Beasts of the Mesozoic: Raptor Series is now available at Big Bad Toy Store
about 7 years ago – Tue, Jan 31, 2017 at 09:29:04 PM

I am very happy to announce that in addition to the BackerKit pre-order store, you can now pre-order the Beasts of the Mesozoic:Raptor Series figures at Big Bad Toy Store!

 

The full product listing can be found here.

I wanted to let everyone know about this because in addition to credit cards, BigBad also accepts Paypal and will not charge cards until the products are ready to ship. International shipping is also available. For those who already frequent the store, you could take advantage of their 'Pile of Loot' feature to save on shipping as well. The prices are a little bit more than on BackerKit, but I understand that it may be a more convenient option for some of you.

And a quick note on production- the factory workers are currently away for Chinese New Year, but they will return to work on Feb. 5th and tooling is expected to begin shortly there after. More updates on that as they become available.

Until then- take care everyone!

Fine Cut Review Video and Ceratopsians tease
about 7 years ago – Wed, Jan 18, 2017 at 11:50:39 PM

Hi All,

Just wanted to post a quick update. For those of you that follow me on Facebook, you may have seen this video already, but I wanted to include it in an update here for those who may have missed it.

If you caught my previous update, you not only know what a 'fine cut' is but you saw a pictorial review of the parts I received from China. In addition to the photos, I also shot a short video showing off the articulation of the figures. So if you haven't seen it already, please take a look:

I mention in the video that I plan to have the shoulder movement improved- here is an update on that:

 I was hesitant to use the disc joint on the larger raptors for fear of losing too much detail, but they maintained the detail quite well- and look at that range of motion! This method will also allow for much more dynamic poses with the smaller raptors.

The last revisions to the fine cuts are being done now at the factory and the tooling process should begin within the next few days.

Meanwhile...

Still in the planning stages for the Ceratopsian series. There are MANY species I want to try to cover. If I plan it correctly, I should be able to do most (maybe all?) of them. The line is not limited to this reference, nor will all of these necessarily be included, but these skeletal drawings are in scale and the 4" GI Joe figure there  gives you an idea of the size. Aside from the Protoceratopsids being in 1/6th scale (like the raptors), I have decided to keep the rest of the line at 1/18th scale. It'll be a big undertaking, but I'm up for it! I'm planning to begin sculpting later this month.

Other items

Shipping Now

The 'Raptors at Dawn' prints are currently shipping. I'm beginning with those that only ordered the print and will then ship the print+ postcard orders. Then next month the post card-only orders will go out. As always, if you'd like to know the status of your order, please contact me.

Combining Orders

Refund/ Recharge- Many people have been requesting to add additional items to their order. The most common way to do this is I add the items on to your order, then refund the old add-on (BackerKit) charge, and then recharge for the new updated add-on total. Since the refund for the old charge takes a few days to process, you will see a double charge on your account at first, but the initial charge will go back to your card within 2-3 business days so no need to worry.

Paypal- An alternative is to add funds via Paypal and then I use that additional credit to cover newly added items. If you can use this method I would suggest it as it seems to be a simpler process. For those unfamiliar with how to add funds to your order via Paypal, you can follow these instructions provided to me by BackerKit:

'you can use this URL (you need to be logged in to BackerKit first): https://beasts-of-the-mesozoic-raptor-series-action-figure.backerkit.com/backer/paypal_pledges

Specify the amount you want to increase your pledge payment. Once you check out from PayPal, you will be redirected to BackerKit with the new amount applied to your existing order. '

Please feel free to contact me if you need assistance.

That will do it for now. Please keep an eye on my progress at Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

And the Beast of the Mesozoic pre-order store can be found HERE.

Until next time!

BackerKit Pre-Order Store is Now Back! Here are the details.
over 7 years ago – Mon, Jan 09, 2017 at 10:42:35 PM

The Beasts of the Mesozoic: Raptor Series pre-order store is now LIVE! Click here!

You may notice that it's mostly the same as before, but with a few differences. I'll briefly run through the changes that have been made since the previous pre-order store.

What's Different?

One of the most notable differences are a few of the prices. As many of you know, the original proposed concepts for the Accessory Packs and Nestlings were much more modest than what I ended up creating. The Accessory Packs became larger and more elaborate while the Nestlings were given articulation and interchangeable parts. Thus, it's no surprise that production costs for these items were a bit higher than I'd estimated for and thus an increase in the price has unfortunately become necessary. The new prices are as follows:

Accessory Packs- $40

Nestlings- $25

If you have already ordered any of these items, you're locked in for the old prices and this will not effect your total. But from this point on, these are now the standard prices for those items. All other item pricing remains the same as before.

Printed Materials

For the sake of simplicity, I have removed the printed materials from the store this time around. The calendars are sold out, but there are still post cards and a limited number of 'Raptors at Dawn' prints available. I will be putting the post cards up on my website, creative-beast.com,  for purchase later this month. Kickstarter backers, please contact me if you'd like to add the print to your existing order.

