The Carnegie Collection Mosasaurus (1991)

Name: Mosasaurus

Species: Mosasaurus missouriensis
First release: 1990-1991
Retired: 1999
Model number: 420-01
Schleich number: 15420
Size: 18 cm
Advertised scale: 1:40
Actual scale: 1:35 - 1:50
Sculptor: Forest Rogers

Forest Rogers sculpted the Carnegie Mosasaurus at a smaller size for its scale than we are used to seeing today, especially following the popularity of the titanic mega-mosasaur featured in the film Jurassic World. It should be noted that, based on its release alongside Elasmosaurus and the various pieces of Carnegie artwork showing the two doing battle, this model likely represents Mosasaurus missouriensis, not the much later and larger Mosasaurus hoffmanni.

Rogers also have it a fringe along its back, which was based on an outdated interpretation of soft tissue remains in a Platycarpus specimen, which turned out to be displaced remains of the trachea. The supposed presence of these structures in several mosasaur specimens led artists to guess that the fringe was a universal feature of the group.

As with Elasmosaurus, there is some question about when this figure was first produced. Most variants have two dates listed on the belly imprint - 1990 and 1991. At least one rare variant has only 1991 listed and omits the word "Carnegie". It is likely Safari told the factory to add the line "(C) CARNEGIE 1990" at some point. Was this an attempt to correct one mistake (the omission of "Carnegie") or two mistakes (the Carnegie attribution and the date)? If the former, the difference in date could just be a mix-up that wound up staying with the mold through the rest of production. If the latter, it's possible that for copyright reasons the date needed to be changed to 1990. But in that case, why the old date was left and not etched out of the mold as typically happens remains a mystery.

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Version: 0
Release: ?
Status: Prototype
Material: ?
Paint: Glossy. Kelly green body, dark green back and stripes, bright green vertical stripes, pale green underside with beige wash, yellow and black eyes, white teeth, pink mouth.
Stamp text: ?
TDR rating: 11/10

This version of Mosasaurus appeared in early 1990s Carnegie Collector's Guide booklets, as well as on the earliest full color info tags in 1996. It is unclear if this version was ever actually released, or if it was just a prototype.

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Version: 1
Release: c. 1990
Status: Original
Material: Gray vinyl
Paint: 7 colors. Light green (base coat); dark green (back, stripes); olive green (wash); yellow (eyes); black (pupils); white (teeth); pink (mouth).
Stamp text: Left-aligned. MOSASAURUS / 12 meters long / (C) 1991 Safari Ltd. CE
CE mark: Medium
TDR rating: 8/10

This version of Mosasaurus lacks the word "Carnegie" on the belly imprint text, and "1991" is the only copyright date given.

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Version: 2
Release: c. 1991
Status: Minor repaint, retool
Material: Gray vinyl
Paint: Glossy. Dark green back and stripes, light green sides, white teeth, pink mouth.
Stamp text: Left-aligned. MOSASAURUS / 12 meters long (C) CARNEGIE 1990 / (C) 1991 Safari Ltd. CE
CE mark: Medium
TDR rating: 3/10

This version of Mosasaurus has an identical mold to the original, but a slightly simplified and brighter color scheme that would be carried forward to most future variants.

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Version: 3
Release: c. 1992?
Status: Minor repaint, retool
Material: Gray vinyl
Paint: Glossy. Dark green back and stripes, light green sides, yellow and black eyes, white teeth, pink mouth.
Stamp text: Left-aligned. MOSASAURUS / 12 meters long (C) CARNEGIE 1990 / (C) 1991 Safari Ltd. CE
CE mark: Medium
TDR rating: 6/10

This version of Mosasaurus is much more yellow than most other variants, with an extra yellow wash especially prominent on the head. The sharpness of the info stamp, as well as the seeming lack of other variants with yellow paint, suggests this might have been among the first production runs. However, it had the added "(C) Carnegie 1990" on the belly imprint text, which seems to have been added after the initial production.

This sample seems to be the same variant as the other photos above, but has been made with significantly more yellow on the head. This is probably individual variation rather than a distinct version.

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Version: 4
Release: c. 1994
Status: Original
Material: Gray vinyl
Paint: Glossy. Kelly green body, dark green back and stripes, pale green underside with beige wash, yellow and black eyes, white teeth, pink mouth.
Stamp text: Left-aligned. MOSASAURUS / 12 meters long (C) CARNEGIE 1990 / (C) 1991 Safari Ltd. CE
CE mark: Medium
TDR rating: 2/10

The this version is similar to the original but with a somewhat simplified paint application. The flippers stick out more to the sides than previous versions, which were flipper-resters, making this one a belly-rester. The difference is much more minor than the difference in flipper posture seen in Elasmosaurus, so it's probably not a mold difference but rather a difference in technique used at the factory while the plastic was cooling.

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Version: 5
Release: c. 1997
Status: Minor repaint
Material: Bright green vinyl
Paint: Glossy. Dark green back and stripes, light green sides, yellow and black eyes, white teeth, pink mouth.
Stamp text: Left-aligned. MOSASAURUS / 12 meters long (C) CARNEGIE 1990 / (C) 1991 Safari Ltd. CE
CE mark: ?
TDR rating: 2/10

Unlike most other Carnegie models, the Mosasaurus did not receive a new paint scheme when it was re-released in colored vinyl as part of the 1997 line refresh. This model seems to be an intermediate release between the colored vinyl and original versions of Mosasaurus. Note the darker wash over the figure and the slightly different tag featuring the prototype.

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Version: 6
Release: c. 1997
Status: Repaint
Material: Light green vinyl
Paint: Glossy. Kelly green body, dark green back and stripes, yellow and black eyes, white teeth, pink mouth.
Stamp text: MOSASAURUS (C) CARNEGIE 1990 / 12meterslong (C) 1991 Safari Ltd. / MADE IN CHINA CE
CE mark: Large
TDR rating: 2/10

This version has been retooled to have a remade belly stamp, including re-tooled scale texture beneath the text. The flipper posture is highly asymmetrical, with the right flipper reaching down more vertically and the left sticking out more to the side.

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Version: 7
Release: c. 1998
Status: Retool
Material: Light green vinyl
Paint: Glossy. Kelly green paddles and head, dark green back and stripes, yellow and black eyes, white teeth, pink mouth.
Stamp text: ?
CE mark: ?
TDR rating: 1/10

A later variant of the re-released Mosasaurus, this one has paddles that stick out straight to the sides, rather than propping the front of the body up. This results in the model resting on its belly. The neck also seems slightly shortened or pushed downward. The color scheme is lighter compared to the previous release.