The Carnegie Collection Dimetrodon (1989)

Mold: 0

Version: 0

Release: 1988
Status: Prototype

Variant type: Primary
Material: ?
Paint: 5 colors. Green (sail); light green (body); orange (highlights); gold/yellow wash; glossy finish.
Stamp text: N/A
TDR rating: 11/10

This version appeared in a 1988 Carnegie Collection brochure, pictured by Joe DeMarco in his book "Dinosauriana". The photos featured in this spread are obviously pre-production prototypes, however, most were released in more or less the color schemes shown, just with slightly less detail. These are generally known as "gloss wash" figures due to their glossy, luminous finish combined with warm color tones. It is unclear if Dimetrodon, which by most accounts did not actually end up at retail until 1989, was ever actually released in this earliest, vibrant color pattern. 

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1st Mold

413-01 Dimetrodon

Species: Dimetrodon grandis

Model number: 413-01
Schleich number: 15413
First release: 1989
Retired: 1992
Size: 8 cm long
Advertised scale: 1:40
Actual scale: 1:40
Sculptor: Forest Rogers

The original Carnegie Dimetrodon is the smallest figure in the line, and in fact is often mistakenly included in lots of Safari Authentics or other minis by sellers on the secondary market. I have a personal recollection of some retailers even putting handfuls of these in bins of small toys away from the main Carnegie display. In fact, this was the first time I noticed differences between different samples, and I remember digging through a bin of Dimetrodons looking for the one with the best looking mold/paint in the early 1990s (luckily, they still had some of the early production run variants in the mix).

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Mold: 1
Version: 1

Release: 1988
Status: Original

Variant type: Twilight version
Material: Extremely flexible beige rubber.
Paint: 7 colors. Pale green (base coat); light green (stripes, airbrush wash); glossy dark green (stripes); glossy maroon (mouth); glossy yellow (eyes); glossy black (pupils).
Stamp text: Left-aligned: DIMETRODON / 11 FT (3.4 METERS) / C 1988 THE CARNEGIE / SAFARI LTD MIAMI, FL / MADE IN CHINA
CE mark: None.
TDR rating: 9/10

This original version of Dimetrodon had smoother skin and a more complex and contrasting color scheme, with very detailed and mottled green spots and overlaying glossy green stripes. There is subtle green airbrushing on the pale green sail. Like other primary variants, it is made of highly flexible rubber.

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Mold: 1
Version: 2

Release: 1989
Status: Material variant

Variant type: Twilight version
Material: Hard gray vinyl
Paint: 7 colors. Glossy pale green (base coat); glossy light green wash (stripes); glossy dark green (stripe highlights); glossy maroon (mouth); glossy yellow (eyes); glossy black (pupils).
Stamp text: Left-aligned: DIMETRODON / 11 FT (3.4 METERS) / C 1988 THE CARNEGIE / SAFARI LTD MIAMI, FL / MADE IN CHINA
CE mark: None.
TDR rating: 8/10

Very similar to the primary version, but slightly less complex paint operations. It is made of hard black vinyl instead of flexible rubber, and is more glossy. The tips of the spines seem to have been lost, or possibly were more likely to be broken when removed from the mold, in these versions with harder plastic. You can see the more detailed spines in the comparison photo below.

 
Rubber version (left) vs. hard vinyl version (right).

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Mold: 1
Version: 3

Release: c. 1990
Status: Minor repaint

Variant type: Gloss wash
Material: ?
Paint: 7 colors. Glossy pale green (base coat); glossy light green wash (back stripe); glossy clover green (stripes); glossy maroon (mouth); glossy yellow (eyes); glossy black (pupils); yellow (wash).
Stamp text: Left-aligned: DIMETRODON / 11 FT (3.4 METERS) / C 1988 THE CARNEGIE / SAFARI LTD MIAMI, FL / MADE IN CHINA
TDR rating: 9/10

In this version, the mottled stripes and spots are more distinct from each other due to the darker green wash being restricted to a line along the bottom of the sail. The stripes on the tail form interesting looping patterns. The minimal green wash suggests that this is from a production run with a more rushed paint application, but earlier than those variants with blotchy green wash applications.

