Rtas' main collection

I think we share the same feelings about this model and it is the same also among many other members. Everyone loves Schleich musk ox, I think I have the Schleich and the Maia & Borges versions. I also haven't got yet the Safari and CollectA's renditions and the reasons are the same. Is your model the Made in China version?

A rare catch

I have 2 of them.. its only default is to be a little too big to compare with my other bovids but it's at the good scale to compare with my other ovi-caprids!.. :)

Very nice musk ox, I have the Safari and CollectA in my collection

I don't know Roger, I'll tell you that when I go back to my parents' house next week-end.

RtasVadumee wrote:

I don't know Roger, I'll tell you that when I go back to my parents' house next week-end.

No hurries, it is not that important.

V Mammals

M) Even-toed ungulates

4) Bovids

b) True antelopes

1. Asian antelopes

Species : Blackbuck, saiga antelope
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Figures on this picture (from left to right) :
- CollectA 88638 Blackbuck Antelope (2013-still in production)
- CollectA 88808 Saiga Antelope (2017-still in production)

Fun facts :
- The blackbuck was the first antelope from CollectA I got. Indeed, my first goal when I started to collect CollectA figures was to expand my species range in geographic areas neglected by Schleich and I felt like I had not enough species in Asia, compared to Africa.
- I have never seen saiga antelopes in real but from what I have seen in wildlife documentaries, I feel like the CollectA figure is a bit oversized.
- Initially, this picture included the nilgai and the chiru which are also commonly known as "antelopes" but I removed them as the nilgai is closer to true bovines while the chiru is a caprine relative.
- I ordered both from my favourite Ebay seller.
- I have seen blackbucks in zoos but I have never seen a saiga antelope.

Two masterpieces, correct? We don't find many figures like these in other companies, not talking about the unusual species but really talking about the top quality in all regards.
Yes, you are right, the saiga should be almost the same size as the blackbuc, though, these represent two distinct challenges in terms of manufacturing, it is not evident in your picture but saiga has more delicate horns,, so, a smaller size would difficult the final work, at least the figure could not be as balanced in terms of proportions. Notice also, that the posture of the saiga is slightly more natural, legs are slightly spread but not as much as it is on blackbuck. It is a figure that weighs 32 g, a very modest weight, for instance, Schleich snow leopard is more massive.
I have both, though, if I was obliged to choose one, something cruel, my choice would be surely the saiga antelope.

I don't see any CollectA antelope which is not a masterpiece, except, perhaps, the nilgai which, somehow, does not convince me as much as the rest.

I would be unable to choose between them. The saiga is an even more unusual species and I have not so many animals in central Asia than in India but the blackbuck is much more familiar to me. Fotunately, we don't have to choose !

You're not the first person that I read talking about the saiga being too big. However, it's not strikingly big, just a little oversized. Enough decent-sized for have included it into my collection
I've seen a taxidermized saiga together with a roe deer and they have the exact same size.
Saigas disappeared from European zoos due to respiratory diseases I think. Still are a big herd in an Ukranian zoo. In the past the species was kept at no less than 53 different zoos of Europe.

Two of the masterpieces that brings CollectA into a completely class for itself

Two amazing figures I own

V Mammals

M) Even-toed ungulates

4) Bovids

b) True antelopes

2. Gazelles

Species : Thomson's gazelle, springbok, Dama gazelle
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Figures on this picture (from left to right) :
- Schleich 14396 Gazelle (2009-2014)
- Schleich 14397 Gazelle Fawn (2009-2013)
- CollectA 88684 Springbok (2014-still in production)
- CollectA 88865 Dama Gazelle (2019-still in production)

Fun Facts :
- The springbok was one of my favourites when I discovered CollectA but ordering it was not a priority at first since it is an African species and I tried to expand my species range in other continents first.
- The dama gazelle was a good surprise from last year : it is a masterpiece and it's a species from North Africa and I don't have many others from there. It is a bit too big compared to my Schleich antelopes (kudu, wildebeest, oryx...) but it is the largest gazelle in the world and it would not have fit with the springbok if it had been smaller so I'm ok with its size.
- The Thomson's gazelle may not be at the same level as CollectA's antelopes but it remains a very nice model from the Schleich golden age.
- I found the Thomson female during one of my very very first figure hunts. I bought the fawn from another collector in Brittany and I ordered the dama and springbok from my favourite seller on Ebay.
- I have never seen a Thomson's gazelle. I have seen dama gazelles in one zoo and springboks in one zoo too. If I remeber well, the springbok is one of the few species I have seen but Pardofelis hasn't.
- A Thomson male from Mojo joined this little family since I took this picture. I got it in a trade with Adam. It took quite a long time for him to arrive in France and the box was completely destroyed, don't know what happened, but the gazelle was unharmed.
Here it is with his new family. They fit perfectly with each other, I am very happy of this marriage between brands :

