MOSASAURUS

◗ antediluvianminiatures.wordpress.com ◗ £20

Antediluvian Miniatures have recently expanded their range of dinosaurs with their unique take on the subject matter. And yes, before someone picks me up on the subject, I know that their range isn’t exclusively‘dinosaurs’but – as they are inspired by the‘dinosaur court’sculptures at Crystal Palace – I figure it’s still a reasonable description. I suppose that not everyone will know the background to these models: I lived less than a mile from them for years but I guess not everyone has that advantage! Commissioned in 1852 the original sculptures were designed and crafted by Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins under the scientific direction of Sir Richard Owen, representing the latest scientific knowledge at the time. The originals are now Grade I items and were extensively restored in 2002.

The latest miniature of the amphibious Mosasaurus is 12.5cm long and sculpted by Andrew May. It’s well detailed but not overly ‘realistic’(if that’s the right word) when it comes to detail: remember it represents an actual sculpture and it does that very well. The resin model comes in two parts with the whole body,‘flippers/ legs’and tail as one part and the top of the head to stick in position. The creature is available in their Lost World section and it joins the Megalosaurus, Iguanodon, Hylaeosaurus, Labyrinthodonts and Dicynodonts in all their Victorian fun.

They are interesting creatures as ‘monsters’in their own right for 28mm games (or 15mm if you want to really terrify players) and are particularly fitting, I think, for steam punk or Space 1889 adventures. They are just crying out for the opportunity to tear lumps out of pithhelmeted adventurers in the swamps of Venus!