Show us your fossil replicas!

[ziggycardon 461]

Hi, I started this thread because I was kinda surprised that one didn’t exist already at this forum.

 

I myself love replica’s to enhance my collection or to use as educational props when I visit schools, musea use them too so why shouldn’t we.  
And let’s be honest not all fossils are available for the common fossil collector, not all of us can affort a T-rex skull or a mounted dinosaur skeleton and rare fossils like Archaeopteryx are only to be found in museum collections, so that’s when replica’s come into play.

 

So show us your fossil replica’s, casts and reconstructions in this thread, I am very curious to see what you guys have to show!  

I will kick this topic off myself with the replica's that I currently have in my collection.  
 

A replica of the famous Berlin specimen of Archaeopteryx lithographica, the original was found in the Solnhofen limestone formations of Bavaria in Germany and now resides in the collection of the Natural History Museum of Berlin

 

A cast of a Eophrynus prestvicii, the original was found in the West Midlands in the UK and now resides in the collection of the Museo di Paleontologia in Rome

 

Replica of an Iguanodon thumb spike, the original was found in Cuckfield, Sussex in the UK and now resides in the Natural History Museum of London

A replica of a Velociraptor mongoliensis killing claw

 

Eotyrannus lengi claw replica, the original was found on the Isle of Wight in the UK

 

An Allosaurus fragilis thumb claw replica, the original was found in the Morrison formation in Shell, Wyoming in the USA 

 

A Baryonyx walkeri claw replica, the original was found on the Isle of Wight in the UK

 

An Australovenator claw reconstruction

 

A Spinosaurus aegyptiacus thumb claw reconstruction

 

Simolestes vorax tooth replica, the original was found during the Victorian era in the Kimmeridgian clay in the UK

A Tyrannosaurus rex tooth replica based on the largest T-rex tooth ever found


A Juvenile Spinosaurus aegyptiacus skull reconstruction

 

A Grallator footprint replica, the original was found in the south of France


A Megalodon tooth cast, the original was found in South Carolina, USA


Pterodactylus spectabilis replica, the original was found in the Solnhofen limestone in Germany and now resides in the collection of the Teylers museum in Haarlem in the Netherlands

 

A Plesiosaurus 1/2 scale skull replica

[Peat Burns 2,056]

Here's a replica of Isotelas maximus from Ohio that I bought.  On the right is how it came, on the left is after I re-painted it to better match the fossil from which the replica was made.

 

EDIT:  I missed the plastic requirement.  Mine isn't plastic.  I think it may by hydrocal.

[Bobby Rico 4,766]

Psittacosaurus Skeleton 

it was painted and mounted by myself. I got it from the owner of a dinosaur replica company . It is made up of slightly second casts. The owner thought it was to good to throw away. 

[Joe_17 21]

16 hours ago, Bobby Rico said:

Psittacosaurus Skeleton 

it was painted and mounted by myself. I got it from the owner of a dinosaur replica company . It is made up of slightly second casts. The owner thought it was to good to throw away. 

 Wow that's impressive! You lucked out!

[LordTrilobite 2,390]

I have a number of replicas that I've collected over the years. I don't think I have photos of all of them though. But I also made scans of a few of them using photogrammetry.

 

One of my earliest replicas. A Velociraptor claw. Still a lovely piece.

 

Another replica I got many years ago. Egg of an Oviraptor.

 

I've had this Phorusrhacos skull for a long time as well.

 

There's also this young Maiasaura skull

 

Psittacosaurus baby skeleton. Mounted and painted by me. I kinda don't like the look of the stands though, so I might revisit this one in the future.

 

It looks like I also have the same cast as @Bobby Rico of an adult Psittacosaurus. I've had it for a while but I haven't gotten around to painting and mounting it. Though I have separated a bunch of the vertebrae so that I can put it in a different more dynamic pose.

 

And there's this beauty. Most of the woolly rhino bones I have real ones of. But a real skull would be a bit expensive so I have this lovely cast. At 70 cm long it's an absolute unit.

 

I've also recently gotten into 3D printing. And I might make a thread about that some time in the future.

 

 

 

[ziggycardon 461]

1 hour ago, LordTrilobite said:

I have a number of replicas that I've collected over the years. I don't think I have photos of all of them though. But I also made scans of a few of them using photogrammetry.

 

One of my earliest replicas. A Velociraptor claw. Still a lovely piece.

