Rtas' main collection

The cattle breed you collect is exactly the same I would collect if it was not my tendency to narrow things. I could have two or three of these instead of so many tigers or whatelse but this hobby is a tortuous path. We should always enjoy what we get and think about what we can get. Oh, I have a Spanish bull and something else. I think I will get the African longhorn someday.

very impressive cattles but I don't collect domestic breeds..

V Mammals

M) Even-toed ungulates

4) Bovids

c) Bovines

6. Other bovines

Species : Nilgai, gaur, saola, wild water buffalo, African buffalo
[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

Figures on this picture (from left to right) :
- CollectA 88764 Nilgai (2016-still in production)
- Mojo 387170 Indian Gaur (2013-still in production)
- CollectA 88640 Saola (2013-still in production)
- CollectA 88657 Wild Water Buffalo (2014-still in production)
- Schleich 14640 African Buffalo (2011-2016)
- Schleich 14641 African Buffalo Calf (2011-2014)

Fun facts :
- I don't really like this nilgai. I wouldn't be able to explain exactly why, it's just not my favourite. That's a species I have often seen in zoos but I don't think CollectA, although it is a very decent model, managed to represent this species as well as their other bovines/antelopes. It undoubtedly looks like a nilgai but it does not "feel" nilgai in my opinion. I think size is a main issue here. The nilgai is a huge and massive "antelope" and although the correct proportions make the figure look bulky, it still seems tiny in comparison with other CollectA "antelopes". I also don't like the eyes. Nilgais have much friendlier, sweeter, beautiful black eyes, that's one of their most striking features in my opinion. As a conclusion, that's probably my least favourite CollectA figure but nevertheless one of the first I got because I really needed a nilgai in my collection and it is the only existing rendition.
- Initially, the nilgai was featured on the "Asian antelopes" picture as it is commonly known as an antelope. But since it's not genetically a "true antelope" but a bovine (like the Tragelaphines), I decided it would be more relevant to include it in this photo.
- The saola was a must-have species for me as it is an exclusively vietnamese animal and I am half vietnamese. The quality of the CollectA rendition makes it twice as unmissable.
- The gaur was by far my most wished Mojo figure. No species evokes strenght and power more for me than the gaur, not even the rhinos. A truly impressive species I discovered in the Menagerie. The Mojo figure is amazing as it manages to represent the stunning musculature of this force of nature. The size is also perfect : I needed it to be larger and higher than any other cattle in my collection and it is. The only criticism I could make is that the painting is a bit too glossy for my taste.
- I actually own a castrated African buffalo. Actually, I did not plan to replace my old vintage Schleich Cape buffalo, which is still very decent today, when I started collecting again. So, when I found a more recent version during my figure hunts, I bought it in order to turn it into a female by castrating it with a heated knife. That was such a silly idea to do that on a rare retired figure... Especially as this buffalo does not look like a female AT ALL and is larger than the old model. But I did it very well and even managed to create a vulva with my knife, making it the first and only transsexual animal figure on this forum I guess. Eventually, I felt horrified about what I had done to this poor buffalo and traveled many hours away from my city to find another sample in a toy shop lost in a small village in the countryside. So, the buffalo on this picture does have balls, but I will always keep my castrated/transsexual individual as a reminder of my collector's madness.
- As for the bisons, I would like to buy more African buffaloes in the future since all of them are great and fit perfectly with each other. The Mojo and CollectA are easily available, the most difficult will be to find the retired Papo which is the most "steroized" one. I would say that Schleich = Mojo > Papo > CollectA as far as African buffaloes are concerned.
- I would really like to add an anoa to this family picture and I know a forum member actually makes and sells anoa custom figures. The price is pretty high though but I might afford that one day or another if I manage to stop spending all my money in... other things.
- I found the African buffalo and its calf during my figure hunts and ordered every other figures on Ebay, from my usual seller.
- I have seen nilgais and gaurs in zoos. I have seen domestic water buffaloes but no wild specimen and, believe it or not, I am pretty sure I have never seen an African buffalo. Of course, I have never seen a saola.

