One-Sixth Scale Shell-Shocker— New M3 Lee/Grant Medium Tank From Armortek Will Blow You Away!

Batten down the hatches—for BATTLE. Armortek’s all-new, all-metal M3 Grant-Lee tank looks heavy enough to CRUSH all enemy forces, much less blow them away. (Photo: Armortek) Click to enlarge.

Some things look too good to be true. In this particular case, something VERY good is also something very true—and very real. So get a grip on your nearest GIjOE or Action Man fellow customizers, because what you’re looking at (above) is also —in 1:6 scale. That’s right. This stunning, steel-plated behemoth is actually something your GIjOEs, Action Man (Men?) and other 1:6 military action figures will feel “right at home” in whilst reenacting WWII’s deadliest 1:1 scale tank battles (see historic intel by Wikipedia HERE). According to Armortek’s, Kian Shroff:

Kian Shroff, Owner of Armortek in the UK (Photo: TMM Photography)

“I was reading The Joe Report online magazine and thought your readers may be interested in our latest release a M3 Lee Medium Tank from WWII. In case you do not know about Armortek, we are the world’s leading manufacturer of 1:6 scale metal model kits. Our kits weight 120lbs upwards and take about 200 hours to assemble. I have attached our press release as well as some images – feel free to use these on your website. Let me know any questions you may have.” Kind regards, —Kian Shroff

Side view dimensions of the Armortek M3 (Art by Armortek) Click to enlarge.

Top view dimensions of the Armortek M3 (Art by Armortek) Click to enlarge.

Front view dimensions of the Armortek M3—AWESOME! (Art by Armortek)

According to Shroff and Armortek’s official press release:

Kian Shroff at Armortek’s headquarters, UK (Photo: TMM Photography) Click to enlarge.

“Winchester, UK
17th September 2018:

Armortek (www.armortek.co.uk), the world’s leadingmanufacturer of 1:6 scale metal model kits announces the launch of their latest products – the iconic M3 Lee/Grant medium tanks. Used by the Americans, British, Australians, Indians and the Russians during World War II, the M3 medium tank was most effective in matching and even beating the German firepower in the North African campaign and was a vital “stop-gap” until the M4 Sherman tanks made their debut. In keeping with previous Armortek releases, the Armortek M3 Lee and Grant medium tank kits are a result of detailed research and measurements of a full-scale vehicle. Made predominantly from CNC machined aluminium and steel, the kits feature scale thickness armour, prototypical suspension and can be remote control enabled.

Containing over 2,000 parts (with more than 200 unique components), the M3 medium tank kit will take about 200 hours to build. The M3 Lee/ Grant from Armortek measures 94cm (37”) long and 44cm (17”) wide and stands 48cm(19”) tall. They will weigh approximately 80kg (180 lbs) in their remote-controlled configuration. The kits are manufactured in a small batch as Limited Editions and each one comes with a serial number and certificate of authenticity. Option packs can be added to the kits to provide them with remote-controlled drive, turret turn, gun elevation and slew, realistic sounds and exhaust smoke.

Armortek is a family owned business operating from its state-of-the-art factory in Hampshire, UK. Research, design and manufacture of the kits are all done in house. Armortek has been producing 1:6 scale all metal model kits for over 15 years and, in that time, has produced over 20 different WW1 or WW2 kits for hobbyists, engineers and collectors across the world. For sales information, please email us at sales@armortek.co.uk. For further press information, please email us at press@armortek.co.uk.”

A Bridge Too FAR OUT, Man!— How about a REAL metal and wooden bridge for your tanks to cross over your backyard streams and rivers? Armortek makes them too! The products shown above were on display at Armortek Open Day 2017. WOW! (Photo: TMM Photography) Click to enlarge.

Bottom Line: Our sincerest thanks to TMM Photography, Kian Shroff (and everyone else) at Armortek for their generous assistance in the creation of this article. Can YOU assemble one of Armortek’s amazing new M3 Lee/Grant tank kits? Isn’t it time you found out? Whichever Armortek product you build, it’s sure to became THE stellar attraction of your 1:6 collection. For more information, visit Armortek’s website HERE or their fan page over on Facebook HERE.

Advertisements

Grab That Greasy Joystick, Joe—It’s Arcade Time!

Boxed up FUN— The games still in their original packaging. (Photo: Mark Otnes) Click to enlarge.

