Sigh

[Skip Dahlgren <SDAHLGREN@liblan.uams.edu>]

Larry Smith wrote:

> So I started looking for some modern reconstructions - there
> are a few.  A couple under the Jurassic Park logo, a few from
> Edmund Scientific that were done by a couple reputable museums
> and _very_ expensive (more per piece than the whole _bag_ of
> old dinosaurs).  Other than that, zip.

There were a number of very nice and reasonably accurate reconstructions put 
out under the Jurassic Park logo...  not a surprise, really.  There were a 
few that were disappointing, but they certainly most were far better than 
most of the others on the market.  

Sadly, there was no Hadrosaur released, nor a Brachiosaur, both of which 
appeared in the film.  There were several T-rex and Velociraptor models, 
Coelophysis, Dilophosaurus, even Utahraptor, but only one Stegosaur and a 
surprisingly disappointing Triceratops.  The ratio of predator to prey was 
badly out of whack!  :)

Sadder still, they have discontinued the line, so they won't be adding to 
those already released.  

> I'd like to see some reputable paleontologists take issue with
> the manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers of these toys.
> Maybe issue pins with a little rust monster silouette with a
> red circle-and-slash that we could wear.  Just do _something_ to
> raise the visibility of these things.  

> regards,
> Larry Smith

I agree with Larry that it would be nice if someone reputable could champion 
a reasonably priced series of accurate dinos, preferably not tied to 
something as volatile as film sales, so they won't be discontinued according 
to a pre-arranged marketing schedule.


Skip Dahlgren - sdahlgren@liblan.uams.edu; bcsskip@aol.com
Applications Programmer, Office of Educational Development
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
-lifelong afficionado of dinosaurs and their latter-day kin