Rtas' main collection

II Fishes

B) Bony fishes

1) Marlins

Species : Atlantic blue marlin
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Figures on this picture : Schleich 14556 Blue Marlin (2005-2008)

Fun facts :
- I think this is a pretty rare one, I have never seen it on Ebay. I was lucky enough to get it from another collector of my region I met on a second hand website. I got a lot of figures that day, worth more than 100€.
- I am waiting for Papo's 2020 model which seems to look better (but maybe it's a different species ?)
- I have never seen a marlin.

Update :
- Papo 56048 Sailfish (2020-still in production) was added to the collection. For further information, please check the addition topics.
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Very interesting Marlin,

RtasVadumee wrote:

Pardofelis wrote:

This figure would be perfect for put it around a dozen of the Safari TOOB Pelagic Fishes sardine bunch, all forming a big roll of fishes. And the mako in this dynamic position attacking the sardines. With a blue background. Imagine that, would be really nice!

Maybe we should ask Steve to do it with his airquarium

Please stop torturing me . We all know this would look brilliant! But far too expensive and I need as much shark space as I can get!

I didn't knew that Schleich made a marlin! I'm more than happy with my Colorata marlin, is one of my favourite pieces of my collection. Papo 2020 marlin?!?!?! probably you mean the sailfish... as related to a marlin as is a squirrel with a marmot! I don't understand why people (you're not the first in this forum, nor the second!) keep confusing marlin and sailfishes all the time, when they're noticeably different...
Papo 2020 sailfish is, of course, in my wishlist since the very same second I knew about its existence! For me, its the best 2020 figure of all brands. But there is an even better one, but very difficult to get and more expensive, the Kaiyodo Aquatales polyresin one...

Yes, I have always mistaken one for the other and this time is no exception

Thank you Pardo for your warning about the Safari lemon shark! :)

Benjamin, I have the guitar fish too, but what do you think about its eyes?.. they seem so toony.. maybe I should repaint them as did Pardo?..

The eyes are the only bad issue of the otherwise perfect Schleich bowmouth guitarfish. The biggest problem is that what it looks an eye is not an eye. In this figurine, looks like the black part is the iris and the white part is the globe. But is not. The black part is the whole eye and the white part is a whitish band of skin under the eye! It's easy to repaint, but the volume should be separated between the black and white parts with a tiny channel, and is not.

Here my bowmoutht after and before repainting eyes:
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And this is a real bowmouth eye:
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That's better indeed !

II Fishes

B) Bony fishes

2) Coral reef fishes

Species : Laced moray, foxface rabbitfish, common clownfish, great scallop, blue tang, starfish, coral
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Sets on this picture : Schleich 42327 Coral Fish (2016-still in production), Schleich 42326 Moray Eel Den (2016-still in production), Schleich 42328 Coral Reef Diver (2016-still in production)

Fun facts :
- I really enjoy my coral fishes. They are still too big (except the moray eel which is perfect) compared with my other figures but I think they are the best I could find for my collection. I like how nicely painted and detailed they are despite being very small figures from sets. Being no fish specialist at all (I think Pardo noticed that with my Marlin/Sailfish confusion !), I appreciate that they represent very well-known and familiar species.
- All sets were bought in the same shop, in my town.
- I have seen the species on this picture (aquariums).

Update :
- Safari 265329 Goliath Grouper (2015-still in production) was added to the collection. For further information, please check the addition topics.
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Great picture Benjamin!    I bought the same two Schleich sets which are not expensive at all, and better in size than Papo coral fishes too big for me, but I yet didn't display them!..

Pardo, thank you for your helpful pictures and explanations!

Thanks Alain !

Oh, poor scallop! You're hiding it, or maybe it's very shy?