We LOVE miniature 1:6 scale video games. Fortunately for this holiday season, a batch of approximately 10 new ones are now appearing in stores across the U.S., primarily from the good folks at My Arcade. These new games are currently priced between $25 and $35 (each) depending on where and WHEN you buy them. Our advice? Watch your local big box stores like a hawk. Also, browse online at Walmart.com, Amazon, etc. Whenever you see a game’s price dropping, JUMP on it! These are popular little items with a wide variety of collectors and ordinary consumers, so they typically don’t last on shelves for long—virtual or otherwise.

Battery Hogs?— These new games really need the juice, four AA batteries to be precise. Ouch! Remember to always REMOVE batteries when not in use! (Photo: Mark Otnes) Click to enlarge.

Better Designed— Last year’s smaller, simpler, “one size fits all” cases from Basic Fun (shown on the right) don’t compare with this year’s bigger, better, more accurate case designs from My Arcade (shown on the left). Even the buttons and joystick sizes are more accurately scaled to fit 1:6 scale. EXCELLENT! Regardless, both games will still ROCK in GIJOE’s arcade! (Photo: Mark Otnes) Click to enlarge.

A Back to Back, “Pac to Pac” Comparison— The new Pac Man game case from My Arcade (as shown on the left) is clearly more stylish and faithful to the original game’s design. The smaller, (boxier) case from Basic Fun (on the right) was good—but it wasn’t great. (Photo: Mark Otnes) Click to enlarge.

Raise ’em up so Joe can PLAY— To save money, the makers of these miniature arcade games chop off the bottom halves of the cases where in the real-world, all of the game’s computer “innards” were stored. To make up the resulting height deficit, we recommend that you create some sort of a base to raise the games back up to Joe’s level (see our previous article HERE). (Photo: Mark Otnes) Click to enlarge.

Bottom Line: We’re hoping someone comes out with a miniature version of the original “Pong,” “Robotron,” or maybe even “Zaxxon.” Those were three truly iconic arcade games from back in the late ’70s and early ’80s. Remember, watch those stores and look out for sales. Happy Hunting!

Q: What is the Coolest?—A: G.I. Joe on Jeopardy!

Bottom Line: As Hasbro has turned its back on GIjOE fandom and the once venerable toy line continues its slow fade into pop-culture obscurity, “sightings” of the original 12-inch action hero are becoming increasing scarce—practically nil, in fact. Imagine our excitement here in the halls of The Joe Report then, when on October 28, 2018, “America’s Movable Fighting Man” was mentioned once again (albeit fleetingly) on an episode of the immortal TV quiz show, Jeopardy, (yes, it’s still hosted by Alex Trebek). So cool! A great big THANK YOU goes out to NBC TV and to Mr. Trebek for doing their best to help keep “the spirit of Joe” alive. You guys (and gals) are the BEST. Go, JOE!

Heads Up!—”Stewart’s Attic” Reopened in Florida

Scott Stewart, Stewart’s Attic (Photo: CAE)

Good News, Captain Actioneers and Best of the West Johnny West Fans—

Good things DO come to those who wait. Especially to those who’ve been waiting for the long-anticipated return of one of the 1:6 scale community’s most popular online dealers—Stewart’s Attic. That’s right, Stewart’s Attic—is BACK! YEEhah!

Owned and operated by longtime (and highly respected) Joelanta/JoeCon dealer, “Super” Scott Stewart, Stewart’s Attic is THE headquarters for all things MARX, Best of the West (BOTW) and Captain Action-related. What exactly can fans and collectors expect to find at Scott’s new and IMPROVED online establishment? According to a message received today on The Joe Report’s teletype machine, Scott revealed the following plans:

“Hi Mark, I just wanted you to know that I’ve re-opened Stewart’s Attic. Although I’m not molding and casting custom items right now, I hope to have that set up soon. Thanks for your patience during my recent move to Florida.
Please visit: http://www.stewartsattic.com/catalog/ —Thanks! Scott Stewart, Stewart’s Attic

Bottom Line: Our sincerest thanks to Scott for submitting this exciting intel and our best wishes to him too, in ALL of his endeavors. It’s the enthusiastic actions and efforts of men (and women) like Scott that help keep the 1:6 scale hobby alive—and thriving. Go, Stewart’s Attic!

It’s Up to Zemeckis— How Much Will Hollywood Director Choose to Reveal About Film’s Real-Life Hero in His Upcoming Film, “Welcome to Marwen?”

High on His Heels— Artist/Photographer, Mark Hogancamp, makes no secret about his fandom for feminine footwear, as this portrait of him in stilettos “pointedly” reveals. (Photo: NYT) Click to enlarge.

