Papo Archeopteryx Model Review
Papo Archeopteryx Model Review
Papo, the French manufacturer of figures and models, has introduced a replica of Archeopteryx (Archeopteryx lithographica), a bird whose fossils have been found in the famous fine-grained limestone strata associated with Solnhofen in southern Germany.
When Archeopteryx was named and formally described in 1861, this was only two years after the first publication of Charles Darwin’s “Origin of Species”, the book that introduced the world to the concepts of natural selection and the evolution of life. Here was a bird-like creature with feathers and a wishbone, but the animal also retained features that betrayed its reptilian ancestry. The magpie-sized creature had teeth and a long tail, like a small theropod dinosaur. The discovery of Archeopteryx was announced as evidence in support of Darwin’s theories and has been described as a transitional fossil.
Brightly colored replica
It is fitting that such an important bird in the fossil record is included in a range of prehistoric animal models. Ironically, this is the first prehistoric bird figurine Papo has attempted and it differs from the company’s other sculptures in that it is very brilliantly painted. Papo usually uses only one or two main colors to paint his models and figures, but in the case of Papo Archeopteryx the design team has chosen to give his “dino-bird” feathers which are painted bronze, light gray and even white. . Other feathers are painted a stunning sky blue color, making this figure a very colorful replica.
Fine details about Archeopteryx
There are many fine details that can be seen in the figure. The mouth is in an open position and the individual teeth of the tiny jaws have been carefully painted. There is even a crest of brightly painted red feathers on top of the animal’s head. This gives the impression that this Upper Jurassic specimen is wearing a swimming cap. The three-fingered hands, with their highly curved claws, can be seen on the model and the team of sculptors has done a lot of research to ensure that their figure reflects known fossil material.
Approximately 1: 5 scale replica
As the model is slightly less than thirteen centimeters long and the head is about seven centimeters from the ground, this figure has been estimated to be on a model scale of approximately 1: 5. This calculation is based on the assumption that this Jurassic bird was in fact the size of a magpie.
All in all, this is an excellent figure and one of the most accurate and reasonably priced Archeopteryx models currently available. Highly recommended for homeschoolers, teachers, and fans of dinosaur models.