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Amargasaurus |
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| Producer: | Jorge Blanco | ||
| Contact: | Link and Pin Hobbies | ||
| Materials: | solid resin | ||
| # Parts: | 8 including base | ||
| Difficulty: | Moderate | ||
| Scale: | 1/18th (approx). | ||
| Price: | $140 | ||
| Released: | 2007 | Reviewed: | 6/07 |
Appearance of
the Kit
pose, expression,
details/articulation, accuracy (or originality)
The kit really has a magnetic quality when it is completed. The pose is very cool, quite lifelike and naturally active. It reflects the animal as it might have looked in a snapshot while scanning the plains. The skeletal structure under the beast is beautifully implied and the arms and legs show great attention to muscular stress and detail. There are very few kits of these animals--in fact, this may be the only one readily available right now. It is definitely a collector's item for both Jorge Blanco's artistry and the visual qualities of the kit.
Construction
and Quality of the Kit
ease of assembly / fit of parts,
putty / sanding work,
quality of cast / ease of painting /painting options
This is a very cleanly cast eight piece resin kit that is marked by very fine detail on the scales and skin texture. Pins are necessary in the legs and the neck and tail posts must be trimmed a bit, but the fit is very good. Clean up is minimal, though a few resin lines need to be amended. Best of all, the big spikes are molded on the neck and the tiny spines on the tail were in perfect shape when I got mine.
Time/Energy/Money
how
much effort, headache, etc. is there versus the cost
The kit is really best suited for an experienced modeler because the seaming takes a little work. The gaps are not big, but the detail is subtle and hiding it takes some patience. It lists for $139.98 at Link and Pin Hobbies, the only retailer I know of. It is about 18 inches long though, but you really are paying for the artistry and unique nature of the subject. Jorge Blanco is also a South American artist, which in my mind, makes this a bit more collectable. He really knows his subjects and is one of the few sculptors of dinosaurs outside the USA.
Other Factors
"wow" factor, suitability for
dioramas, flexibility for modification
It is definitely a dramatic kit and at about 1/18th scale, it is in a common dinosaur scale. What is interesting though is that compared to other animals in its scale, it looks small and light weight.
Anyway, there is a base supplied that can be used or improved and of course dinos look great in hand made dioramas. And if you wanted to change the pose, the resin will respond to a heat gun, but I see no reason to do that since it really does look cool as is.
Overall
Recommendation
Level of skill required and general
thoughts
I like this kit because I like dinosaurs and there are so many of the same kinds--T-Rex, Triceratops, Stegosaurus--to choose from that this makes a very cool addition to a collection. I sought the kit out and am very pleased to have it. However, this should not be for a first time dino builder. I did not find it particularly hard to build, but I would have if it was my first or second dino kit.
Personally, I would buy it again in a heartbeat, but it does require some experience to work with the small detail and build it well.
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