Kapow in the UK randomly has a couple of the shells back in stock (suspect it's warehouse finds rather than a new production run from FP!):

FansProject Saurus Ryu-Oh Tricerabot Shell (Limited Edition) - Kapow Toys

FansProject Saurus Ryu-Oh Pterobot Shell (Limited Edition) - Kapow Toys

 

How complex is this figure? Is it distinctly MP level of complexity? Could it fit in with a CHUG/Generations/WFC collection?

I saw a photo of this guy combined and it stood roughly the size as a standard Combiner Wars gestalt. I don't collect MP, so if I were to get him, it would be to integrate him into my CHUG/Generations/WFC collection.

 

I have the Monstructor version which I love. Fits in great with my CHUG collection, the combined mode is about Combiner Wars height with the limb bots all being about deluxe size. Complexity is kinda half way between normal CHUG and MP, probably closer to CHUG.

Definitely not MP scale as far as I'm concerned.

 

If you're going by canon scale, Saurus actually is mp scale since it's on the smaller end of combiners and in a lot of animation cells is 1:1 with star saber.

If you're going by the bastardized version of the word scale used for saying you want it the same height as the rest of your combiners then it's classics.

 

My other pic above has him with road Caesar and MP Starsaber. Here he is with legends figs and MP scaled Raiden, if that's helpful. I don't do CW, except Devy  

 

I hadn't seen any pics of the individual bots next to any Hasbro figures. So thanks for confirming that the individual bots are close to deluxe scale.

Cool. Thanks. This was what I was most interested in knowing. MP figures are too complex for my taste. I was hoping this was at least a little less complex than standard MP. If you say it's between CHUG and MP, then that would put it close in complexity to CHUG figures like Commander Rodimus Prime and Studio Series 86 Hotrod. So it still isn't outside the realm of what would fit in with a CHUG collection.

Now I have to contemplate if I blow the money on him. I'm really tempted. It sounds like I would like it. I'm a REALLY big fan of Japanese G1 and this probably the best chance of having a Dinoking in my CHUG collection.

 

If you like the look of this guy, and have the money to spend, I'd say go for it. I have the Monstructor version and it's still one of my favorite combiners of all time. Looks great, not too complex. This is the cheapest it's ever been, and it's probably going to be a long, long time before anyone else takes a stab at Dinoking.

 

Yeah, right now it's $200 at tfsource, only through today. So I have a few hours to decide if I'm going to go for it. Tfsouce lists it as 52% off, down from $420. But BBTS has him listed at $250. So it's really just 20% off. That said, $200 is an amazing deal for such a good looking figure. The only thing making me hesitant is that TFexpo is comming up in a few weeks (near Kansas City, Missouri) and if I buy this now, that's $200 less I have to spend at the show. A few years ago at the convention, I could have bought a vintage G1 Victory Leo complete (slightly yellowed) for $180 but I didn't have enough money left. I feel that either way I go, Murphy's Law will probably get me.

 

I think TFSource's regular price was like 230 or 240 as well since it coming in stock with the price slash next to it to make it look better. I wouldn't expect that to change after tomorrow.

In fact I hate to come off pessimistic but I'd wager money on even further markdowns in the future. I see this being the next Quantron in that regard but while Quantron was fucking magnificent and just went under the radar this thing is an actual, jank piece of crap.

 

Is the QC bad? Or do you just not like the design?

 

Love the aesthetic. Q.c. and general engineering are poor.

 

Waa this the same designer as Giant, Quantron, Colossus, and Guardia?

Feels likr a similar aesthetic but much less ambitious engineering with less qc checks

 

Saurus was quite a "boring" figure to me, was not fun with the arms and legs sharing the same transformation, almost like how G1 superion seemed.
the shells really take a lot of space which is quite a rare commodity for me. furthermore i'm not really a fan of how its a "1 way" assembly with no way to reverse it for storage etc :|

guess I was just bought into the hype of a dino king early on  

 

Took the plunge due to the current sale at TF Source. $200 is about as low as I've seen prices drop for this, though it would be nice to get it cheaper.

 

Well, you were right. Now that the sale is over, tfsource has it listed for $250, same as BBTS.

I decided to pass on this (for now). A $50 price reduction is nice, but not nice enough to go to a TF convention with $200 less money to spend. Especially when I got such good deals the last time I was there. (slightly yellowed Minerva with original helmet and repro head $120, Galactic Man complete $80, M.A.S.K. Manta $40)

But I will definitely keep my eye on this to see if the price drops further.

 

I admit I regret not getting the Monstructor/Beastructor version of this when it was around. I just despised the other Fansproject combiner I had owned (Menasor) so deeply that I wanted nothing to do with them. But it sounds like these figures were a lot simpler and cleaner, and with no official modern Monstructor in existence, I’m kicking myself a little for passing it up.

 

This guy showed up a few days after ordering. The combined mode looks the part, but I see what all the complaints are about now. He's ok, not great, and definitely not worth MSRP.

 

Yeah, he looks nice, especially with the giant scythe, but he tiny baby man. Looks comically small next to TT/KFC Victory Saber.

 

Why? Dinoking is a tiny combiner in canon. In the toon he's the same size as Star Saber by itself.

 

I know, I just feel a bit sorry for the little guy. Like Starsaber takes a few hits from him purely out of pity, or the rest of the 'cons only take him on missions because his Mum asked them nicely.

"Oh scrap, it's Dinoking again. No, don't hit him, just act scared and try not to let him bite your kneecaps. Guys got issues."