Update :
- Papo 50114 African Buffalo (2010-2018) was added to the collection. For further information, please check the addition topics.
[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

Wonderful group, some really realistic models there! And interesting to hear your opinions!
You have many lovely even-toed ungulates!

just must have but I would add Papo african buffalo!

Bonnie wrote:

Wonderful group, some really realistic models there! And interesting to hear your opinions!
You have many lovely even-toed ungulates!

That's because most are made by CollectA, the best brand on the market

Caracal wrote:

just must have but I would add Papo african buffalo!

Don't you have one for trade ? I can send you the whole bunch of Papo 2020 figures in exchange

Nice cattle! It's a surprise to know you're half-Vietnamite! I hope some day a brand releases a Lophura hatinhensis too :) I was also surprised by the small size of the nilgai when I saw it directly for first time in a local toy shop. Still it's missing in my collection, even when I'm not so disgusted with the model. Regarding size, all it's relative: aside with the gaur in your photo, it looks like perfect! But of course, aside to a blackbuck it would be too tiny...
African buffalos are not very rare in zoos but also not very common. It's easier to see the Congo variant of this species than the Cape variant. Gaurs are rarer in zoos than African buffalos, and I also met the Menagerie ones. Sadly, the enclosure with big bars and double security barrieri make good photography impossible.
My African buffalo is Mojo, is not bad, but Papo is better. The Mojo one is enough for me but the horns are too short and curved for my taste. I dislike much the CollectA buffalo for the strange posture it have. The Safari one would be good if was not by the bunch of grass in it's mouth - not my cup of tea with a figure but of course some would prefair it. The best thing is that you can form a herd of several African buffalos of different brands in a diorama!

RtasVadumee wrote:

Bonnie wrote:

Wonderful group, some really realistic models there! And interesting to hear your opinions!
You have many lovely even-toed ungulates!

That's because most are made by CollectA, the best brand on the market

Caracal wrote:

just must have but I would add Papo african buffalo!

Don't you have one for trade ? I can send you the whole bunch of Papo 2020 figures in exchange

Sorry I just have one! :)

Six nice figures, I like the Gaur, it is an awesome model.

Pardofelis wrote:

Nice cattle! It's a surprise to know you're half-Vietnamite! I hope some day a brand releases a Lophura hatinhensis too :) I was also surprised by the small size of the nilgai when I saw it directly for first time in a local toy shop. Still it's missing in my collection, even when I'm not so disgusted with the model. Regarding size, all it's relative: aside with the gaur in your photo, it looks like perfect! But of course, aside to a blackbuck it would be too tiny...
African buffalos are not very rare in zoos but also not very common. It's easier to see the Congo variant of this species than the Cape variant. Gaurs are rarer in zoos than African buffalos, and I also met the Menagerie ones. Sadly, the enclosure with big bars and double security barrieri make good photography impossible.
My African buffalo is Mojo, is not bad, but Papo is better. The Mojo one is enough for me but the horns are too short and curved for my taste. I dislike much the CollectA buffalo for the strange posture it have. The Safari one would be good if was not by the bunch of grass in it's mouth - not my cup of tea with a figure but of course some would prefair it. The best thing is that you can form a herd of several African buffalos of different brands in a diorama!

Indeed, I have a few tacks to see red buffaloes (especially that zoo in Normandy where there are black wildebeest) but none to see Cape buffaloes. The menagerie is not a good zoo for photography, that's for sure !

I also think the CollectA African buffalo is the worst. I did not know the safari rendition, it's actually very nice, even if the oxpeckers on its back are too green.

Here is the nilagai next to the blackbuck. It is indeed ridiculously tiny, the blackbuck has even a bigger head than the nilgai...
[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

That is a fantastic group of animals. Ironically, even if CollectA is the main actor, my favorite model in this group is Mojo Fun branded. Yes, the glossy finish does not work nice in many models but in a gaur it has a very decent effect. Another ironic point, is that I am sure you will find that CollectA’s Cape buffalo is the least interesting on market even if CollectA models are usually fantastic.
About sizes, it will be always a lost battle. can you imagine how large that nilgai needed to be to work decently with the blackbuck or the other way round? Isn’t it nice that we have more than pandas, elephants and giraffes to enjoy even if they do not work perfectly together?