The Truth is Already Out There—But Will its Inclusion Hurt Box Office Receipts?

This is all public knowledge, but please stick with us. If you’ve seen 2010’s fantasy-documentary, Marwencol, or read the 2016 hardcover book, Welcome to Marwencol, then you undoubtedly already know that real-life artist-photographer, Mark Hogancamp—the lead character depicted in Robert Zemeckis’ upcoming motion picture, Welcome to Marwen (played by actor Steve Carell)—enjoys wearing women’s high-heel shoes and stockings. There. We’ve said it. Hogancamp’s “most shocking” true-life personality “spoiler” has now been re-revealed.

What isn’t known to many however, is whether Zemeckis feels that Hogancamp’s cross-dressing is “script-worthy” enough to be included in his latest release. Would such intimate insight detract from the film’s main storyline—a man struggles with PTSD after a brutal beating by creating fantasy photo-stories with 1:6 scale action figures and dolls—or enhance it? Is cross-dressing simply too “racy” a topic for the holidays, only to end up on the cutting room floor? Time—as they say, will tell.

For those who are unaware of the differences between “cross-dressing” and the better  known term, “transvestism,” we consulted that oracle of all knowledge and things online—Wikipedia—which (rightly or wrongly) defines the two (oft-misunderstood) terms thusly:

“Transvestism is the practice of dressing and acting in a style or manner traditionally associated with the opposite sex. In some cultures, transvestism is practiced for religious, traditional or ceremonial reasons.”

“Cross–dressing is the act of wearing items of clothing and other accoutrements commonly associated with the opposite sex within a particular society. Cross-dressing has been used for purposes of disguise, comfort, and self-expression in modern times and throughout history.”

Okay, that cleared it up (right?)— Regardless, questions with serious financial implications remain— Will audiences harbor negative feelings about Hogancamp’s cross-dressing? And IF the topic is included in the film (we still don’t know if it will be) and “word gets out,” will that affect ticket-buying, movie-going audiences who DO harbor negative feelings about the subject and thereby cause them to stay home? You can bet the entire entertainment industry will be paying VERY close attention to this film when it premieres in theaters across the country on December 21st.

Fortunately for Zemeckis and his film—

A cross-dressing dance act dubbed Junior New System (JNS) has just come to the rescue. This all-male, high-heeled dance troupe from the Philippines, recently broke onto the U.S. national scene during a series of high-energy (and high-heeled) appearances on NBC TV’s ratings-smash hit, America’s Got Talent. Their success appears to have made men-wearing-women’s-shoes a little less “offensive” in many viewer’s eyes, and much more “publicly palatable” as well. During their aggressive, athletic performances, the JNS men routinely and effortlessly switch between wearing traditional high-top sneakers to high-heel stilettos. Then, to everyone’s surprise, they proceed to perform powerful BACK-FLIPS, landing solidly on their traditionally unsteady and pointy “pumps,” without suffering any apparent missteps or twisted ankles. It has to be SEEN to be believed!

It CAN be done!— Members of the Filipino dance group, Junior New System, proved that grown men can successfully perform backflips while wearing high-heeled, stiletto shoes. Here, they pose backstage with judge and media-mogul, Simon Cowell, during a taping of America’s Got Talent. (Photo: JNS)

As we stated at the outset, the subject of Hogancamp’s cross-dressing is largely “old news” to (most) 1:6 scalers, and has had little—to ZERO—bearing on the 1:6 community’s admiration and regard for the man’s artistic talents. His skills as an artist, photographer and customizer are obvious and beyond question. But how will non-hobbyist ticket-buyers react? That remains to be seen.

Hogancamp’s Heroes Help Him Heal— Mark Hogancamp, the creator of the imaginary and 1:6 scale town of “Marwencol” holds up his original, self-representational action figure—the “star” of Mark’s ongoing—and AMAZING—photo-adventures. (Photo: Mark Hogancamp) Click to enlarge.

