PLATED BACK DINOSAUR

Inspired by AURORA’s line of PREHISTORIC SCENES, I made up up this ‘What If…’ box top artwork. Surprisingly they never did a Stegosaurus in the ‘Prehistoric Scenes’ line.

This was always my favourite growing up and seemed like it was one of the big four - Tyrannosaurus Rex, Triceratops and Brontosaurus (now referred to as a Brachiosaur) being the other three most distinct.

Many of the kits did not use the contemporary name. For example, the Triceratops was called 'the ‘Three Horned Dinosaur’. and the Dimetrodon the ‘Sail Back Dunosaur’. So I tried to come up with a naming that fitted in. The distinct plates on its back leading to ‘Plated Back Dinosaur’. Likewise the illustrations very much favoured the creature and a setting with limited detail. I wonder if this was to convey the diorama base that was included in the kit… and not more. I tried to match this theme. The Snap-Fix assembly also meant that the creatures could be posed, and this was indicated in the paintings with crude comic-strip like lines suggesting motion! Great Stuff.

This kit would come with a couple of almost dead or leafless trees, small plants, a fallen log and the seemingly ubiquitous dragonfly. The Stegosaurus was a vegetarian and has eaten everything it can in the nearby area. It will have to venture out into new territory.. possibly inhabited by one of the other Dinosaurs or cavemen in the Prehistoric Scenes line. Virtually none of which could live side by side with one another.

Each kit included a map showing how each kits base could be connected with one another to form one giant diorama.