The Carnegie Collection Corythosaurus (1993)

Name: Corythosaurus

Species: Corythosaurus casuarius
First release: 1993
Retired: 2009
Size: 22 cm
Scale: 1:40
Sculptor: Forest Rogers

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Mold: 1
Version: 1

Model number: 423
Schleich number: 15423

Release: 1993
Status: Original
Material: Hard gray vinyl
Paint: Glossy, 10 colors. Lime green (base color); airbrushed medium green (stripes, wash); dark green (neck stripes, details); sky blue (underside, crest base coat, nostrils); yellow-green (head); blue (crest, spots); yellow (eyes); black (pupils); gray (claws, beak), white (highlight on beak).

Stamp text: Left-aligned. Corythosaurus / (C) Safari Ltd / Made in China / CE
CE mark: Small.
TDR rating: 5/10

The original release of Corythosaurus had one of the most complex and colorful paint applications in the early Carnegie line. The glossy model is covered in layers of dark and light green stripes, spots, and washes, with a bright blue underside. The crest alone has four layers of paint (light blue base, darker blue over coat, medium green wash, and dark green stripes), each of which would have had to dry before applying the next layer, increasing production time and cost. The paint operations were reduced by nearly half during later production runs.

This was the first new release (rather than a retool) to include the CE mark on the belly stamp. The plastic is very rigid but still flexible enough that the thin tail doesn't feel like it's in danger of snapping.

The model is meant to be in a tripodal stance as if the animal is engaged in a fast walk. However, it is unclear what the "intended" posture is supposed to be. The figure is stable, and looks good, when balanced on it's left hind foot and front two feet. This puts it in a slightly lower position due to the extension of the front left arm, as if the animal is hunkered down to crash through overgrowth. A higher position is achieved by resting it on its back two feet and front right foot. The back right foot is clearly sculpted in a retracted pose, but the toe just barely touches the round, creating a quasi-"bipedal" effect where the front and back legs are off the ground at the same time. This is slightly more dynamic and raises the front of the model higher, so it was probably the intended pose, but various official photos show it in both postures.

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Mold: 1

Version: 2

Model number: 4023-01
Release: c. 2000
Status: Retool
Material: Medium weight pale green vinyl
Paint: Glossy, 5 colors. Dark green (stripes, spots, airbrush wash on back and crest); blue (crest, spots, airbrush wash on underside); yellow (eyes); black (pupils); gray (claws, beak).
Stamp text: Left-aligned. CORYTHOSAURUS / (C) 1991 The Carnegie / Safari Ltd. / Made in China / 4023-01 / CE
CE mark: Large.
TDR rating: 4/10

The colored vinyl repaint of Corythosaurus used the same basic color pattern, but with highly simplified details painted over pale green base color vinyl (much less vibrant than the lime green base coat of the original). It also eliminates the glossiness of the original and lacks a dark wash over all but the crest of the back. The paint operations have been greatly simplified, with fewer paint hits. For example, where the original had numerous small and irregular hand painted green marks along the flank, the repaint has a uniform for large circular spots which have been applied with an airbrush.

Additionally, the mold has been slightly retooled, and given a longer, pointier upper beak as well as increased texture to the skin. The front left arm has been straightened slightly, giving it a more upright posture in both possible tripod poses (see discussion above). The vinyl material this model is made from is somewhat softer and more flexible than the original.

The large CE mark on the belly stamp indicates that this model likely released later than the main 1996 line refresh (which makes sense, since the original had only been on the market three years at that point), and furthermore, the presence of the model number as part of the imprint stamp places it no earlier than 1999. The imprint stamp on the belly has also been "corrected" to include the year the mold was created and a reference to the Carnegie Collection. Note that the imprint stamp reads 1991, while the original model was actually released in 1993. It's possible the mold was originally made in 1991 but had a delayed release.

For more, check out this old Dino Toy Forum thread on the differences between Carnegie Corythosaurus variants. https://dinotoyforum.proboards.com/thread/3777/carnegie-corythosaurus-variants

Original version (top) vs. simplified paint variant (bottom).