Again with the second group of figures from the Panini marine animals set. Final time, I centered on the cetaceans, which had been okay. This time, we’ll see the remainder of the marine tetrapods (the very best I can do to lump all of them collectively). They’re okay too! Additionally, a complete group of vertebrates that may depart the water I assume. This can embody a number of marine carnivorans, plus a sea turtle and a penguin.
As a reminder, that is how the figures shall be grouped over time:
- Group One: Cetaceans (whales and dolphins) 6 species, 7 figures
- Group Two: Marine carnivorans (bears, weasels, and pinnipeds), penguin, and sea turtle 7 species
- Group Three: Invertebrates (starfish, jellyfish, mollusks, and arthropods) 8 species
- Group 4: Bony fish which are in all probability identifiable (pufferfish, clownfish, wrasse, grouper, butterflyfish, seahorse) 6 species
- Group 5: Bony fish which are…much less identifiable (porcupinefish, eel, sabertooth fish, lyretail angelfish, and butterflyfish) 5 species
- Group Six: The ‘other fish’ Lamprey and Chondrichthyans (sharks and rays) 6 species
And now the figures. As with the cetaceans, I consider all of them have already proven up on the weblog, so I shall be fairly transient with them:
Polar bear Ursus maritimus
First determine is clearly a bear, and given the color and general them for the set, it’s clearly a polar bear, Ursus maritimus. It may be nicely described as form of lumpy. The general colouring is form of yellowish, versus white. The one different colouration is a black dot on the eyes, nostril and ears, in addition to a thick black line across the mouth. It’s form of small, with a scale round 1:53 to 1:60 relying on measuring the physique size at 4cm (1.6inch) or shoulder 2.5cm (1 inch).
The sculpt is form of unusual–the general texture isn’t precisely fur like, however form of tough. The top has form of a shortened snout, with the pinnacle sloping in a little bit of a clumsy curve. The toes are additionally a bit blocky, with solely barely marked toes. General, it’s not horrible, however there are definitely higher polar bear figures.
Sea otter Enhydra lutris
Subsequent up, one other carnivoran, typically known as a sea otter Enhydra lutris. It definitely appears like a mustelid of some variety. One factor about sea otters is how uncommon it will be to see one on land, however provided that the complete set is marine, that’s in all probability why it will be that species. The general color is a chocolate brown, with gray highlights across the toes and alongside the chest. There are darker blobs to mark the toes, and the eyes are painted as large gray blobs with small black does. The nostril is marked with a black dot. General, probably not the look of a sea otter. However Eurasian and American river otters do have lighter throats…
The determine itself could be very small, about 3.1 cm (1.22) lengthy, giving a scale of 1:48. The sculpt is form of a compressed crouch with an upright head, with the toes separated out however towards the physique in a little bit of a blob. The tail could be very lengthy, and the face is sort of pointed, once more not very sea otter-like. They did sculpt within the ears. Basically, it’s not a fantastic illustration of a sea otter, though it might be an okay stand-in for a generic otter or another mustelid. There are in fact different sea otter figures they usually’d all be higher than this one!
California (?) sea lion Zalophus cf. californianus
Subsequent determine is the primary of a number of pinnipeds, this one representing some form of sea lion, in all probability a California sea lion Zalophus californianus. The color is somewhat unusual, with the vast majority of the physique being a lightweight gray, and the underside of the neck, physique, and flippers being yellow. The nostril is marked with a black dot, and the ocean lion eyes have been given the Panini panda eyes (it’s like a trope with these guys). On this occasion, the attention is sculpted as an inexpensive almond-shaped eye, however the paint is a giant yellow circle with a big black dot inside, that doesn’t line up with the attention sculpt.
The determine dimension is round regular tube-size, about 5cm (2 inches) lengthy, for a scale round 1:48. The general sculpt will not be horrible, with the physique in a land-walking pose, with the pinnacle raised up. The top is sculpted decently, if rather less pointed, though there are not any ears to talk of which is a miss. Form of just like the above otter, it will be tremendous as a small accent in a bigger scene however sea lion figures are fairly frequent and extra accessible. It’s definitely not the worst mammal determine from Panini.
Leopard seal Hydrurga leptonyx
Our subsequent pinniped is probably going a leopard seal Hydrurga leptonyx. It was truthfully a little bit of a thriller, however an in depth have a look at a few of the options helped establish it…as finest as doable. The color seems extra easy than anticipated for a leopard seal, with an general again and facet in darkish gray and a lightweight gray saddle of the pinnacle and shoulder (it’s faint, however seen in some lights). The underside is a darkish white. That is general okay for a leopard seal, though in fact it’s lacking the spots and different markings that give the leopard seal it’s title. The one darkish markings are the black line across the mouth, and black paint over the sculpted eye (apparently fairly the feat for a Panini determine).
