Because the actual animal is so tiny, the Carnegie Collection Microraptor is produced at a 1:3 scale (most other Carnegie's are scaled at 1:40), and the figure is 19cm long. The most striking feature of this figure are the colours of the plumage - bright orange with red, yellow and black highlights. The wings of the arms and legs are spread out and the animal is twisting to look to the right, as if the animal is mid-jump between two trees. The underside of the wings is much paler in colour and the claws are grey. Only the tips of the enlarged sickle-shaped claws are painted, so they look a lot smaller at first glance than they really are. The mouth is open and a big juicy tongue can bee seen protruding.

The sculpded details on the surface of the body are very impressive, the entire surface is feathered, the wings have distinctive layers of feathers. There is a tuft of feathers on the head too. When the figure stands, its right leg rests on the feathers, but this is because the animal is in a leaping rather than a standing position.

It makes a change to see a really delicately built animal become a part of the Carnegie collection. While many toy companies continue to ignore skinny dinosaurs, and overlook the scientific evidence for feathers on theropod dinosaurs, (probably because they are much more dificult to sculpt than smooth scaley skin), Safari have endeavored to embrace these new animals in all their glory, and they haven't skimped on the details!

This toy review was sponsored by, and is available from Atomic Elephant

Filigree frost like feathered fingers
extends and expands, embellishing with ease
the luminous landscape, as it lazily lingers,
daring dilatory dalliance, dissipating by degrees.

The blustery breeze buffets lone bushes
on the heath, half hidden by Herculean heather.
The pheasants puffed plumage, protection as he pushes
against artic adversity, arduous altogether.

Trellised trees trace templates, turning and twisting
to the wailing and whistling of a wandering wind.
As the limpid light lingers, a lunar luminance is listing
As soft soufflé shrouds, subtly shadow the sinned.

Precipitation pirouettes in polka-dot patterns
from a granite gray, garrulous giant -like gargoyle;
who sits snappishly spitting, soliciting Saturn's
favour, feeding the famished fields; a felons foil.

In a fir-tree forest, feather-like fronds, fancily frilled
with satiny snow, shimmer in the silvery starlight.
Creatures crunch crisply on the crystalline carpet, chilled
then numbed by the nacreous night.

Wintry waves wash, wantonly whipped.
Icicled incisors involute, insatiably invincible.
Rampaging; ragged rocks razored and ripped;
Eddying, effervescent, eagerness evincible.

Vespertine visitor, vigil viewed from vernal vales;
The hearth in a humble homestead gives heat
to the chilled and chapped, their chores curtails.
Flurried flames flood feeling into fingers and feet.

Solstice shindig; sanguine, spirited seasonal singing.
Winter world; white woven wonderland willed.
Raucous rituals, rejoicing, risible ringing
in of fledgling. Fervent felicitations, fountains filled.

Close by, creation cajoles with cold comfort,
deliverance dangerous, for the dainty or delicate.
Engendered. Enduring emergence, exacting extort
of nature. Nefarious? No, necessary; natural state.

©DF2007

Photograph courtesy of:

Emma & Michael's Excellent Adventures' photos

Many thanks guys.