I've seen also blue tangs, foxface rabbitfishes, common clownfishes and laced morays in aquariums, as well as a lot of species of starfishes and corals (tough none coral similar to this one), but I've failed still to see an alive scallop! Except one species that is not very typical as it lacks radial costae, so I guess it can't count as "the same" than the Schleich figurine, that intend to be a common scallop :)

That moray eel could be great if repainted skin pattern over the eyes, and eyes over the... nostrils? So the eyes are much more forward and then giving a much more realistic impression :)

I have eaten quite a lot of scallops You are right, it should be more visible, but I was too lazy to take another picture after I got every settings right

Yes, I see what you mean about the moray's eyes : they should be ahead of the labial commissure of mouth and closer to the "nose", which is not the case with Schleich's model.

I'm thinking about the rabbitfish for my collection but it might be too small. No matter, the size Papo's sailfish is coming into my collection without a doubt.

I started to collect marine fishes after my first snorkeling :)

II Fishes

B) Bony fishes

3) Seahorse

Species : Slender seahorse
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Figures on this picture : Schleich 14725 Seahorse (2014-2018)

Fun facts :
- Don't tell me Pardo, I know it is way too small
- I had it for free.
- I have seen the species on this picture (aquariums).

I have that figure currently on my wish list, now tracking it down is the challenge. How did you get it for free Benjamin?

III Amphibians

Species : Australian green tree frog (? ), blue poison dart frog, European tree frog (? )
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Figures on this picture (from left to right) :
- Schleich 14407 Frog (2002-2016)
- Schleich 42254 Frog set (2015-still in production)

Fun facts :
- The 14407 frog's species is open to interpretation but since it looks like an Australian green tree frog, it was part of the pet series and the Australian green tree frog is known to be one of the most popular pet frogs throughout the world, I consider it is this particular species.
- The blue frog from the 42254 frog set is definitely the well-known blue poison dart frog but the green one really looks like an European tree frog. I don't know why Schleich sold these two species together while they live on different continents. Anyway, I really like both of them and think they are nicely painted. However, the mould is the same for both and I think it works better as an European tree frog.
- I got the "Australian" frog in my childhood, probably from local shop, and I bought the frog set in my favourite Schleich shop.
- I have seen blue poison dart frogs and Australian green tree frogs in zoos (the first time was in London zoo : I remember they were presented in a false bathroom with toilets, as green tree frogs are known to go inside houses in Australia and take refuge in toilets) and European tree frogs in the wild.

Advicot wrote:

I have that figure currently on my wish list, now tracking it down is the challenge. How did you get it for free Benjamin?

For one figure bought, the second one was for free.

It was already retired when I got it, they were trying to clear the stock.

Actually slender seahorse is the most common seahorse in captivity, they're everywhere, even in pet shops, and are much more common than short-snouted seahorses in the aquarium trade and in public aquariums

The Australian tree frog is a good enough guess that I'll be re-classifying as that species. Now the European tree frog guess fits the species perfectly.

IV Birds and reptiles

A) Reptiles

1) Turtles

a) Sea turtles

Species : Leatherback sea turtle, green sea turtle, loggerhead sea turtle
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Figures on this picture (from left to right) :
- Papo 56022 Leatherback Turtle (2014-2019)
- Schleich 14695 Sea Turtle (2013-2017)
- Papo 56005 Turtle Caouanne (2009-still in production)

Fun facts :
- I first thought Schleich's model was a loggerhead sea turtle. Then I read on forum that it was a green one. I looked deeper into both models and realised they were indeed very different from each other and very representative of each species. If you look carefully, you can even tell the difference from the "beak".
- The leatherback turtle is a gift from my father, the green and loggerhead ones were bought in local shops.
- I have seen green and loggerhead sea turtles in aquariums but I have never seen a leatherback turtle. However, I would love to

I enjoy very much to scroll through this topic again and again  

RtasVadumee wrote:

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It is very interesting that Schleich has now made 3 frogs !!!
As far as I know, the only one they made before, was belonging to a Smurf-set
( Except for Kermit, of course )

Schleich has even made 4 frogs Susanne ! The last one is a much bigger European tree frog from a set including a polar bear cub and a squirrel : [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

That clownfish better go find its anemone quickly! Nice photos again and lovely collection.