Friday, April 5, 2013

Bat, New York and World




Safari Ltd. has gone bats-literally.  No, I don't mean the company has gone off the deep end, cuckoo, nuts, whacko, a few bricks shy of a full load-I mean they have just introduced a new animal figure: the Incredible Creatures Townsend's Big-eared Bat.
 

The Bat figure is a full-scale replica of its furry counterpart.  Its large membrane wings attach to its spindly arms and lower torso as if in flight.  Its short, dog-like snout with fluted nose is open revealing its rows of sharp teeth.  Two over-size ears that cup and magnify sound almost looks unreal and its yellow/tan/brown fur covered body looks soft enough to touch.  It's an incredible sculpting and paint application job.


When I was younger (and had more energy) I wanted to travel the world and see its most famous man-made sites.  My world traveling days are over but I can still catch a glimpse of some of the man-made wonders of the world courtesy of Safari Ltd.'s World Landmarks Toob.


Inside are miniature replicas of Mount Rushmore, the great Wall of China, the Buddha of Lantau, Easter Island, the Collosseum, the Sphinx and Stonehenge.  All are perfect 3D replicas of their larger namesakes and are expertly sculpted and painted.


For those of us that keep our traveling closer to home Safari Ltd.'s New York City Toob contains some instantly recognizable homegrown New York landmarks and city sights.

They include the Statue of Liberty, the Guggenheim Museum, the Chrysler Building, Rockefeller Center, the Big Apple, the Empire State Building, a New York Taxi and a Subway Car.  "New York!  I luv ya!"