Those of us who love collecting dinosaur figures know that our collections are our pride and joy. And the only thing better than showing off that collection is adding to it. But with a figurine market wider than Pangea, it can be difficult to know where to start when it comes to purchasing new dinosaurs for the collection.

Your collection is your own, and we can’t tell you whether you should buy a model of a Velociraptor or an Incisivosaurus. But we can give you key considerations to keep in mind when buying dinosaur figures.

What You’re Using Them For

The word “collection” means something different for each collector. For some, a “collection” brings up an image of a museum of natural history exhibit with valuable educational pieces to be enjoyed carefully. For some, it’s the picture of a children’s museum where learning is a hands-on experience.

How you use your collection will determine the types of figures you’ll want to add to that collection. If you’re building a collection for playtime, you’ll want to choose figures made of more durable materials, like plastic. If not, you can purchase more delicate figures.

Scientific Accuracy

Anyone can make a dinosaur figure that looks vaguely T-rex- or Stegosaurus-shaped. These are all well and good, but if you want a collection that will give you insight into the real titans of the Mesozoic era, then historical accuracy is one of the things you’ll want to consider when buying a dinosaur figurine.

Now, our information on what dinosaurs looked like, like their coloring, is a little limited in most cases. However, there is plenty we do know about what dinosaurs looked like, such as their shape and size. Why settle for a figure that looks somewhat dinosaur-like when you can buy a figure that’s a close replica of a real dinosaur?

Storage and Care

This is especially significant if you are purchasing figurines made of a more fragile material like resin. Resin figures are great because artists can create more detailed, accurate figurines. But resin can become easily damaged if dropped. And too much exposure to direct sunlight can affect the coloring of your figure.

If you’re planning on buying resin figurines, you’ll want to consider whether you have proper places to store them. A non-temperature-controlled area like a garage won’t cut it. You’ll want to put them on display in a temperature-controlled area, away from direct sunlight. You may also want to put them on a shelf to reduce the chance of knocking them over.

Looking for a place to start your dinosaur collection? Creative Beast Studio has a variety of scientifically accurate high-quality dinosaur figures that you’ll love to collect.