Struthiomimus, the ‘ostrich mimic’, was named in 1917 for a species (S. altus) initially referred in 1903 to the intently associated genus Ornithomimus. Regardless of the historical past of ornithomimosaurs spanning again to the late 1800s, they’re comparatively hardly ever made as toys. This was true for all small theropods previous to Jurassic Park making Velociraptor a family title within the Nineteen Nineties. Their spindly our bodies make them a problem to provide in supplies sturdy sufficient to retain their form and be performed with with out placing them vulnerable to being snapped or broken. This was much more of an issue within the days when lanky species as Struthiomimus have been restored bare, with out plumage. And, since they’re such small-bodied creatures, when sculpted to scale with their extra gigantic kin, small theropod toys would both find yourself being tiny, or firms would deviate and sculpt them in a distinct scale (as Invicta did once they added a small theropod to their lineup in the late 1980s). I feel that is what makes this classic 1961 Struthiomimus mannequin so re-Marx-able, even by fashionable requirements it’s impressively dainty.
This diminutive mannequin is 5.5 cm tall and eight.5 cm lengthy, making it one of many smallest dinosaur figures produced by Marx. The slender construct means it has little or no mass. The tail, neck, legs, and toes, are extremely slim, but they maintain their form. The waxy plastic lends itself effectively to a mannequin like this, being each robust however versatile underneath strain. The tail touches the bottom to assist help the determine in a tripod pose, however the stance doesn’t really feel too compelled because it matches early reconstructions of Struthiomimus and its kin. Different Struthiomimus figures, such because the Tyco version from the 1980s, don’t have this excuse.
The face has an nearly quizzical look from sure angles, with the left ‘eyebrow’ barely raised in suspicion. However in proper profile view the face is extra placid, with a barely cute bulging cheek and dimple. For a determine over 60 years previous this consideration to element and sense of character is a powerful achievement. The eyes are finely sculpted and the nostrils are additionally seen.
The toes have three individually sculpted toes, every terminating with a definite claw (though the fourth hallux toe is lacking). This contrasts to the three fingers of the arms, that are loosely sculpted in a single conjoined mass. The wrists have the old school pronated orientation leading to ‘bunny arms’ or, on this case, they appear extra harking back to ‘pet paws’ to me.
The feel of the pores and skin is kind of easy throughout, with a little bit little bit of superb texture on the neck. As of late the sculpture can be embellished by feathers, however that wasn’t the case within the Sixties. Nonetheless, there’s one thing barely ‘feathery’ concerning the texture on the neck, though I doubt that was intentional. Marx figures have been produced in quite a lot of monochrome colors. This chocolate brown model is especially satisfying. I’ve all the time been keen on monochrome figures as a result of I grew up with Invicta toys, a toyline absolutely impressed to a better or lesser diploma by their Marx forebears.
The title “STRUTHIOMIMUS” is neatly embossed on the left underside of the tail, together with the peak “8′ TALL”, written on the fitting underside of the tail (so upside-down relative to the genus title). The mould traces are clearly seen however they’ve been positioned to minimise their affect, subtly extending down the backbone, and following the contours of the limbs and flanks.
Marx actually pulled one thing particular out of the bag with this spectacular Struthiomimus sculpture. The one firm that rivalled Marx on the time when it comes to ambition and a spotlight to element (with the addition of paint) might have been Starlux, however these toys are usually brittle and vulnerable to breakage, whereas Marx figures have like this one have clearly stood the take a look at of time.
There aren’t many Marx figures left to function on the Dinosaur Toy Weblog now so I anticipate our Marx overview collection shall be full quickly! They’re clearly out of manufacturing however the Marx Struthiomimus was mass produced so it’s comparatively simple to pin down on Ebay.
Assist the Dinosaur Toy Weblog by making dino-purchases by way of these hyperlinks to Ebay and Amazon.
Trending Merchandise