Finally, other media outlets are also discussing this subject, largely reflecting the opinion that Hogancamp’s cross-dressing SHOULD be included in the film’s final script. The New York Times discussed it in an article HERE, and we found an overseas article about it in the UK’s The Telegraph, HERE. Clear “rumblings” of social expectation could be heard. Here’s one such quote:

“The real truth behind Mark’s near-fatal attack is not something you’ll find in the trailer – he was set upon after admitting in the bar that he was a cross-dresser. When the film’s first American trailer landed, there was enough social-media kerfuffle to suggest that eliding this part of the story may well cause significant controversy.” —The Telegraph, UK

Robert Zemeckis, Director of Welcome to Marwen (Photo: Hollywood Reporter)

Bottom Line: If the official Welcome to Marwen trailers are any indication of its final content, then it appears Mr. Hogancamp’s propensity for feminine footwear will NOT be made into much of an issue for the film. But, if you search the ‘net for further clues provided by Zemeckis himself, you CAN find short, inconclusive snippets about its inclusion (or exclusion) from the script. Make of the following quote what you will (especially the last line), but here’s his most telling —yet noncommittal—comment so far:

“We can’t give everything away. There’s a lot more story than we were able to include. You’ve got to let the audience see something that they don’t know about.” —Robert Zemeckis, director, Welcome to Marwen

Back From the Dead? Investors Aim to Resurrect Decomposing Corpse of Once-Mighty Toy Retailer—Toys ‘R Us to be Given a “New Life” in 2019-2020

Crawling out of a “Grave” of Bankruptcy— Apparently, “dead” doesn’t always mean DEAD, especially when it comes to the weird world of business. Indeed, the unexpected announcement of an upcoming “resurrection” of failed toy retailer, Toys ‘R Us, struck many toy industry fans, observers, and financial analysts as a big surprise—even a SHOCK! Anybody seen Daryl and his crossbow? (Art: Party at Lewis)

Toys ‘R’ Us mascot, “Geoffrey”

Do YOU still care about the fate of Geoffrey the Giraffe—or Toys ‘R Us?

An article in Tuesday’s Wall Street Journal announced that the (supposed) end of Toys ‘R Us (TRU) may not be so final after all. Apparently, selling off all of the assets of the moribund toy retailer makes less financial sense to some investors (really?) than keeping it going. Despite the burgeoning growth of Amazon, Walmart and other online worldwide retailers, this group of financial “wizards” now believes that (somehow) reinventing TRU’s brick-n-mortar stores will (somehow) make them more money in the long run. We’ve reported on this same “keep it going” concept regarding FAO Schwarz (see HERE), but applying it to TRU makes little sense (to us). Regardless, here are some of the more telling quotes from the WSJ:

“A group of hedge funds in line to take control of Toys “R” Us—the same group that pulled the plug on the retailer’s reorganization this year—intends to revive the business behind the Toys “R” Us and Babies “R” Us brand names.”

Really?

“The retailer said in court papers filed Monday that while it received qualified bids for assets—it has opted to forgo a much-anticipated bankruptcy auction for its brand name and other intellectual-property assets.”

Really?

“The hedge fund group has determined the qualified bids wouldn’t likely yield a superior alternative to the plan, because of factors including the recovery to creditors, as well as the benefits to other stakeholders in maintaining the brands under a newly-established, independent U.S. business.”

REALLY?

“The absence of Toys ‘R Us has also left an $11 billion hole in the toy industry, and hundreds of toy vendors without a major bricks-and-mortar platform to sell their goods. The decision to shut 800 U.S. Toys “R” Us stores also left 33,000 people without jobs. In recent months, those workers have been fighting for severance pay. The Wall Street Journal reported Friday that Toys “R” Us private-equity backers Bain Capital and KKR & Co. will be creating a $20 million fund to be distributed to the workers.”

Bottom Line: It’s good to hear that all of the laid-off TRU employees will be receiving SOMETHING out of all of this financial hoo-hah. And while we can see (perhaps) trying to keep NYC’s historic FAO Schwarz going, Toys ‘R Us has always just seemed like some sort of big toy warehouse to us. We have to wonder— are their investors throwing good money after bad by trying to keep it all going? Especially in this “one click” internet age? We’ll see. Stay tuned!

THIS JUST IN! Reliable Rudy Panucci has just posted a wonderful article going into greater detail regarding this topic on his “PopCult” blog found HERE. Thanks for all the updates, Rudy!

New Englanders, Rejoice! Only One Month to go Before Big Toy Show Debuts in North Haven, CT

We’ve heard it time and time again— Why aren’t there any more big shows out on the coasts anymore? Think about it— Other than James Desimone’s yearly events in LA and Irving Santiago’s big Ultracons down in Florida, all the conventions and larger toy shows appear to be occurring more often inland, in places like Dallas, Atlanta and Louisville. But now—FINALLY—fans living on the eastern seaboard have a new event that they can sink their collecting “teeth” into— the Northeast Toy & Collectibles Show (NETCS). The NETCS takes place a mere 31 days from today in North Haven, CT, and promises to be a truly MEGA toy event. According to John Kozin—

John Kozin, GIjOE fan, collector and dealer (Photo: John Kozin)

“Annnnnd we’re sold out of table space!!!!! 30 dealers and over 60 tables of awesome toys and collectibles!”