Shipping

I have adjusted the shipping fee structure to better accommodate smaller orders as well as large ones.

US base shipping fee is now $11 (down from $15) with each item adding an additional $1 to the shipping total. If you have an existing pre-order, you may notice a credit of $4 on your BackerKit profile. This is due to the reduction in the base shipping fee on BackerKit.

Likewise, the International base shipping fee is now $22 (down from $25) with each item adding an additional $3 to the shipping total. Those with an existing international pre-order will see a $3 credit.

Adding to an Existing Order

Although your surveys have been locked, you can still add to your existing order by placing a pre-order and then contacting me, or by simply letting me know what you would like to add. By your request, I can combine the new order with your existing order to save on shipping costs and to ensure that all items ship together. But please know that this will not be done automatically- you will need to message me or email me about combining your order.

Exclusives (Kickstarter backers)

Kickstarter backers will not be able to see the Exclusive items in the store, but if you would like to add either the Velociraptor osmolskae or the signed 'Raptors at Dawn' art print by Mark Schultz, there are still more available. I can add those to your order by request, so again, please contact me if you would like to add either of these items to your existing order.

Estimated shipping date 

You will also notice that the estimated shipping date is now July 2017 instead of May 2017. Don't worry- we haven't hit any production delays so far (fingers crossed), but this was changed due to the amount of orders that will need fulfilling up to this point. If shipping begins in May as planned beginning with the Kickstarter orders, then it would likely not be any sooner than July that new orders could be fulfilled. So the shipping date is more for the new backers and not intended for those with existing orders.

Lock down?

There is no lock down date this time around. Since all of the items are completed and shown, the new pre-order store will work like a regular store. Cards will be charged within 24 hours of each order.

Also keep in mind that this time around the quantities are limited. Anything left over will be available on my website later this summer. The pre-order store will be up until fulfillment shipping begins. After that the items will be available at creative-beast.com.

As always, if you have an questions along the way, just let me know.

 

Expect some more news on production soon, but in the meantime, enjoy the store and please be sure to tell your friends!

Happy New Year!- Production Update with New Fine Cut (pre-tooling) Photos
over 7 years ago – Mon, Jan 02, 2017 at 11:03:26 PM

As we begin 2017, I am happy to report that the invoices for tooling and production have both been paid and we are very much on our way to getting some amazing raptor toys! As of now the tooling factory has completed fine cuts for all parts and figures.They will be sending them to me this week to look over in person for final approval. After review, I will then ship them all back and they will begin the ever crucial tooling process, creating metal molds for all of the many parts that make up this project. Judging by the photos they've sent, it should be an easy review process for me. But don't take my word for it- here are the photos I've received from the tooling factory over the past week or so.

The Raptors

Try not be too distracted by the fact that these are all on the jumping rod (which is not included with the 12" raptors). I imagine they used this rod instead of the regular posing rod because it was easier to photograph the figures from multiple angles. It's nice to know it works though. :)

Here you can see some subtle changes to the Dromaeosaurus jaw. I had them raise the teeth just a little so that they could be seen better when the mouth is open. In addition, lengthening the jaw ligaments is something I'd asked for on all of the raptors to allow for a larger range of motion at the jaw hinge.

The Zhenyuanlong head gives you another view of the updated Dromaeosaurus shared jaw.

And here's a nice little bonus- you know those extra toes? Well they can now store on the underside of the base when not in use.

 Credit goes to backer dlipkowitz for this great idea. Initially they'd told me they couldn't do it and then a few weeks later I got these photos. All they needed to do was thicken a small portion of the base. I'm so happy it worked out. Now there won't be a need to keep a bag of raptor toes in a drawer!

And would you like to see one of these guys on the standard posing rod? How about the small posing rod as well? Here's a look at both.

 And here's a display of the range of motion for the jaw and legs, again using Acheroraptor. I have a feeling that the jaw could open a little wider and the arms are circled as well but they didn't move them much. Something I will need to check once I have them in-hand. Legs look good though.

 Accessory Packs

Aside from one obvious change, these remained mostly the same and turned out great in my opinion. And the larger bases connect with the standard bases quite well.

And for the accessories...

 Small Raptors

Now here's where it gets interesting. Remember a few updates ago I had mentioned that Buitreraptor would have more teeth on the final version, well here is the updated head- before and after.

 A closer look.

 And of course the others...

One small note that I mentioned was that tails are to be curving downward, not upward as they are now. It will be an easy adjustment.

 Nestlings

These look like a lot of fun. I'm already thinking about the different ways to display them with their interchangeable parts.

 This one is on a standard raptor base, but he seems very content nonetheless.

Jaw and tail movements.

Things seem to be moving along at a good pace, but we won't know for sure what the expected ship date will be until the molds are made and the actual production begins. That being said, I have not received any news so far that would imply that shipping in May is an impossibility. Still, this is very early and a lot can happen. I will keep you all posted on developments regarding the fulfillment ship date as we go.

On to other news...

Pre-order Store to Re-open in One Week

That's right, the Beasts of the Mesozoic BackerKit pre-order store will be back up one week from today on Monday, Jan. 9th. All run numbers and costs are in and it's time to bring the store back. It will remain open at least through May with no lockdown date- all orders will be charged with in 24hrs. Kickstarter backers will also have the opportunity to add the Exclusives to their existing order. Expect more details on the pre-order store next weekend.

Prints and Post Cards

Those who have ordered the Mark Schultz print without a calendar should be receiving those this month. I am also going to try to send out all of the post card orders this month as well.

And lastly

The current tally for unanswered surveys is 64 and there are still 11 declined credit cards. If you need any help or would like to add funds via Paypal, please be sure to contact me and we'll get it sorted out.

Best wishes to you all in this new year. May it be full of opportunity and good fortune. Happy New Year everyone!

All Painted Nestlings, Production Update and more!
over 7 years ago – Fri, Dec 23, 2016 at 06:25:38 PM

What's going on with Beasts of the Mesozoic lately you ask?

Pre-production is now in full swing as we prepare to begin the always vital tooling process. And there have been other things of note going on lately as well. Don't let my lack of social media engagement lately fool you- there has a been a lot of activity behind the scenes. Here's look at what's been happening.

Painted Nestlings

Thanks to my good friend Matt Holt helping me recently with paintwork (allowing me to ship the calendars on time), ALL of the Nestling prototypes are painted! Now you all can finally see the three sets completed in their intended colors.

So nice to finally see them all together!

Production Update- Tooling Begins

As you all know, the final resin parts were all sent to the tooling factory about a month ago. As of now, I have paid for the tooling expenses and the factory is hard at work creating 'fine cuts' of each and every piece. Fine cuts are the final resin copies that will be used for the metal molding, or 'tooling',  process. It is at this stage that the details are finalized and the articulation is slightly adjusted to help maximize range of movement, stability, and durability of the final product. All fine cuts are expected to be finished by the end of this year and while it is early to say for certain, we still look to be on pace to have product ready to ship in May of 2017. I was sent some photos of the Adasaurus fine cut to show as an example.

 You can already see a change to the design with the pins in the articulation points. It was decided that what I had designed initially would not hold together well enough for the thickness and weight involved and that this method will make the figure much more stable and durable. Please rest assured that the pins seen here are not final and I have confirmed with them that they will all be flush to the surface making them barely visible on the final version. We use this method often on the NECA figures and it works out really well.

 Also it's worth noting that the final versions will not have a visible pin in the jaw hinge as seen in these photos.

 And here are a few more random fine cut items that have been shown to me. The jumping rod clip seems to work well already.

 In addition to working with the tooling factories on the fine cuts (big thanks to my buddy Trevor Zammit for his invaluable help on that), I have also been in touch with the production factory who will be assembling, painting, and packaging the final product. Once the tooling molds are finished, they will be sent to the production factory for mass production. In the meantime, I recently sent them all of my Beasts of the Mesozoic prototypes to use for production quotes and paint masters to copy on the final figures. Sad to see them go, but I always knew this would be the case.

Calendars Shipped!

In non-figure related news- I am happy to report that ALL of the Beasts of the Mesozoic calendars have shipped and hopefully many, if not all, of you who ordered has them in-hand now. If you ordered one, you'll be happy to know there were only 125 produced so hold on to it- it is a rare collectable!

As for the remaining printed materials, orders containing the exclusive Mark Schultz print will have priority next and then on to orders only consisting of post cards. I expect to have all printed material orders shipped out by the end of January.

 Other Items of Note

BackerKit Surveys and PayPal payments

Alright everyone, there are still 66 backers who have yet to answer their survey and there are also still 14 backers with declined credit cards. I have been sending out reminders through BackerKit, but it is very possible that these emails are going directly to spam. If you think you are one of these people, I urge you to check your spam folder for these emails or go straight to your survey on BackerKit to check your status. If you need a link, please let me know and I'll get it to you right away. Please know that those who have not completed their survey or have declined cards will not receive any items until these issues are fixed.

PayPal

I have been in touch with BackerKit recently about adding funds to your pledge via Paypal. I did not know that this was a payment option until recently. If you have a declined card , you can use this URL (you need to be logged in to BackerKit first): https://beasts-of-the-mesozoic-raptor-series-action-figure.backerkit.com/backer/paypal_pledges

Specify the amount you want to increase your pledge payment. Once you check out from PayPal, you will be redirected to BackerKit with the new amount applied to tyour existing order. As always, please let me know if you have any questions regarding this process.

Pre-order Store to Re-Open in January 2017

 Many people have been asking and yes I can confirm that next month after production expenses and run quantities are confirmed, The Beasts of the Mesozoic BackerKit store will return!

And in closing, I want you thank you all for an amazing year with your support of this project on Kickstarter as well as on BackerKit. 2016 has been full of fantastic surprises and I'm very much looking forward to what 2017 will bring. 

Merry Christmas everyone and Happy Holidays!