markings, tail markings); glossy gray (claws); glossy cream (teeth); glossy yellow (eyes); glossy pink (mouth); orange wash (sides).
Stamp text: Left-aligned: Carnegie Diplodocus / (C) 2006 Safari Ltd.,Miami,FL USA / Made in China CE
CE mark: Large
TDR rating: 8/10

This version adds the missing callout "Carnegie" to the belly imprint stamp. As you can see in the photos here, the mold of the belly was retooled to accommodate the additional text. The paint operations appear the same as the original.


Version: 3
Release: c. 2012
Material: Hard pale yellow plastic
Paint: Matte and glossy. 10 colors. Moss green (back); dark green wash (sides, dorsal scales, tail stripes); light green wash (dorsal stripe); glossy black (claw tips, pupils, side stripe, head wash); blue wash (throat, snout markings, tail markings); glossy gray (claws); glossy cream (teeth); glossy yellow (eyes); glossy pink (mouth); orange wash (sides).
Stamp text: Left-aligned: Carnegie Diplodocus 1:40 USA / (C) 2006 Safari Ltd.,Miami,FL USA / Made in China CE
CE mark: Large
TDR rating: 8/10

This version adds a scale reference, "1:40", to the imprint stamp text. As you can see in the photos here, the mold of the belly was further retooled to accommodate the additional text. The paint operations appear the same as the original.





Version: 4
Release: c. 2014
Material: Hard pale yellow plastic
Paint: Matte and glossy. 10 colors. Moss green (back); dark green wash (sides, dorsal scales, tail stripes); light green wash (dorsal stripe); glossy black (claw tips, pupils, side stripe, head wash); blue wash (throat, snout markings, tail markings); glossy gray (claws); glossy cream (teeth); glossy yellow (eyes); glossy pink (mouth); orange wash (sides).
Stamp text: Left-aligned: Carnegie INST. Diplodocus 1:40 / (C) 2006 Safari Ltd.,Miami,FL USA / Made in China CE
CE mark: Large
TDR rating: 8/10

This version updates the belly imprint text to read Carnegie INST. Note the simplified paint operations, likely applied using masks. As with other 2012 era models, the mold seems to have been touched up if not fully copied and retooled.


Comments

  1. Hello, again- well,not only is there a second version, it appears there are 3. Based on your belly pic, it appears it is missing Carnegie altogether (like the Amargasaurus) but one of mine has Carnegie & the other has Carnegie INST. (plus 1:49 AND USA added). So, three versions. Now, I have to find one like yours- ha ha.

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    Replies
    1. Wow, thanks! This is a hard one to cross-compare since it's so rare on the secondary market. I'll have to double check mine to see if the missing Carnegie is on the leg or something. The one with the scale is certainly from c. 2012 when they started adding that to the stamp. Any black production run stamps on yours that can help pin down the exact timeline?

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    2. I hate to say it, but it looks like there are even MORE variants than the ones you listed. Prompted by your post, I scoured Worthpoint to see photos from old eBay sales. It looks like there's a version that just adds Carnegie, then a version that has Carnegie plus the scale, then a retooled version with Carnegie INST. and the scale listed as 1:40. I'm not sure if the 1:49 scale you listed in your comment is a typo or not, because all the ones I added today say 1:40. If yours says 1:49, then that is a 5th variant.

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  2. I've been looking, too. Almost all of the ones on eBay (the ones that show a belly shot) are the first version, so, I suspect - IMHO- that the later ones might be scarcer but that could just be an artifact of eBay sales. I'll have to check WP, too.

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  3. Sorry, just saw this 1:49 was an error - I:40 is the correct scale on my figure. My had. I have 2 versions but not sure yet whether they are #2 & 3 or or #2 & 4. More research needed

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  4. It's #4- hard to read but it has INST. between Carnegie & Diplodocus.

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