Bottom Line: The 2018 NETCS looks like it will be a VERY popular event. Its scheduling, convenient Connecticut location and wide variety of toy offerings make it a “must-see” for collectors of all ages. Our best wishes to everyone concerned. Have a great time!

Return of the Rocketeer?— Long Anticipated Costume Set for Captain Action Has Hit Yet Another “Snag and Could Not Deliver” (Again)

Up, up, and… a-WAIT AGAIN! Prototype for yet another (oft-delayed) “Rocketeer” costume set from Captain Action Enterprises. Will these EVER be for sale? (Photo: CAE) Click to enlarge.

Here we go again. 1:6 scalers get all excited about a new Captain Action costume set and BAM— it’s taken away from us. Just when we thought all the production ducks were in a row and CAE’s latest prototypes were set in stone, something (yet again) crops up to slow (or possibly stop) the manufacture and sale of what was a wildly anticipated 1:6 scale CA product—the Rocketeer costume set. Here is the latest intel, received hot over the wires from the hapless heroes at Team Action—

“Hey Actioneers, we’re delighted to report that the reception to the new uniform sets announced at San Diego Comic-Con was overwhelmingly positive. We at CA Enterprises continue to maintain our commitment to keep the Captain Action legacy alive and growing. While the faithful have always been with us, we are now also seeking to attract new fans with our new offering of uniform sets which include The Rocketeer, Mars Attacks! and more. 

Currently, while we had hoped to have started pre-orders for these new uniform sets by now, the factory we were originally working with hit a snag and could not deliver. You can imagine how terribly frustrating that is for us, and we’re sure it is frustrating for all of you anxious fans as well. So here’s the situation—

We are diligently in the process of arranging a new deal with a new factory, and as soon as we have everything set to move forward, we’ll let you know. As we’re all in this together, we felt it very important to let you all know what has transpired and that we’re still very committed to bring you the best quality uniform sets in the Captain Action tradition.” Best, —Team Action

Rocketeer’s Rear View— Wait! Don’t walk away! Stay awhile! PLEASE? This CAE prototype costume shows excellent details and amazing quality overall. We want it! (Photo: CAE) Click to enlarge.

Bottom Line: Good things come to those who wait. And wait. And then wait some more. It seems CAE is still working on bringing this costume set to market, but will it EVER arrive in our lifetime? And will it look HALF as good as these prototype photos? Only time will tell. Fingers (still) crossed!

“Battle with the Black Widow”—Massive Monster Arachnid (From The Home Depot) Faces Off Against G.I. Joe Crash Crew Firefighter— Who Will Win?

A lone Crash Crew GIjOE armed only with an ax and crowbar faces off against a decidedly more powerful foe—a giant black widow spider from Home Depot. Fortunately, Joe’s trusty pet black panther sneaks up from behind. Will it come to Joe’s aid during this deadly face-off? (Maybe after a nap.) The spider’s eyes have a spooky, hypnotic effect. Look out, Joe! (Photo: Mark Otnes) Click to enlarge.

Got Arachnophobia? Then this Giant Spider is Definitely NOT for You!

So I bring home this giant plastic spider last night, right?— I place it on the couch behind my wife. It has long, spindly legs and some seriously eerie, red-glowing eyes (the spider, not my wife). When she turns around and sees it, she literally jumps off the couch screaming, “ICK! What is THAT?!” Surprised, I reply, “it’s a new giant spider for GIjOE to fight against. Look! Its abdomen is all hollowed out, so I can stuff it full of 1:6 scale human skeletons and show that it’s been eating Joes!” She frowns a BIG frown and bluntly observes, “You are really WEIRD.” Well, maybe so, my dear. But I’m betting there’ll also be a lot of other “weird” 1:6 scalers out there who’ll be interested in picking up one of these (admittedly) frightening new “home decor” items from Home Depot.

Big, Bad, Butt-iful! Joe’s pet panther sniffs the spinnerets of the giant arachnid while Joe lines up his first blow, “right between those evil eyes!” From leg tip to leg tip, the spider measures a whopping 44 inches across. Once folded up, it measures only about 14″ across. YES! (Photo: Mark Otnes) Click to enlarge.

