New Dinosaur Treasure Museum

Vol.59 Dinosaur Plastic Model History 4

Using the supplementary CD "Complete Showa Plastic Model List" from "50 Years of Japanese Plastic Models" as a reference, I've compiled a list of domestic dinosaur plastic models released by the 70s.

1963: Imai Kagaku "Walking Stegosaurus" → Treasure House Vol.1
1966: Imai Kagaku "Walking Dinosaur" → Treasure House Vol.31 and Photo 1 (reprinted from Yahoo! Auctions)

Photo 1: Imai Kagaku "Walking Dinosaur"

1969: Nitto Kagaku Kyozai "Dinosaur Stegosaurus," "Tyrannosaurus" ● Wind-up walking. Box size around 25cm.
*Re-released in 1978 with the addition of "Brontosaurus" → Treasure House Vol.31 and Photos 2, 3 (images from enclosed catalog)

Photo 2: Nitto Kagaku Kyozai "Dinosaur Stegosaurus," "Tyrannosaurus"
Photo 3: Nitto Kagaku Kyozai "Dinosaur Stegosaurus," "Tyrannosaurus"

1970: Nitto Kagaku Kyozai "Dinosaur Gorgon" (description says herbivore, so presumed to be Edaphosaurus) ● Wind-up walking → Photos 4, 5

Photo 4: Nitto Kagaku Kyozai "Dinosaur Gorgon"
Photo 5: Nitto Kagaku Kyozai "Dinosaur Gorgon"

1970: Nitto Kagaku Kyozai "Dinosaur Mini Gorgon" → Photo 6 (reprinted from Yahoo! Auctions)

Photo 6: Nitto Kagaku Kyozai "Dinosaur Mini Gorgon"

1971: Fujimi Mokei, Jump Kaiju Series "Tyrannosaurus" and 4 other types. Details unknown.
1972: Bandai "Brontosaurus," "Iguanodon," "Tyrannosaurus," "Triceratops," "Dimetrodon," "Ankylosaurus," "Stegosaurus" ● Wind-up walking. Around 25cm. → Treasure House Vol.31 and Photo 7 (still haven't collected them all... T_T)

Photo 7: Bandai "Brontosaurus," "Iguanodon"

1978: Nitto Kagaku Kyozai "Dinosaur 4-Piece Pack" → Photos 8, 9)
*Miniature size, about 10cm. Re-released in the 90s by Kawai Shokai under the name "Jurassic Series" with updated packaging → Photo 10

Photo 8: Nitto Kagaku Kyozai "Dinosaur 4-Piece Pack"
Photo 9: Nitto Kagaku Kyozai "Dinosaur 4-Piece Pack"
Photo 10: Kawai Shokai "Jurassic Series"

1978: Eikai "Tyrannosaurus," "Brontosaurus," "Stegosaurus," "Pteranodon" → Photos 11, 12
*Miniature size. With gimmicks such as jaw opening/closing. It's listed as "saurus" for the first time, but "Brontosaurus" is quite disappointing! Later re-released by Arii Seisakusho and Mark (date unknown), and also as a toy with confectionery by Kobito Gum → Photo 13. Only Eikai and Kobito included diorama bases.

Photo 11: Eikai "Tyrannosaurus," "Brontosaurus," "Stegosaurus," "Pteranodon"
Photo 12: Eikai "Tyrannosaurus," "Brontosaurus," "Stegosaurus," "Pteranodon"
Photo 13: Re-releases by Arii Seisakusho, Mark (date unknown), and Kobito Gum's confectionery toys

Looking at this, 1978 seems to have been a banner year for dinosaur plastic models. Furthermore, Gakken would release the masterpiece "Skeleton Series," but I'll talk about that in detail next time.
Next time, I'll also introduce Tamiya's 1/35 Dinosaur Series, which left dinosaur fans feeling completely deflated in 1981.

Photo 14: ?

By the way, do you know what Photo 14 is? It's the foot of Tamiya's Tyrannosaurus... It just has to be modified, right?


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