 

Another replica I got many years ago. Egg of an Oviraptor.

 

I've had this Phorusrhacos skull for a long time as well.

 

There's also this young Maiasaura skull

 

Psittacosaurus baby skeleton. Mounted and painted by me. I kinda don't like the look of the stands though, so I might revisit this one in the future.

 

It looks like I also have the same cast as @Bobby Rico of an adult Psittacosaurus. I've had it for a while but I haven't gotten around to painting and mounting it. Though I have separated a bunch of the vertebrae so that I can put it in a different more dynamic pose.

 

And there's this beauty. Most of the woolly rhino bones I have real ones of. But a real skull would be a bit expensive so I have this lovely cast. At 70 cm long it's an absolute unit.

 

I've also recently gotten into 3D printing. And I might make a thread about that some time in the future.

 

 

 

Wow lovely replica's!, especially the wooly rhino skull is amazing and a Phorusrhacos skull is definiatly on my replica wishlist as well!  
I guess this thread will soon be filled with the same Psittacosaurus skeleton as I ordered the same one last week  

[Bobby Rico 4,766]

4 minutes ago, ziggycardon said:

I ordered the same one last week  

You got to love them parrot faced dinosaurs.  

[Yoda 70]

Interesting topic.

 

I was just thinking about this the other day.  Was having a look around at fossils on everyone’s favourite auction site.  

Saw a Pterodactyl cast for sale. Seller was listing it as a replica. Not trying to tell anyone otherwise. 

 

Was thinking that I will probably never own an original Pterodactyl and maybe this is the closest I would ever get.

Wasnt too sure how I felt about it all though. On one hand it’s an opportunity to have a specimen of something fantastic. On the other, it’s.........fake. 

[ziggycardon 461]

16 minutes ago, Bobby Rico said:

You got to love them parrot faced dinosaurs.  

They do indeed process a certain charm  
Who can say no to this face  
 

https://fsmedia.imgix.net/68/c9/45/7c/496b/477a/9b6c/56d1cca7c68f/psittacosaurus-color-camouflage-countershading-vinther.jpeg?auto=format%2Ccompress&w=800

[ziggycardon 461]

5 minutes ago, Yoda said:

Interesting topic.

 

I was just thinking about this the other day.  Was having a look around at fossils on everyone’s favourite auction site.  

Saw a Pterodactyl cast for sale. Seller was listing it as a replica. Not trying to tell anyone otherwise. 

 

Was thinking that I will probably never own an original Pterodactyl and maybe this is the closest I would ever get.

Wasnt too sure how I felt about it all though. On one hand it’s an opportunity to have a specimen of something fantastic. On the other, it’s.........fake. 

I personally think that they are a great way to enhance a collection, especially when it's cast from a genuine fossil or when it's a museum quality replica.
And indeed some genuine fossils are simply out of reach for the average collector due to price or rarity, even for musea sometimes. It still amazes me sometimes how little genuine material is on display in certain musea.  
In the end it's ofcourse a matter of personal preference ofcourse  

[siteseer 932]

1 hour ago, Yoda said:

Interesting topic.

 

I was just thinking about this the other day.  Was having a look around at fossils on everyone’s favourite auction site.  

Saw a Pterodactyl cast for sale. Seller was listing it as a replica. Not trying to tell anyone otherwise. 

 

Was thinking that I will probably never own an original Pterodactyl and maybe this is the closest I would ever get.

Wasnt too sure how I felt about it all though. On one hand it’s an opportunity to have a specimen of something fantastic. On the other, it’s.........fake. 

 

I have helped friends at the Tucson shows and other shows.  A couple of them also sold casts which they kept on a separate end of a table or a separate table from the fossils.  Many people have a negative opinion of casts because they're "fake" as you said.

 

I understand the response because we all want to see actual fossils, but with a cast, you are getting an essentially exact copy of an original you can't get otherwise.  Ziggycardon's example of the Berlin specimen of Archaeopteryx is a good example.  I have seen the cast at shows.  It makes a nice display.  It would be a cool background for several bird fossils in front of it.

 

Most of us will never own a painting by Monet or other famous artist, but you can get an affordable print.  I have a poster of Doug Henderson's Devonian scene showing several fish.  I don't feel bad that I have a copy because I have the nice image. I can display it, knowing that if it gets damaged somehow, I can just buy another one.  That's part of the beauty of a well-made cast as well.

