The Carnegie Collection Spinosaurus (2009)

Prototype photo pictured in the 2010 Safari Ltd. catalog.

Name: Spinosaurus
Species: Spinosaurus aegyptiacus
First release: 2009
Retired: 2015
Model number: 4216-01
Size: 42 cm long
Scale: 1:35
Sculptor: Forest Rogers

The Carnegie Collection Spinosaurus is a fully resculpted version of the 1992 original. Unlike the old version, which was made at a time when Spinosaurus was often portrayed as an allosauroid related to Altispinax, this version uses a corrected Baryonyx-like skull based on specimens first discovered in 1996 and described in the early 2000s, and is much larger in size. While the original description of Spinosaurus listed its size at over 40ft, comparable to Tyrannosaurus rex, this was mostly ignored in popular depictions until the early 2000s, when a giant Spinosaurus was featured in Jurassic Park 3, inspired in part by the new skull specimens which confirmed a huge size. Despite this, the model is actually too large compared to the original Spinosaurus, which was in 1:40 scale, while the 2009 version is closer to 1:35 scale based on the skull length and the presumed total body length current at the time (prior to the discovery that Spinosaurus had an unusually long tail).

Version: 1
Release: 2009
Material: Hard off-white vinyl
Paint: 8 colors. Glossy. Olive green (back); orange (crest/sail markings); black (stripes, claw tips, pupils); gray (claws); gold (eyes); white (teeth); light pink (mouth).
Info text: Carnegie Spinosaurus / (C) 2008 Safari Ltd., Miami, FL / Made in China / CE
CE mark: Large
TDR rating: 8/10

The original Carnegie Spinosaurus remake variant from 2009 has a glossy paint application with rather complex wash applied in a striped pattern on the sail.

Thanks to Everett M. for photos!

 



Version: 2
Release: 2012
Material: Hard off-white vinyl
Paint: 7 colors. Matte. Olive green (back, claws ); orange (crest/sail markings); black (stripes, claw tips, pupils); gold (eyes); white (teeth); dark pink (mouth).
Info text: Carnegie Spinosaurus / (C) 2008 Safari Ltd., Miami, FL / Made in China / CE
CE mark: Large
TDR rating: 6/10

In later production runs, the paint operations on the remade Spinosaurus were simplified. The glossy, wash-like paint application on the back and sail was replaced with a completely matte paint job, with more defined red stripes but overall sloppier detail work. The gray paint on the claws has been replaced with the same olive green used on the back. The black stripe on the sail extends in a heavy line down most of the tail.

Thanks to Everett M. for additional photos!

 


Above: Original gray claws (top) vs. newer green claws (bottom)

Above: 2010 production run (right) vs. 2012 production run (left). Note the higher detail quality in the older sample. 




Version: 3
Release: 2013
Material: Hard off-white vinyl
Paint: 7 colors. Matte. Olive green (back, claws ); orange (crest/sail markings); black (stripes, claw tips, pupils); gold (eyes); white (teeth); light pink (mouth).
Info text: Carnegie Spinosaurus / (C) 2008 Safari Ltd., Miami, FL / Made in China / CE
CE mark: Large
TDR rating: 8/10

This version comes from an October 2013 production run. It has a sail style similar to the green-clawed 2010 version, with solid orange stripes, but brings back the dark wash along the edge present in the original. It also uses a light pink mouth color similar to the original. The claws are gray, like the original, but with a significant amount of black on the tips.

Photos courtesy Everett M.


Above: Sail comparisons of the first three versions of Spinosaurus. Top: 2007 version. Middle: 2013 version. Bottom: 2010 version.

Above: Tail comparisons of the first three versions of Spinosaurus. Top: 2010 version. Middle: 2013 version. Bottom: 2007 version.




Version: 4
Release: 2014
Material: Hard off-white vinyl
Paint: 7 colors. Matte. Olive green (back, claws ); orange (crest/sail markings); black (stripes, claw tips, pupils); gold (eyes); white (teeth); pink (mouth).
Info text: Carnegie INST. Spinosaurus 1:40 / (C) 2008 Safari Ltd., Miami, FL USA / Made in China / CE
CE mark: Large
TDR rating: 8/10

Similar to the 2013 version, but with an updated info text that adds "Carnegie INST" and the 1:40 scale.


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