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Mold: 1
Version: 4

Release: c. 1990
Status: Minor repaint

Variant type: Classic color
Material: ?
Paint: 7 colors. Glossy pea green (base coat); gray-green (spots & airbrush wash); glossy dark green (stripes); maroon (mouth); glossy yellow (eyes); glossy black (pupils).
Stamp text: Left-aligned: DIMETRODON / 11 FT (3.4 METERS) / C 1988 THE CARNEGIE / SAFARI LTD MIAMI, FL / MADE IN CHINA
CE mark: None.
TDR rating: 7/10

This (probably later) variant has a much darker color scheme than the original. The base color is darker olive green similar to the shade used in most mold 2 samples. The stripes/spots are gray and appear airbrushed rather than painted, and the same color is used for an obvious airbrush wash over the body and sail. The darker green wash, used in older versions to blend the spots and delineate the sail, is here used only for splotchy striping over the gray spots.

2nd Mold

413-01 Dimetrodon

Species: Dimetrodon grandis

Model number: 413-01 / 4013-01
Schleich number: 15413 (retired 1993)
First release: 1992
Retired: December 1997
Size: 8 cm long
Advertised scale: 1:40
Actual scale: 1:40

This mold was initially released with model number 417, held over from the previous version, and came with parchment tags. Shortly before it's retirement in 1997, it was issued with the revised model number 4017 and full color tags.

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Mold: 2
Version: 1
Release: 1992
Status: Retool

Variant type: Classic color
Material: Medium gray plastic
Paint: 5 colors. Pale green (base coat); dark gray-green (stripes, wash); maroon (mouth); yellow (eyes); black (pupils).
Stamp text: Left-aligned: DIMETRODON / 11 FT (3.4 METERS) / C 1988 THE CARNEGIE / SAFARI LTD
TDR rating: 5/10

This new version of the original Dimetrodon is date stamped 1988, but was actually released during 1992 based on its earliest documented appearance in the 1992 Early Learning Centre brochure. It seems to be a copy of the original mold, with far more pronounced wrinkles on the body and legs. The bottom stamp no longer includes "Miami, FL". It also received a simplified paint scheme with a darker green base color and a straighter, less varied stripe pattern. These usually lack the smaller spots below and between the green stripes. The 1990s version also used a light greenish brown color for these secondary markings, reserving the dark green for the three largest stripes. See my section on the Carnegie Collection's history for more information on repaints. Good photos of the 1990s version of Dimetrodon can be found on the Dinosaur Toy Blog.

Initial tag style attached to a figure made from the second mold.

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Mold: 2
Version: 2
Release: c. 1993
Status: Minor repaint

Variant type: Classic color
Material: ?
Paint: 5 colors. Pale green (base coat); olive green (stripes); maroon (mouth); yellow (eyes); black (pupils).
Stamp text: Left-aligned: DIMETRODON / 11 FT (3.4 METERS) / C 1988 THE CARNEGIE / SAFARI LTD
TDR rating: 5/10

Similar to the original second mold figure, but with reduced paint applications, especially lacking gray wash on the sail. The stripes are also a more saturated green color.

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Mold: 2
Version: 3
Release: c. 1994
Status: Minor repaint

Variant type: Classic color
Material: Medium gray plastic
Paint: 6 colors. Light green (base coat); olive green (stripes); maroon (mouth); yellow (eyes); black (pupils); glossy finish.
Stamp text: Left-aligned: DIMETRODON / 11 FT (3.4 METERS) / C 1988 THE CARNEGIE / SAFARI LTD
TDR rating: 4/10

This version is similar to earlier mold 2 variants, but has a more saturated green color and, usually, sloppier paint applications.

Dimetrodon failed to make the transition to the refreshed Carnegie line in 1996, and as far as I can tell, it was never re-released with color vinyl. My memory of this figure is that it was readily available at retail (though the supply of the original version seemed to quickly dwindle after 1993). It may have been a slow seller, and its size, requiring different placement in the store, made it seem the oddball of the Carnegie line, more like one of Safari's "Authentics" series. It's too bad - the availability of small, entry level models like this for only a few dollars definitely helped kids like me get into collecting the line, and the retirement of all the small Carnegies before 1996 definitely left a gap that the Authentics line didn't quite fill.

Figure made from the second mold photographed with the short-lived updated, full color tag c. 1996. Note the revised product number and the fact that the photo features mold 1.