RtasVadumee wrote:

Indeed, I have a few tacks to see red buffaloes (especially that zoo in Normandy where there are black wildebeest) but none to see Cape buffaloes. The menagerie is not a good zoo for photography, that's for sure !

You can see African buffaloes at the Antwerpen zoo (zoo d'Anvers) which is not so far from Normandy.

Roger wrote:

That is a fantastic group of animals. Ironically, even if CollectA is the main actor, my favorite model in this group is Mojo Fun branded. Yes, the glossy finish does not work nice in many models but in a gaur it has a very decent effect. Another ironic point, is that I am sure you will find that CollectA’s Cape buffalo is the least interesting on market even if CollectA models are usually fantastic.
About sizes, it will be always a lost battle. can you imagine how large that nilgai needed to be to work decently with the blackbuck or the other way round? Isn’t it nice that we have more than pandas, elephants and giraffes to enjoy even if they do not work perfectly together?

I know these Antwerp buffalos, and their enclosure is very original! These buffalos live... inside a free-flight walkthrough aviary! The great variety of African birds present here can land in the back of a buffalo when they want :-)

I can trade one Papo's buffalo :)
PM me

Roger wrote:

That is a fantastic group of animals. Ironically, even if CollectA is the main actor, my favorite model in this group is Mojo Fun branded. Yes, the glossy finish does not work nice in many models but in a gaur it has a very decent effect. Another ironic point, is that I am sure you will find that CollectA’s Cape buffalo is the least interesting on market even if CollectA models are usually fantastic.
About sizes, it will be always a lost battle. can you imagine how large that nilgai needed to be to work decently with the blackbuck or the other way round? Isn’t it nice that we have more than pandas, elephants and giraffes to enjoy even if they do not work perfectly together?

Of course, that's why I have this model in my collection. Here is my rule : size hierarchy must be respected. The nilgai is smaller than the gaur but larger than the blackbuck so it is ok. The Papo impala is not for example.

Kikimalou wrote:

You can see African buffaloes at the Antwerpen zoo (zoo d'Anvers) which is not so far from Normandy.

I am in Brittany, not in Normandy, so it's a little further. But yes, I should definitely plan a zoo trip to Belgium one day or another as there is a so high concentration of amazing ones in a so small country (and Pairi Daiza is probably the best in all Europe).

V Mammals

M) Even-toed ungulates

4) Pigs

a) Vietnamese pigs

Breed : Vietnamese Pot-bellied
[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

Figures on this picture (from left to right) :
- Schleich 13239 Vietnamese Pig (1998-2000)
- Schleich 13747 Pot-bellied Pig (2014-still in production)

Fun facts :
- That's another domestic breed I could not miss and if you read the fun fact about the saola, you already know why
- The old male is one of my most damaged figures, it was one of my favourite when I was a child and I always played with it. I have considered replacing it but the only other one I found during my figure hunts had black-painted tusks and was 20€... Anyway, it would not have been "MY" pig so I decided to keep my damaged sample which I have a stronger emotional connection with.
- I was happy to discover that the more recent model is a female, she was just perfect to go with my old male and I really think they look happy together (or maybe is it just the typical friendly/smiling Schleich look )
- I have the male from my childhood and I think I got the female for free as part of a sales offer during one of my figure hunts.
- I have seen Vietnamese pigs in zoos, farms...

Wonderful models!
Must be very special to you, as I see the left one in your avatar!

I have the same vietnamese pig from 1998 and I think it´s still one of the best models of this animal. But like yours, mine is damaged, too. And I have the same feeling about it, it´s still in my collection asd it´s "my" vietnamese pig :)

RtasVadumee wrote:

I am in Brittany, not in Normandy, so it's a little further. But yes, I should definitely plan a zoo trip to Belgium one day or another as there is a so high concentration of amazing ones in a so small country (and Pairi Daiza is probably the best in all Europe).