It’s one other tube-size determine, about 4.8cm (1.9 inches) lengthy, giving a scale of 1:73 (so sure, this very giant seal species is depicted with a smaller determine than the ocean lion). The sculpt is okay, with a big, prolonged head ending in a pronounced snout. The physique is in a resting place, stretched out with head ahead and rear flippers prolonged again and pressed collectively. The entrance flippers are pressed outward to carry the pinnacle considerably. There are sculpted ‘digits’ within the entrance flippers and rear flipper fan (the quick tail of a leopard seal will not be current). It’s not a horrible determine of a leopard seal, and naturally there are different, higher leopard seal figures on the market. Admittedly, they aren’t as frequent as some seal species. Like, for instance…
Walrus Odobenus rosmanus
Can’t have a wide range of marine animal figures with a walrus Odobenus rosmanus. A very fashionable animal as a determine. And this one is unquestionably a disappointing one. It’s an general darkish brown, with a lightweight brown underside. The highest of the flippers are the sunshine brown as nicely, with the identical darkish brown to mark the toes. The one different markings are black dots for the eyes, and smaller black spots across the snout to point whiskers (the one mammal determine that has this). And past this, the tusks, essentially the most attribute characteristic of a walrus…are poorly, erratically painted white blobs towards the chest.
The sculpt doesn’t assist. The aforementioned tusks aren’t actually distinguished, however as a substitute of protruding like enamel, they’re barely raised towards the chest, and require paint to point them (blobby open mouths/enamel are one other Panini trope). The resting publish is sculpted in order that the pinnacle is raised, with a slight curve that has the 2 rear flippers curled to entrance of the determine as an vague blob. There are a number of folds alongside the throat to point the heavy layers of presumably a male walrus. The remainder of the physique is sculpted type of just like the polar bear, with form of a tough floor. It’s additionally a tricky determine to measure given the form and proportion, however is about 4.9cm (1.9 inches) lengthy for a scale of 1:61. So…yeah, not impressed by this one, particularly as a result of there are many walrus figures on the market, and the bulk are going to be higher, even at this basic dimension and scale.
Emperor (?) penguin Aptenodytes cf. forsteri (juvenile?)
Right here now we have the one chook in the entire set, and one in every of solely two reptiles (in the event you’re being pedantically phylogenetic!) And it’s just about the anticipated chook in a marine set, a penguin! The species although…it’s a bit rougher to work out, principally as a result of the color makes it actually tough. Given the very distinguished yellow markings on the face and chest, it was in all probability impressed by the emperor penguin Aptenodytes forsteri. However given the opposite colors, just like the gray again and toes (?) the determine doubtless signifies a juvenile in mid-moult to grownup colors. This additionally explains the black dashes marked vertically on the again and horizontally alongside the wings. The one different color is the very black head, with a vivid yellow cheek stripe and chin, and the traditional yellow ring across the eye, with a black centre (traditional Panini that’s).
The sculpt is sort of penguin like, if awkward. It’s additionally fairly large relative to peak, which additionally lends credence to the concept it’s a juvenile. The wings, seem absolutely grownup although, barely prolonged outward on the edges, flat and with a transparent level to the wing. There’s a pronounced tail extending out the again. The toes are nicely sculpted, with a lot of small rings across the leg, and visual toe claws. My determine is somewhat janky although, so it the toes don’t sit flat, due to this fact the determine doesn’t stand nicely. The determine stands 4.1 cm (1.6 inches) tall, which might give a scale of 1:29 for an grownup emperor penguin, however clearly completely different for a juvenile. It in all probability goes with out saying that there are many penguin figures on the planet, and most are in all probability higher than this one, however for scenes that require a whole lot of selection, particularly with a juvenile or two, it might be good for some individuals (though Kaiyodo made higher juveniles).
Hawksbill sea turtle Eretmochelys imbricata
The ultimate topic is the one ‘reptile’ reptile, a sea turtle. It’s very stylized, however the basic color lends most collectors to establish it as a hawksbill sea turtle, Eretmochelys imbricata, however actually, it’s fairly obscure and would possibly swimsuit different species as nicely, relying on want. The general color on the highest and backside is vivid yellow, highlighted with brown. The centre of the carapace is brown, and there are L-shaped markings across the edges. There are additionally irregular small and huge spots on the paddles, and a few little brown markings on the pinnacle. The attention is black, completely different on each side of the pinnacle. The underside is totally unpainted. It’s broadly paying homage to the actual animal, although exaggerated, and with out the finesse of an actual animal.
The sculpt is sea turtle…based mostly particularly on the massive entrance and smaller rear flippers. The carapace is a shallow dome, roughly ovate, tapering on the rear, and marked with scutes that truthfully look extra like these of terrapins or one thing than a hawksbill turtle shell. The margins do have a barely roughened edge all alongside, however not in the way in which a hawksbill sea turtle would type (it’s based mostly on the way in which the actual scutes overlap on the rear. The plastron can also be marked by scutes and appears tremendous. The top is domed, and whereas the snout is pointed, I don’t suppose I might name it a ‘hawksbill’ level. So, once more, tremendous as a generic sea turtle, however there are definitely different, extra correct hawksbill sea turtle figures on this and different dimension ranges. The carapace on this determine is 2.8cm (1.1 inches) lengthy, which supplies a scale of about 1:34–an excellent dimension for scenes and dioramas.
In order that’s the amphibious…amniotes…? Once more, a little bit of a variety in high quality and design, and somewhat extra ambiguity in a number of of them. Not likely any within the lot which are excellent for what they’re…perhaps the otter is form of distinctive in comparison with some. General we’ve been taking a look at a few of the bigger figures which are nicely represented as figures elsewhere. We’ll see how issues proceed subsequent time once we get to the large world of Panini invertebrates!