 

 

[Bobby Rico 4,766]

Hi ziggy I just found a picture of my replica before it was  mounted. I hope it is ok to post. 

[caldigger 4,998]

56 minutes ago, Bobby Rico said:

Hi ziggy I just found a picture of my replica before it was  mounted. I hope it is ok to post. 

Looks like he's skipped a meal or two.

[Yoda 70]

@ziggycardon

@siteseer

 

Thanks for sharing your thoughts. 

 

I also think for me, part of the thrill of fossil collecting is the fact that on my shelf, I have part of a creature that is 350 mya. 

A cast takes that element away. 

[Bobby Rico 4,766]

I don’t think we should call casts fakes but replicas. Their is a subtle differences .Probably everyone on this forum we all prefer the real deal but some well placed and nicely finished replicas can set of a fossil collection and enhance the wonderment. This is just my thoughts . Great thread by the way. 

[ziggycardon 461]

14 hours ago, Bobby Rico said:

Hi ziggy I just found a picture of my replica before it was  mounted. I hope it is ok to post. 

I am getting really excited for mine now! 
I think I might create a special topic when it arrives to show the entire mounting process, think it might be a fun topic  

[Bobby Rico 4,766]

24 minutes ago, ziggycardon said:

I am getting really excited for mine now! 
I think I might create a special topic when it arrives to show the entire mounting process, think it might be a fun topic  

Will you have to mount it yourself? 

[aplomado 205]

Nice!

 

Who made your Archaeopteryx lithographica replica, ziggycardon?

[ziggycardon 461]

1 hour ago, Bobby Rico said:

Will you have to mount it yourself? 

Well there are multiple versions available on his website, I bought the mounted version and I am not entirely sure but from what I understand is that the mounted version still requires mounting to a degree but it's made for easier and faster mounting with stand and all included. 
But I suppose I'll have to see when it arrives in the next few 3 to 4 weeks  
 

50 minutes ago, aplomado said:

Nice!

 

Who made your Archaeopteryx lithographica replica, ziggycardon?

It is made by a British paleoartist who produces museum quality replica's, most of my replica claws and the juvenile spinosaurus skull are also produced by him.  
I'll send you the link to his webshop in a PM. 

[ReptileTooth 56]

Interesting topic!  I like the replicas for their didatic value, never possessed one thought only a cereal box JP t-rex tooth .

I've a curiousity: Do you(generic) use life-like models to go along with your fossil replicas? 

[Natalie81 160]

Hi, what a great replica's in this topic! 

This is my fossil replica of a velociraptor skull 

 

[paulyb135 314]

Replicas have never appealed to me but having seen how well made and realistic they are I can see why they appeal to others. Everyone would love to have the real thing but sometimes it’s  not possible!

 

I for example have replica car models of a Mclaren F1 and Bugatti Veyron. I won’t ever own either but I like appreciating the beauty and detail of them.

 

I guess the same can be said for fossil replicas

[ziggycardon 461]

12 hours ago, ReptileTooth said:

Interesting topic!  I like the replicas for their didatic value, never possessed one thought only a cereal box JP t-rex tooth .

I've a curiousity: Do you(generic) use life-like models to go along with your fossil replicas? 

Yeah I do have models to accompany certain replica's, although I think it coheres with the fact that most replica's I own (only exection is my claw collection) are to expand my existing fossil collection. 

I have a Spinosaurus model to accompany my spinosaurus claw & skull replica which in their turn are used to enhance my Kem kem collection. 

 

I have a Tyrannosaurus rex head to accompany my replica Tyrannosaurus rex tooth, but I am planning on building a Hell Creek display around it with genuine Hell Creek material (Triceratops tooth, Edmontosaurus tooth, Nanotyrannus tooth, Borealosuchus scale & tooth, Lepisosteus scales & teeth, ...) 

 

And I am planning to buy a Psittacosaurus model when my replica skeleton arrives  

[Joeri_R 37]

Not a scale model but I just couldn't resist this cool little Mosasaurus  

I bought it to put it next to the Mosa tooth I bought at a fossil and mineral fair. 

[ziggycardon 461]

8 minutes ago, Joeri_R said:

Not a scale model but I just couldn't resist this cool little Mosasaurus  

I bought it to put it next to the Mosa tooth I bought at a fossil and mineral fair. 

Lovely model! I have the same one next to my Prognathodon jaw