In my humble opinion Pairi Daiza is an excellent zoo (one hour driving from my home ) but I prefer Beauval park. Nevertheless, it's a must see.

Don't miss the Planckendael zoo too in the north of Brussels.

Brittany... What a lovely place.  So you're not far from a zoo I like very much, the Trégomeur zoo

Kikimalou wrote:

RtasVadumee wrote:

I am in Brittany, not in Normandy, so it's a little further. But yes, I should definitely plan a zoo trip to Belgium one day or another as there is a so high concentration of amazing ones in a so small country (and Pairi Daiza is probably the best in all Europe).

In my humble opinion Pairi Daiza is an excellent zoo (one hour driving from my home ) but I prefer Beauval park. Nevertheless, it's a must see.

Don't miss the Planckendael zoo too in the north of Brussels.

Brittany... What a lovely place.  So you're not far from a zoo I like very much, the Trégomeur zoo

Indeed, Tregomeur is a wonderful zoo with rare species like the dhole, the yellow throated marten, the cloud rat and I'm in love with their sun bears I think more zoos should follow Tregomeur's concept : only focus on one geographic area and present less-known species from that area. Unfortunately, I can go to Saint-Brieuc by train but there is no bus to go from Saint-Brieuc to Tregomeur and I have no car nor driving licence. So the zoo I visit the most often is La Bourbansais, much less interesting but still much better than it used to be in the past.

Branféré, in Morbihan is a must-visit too, probably my favourite zoo ever.

In Lille however, you may have the only free zoo in France !

V Mammals

M) Even-toed ungulates

4) Pigs

b) Wild boars

Species : Wild boar
[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

Figures on this picture (from left to right) :
- Schleich 14336 Young Boar Standing (2004-2010)
- Schleich 14333 Wild Boar (2004-2010)
- Schleich 14783 Wild Boar (2017-still in production)
- Schleich 41457 Forest Animal Babies (2017-2019)
- Schleich 14233 Wild Sow (1995-2003)
- Schleich 14334 Wild Sow (2004-2010)
- Schleich 14335 Young Boar Grazing (2004-2010)

Fun facts :
- I own every wild boar ever made by Schleich, including the old male from 1991 which does not appear on this picture because I don't like its colour (I have the greenish version but I would probably buy the brown version if I ever find it) and the two vintage piglets I did not include because there would have been too many figures on the photo.
- My favourite is by far the male from 2004 whose head-shape is much more typical of a wild boar than the new model's in my opinion.
- I will never have enough wild boars since it is a very gregarious species. However, the Papo figures are bigger and thus, not compatible with mine. I started collecting with Schleich so I got boars from Schleich, but now I'm looking back, those figures are somewhat small and Papo boars may have fit better in my collection, especially with the CollectA pigs.
- I have the 1995 sow from my childhood, bought the new male in a local shop and found the 2004 family one by one during my figure hunts. I remember the male was not a planned purchase AT ALL, I just saw it within the collection of a girl from my region who sold her figures on a second-hand website, I had visited her to buy a musk ox and other much more exciting figures but I just could not resist the boar as I found it really represented what this species should look like. I also remember getting the grazing piglet during a transaction which took place literally in the middle of NOWHERE, like a dirty money or drug deal in the Nevada desert. I bought it from a private seller on a second-hand website and we met halfway between my hometown and hers, in the countryside. Sometimes, I miss that period when I had nothing else to do in my life than take the bus to the ass end of nowhere in order to pick a bloody piglet toy : that was good ol' times.
- Although boars are incredibly abundant in France (and all Europe I guess), I have hardly seen them in the wild, perhaps once or twice only.

I love the Schleich wild boars, how lucky to have the full set!

Thank you Bonnie, you're adorable, I should have a look at your collection topic too, I am doing it straightaway.