145: PNSO Dunkleosteus (Zaha 2021) Review

[@rikbryan9709]

Wow! That jaw articulation is amazing and convincing. I have the CollectA version that I love but this is just on a different level. The color is great. The swimming motion is spot on. Love this.

[@DinosDragons]

It has to be seen and actually touched to be fully appreciated! It's models like this that really make people (including kids) want to learn more!

[@Leecov1]

that articulation on the head is awesome! that alone will make me reconsider the figure's quality.

[@DinosDragons]

Exactly! I thought it would be nice if PNSO included _two_ points of articulation, for upper and lower jaw. To enginner the entire four-bar linkage system... that is crazy!

[@horse14t]

Dude the fact that the jaw moves just like how it would on the real animal is so freaking cool! Definitely going on my wish list!

[@DinosDragons]

That four-bar linkage system... I honestly would never have thought I would buy another Dunkleosteus, let along a new favourite, after my Wild Safari Dunkleosteus. PNSO really shot for the moon this time and nailed the landing for sure!

[@yourhomie3858]

amazing, well edited, well explained review. blew my mind with the muscle-jaw mechanism and it's explanation.

[@DinosDragons]

Thank you! I've always been fascinated by anatomy and biomechanics and specifically when it comes to fish, Dunkleosteus and the eugeneodontids like Helicoprion. And PNSO really has given us great visualization tools to understand their workings! 😁

[@Faelrin]

Just got done watching this recently. Great review. I love how the jaw articulation was done. I have been waiting several years for a Dunkleosteus figure with at least upper and lower jaw articulation but they really went above and beyond that here. I mean the engineering on this is similar to what I have seen and experienced on Mattel Jurassic World figures for years (like their Postosuchus), but this is the first time any Dunkleosteus has gotten this type of articulation. I also appreciate the updated tail (another thing I have been waiting years to see, although both the Favorite and Kaiyodo models have such), along with the armor inside skin, and the schlerotic ring inside the eye, not exposed (like on Schleich). The coloration is nice too. I do agree the dorsal fin is probably too far back and its body too long, but potentially minor issues for such an otherwise amazingly made model of my favorite prehistoric fish. While I partly want to hold out for one with better proportions I don't think we'll see another with jaw articulation quite like this any time soon, so once I can afford it, I'll likely get it. Of the major prehistoric producers only Papo, Rebor, and Mattel have yet to do one (doubt Nanmu, etc will make one), and optionally Safari Ltd if they were to do an updated version. I also love your attention to detail and thoroughness on researching and technical terms for the anatomy of the real animals these were based on, and presenting that here with us.

[@DinosDragons]

Thank you for your comment! I love anatomy and biomechanics and am happy that knowledge has been useful when I started learning about dinosaurs and other prehistoric animals later. You obviously know a lot about what you want to see in this fish! This is one of the very few fish I've paid close attention to because it's so fascinating. I would never have dreamt PNSO would actually recreate something like a four-bar linkage system and they've actually done that. I forgot to mention the sclerotic ring and that's a detail people who are more particular would like for sure. It's a good decision to get one as soon as you can afford it. You probably know that early run models have the best paint apps, which gradually pale over time. And this is one where I definitely think (as with the Helicoprion and Mosasaurus) you want to have the best paint apps possible. Like yourself I've actually held off for a better Dunkleosteus for a long time, and this is the only other one I have other than the 2006 Safari. I think we might have another one with better proportions, but for them to have the same system of articulation might be a different thing. So with its minor little nitpicks I'm glad I got this one and as you can tell from the video I'm absolutely delighted 😁

[@KenCardon]

I recieved my model yesterday, I got to go alongside my Dunkleosteus bone in my paleozoic fish display. Truly an amazing piece! Thanx for the review, it convinced me to get this model.

[@DinosDragons]

Excellent! I'm glad you liked it! This is really one of the examples of why PNSO is probably my favourite mass produced model company. The kind of research and effort made to replicate that four-bar linkage is just crazy! Not forgetting their usual sculpt and paint!

[@richardparrott7192]

Wow that jaw is really neat! My Mojo Dunk (which I still love!) is looking a bit nervous... Great review as always DD!

[@DinosDragons]

Thanks Richard! I've always been fascinated by Dunkleosteus but was not expecting this!

[@keepcalmlovedinosaurs8934]

Hey man! I myself aren't that knowledgeable regarding prehistoric fish, but I've always been fascinated by Dunkleosteus. This model is just spectacular and the motion detail in the jaw was really impressive! I'm thinking of getting the PNSO Megalodon, Helicoprion and Dunkleosteus at the same time but aren't in a rush as I have a wish list to complete by the end of the year.

[@DinosDragons]

I've made a study of only a few fish I'm interested in, and Dunkleosteus has always been one of them! Surprisingly I'm never been interested in Megalodon, preferring Eugeneodontids. Just a thought: if you like those you better get them because the initial runs always have the best paint apps, and you don't want to get caught with later run models that have poorer paint applications.