The spider is made of a solid black plastic; the good, hard, model-kit kind, so if you wanted to, you could paint its fangs, or even flock its entire body to make it all fuzzy black and red. What a fun custom project THAT would be! And yes, its legs are fully-articulated, so you can pose him in a full “legs out” battle stance (as shown in these pics) or all tucked up to its body ala a “I just got squirted with RAID” death pose. Whatever you decide to do with this monumental monstrosity, it’s an IDEAL creature for any Adventure Team (or military) GIjOEs to battle in backyard (or indoor) dioramas.

A “Cage of DEATH?”— Viewed from this angle, you can imagine the black widow’s ribbed abdomen filled up with 1:6 scale human skeletons. Fortunately, this spider DOES open up. There are tiny screws holding the body together. Opening it up takes only minutes. (Photo: Mark Otnes) Click to enlarge.

Here’s the label to look for while shopping in Home Depot. It even has a “TRY ME” button on it, so you can try out the glowing-eyes effect in the store. (Photo: Mark Otnes) Click to enlarge.

Bite Me— The spider’s mandibles grab Joe’s arm as its fangs prepare to inject him with its deadly toxin. Is this the END of Crash Crew Joe? Only YOU can decide! (Photo: Mark Otnes) Click to enlarge.

Bottom Line: Yes, this spooky “home decor” item is great for use on Halloween, but in our opinion, it’s actually makes a much better TOY. Its giant size, durable construction, leg articulation, and light-up eyes—guarantee HOURS of fantasy FUN for GIjOE and action figure fans. You can find them for sale NOW at a Home Depot near you, or simply order one online HERE. Enjoy!

Yikes!—Tis the Season for Some Scary Skeletons!

Nice kitty…Good kitty. This giant saber-toothed cat looks to us to be one of the better offerings this year. Simply amazing details from tail to fangs! (Photo: Keith Davis) Click to enlarge.

No flesh? No worries. These skeletal creatures are scary enough!

Your GIjOE museum and fantasy dioramas all need skeletons, right? Well, thanks to the impending Halloween season, stores throughout the U.S. (and beyond) have begun ramping up their supply to meet the growing demand. Besides all of the trick-or-treaters and Halloween home decorators, GIjOE fans and customizers too, now have their eager “eagle-eyes” set on picking up at least ONE of these amazing skeletal “beasties.” According to intrepid TJR Field Reporter, Keith Davis:

Keith Davis, fan, collector and customizer of all things 1:6 scale (Photo: Fox 19 News)

“Wanna try something new in 1/6 or other scales!?! How about going prehistoric, or Jurassic, or Bedrock? I found these recently at Home Depot, and the bigger ones at Big Lots. The smaller ones go for around $40, the bigger ones are over $100. I think all of them have light-up eyes and maybe sounds, too. Even Barbie had the Flintstones. You could make one heck of a diorama with this stuff! —Keith Davis

We concur with Keith. Simply place one of these massive, menacing monsters next to ANY scale GIjOE and your imagination immediately runs WILD with all sorts of fun diorama possibilities. Let’s take a look at some of the other creepy critters that Keith has tracked down in Cincinnati’s “Concrete Jungle” of brick-n-mortar stores—

Horns. Teeth, and TERROR! A herd of skeletal dinosaurs. (Photo: Keith Davis) Click to enlarge.

Life-sized sitting dogs and some spiky mini-triceratops. (Photo: Keith Davis) Click to enlarge.

This closeup reveals the quality to be better on some than others and the prices to be fairly consistent. The wiring must be hidden inside the bones, somewhere. (Photo: Keith Davis) Click to enlarge.

With real BITING action! If you look closely, these red-eyed T-Rex skeletons appear to have working jaws for added realism. VERY cool! (Photo: Keith Davis) Click to enlarge.

A size for every diorama— Don’t like small? How about LARGE? (Photo: Keith Davis) Click to enlarge.

How about a big, bad, DRAGON? Check out that wingspan! (Photo: Keith Davis) Click to enlarge.

Bottom Line: Our sincerest thanks to keen-eyed Keith Davis for his generous contributions to this article. In the past, such skeletal “decor” items have ranged from the junky to the banal (skeletal rats, really?). But these new dinosaur, saber-toothed cat, and horned dragon skeletons VASTLY open-up possibilities for 1:6 scale (and other scale) dioramas. So—GO GIT ‘EM!