Review
By Roselaar:
Description: the Medical Center itself is basically a rather oddly shaped white platform, with a large white bench or table on it sporting some grey covering and silver highlights. On the front it’s marked with a small TLW movie logo sticker. On the right side of the middle of the bench there’s a white plate sticking out, which is a resting support for any dinosaurs lying on it (it was designed with the Allosaurus in mind, which of course is most compatible with the Medical Center, but most smaller and medium sized dinosaurs fit on this table). There are four small protrusions sticking out of either side of the table: the set comes with a white strip with rows of holes in it so it can be clamped around the table, restraining any dinosaur lying on it. In front of the bench there’s more silver details, technical equipment of sorts with yellow cables sticking out. It’s there for show only and doesn’t do anything but give the set a more complicated and detailed appearance. In the right corner of t he platform next to the table, there’s a grey device with a white arm ending in a large round hole so it can hold the rejuvenation lab. This is basically a vat holding a red liquid: my guess would be it’s supposed to be blood. It can be placed above the right end of the table, so it can administer a blood transfusion or perform some similar procedure on the poor prehistoric beastie lying on the operating bench. The vat itself is cylindrical and transparent for the most part, save the underside which consists of silver detailing. On the left side of the platform, there’s a white table adorned with computer instruments (unfortunately not painted in a different colour, so they’re not very noticeable). This table has three holes in it, to store the medical instruments (a syringe, a scalpel and a pair of scissors, all painted grey). On top of this table there’s a grey computer console adorned with four stickers showing the skeleton of the Allosaurus and a DNA string among things, to give the table some more de tail. Lastly, in front of the table, on the left front corner of the platform, there’s a small white column, designed to restrain the tail of the Allosaurus when it’s lying on the table. It can be removed easily when it’s not needed, like when there’s a different dinosaur placed on the operating bench.
The Allosaurus stands in a completely neutral position and has both poseable arms and legs, as well as a lower jaw which is moveable to a small degree. It sports a predominantly light brown paint job: its back, flanks, neck, upper part of the tail, arms, most of the head and legs (including most of the dino damage pieces) are painted in this colour. Its underside (belly, lower part of the tail, throat, most of the lower jaw, and inner parts of its limbs are coloured white. It has about 25 dark brown stripes running from its snout to the end of the tail, as well as spots of the same colour on its flanks and upper legs. On its left upper leg there’s a black JP: Site B logo, along with the number .47. Unfortunately, none of the animal’s claws are painted. It has green eyes, located in the middle of a dark brown spot. Noteworthy: as was the case with real Allosaurs, this creature has two bony ridges on either side of the upper part of the skull, including “horns” above the eyes. This dinosaur comes with no
less than five points of dino damage:
-left upper tail section: on the left side of the upper tail, a large portion of skin can be removed, revealing vertebrae and red muscle tissue. This particular piece is somewhat harder to remove.
-upper left leg: the part of the leg sporting the JP: Site B logo can be removed, showing leg bones and muscle tissue.
-entire left leg: this leg sure has a hard time, since it can be torn off entirely. It looks a bit fake when this leg is removed, but at least the designers adorned the part under the leg with a small imprint of intestines (not painted sadly).
-left flank: a large portion of the left flank is capable of being pulled off, revealing a white ribcage.
-ribcage: removing this ribcage reveals even more fascinating inner anatomy, mostly muscle tissue, but also several internal organs coloured red, pink and purple.
Note that all dino damage is located on the left side of the sculpt, while there’s none on the right side.
Analysis: this is without a doubt one of the best and most original play sets of the TLW toy line, if not any JP toy line. Giving credit where credit is due: this set contains one of the most realistic and playable dinosaur sculpts ever, so whoever designed this one should be praised for his/her inventiveness and originality. Since Allosaurus wasn’t seen in any of the JP movies and hadn’t been made into a JP toy before this figure is original already, but adding so many dino damage to it only enhances the brilliance of this set. Taking the dinosaur apart during a battle with another dinosaur figure never fails to be good fun. The head sculpt looks fantastic and makes it unmistakably distinct from other JP dinosaurs.
But even though this is a wonderful sculpt, there are still some minor points of vexation. Firstly, the figure can’t stand on its own feet, it’s out of balance. Having it lean on the tail in a sort of tripod position helps though. Secondly, the paint job is a bit dull and not very original. It’s a shame they didn’t bother to paint the claws. Thirdly, it’s cool this beast can open its mouth, but it can not really be opened far enough to be useful.
Though of course the Allosaurus is the main attraction of this set, the Medical Center itself isn’t bad either, even though it looks a bit odd with all those asymmetrical shapes. The Allosaurus fits perfectly on the operating table (it was obviously designed for that), but almost every small or equally sized creature will do just as nicely. The paint job of the set is nothing too special, but certainly adequate. The abundance of white along with the grey and silver of instruments makes it all feel very much like a hospital, which it basically is. However, it’s a shame the equipment on the computer table lacks a paint job of its own. Fortunately the stickers adorning the console provide for some variation in colour. The rejuvenation lab with the red “blood” in it is a nice touch, though once you use some of it you can’t use it again. The medical instruments enhance the realism of the set, but even though there’s room for them in the table, they have a habit of being misplaced, making complete Medical Center play sets much harder to find.
Playability: this toy provides for loads of playability, especially since it already comes with a dinosaur figure so you don’t have to buy one separately. The Allosaurus not only stands in a totally neutral pose, but also has a full range of poseable limbs and even a mouth (which unfortunately can’t be opened very wide, but it’s still a nice little extra). The dino damage options only enhance the overall playability. The Medical Center itself adds some things as well with its removable rejuvenation lab and various medical instruments (which sadly have a tendency to get lost all too easily), though it’s clearly the dinosaur which does most of the job playability wise.
Realism: there was no Medical Center in the TLW movie. The Mobile Command Center trailer seen in the film might have carried some medical equipment (used on the T-Rex baby for example), but nothing like this since it just wouldn’t fit in the trailer. So this part of the play set is solely an invention on the toy designers’ part. As for the Allosaurus, it has not been featured in any of the JP movies, so we can’t compare it to its movie counterpart since it hasn’t got one. However, it’s quite correct from a scientific point of view. Especially accurate is the head with the ridges above its eyes, which also sets it apart distinctly from similar bipedal carnivores like Tyrannosaurus. A minor side note: any animal so heavily damaged as this poor creature wouldn’t live a day, Medical Center or not. But that would be too grizzly for a toy.
Repaint: no. No parts from this set, including the Allosaurus, would be repainted for later toy lines either.
Overall rating: 10/10. A fun play set featuring one of the best dinosaur sculpts of all JP toy lines, what more could anyone want? This set is highly recommended. The catch: it’s not easy to find, especially in complete condition. It wasn’t released in most foreign territories and isn’t exactly common in the USA either. Ebay is probably your best bet, though often people sell the Allosaurus apart from the Medical Center. It’s usually not very cheap either, but being one of the best JP toys of all, it’s most definitely worth your money.
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