Following the split with Dinostoreus in the United States, the Japanese manufacturer Favorite (formerly known as Kinto) has developed several unique dinosaur collectibles. The most interesting of these can arguably be found in their desktop model line, which features detailed polyresin statues of popular species. Their first release for 2010 is a 1:40 scale Allosaurus, a well-known creature that stands apart from its desktop peers with a striking blue coloration.
His scale and size (24 centimeters long) should make him fairly compatible within most prehistoric collections. Like last year’s Spinosaurus, this model features a row of spikes running along the length of the back. Unfortunately, they are the greatest structural weakness in the statue; the good news is that they’re so small, you won’t notice any broken or missing spikes until you frantically scrutinize your model after reading this text. You’re welcome.
As before, the animal’s feet attach to a rocky and fairly uninteresting base, though one may contend this is the point. A more complicated base would certainly detract from the all-important Allosaurus, not to mention raise the already steep price of the model. The Jurassic king himself is actually quite slick. Muscles bulge around the legs, claws are long and sharp, and the pose is dynamic and exciting. The best thing about an attached base is that it allows theropods to stand on their own two feet, and this model certainly takes advantage of that. The prowling, almost lunging form is exciting, while the stark blue body is definitely distinctive.
Convention dictates that Allosaurus is somehow enhanced around the lacrimal crests, so there’s a nice splash of red to contrast sharply with the body’s hue. Such flashiness suggests the Allosaur is a male, assuming the artists gave any significant thought to the animal’s gender. A closer look at the skin texture reveals a nearly uniform pattern of circular scales. This probably should look more pebbly based other impressions of dinosaur skin, but the effect here is somewhat bizarre. It almost looks as though he was stabbed repeatedly with the end of a coffee stirrer.
Dinosaur enthusiasts will also be quick to point out the “gummy” appearance of the upper jaw, where the famous teeth are actually concealed beneath a fleshy lip. Chances are, this will be perceived as “too weird” by some prospective buyers, as it conceals one of the creature’s most famous attributes. Small teeth actually can be seen in the upper jaw from the right angle, but like those of the lower jaw, they are somewhat sloppily painted and very round. This was likely to reduce further breakage.
The model can be displayed with or without the wooden base, which features the signature brass nameplate. For an item of this price range, there are some potential problems to consider. Favorite has certainly been improving their models over the years, but when similar or even superior figures are being mass produced elsewhere – and for a fraction of the cost – Favorite will need to step up their game.