[@neo-filthyfrank1347]

Yeah Dunkleosteus is very cool. Probably the first truly cool HUGE macropredator in Earth's history. This thing is ancient. I had an idea for a story called "Dunkleosteus: A novel of shallow peace", which would be a parody of Steve Alten and Max Hawthorne's bad writing.

[@firegator6853]

this is easily one of their best figures ever

[@acrocanthos-maxima4504]

agreed

[@DinosDragons]

I couldn't believe PNSO would have done the four bar linkage system. The very most I was hoping for was _two_ points of articulation!

[@firegator6853]

@@DinosDragons i didn't expect that either to be honest this is awesome

[@jrex9197]

Wow! Incredible model. I need this one. The jaw articulation is awesome. Great review

[@DinosDragons]

Thank you! I still can't believe PNSO recreated that four-bar linkage!

[@tekkamangrave]

man the depths of your reviews are so rich! great figure too

[@DinosDragons]

Thank you! I love anatomy and biomechanics and Dunkleosteus is one of the few fish I've been really interested in! 😁

[@massimilianopetricca2804]

What a great figure by PNSO! Mine Zaha is on the way :) Great review as always

[@DinosDragons]

Thank you! You will be absolutely delighted playing with this model! 😁

[@KnyghtErrant]

I love the articulation of the jaw. As always, your review is top notch. The only thing that gives me pause with this figure (and to some extent this also applies to the helicoprion) is that there's something about the sculpt or the paint that I can't quite put my finger on that doesn't quite convey how large the animal really was. It's like there's nothing that keys the eye in to the scale of the real animal. If you didn't already know what it was, it could look like a life-size model of a relatively small fish. The other marine animals don't seem to have this problem, but ultimately the problem is probably just with me! haha

[@DinosDragons]

Thanks for dropping in! That's an interesting point that you make. I wonder if it's because of the colour scheme to salmon and subconsciously we know how 'small' that is (at least compared to the Dunkleoseus). Or is it perhaps all those dots giving a sense that they are small parts of a mosaic and larger animal patterns might not have so many small dots (as opposed to a few larger ones)? I never thought of it but now that you put that thought in my head, I am inclined to write Dr Mark Witton to ask him what about an animal's colouration gives it that sense of scale you are talking about! By the way, interesting that you mentioned _articulation_ of the jaw. Just rewatched your video on elbow articulation with armour on 😁

[@sayantikadar253]

Excellent review ! Brilliant explanation of the kinetic skull of Dunkleosteus. PNSO took this model to new heights giving it the accurate jaw mechanics !

[@DinosDragons]

It really is pretty incredible. I still can't believe PNSO did this. The most I expected was two articulations, one for the upper and one for the lower jaw. I still can't help not playing with it, which actually might be a good thing if it loosens the joints somewhat. They are really quite stiff on mine!

[@wietzefopma9098]

Another awesome review! Really love how much time you put into the explaining of the anatomy and biology, always bringing the reviews to the next level.

[@DinosDragons]

Thank you Wietze! I just happen to really like anatomy and biomechanics, and glad that what I learnt at uni wasn't entirely useless 🤣 Glad there are viewers like you who like it too!

[@dynamosaurusimperious2718]

I think PNSO did a excellent job at making a Dunkleosteus,and I love it alot,also this review was pretty good too. Also I wish y'all a good day

[@DinosDragons]

PNSO has outdone itself! I thought the Helicoprion was impressive!

[@michaelkawano1951]

Wasn’t interested in this at all until your review. Now I’m going to get it. Your reviews are simply the best!

[@DinosDragons]

Thank Michael but I'm sure there are many other good reviewers out there! I'm sorry to make you spend money, lol, but I'm glad you appreciate the biomechanics of this. It really is fascinating, and PNSO really helps make things so easy to visualize and they make good explanatory models, as we also saw with the Helicoprion!

[@Viper57546]

I’m getting this figure just because I don’t belive Engelman 100 percent, with a head that large it would need a lot of support for that armor, the tuna shape being round and fast may work but it may not be able to support the skull. I will personally belive this version since Engelman is new and this is his first discovery ever.

[@DinosDragons]

Well in fairness, many PhD students have produced excellent papers, so I wouldn't hold that against him. I agree with the general slant of the paper though, that mouth sizes cannot predict body size in cartilaginous fish, and also why the body shape was likely different to the current depictions. What is less clear is that _in place of that, what is closer to the truth?_ I still love this PNSO Dunkleosteus however, and no new discovery can take away my admiration for what PNSO were able to reproduce here, in the jaw mechanics!

[@elspinoresenas.7504]

Excellent Review, greetings from Chile 😎👌🇨🇱.

[@DinosDragons]

Thank you very much! Happy to share this amazing model 😁

[@roNald91n]

Hey spino la figura las venden en chile?

[@lorechinni2141]

I think this is my favourite dunkleosteus model.

[@DinosDragons]

It definitely is mine! But then I don't have many!

[@unapatata3236]

Wow este modelo es simplemente hermoso pienso adiquirirlo a fin de mes saludos desde México

[@DinosDragons]

¡Es increíble! Especialmente el mecanismo de la mandíbula. ¡Espero que ya hayas recibido el tuyo!

