Turtle 14601 disappointment

Just today a Schleich's turtle arrived home, together with the new panda, the nest and the Safari reindeer (thank you Noora!). The turtle is the 14601 model, which according to the web is a Geochelone gigantea. Well, correct me if I'm wrong but find a new scientific error in an animal replica, as Scott explained [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.].

This replica has only 4 central scutes and three lateral pairs (when they should be 5 and 4 respectively). I think a mistake quite important, since the shell is almost the main element that defines a turtle, and if the brand does not have it in mind ...

But what was my astonishment again when referring to other figures of turtles on the market I find that the supposed Safari Ltd. desert tortoise is exactly the same mold than Schleich . So we have a single mold (wrongly) that serves two distinct species. People of the brands a bit of scientific accuracy!

Thank you, Joan, for such an interesting post!

You are raising two issues here, both of which bother me as well. First, there is the inaccuracies. I'll admit, I often overlook inaccuracies so that it won't taint my enjoyment of the figures. Most of the time I just don't see inaccuracies because, to be honest, I don't know enough about the animals to spot them. But as I learn more -- on my own or through this forum -- they are easier to find. And once you do notice an inaccuracy, it's hard to ignore.

Second, I'm surprised that two companies would use the same mold. It really looks like the Schleich and the Safari are the very same figure. Is that possible?? How does that happen? Just a few days ago, I noticed that the Schleich and Safari Mountain Goats appear to be nearly identical. I only own the Schleich model, so I'm having to rely on pictures, but they appear to come from the same mold.

This issue has probably been discussed at length somewhere on this forum, but if so, I don't know where the thread is.

there was a topic about the two rocky mountain goat I don't remember where It means this forum is old now

Indeed SCHLEICH and SAFARI Ltd are using the same molds to make their Mountain goats and the tortoises. For the Mountain goats, SAFARI Ltd used the mold after SCHLEICH stopped the production. For the tortoise the two companies are using the same mold to produce two different species.

SAFARI Ltd is nearly always more serious than SCHLEICH about accuracy... Nevertheless, It seems that they are both wrong with this tortoise

COLORATA made a very fine Aldabara tortoise

Very interesting, - I learn from this forum almost every day

I know what you mean about feeling dissapointed...

It´s really interesting, I don´t collect turtles so had never noticed that before.

scot(t) wrote:

I'll admit, I often overlook inaccuracies so that it won't taint my enjoyment of the figures. Most of the time I just don't see inaccuracies because, to be honest, I don't know enough about the animals to spot them. But as I learn more -- on my own or through this forum -- they are easier to find. And once you do notice an inaccuracy, it's hard to ignore.

I've got exactly the same trouble Scott. If I ever encounter a failure, either an error of perspective in a painting or a sculpture vagueness, I can't stop noticing that imperfection
When this happens with animal replicas, if it's a problem of color, painting ... -it is easy to correct. But in this case is a problem with sculpting which probably cause the figure to pass to the trade list

Kikimalou wrote:

COLORATA made a very fine Aldabara tortoise

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Very wonderful model Christophe, but colorata items are very expensive. Is it very big? In the picture of your web the comparision figurine is not known for me, so I don't know how much big is the replica :)

After Christophe posted the picture of the Colorata, I've spent the whole morning looking on eBay at the Reptile set. Very expensive. But the Aldabara Tortoise and the Boa in that set are marvelous.

Sigh. So many lovely animals. So little cash in my wallet.

scot(t) wrote:

After Christophe posted the picture of the Colorata, I've spent the whole morning looking on eBay at the Reptile set.

Yep, Chris loves to post teasers

Joan, these toys are made for children and in my long experience in local shops I never saw a children counting the pieces of the shell of a turtle. And all children know what is a manita!
I enjoy seeing figures with accuracy and being careful with some scientific details and not only trying to make cute and pretty figures to sell better. When we collect only enjoying the beautiness of a figure the pleasure vanish very fast but when we learn with them the joy never desapears and we get more than a figure but also something more valuable that is some knowledge.
Thanks for sharing it with us, I remember Vivien saying how similar Schleich and Safari figures are and I got surprised at this time maybe because I never noticed it before reading Vivien's comment.
Also I own the desert tortoise and never stopped a little to watch it so your information is very useful

Roger wrote:

Joan, these toys are made for children and in my long experience in local shops I never saw a children counting the pieces of the shell of a turtle. And all children know what is a manita!

Those children are not prepared enough for future

No seriosly, you're true, they're toys but also replicas. Is it supposed that sculptors learn something about animals. A replica is a copy and with some things is hard to go wrong. And in this case I think that the model used by the sculptor was a Ninja turtle, not an Aldabara one


hehe, i think I've been a bad boy now sorry Schleich sculptor

Anyway, as you see for my comments I'm a picky collector I like to have the best replica of each specie , regardless of brand.

hey I had that schleich or Safari turtle from a random $2 bag at a thrift store.

It was not to scale with my RPG or table top war game figures which is what i get the figures for

I tossed it in a bucket of other figures i did not want and gave it to a org for kids who's houses burned down

Abu Rai wrote:

Very wonderful model Christophe, but colorata items are very expensive. Is it very big? In the picture of your web the comparison figurine is not known for me, so I don't know how much big is the replica :)

skysthelimit wrote:

scot(t) wrote:

After Christophe posted the picture of the Colorata, I've spent the whole morning looking on eBay at the Reptile set.

Yep, Chris loves to post teasers

Thank you Christophe, it is enough :)

Abu Rai wrote:

Roger wrote:

Joan, these toys are made for children and in my long experience in local shops I never saw a children counting the pieces of the shell of a turtle. And all children know what is a manita!

Those children are not prepared enough for future

No seriosly, you're true, they're toys but also replicas. Is it supposed that sculptors learn something about animals. A replica is a copy and with some things is hard to go wrong. And in this case I think that the model used by the sculptor was a Ninja turtle, not an Aldabara one

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

hehe, i think I've been a bad boy now sorry Schleich sculptor

Anyway, as you see for my comments I'm a picky collector I like to have the best replica of each specie , regardless of brand.

Ah Joan! I agree with you and you know it perfectly! We are always finding excuses to the sculptors but it is so easy to find information in our days and also there are many figures to apeal the fantasy of kids like these tortugas!
So I am like you! Once the brands tell in their websites that their figures are as realistic as possible they only have to make the best, when it is wrong we are here to say. If they don't want to know we know what to do. Fortunately there are many nice brands! .. like Schleich is, of course!