- Mojo 387122 Thomson's Gazelle Male (2012-still in production)
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I still like very much the old schleich Thomson, but can't say the same for the Mojo male. Maybe I'm wrong, but the painting is way too geometrical and clean, that looks wrong to me. Also the proportions are a bit weird, especially from the neck and upwards...
OK, collecta gazelles are superb of course.

spacelab wrote:

I still like very much the old schleich Thomson, but can't say the same for the Mojo male. Maybe I'm wrong, but the painting is way too geometrical and clean, that looks wrong to me. Also the proportions are a bit weird, especially from the neck and upwards...
OK, collecta gazelles are superb of course.

Almost all Mojo are like that, way too clean. I think we already talked about that in PM. I would probably not have bought it on my own but Adam wanted a Papo Yak and I am still very happy to have it to complete the family.

Wonderful, wonderful collection, I particularly love the Schleich gazelle fawn!

Thank you Bonnie !

It's an absolute pleasure to see your collection post coming back to life again afer such a loooooooong pause!! I hope you're fine and doing well my dear friend :)
I also have the dama and the springbok, but no Thomson's in my collection. I think I just don't need it. I was about to choose the PNSO's Thomson's gazelle for my collection, but after some considerations about how resulted the real model I finally declined it. Anyway is not a species that I feel anxious about.

I've corrected also some minor issues in the CollectA's springbok, for example the dark band of flanks extends into the hind legs, and I deleted it from the legs. But the original paintjob is passable tough. I suppose you will keep in the original way.

The gazelle family is superb, the Mojo male fits perfectly with the CollectA female and calf!!

RtasVadumee wrote:

If I remeber well, the springbok is one of the few species I have seen but Pardofelis hasn't.

You have very good memory! I have been able to see an enclosure for springboks, but I was unable to find one despite passing several times by the place during my zoo visit. So still I never saw an alive springbok but I have a photo of a taxidermy one in a so well made diorama that looks like alive and wild. Certainly, dama gazelles are way more common in zoos than both springboks and Thomson's gazelles, in great part because they're much more endangered and subject to recovery programs.

I have these CollectA gazelles, the moj°o male Thomson’s and also the Schleich gazelle female. I agree that Mojo Fun models tend to be too geometrical, not only in painting but also in sculpting but in my opinion it works nicely to some models, this gazelle included. It is just my opinion but CollectA gazelles have a superior quality but the Mojo is slightly better than Schleich’s and it has the horns we expect from that species. Though, as I also live very much the Schleich model, it means that all of them are really great for me. Curiously, I never felt any enthusiasm by the Safari rendition of the Thomson’s but I have never seen it in real what could change my opinion.

Nice antelope figures

I have the Schleich female too, because it was the oppoortunity to have this species but its legs are too thick as usualy about Safari antelopes. That works with the fawn but not with its mother..

Just compare with legs of CollectA springbock on the first picture!

Another update to this FAB topic, I am so glad I can enjoy this as I will be self-isolating for perhaps 2 weeks after one of my friends contracted the virus

It's nice to see the handsome Mojo male, now I recommend the Safari, a very nice but quite small figure, especially compared to the Mojo

Pardofelis wrote:

It's an absolute pleasure to see your collection post coming back to life again afer such a loooooooong pause!!

Blessed be the confinement.

I'm fine my friend, hope you're too

Pardofelis wrote:

Anyway is not a species that I feel anxious about.

Yes, you are very selective about the species you pick and I understand the Thomson is not the most exctiting.

Pardofelis wrote:

You have very good memory! I have been able to see an enclosure for springboks, but I was unable to find one despite passing several times by the place during my zoo visit. So still I never saw an alive springbok but I have a photo of a taxidermy one in a so well made diorama that looks like alive and wild. Certainly, dama gazelles are way more common in zoos than both springboks and Thomson's gazelles, in great part because they're much more endangered and subject to recovery programs.

Concerning zoos and aquariums, I wanted to have your opinion about Aquatis in Switzerland. You can read mine here, as a comment for the Komodo pictures : [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

Alain, I never noticed that before but you're right !

Roger, why choose as they all fit very well together !

Adam, sorry to hear that but don't worry, your friend and you are young, you'll survive, you've just won two holidays weeks.