I got into the dinosaur collecting hobby around 2010, and from then until 2023 the 1974 Invicta Megalosaurus stood as the sole representative of the first dinosaur described by science in my collection. For shame! But 2023 saw the release of the PNSO Megalosaurus and my thirst for a modern figure of this important animal was quenched. Sure, it had the funky exposed teeth and drab brown paintjob of most PNSO theropods but after waiting 13 years I wasn’t going to be picky. Afterall, who knew when the next good Megalosaurus was going to come around? To my surprise, it was a year later. This hobby can be an unpredictable one!
I try not to repeat genera too often in my collection, but the Safari Ltd. Megalosaurus proved so unique and different from PNSO’s that I decided my collection could accommodate another representative of the great lizard. Again, after waiting 13 years for a good Megalosaurus I couldn’t say no to another excellent model of a genus I waited so long for. On top of that, the Safari Megalosaurus is the first figure in the Wild Safari Prehistoric World Collection from a brand-new artist, and I felt that I should show them some support.
The Safari Megalosaurus was sculpted by digital sculptor Kieran, whose last name remains unknown but is goes by Hellbender Museum across the web (Etsy, Instagram, etc.). Kieran’s fresh faced Megalosaurus brings a whole new look to Safari’s range of figures and represents a breath of fresh air. That’s not to say his style is better than Safari veteran Doug Watson’s, that man is a legend, but it’s something new and exciting and I enjoy seeing different art styles from the companies I collect.
The Wild Safari Megalosaurus stands 3.5” (8.89 cm) tall to the top of the head and measures about 9.5” (24.13 cm) long when measured along its various curves. Megalosaurus is estimated to have measured between 20-30’ (6-9 meters) which would put this figure at 1/25-1/37 in scale. We’ll just say that it’s in 1/35 scale, like PNSO’s.
The figure is presented in a tripod pose, with the tip of the tail touching the ground. The back is angled upward with the head lifted high, jaws agape, and looking rightward. It has a Carnegie throwback kind of vibe. Interestingly though, it doesn’t need its tail for support. The figure stands fine on just its feet. I remember back during Carnegie’s twilight years collectors were getting sick of tripod poses but I suppose enough time has passed that the occasional tripod model is easier to stomach.
The details, anatomy, and paintjob can all be described as crisp. The detail work is so fine that the model appears smooth. Close examination reveals a mostly wrinkled hide, with faint feature scales across the body, and scutes along the toes. In this way, it’s not too different from PNSO’s Megalosaurus. Although I’ve always appreciated the scale detail of Safari’s dinosaurs the reality is that at a size this small, the scale detail would vanish. In life, most of the scales covering the bodies of most dinosaurs measured about a millimeter wide each.
The figure is lean and muscular. Thick skin folds run down the neck and along the torso and limb joints. The head is appropriately rectangular with a squared off muzzle. The teeth are finely sculpted and individually well-defined within a lipped mouth but those in the lower jaw may have suffered a bit in the molding process. The muscular arms hang down along the sides and possess well defined digits and claws, with the first claw being the largest. All bodily orifices are present. Although we don’t have a complete skeleton of Megalosaurus we do have material from other megalosaurs, like Torvosaurus and Wiehenvenator, which helps informs what Megalosaurus looked like. This figure conforms to the megalosaur body plan well.
My only criticism regarding the anatomy is that the toes look too thin and bony. An animal this large would need some extra padding, even comparatively small ratites have well padded feet. These toes, along with the figure’s smoothness, remind me of Safari figures from the late 2000’s. Excellent figures whose sculptor remains a mystery.
It’s worth talking about the material used for this figure because it’s unlike any other Safari figure that I own. Recent figures like the Baryonyx and Albertosaurus have a hard and almost brittle feel to them. Indeed, some folks have accidentally snapped pieces of those figures off! This figure is stiff but rubbery, with a waxy texture. It feels similar to figures by Schleich or Battat. It should be more child friendly than those aforementioned Safari figures.
The paintjob is one of the figure’s standout features. The figure is mostly gray with a hint of olive green. Dark bands run down the back and the underside is paler than elsewhere. On the head you get dark bands that run from the orbits down along the neck. The arms and legs below the knees are black. The throat and belly are bright red. The eyes are yellow with black pupils, the inside of the mouth is pink, and the teeth are white. Aside from some sloppy paint application on the teeth and slightly misaligned pupils, the paintjob is clean, vibrant, and well blended.
Although stripes and bands are a bit overdone on dinosaur toys this figure’s combination of colors makes it unique and visually captivating. Naturalistic, but unlike any other dinosaur toy that I’m aware of. The grays and greens, broken up by banding, would make for effective camouflage. The red chest serves as a stunning display feature that’s in a place that shouldn’t compromise the animal whilst on the hunt.
The Safari Megalosaurus might be a game changer for Safari Ltd., utilizing the refined look that has made models by PNSO and Haolonggood so popular, it is easily one of Safari’s most impressive figures to date. Indeed, I actually prefer it over PNSO’s Megalosaurus, thanks to the addition of lips and a distinctive paintjob. Show Safari and their new artist some support by adding this Megalosaurus to your collection. It is currently available online and retails for about $16.49, roughly half the price of PNSO’s!
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