Pterodactyl skeleton 3d puzzle

PTERANODON LONGICEPS 3D PUZZLE (Version 2)

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DINOSAUR:

Pterosaurs are not dinosaurs. The term "dinosaur" is restricted to certain groups of reptiles with a unique upright posture (the superorder Dinosauria, which includes birds), and therefore excludes pterosaurs, as well as several groups of extinct marine reptiles such as ichthyosaurs, plesiosaurs, and mosasaurs.

Pteranodon species are very well represented in the fossil record, allowing for detailed descriptions of their anatomy and lifestyle. Nearly 1000 specimens have been identified, though fewer than half are complete enough to provide researchers with good information about the animal's anatomy. Even so, these are many more fossils than are known for any other pterosaur, and this includes specimens of both males and females from various age groups and, possibly, species.

Pteranodon fossils are known primarily from the Niobrara Formation in the central United States. Broadly speaking, Pteranodon existed for over four million years, from the late Coniacian to the early Campanian in the Cretaceous period[5]. The genus is present in many of the layers of the Niobrara Formation except for the top two; in 2003, Kenneth Carpenter provided the distribution and dating of fossils from this formation, showing that Pteranodon sternbergi existed between 88 to 85 million years ago, while P. longiceps existed between 86-84.5 million years ago.

WHY CHOOSE THIS MODEL?

Most puzzle-type dinosaur skeleton models are derived, in most cases identical, from patterns made in schools in the 90s/2000s. These models were designed to be hand-sawn from 3mm thick plywood sheets, so the “bones” were usually coarse, which is logical, since if the design had delicate components they would have easily broken when sawn.

For my designs, I also started from the same old patterns, but I have taken advantage of current technical possibilities to assimilate skulls, ribs, vertebrae, etc., and also the assembly patterns to the real skeletons of dinosaurs. In the following image, we can compare the classic Stegosaurus model against my current design, in which the way the upper plates fit onto the ribs, or the change in the level of detail in elements such as the skull, is quickly appreciated.

In this image, at first glance, we can see how, in the development of the Smilodon (saber-toothed tiger) skeleton system, an effort has been made at all times not to deviate too much from the animal's real anatomy.

On the other hand, efforts have also been made to adapt the designs to the latest theories accepted by the scientific community regarding the skeleton's structure. In the following image, we can observe the classic Spinosaurus skeleton, made according to the older interpretation of the found bones, which somehow assimilated it to a Tyrannosaurus, alongside my design, more in line with the interpretation currently accepted by the scientific community.

ASSEMBLY:

All pieces have a one or two-digit number marked with a depth of 0.4 mm, so they will be clearly visible once printed. To assemble them, you only need to join the pieces whose numbering matches. That is, if the spine has a recess with the number 38, for example, you will need to insert rib number 38 there, and onto this rib, plate number 38. Continue this process until assembly is complete. The number on the ribs will usually face forward, towards the head, and the number on the plates will face inwards.

DOWNLOADABLE STLs:

I have uploaded an STL with all the pieces to print on a bed of at least 256x256 mm; I will also prepare one that prints on two plates for machines with a smaller work surface.

PRINT PROFILES:

I have uploaded four print profiles:

• PROFILE 1: P1S printer, 0.2 layer height, standard mode, PLA.
• PROFILE 2: P1S printer, 0.2 layer height, standard mode, PETG.
• PROFILE 3: P2S printer, 0.2 layer height, Optimal mode, PLA.
• PROFILE 4: P2S printer, 0.2 layer height, Optimal mode, PETG.

Please check the profile text to identify each one.

PRINTING TIPS:

I recommend using PETG; its strength is greater than PLA's. However, you can also use PLA if you wish.

DOWNLOAD LINKS TO OTHER MODELS IN THE COLLECTION:

Below are a series of links to other skeletons that you can also download for free. Simply click on the image of each one, and you will automatically be redirected to the page: