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Figures / Misc - 6mm to 49mm
- Review |
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Displaying Reviews: 1 - 1
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Average Reviewer Rating:
 
Number of Reviews:
1
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A Bit Gummy!
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Reviewer
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Reviewed by Antar Howarth (info@totalmodel.com) May 08, 2005
Matador Models are one of the most popular British manufacturers on the military model landscape. Over the years they have put together a truly handsome collection of vehicle kits and conversion sets in 1:76th scale and above. When I heard they were about to launch a new line of models I was more than a little eager to find out what was in store.
The new range was called "Anaconda". I assumed this was a reference to a group of special vehicles from the Second World War. As it turned out it was something far more obvious!
Matador's Anaconda range is all about animals. That's right; there isn't a tank in sight! At the time of writing the range includes a large octopus, and 3 sharks. This Great White is one of them. The animal is formed from a single polyurethane resin casting. It measures approximately 85mm from snout to tail. Although no specific scale is given it's reasonable to assume that it has been constructed along the lines of 1:76th scale - which would give us a rather large specimen in excess of 21 feet! Perhaps that's why it has been modelled in a typically antagonistic pose, mouth open, ready to consume another elephant seal. Unfortunately this poor fish hasn't been furnished with any teeth which gives it a distinctly "gummy" appearance!
And that's pretty much it - or is it? I must confess that I've reached a parting of the ways along the path of this review and I must choose my next road carefully.
The trouble is that although this casting certainly looks like a shark, it isn't a particularly accurate shark. It certainly looks nothing like a Great White! Many of the anatomical features are completely wrong. Real Great Whites have a very distinctive barrel-shaped profile which is at it broadest around the mid-section of the shark's body. This model is far too sleek and captures non of the shark's weight. Great Whites also possess 5 gill slits - but this one has only three. The second dorsal and anal fins should be of similar size and shape and positioned directly opposite each other - but the fins on this model are nothing of the sort.
I could go on...
It may sound like nit-picking but you must remember that this is a "Matador" model and you'd expect them to do their research. If this were a tank with a missing road wheel you'd be equally surprised!
Ultimately you must decide whether this is a serious attempt to accurately represent one of the most enigmatic creatures on the planet - or a whimsical flirtation by a company who just fancied doing something different for a change?
NB: Click the thumnbnail at the top of the page for a closer look.
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4
out of
6
people found this review helpful
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