[@unapatata5006]

Otra patata ??😶

[@unapatata3236]

@@unapatata5006 efectiva mente

[@acrocanthos-maxima4504]

man, I wanna get this figure now

[@ElDoritoRobotStarscream]

Missed opportunity to call it Duncan Great review tho!!!

[@DinosDragons]

Hahaha you are most welcome!

[@lambdadelta821]

it looks like an actual living thing

[@DinosDragons]

It looks even better in hand!

[@shawntorres9299]

Amazing! And hopefully we get more placoderms or maybe they can make a devonian pack with a stand for dunkleosteus but that a dream and hopefully it come to fruition

[@DinosDragons]

I'd really love to have a Pteraspis or lobe-finned fish 😁

[@soundofmetal]

Great vid but forewarning the tip of the tale is fragile. I accidentally dropped mine on the carpet and the tip broke off. I had to glue it back

[@DinosDragons]

Thanks for the warning! I have never ever dropped my figures because I put them deep into the shelf. I wouldn't have known they would actually break off!

[@soundofmetal]

@@DinosDragons just that particular model has a very razor thin tale tip and It fell from my desk 3 feet high and probably landed on it's tale.

[@soundofmetal]

@@DinosDragons the size of the piece that broke off was half an inch to a quarter of a inch

[@animelover-pe6pt]

I really like the deatial

[@DinosDragons]

It's really aamzing even now. I just love that jaw articulation!

[@janabdul9266]

My favourite prehistoric fish!

[@DinosDragons]

Mine too! It's one of the very few fish I've done a lot of reading about! 😁

[@jackbishop2446]

So nice

[@yourhomie3858]

true

[@denizen9998]

Believe it or not it's the placoderm armored head that gives us all our skull. Yes we have placoderm ancestors though not this fish.

[@DinosDragons]

That's a very good point! Yes indeed the placoderms are widely believed to have given rise to the vertebrates of today, including us!

[@dinoxels]

Can’t wait to get this

[@DinosDragons]

I hope you got the first run one, with all the best paint apps!

[@aaronjhen18]

that Video was to be continued...

[@DinosDragons]

Haha indeed! It really was quite suspenseful when I first watched it years ago, and I'll always be grateful to the series for bringing us so many prehistoric animals that were previously never featured.

[@KV-21941]

I am going to skip this one the favorite co version is more accurate.I hope pnso makes a meiolonia the kaiyodo dinotales one is nice but a bigger one would ve nice.

[@DinosDragons]

It's really good but if you have a favourite one already, that would save money for other genera you don't have. Which is lucky for you financially speaking!

[@neo-filthyfrank1347]

What makes you say the favorite version is more accurate?

[@KV-21941]

@@neo-filthyfrank1347 Ok here are the inaccuracys of the favorite co ltd one • The fins are a little too conservative •The plates are implausibly visually offset, and also raised relative to the rest of the body. They look more wrapped around the body than integrated into it. • the plates have too little connective tissue this is most noticeable at the front of the head. Here are Pnso's •İt's way too sinuous. This is a common malady in PNSO's aquatics. I think they're averse to neutral swimming poses, so in order to make the figure seem more dramatic, they contort it, which requires making some parts of the animal implausibly elongate. The same thing happened with their Eurhinosaurus. • I don't know the position of Dunk's dorsal fin with certainty, this one seems modeled after Coccosteus, but for a big pelagic animal it would probably have been farther forward. On the plus side, they have given it a plausible height. • The gill openings are too dorsal. They should be ventro-lateral, behind the lower jaw and perhaps the bottom edge of the suborbital plate. They are kind of equal but Pnso's are bigger in my opinion.

[@dennismason3740]

No paleoicktheologists out here. A paleoherpetologist, perhaps.

[@RealLifeMassMultiplayerRPG]

watchign extinted creature modeling during end of the world of our extinction. ironic hehe

[@DinosDragons]

Haha yes, when something like that happens makes you want to buy a model doesn't it! 😁

[@mulder364]

갑주어 느낌보다는 송어같은 생선느낌이다

[@DinosDragons]

Yes I also noticed the similarity to trout!

[@kfantasia]

if you put this little guy into fish tank, i guess i wont find it was fake fish

[@DinosDragons]

It looks pretty realistic especially in hand!

[@rcsendandblast1579]

This is very incorrect due to millions of years of evolution and at what stage of evolution is this specimen. Things can change drastically with evolutionary steps . Even that which we think we know. It seems today is now filled with people thinking this is the way it is where we can't really be sure. Did this specimen leave any muscles or parts at all to inspect. No it did not

[@DinosDragons]

Sorry, to what are you referring specifically when you say "This is very incorrrect."?

[@rcsendandblast1579]

@@DinosDragons I mean to say that the fish is not been around for millions of years and we can not be sure not it's muscles and things that have absolutely no evidence of its body design . The only parts that were petrified were the mouth parts. How can we educate regarding a fish we know literally nothing about