Janebirkin-oui!
Blue whale in comparison with the 'Flying Scotsman' and a Stagecoach bus.
It took me a couple of years to make this 00 (1:76) scale model display (back in 2001) which was eventually put on public display at a local sea-life centre (I am currently making an updated version). It shows the relative sizes of the biggest animals (both alive and extinct)- including the largest animal that has ever existed, a blue whale.
Hypothetically, if the 'Flying Scotsman' steam engine and a Stagecoach double- decker bus were to be lined up together, alongside a 100ft (30m) blue whale, they would be around the same length*- although the blue whale would be heavier! On average, adult female blue whales are 80-90ft long and weigh approximately 120-150 tons however a very large, pregnant blue whale may weigh up to 200 tons or more!
In the picture can be seen an Asian elephant (that represents the size and weight of the blue whale's tongue), bottlenose dolphins, giraffe, a 40 ton Brachiosaurus**, people, a mini car (that represents the blue whale's heart), a bowhead/Greenland right whale, a sperm whale- with a giant squid in it's mouth- and an orca (killer whale).
*Whalers would measure the roqual whale in a straight line (usually on it's side) from the tip of the rostrum to the notch in the flukes. Because the blue whale's jaws extend about 1/2 ft (0.5m) below the tip of the rostrum and the tail tips a couple of feet beyond the central notch, a 100ft blue whale would technically be about 3 or 4ft (1.3m) longer!
**Argentinosaurus and Titanosaurs were heavier and longer - perhaps up to 80 tons*** or more- and over 100ft in length. Scientists are debating if saurapods were actually as heavy as previously thought and whether according to fossilised neck vertebra evidence (and percieved 'air sacs' within the bone tissue) did they develop straight, near horizontal- necks rather than 'swan'- or upright necks. In nature, anything goes and neck postures may have varied over time and became extremely flexible.
Perhaps then a maximum weight of 60 tons for Argentinosaurus (or even far less-say around 45 tons)? Did Brachiosaurus weigh around 25-35 tons instead and generally held the neck straight upwards -like a giraffe-due to it's high fore limbs (rather than straight outwards and curved slightly downwards)? Does the model depicted represent it's maximum neck height position? Would the animal suffered an injury!? Did these animals throughout their time evolve and develop different potential neck positions or more likely reached a natural optimum, efficient design? Perhaps the brachiosaurus model is too artistic looking. I am presently making a new Brachiosaurus model which will hopefully reflect those possible changes alongside an Argentinosaurus model. These two giant dinosaurs will also be in comparison together with a blue whale.
I have now completed the Argentinosurus model and Brachiosaurus- both to the same scale at 1/72. Although Argentinosaurus is noticeably bigger (and had a similar structure design) it's model weight is not considerably more I notice. Therefore I believe this animal when alive, would not have exceeded 50 tons (perhaps more likely 35-45 tons). If it were 80 to 100 tons, (as many people assume) then the weight, load bearing down on each of it's legs would be a colossal 20-25 tons! ( where does all that weight come from? What would this continuous force create on the animal itself?). A far less credible weight must have been 10-12 tons? But this still seems heavy for a very large,walking animal! Whereas I think Brachiosaurus may likely have weighed 20-30 tons- with a load bearing of about 5 to 6 tons on each leg/foot- Argentinosaurus perhaps had an average load bearing of around 8-10 tons? This would have made the animal about 10 or 15 tons heavier, at around 35 -40 tons? To take into account some animals would have been heavier than my average estimation then possibly Brachiosaurus may have weighed up to 36 tons and Argentinosaurus up to 50 tons?
The next model to make will be an elephant and *Tyrannosaurus to the same scale.
*I believe Tyrannosaurus Rex femours or upper legs should be set slightly backwards/straighter (rather than more bent forwards) instead. I believe this is because the femour bones slightly bend at the knee joint, so that when set backwards instead, this area becomes level. I believe this alternative load bearing position would allow the animal to walk/run more quickly and it's efficient energy would be stored better- like a suspension spring, along with the rest of the lower leg becoming straighter at an angle. This would also allow for the animal to straighten up tall (30 feet +) when stationary- a must when looking out for prey and hunting/scavenging. At present I believe the typical pose of T Rex- with forward bended legs- would make the animal slow and clumsy (try walking with knees bent all the time)!
PCT.
Blue whale in comparison with the 'Flying Scotsman' and a Stagecoach bus.
It took me a couple of years to make this 00 (1:76) scale model display (back in 2001) which was eventually put on public display at a local sea-life centre (I am currently making an updated version). It shows the relative sizes of the biggest animals (both alive and extinct)- including the largest animal that has ever existed, a blue whale.
Hypothetically, if the 'Flying Scotsman' steam engine and a Stagecoach double- decker bus were to be lined up together, alongside a 100ft (30m) blue whale, they would be around the same length*- although the blue whale would be heavier! On average, adult female blue whales are 80-90ft long and weigh approximately 120-150 tons however a very large, pregnant blue whale may weigh up to 200 tons or more!
In the picture can be seen an Asian elephant (that represents the size and weight of the blue whale's tongue), bottlenose dolphins, giraffe, a 40 ton Brachiosaurus**, people, a mini car (that represents the blue whale's heart), a bowhead/Greenland right whale, a sperm whale- with a giant squid in it's mouth- and an orca (killer whale).
*Whalers would measure the roqual whale in a straight line (usually on it's side) from the tip of the rostrum to the notch in the flukes. Because the blue whale's jaws extend about 1/2 ft (0.5m) below the tip of the rostrum and the tail tips a couple of feet beyond the central notch, a 100ft blue whale would technically be about 3 or 4ft (1.3m) longer!
**Argentinosaurus and Titanosaurs were heavier and longer - perhaps up to 80 tons*** or more- and over 100ft in length. Scientists are debating if saurapods were actually as heavy as previously thought and whether according to fossilised neck vertebra evidence (and percieved 'air sacs' within the bone tissue) did they develop straight, near horizontal- necks rather than 'swan'- or upright necks. In nature, anything goes and neck postures may have varied over time and became extremely flexible.
Perhaps then a maximum weight of 60 tons for Argentinosaurus (or even far less-say around 45 tons)? Did Brachiosaurus weigh around 25-35 tons instead and generally held the neck straight upwards -like a giraffe-due to it's high fore limbs (rather than straight outwards and curved slightly downwards)? Does the model depicted represent it's maximum neck height position? Would the animal suffered an injury!? Did these animals throughout their time evolve and develop different potential neck positions or more likely reached a natural optimum, efficient design? Perhaps the brachiosaurus model is too artistic looking. I am presently making a new Brachiosaurus model which will hopefully reflect those possible changes alongside an Argentinosaurus model. These two giant dinosaurs will also be in comparison together with a blue whale.
I have now completed the Argentinosurus model and Brachiosaurus- both to the same scale at 1/72. Although Argentinosaurus is noticeably bigger (and had a similar structure design) it's model weight is not considerably more I notice. Therefore I believe this animal when alive, would not have exceeded 50 tons (perhaps more likely 35-45 tons). If it were 80 to 100 tons, (as many people assume) then the weight, load bearing down on each of it's legs would be a colossal 20-25 tons! ( where does all that weight come from? What would this continuous force create on the animal itself?). A far less credible weight must have been 10-12 tons? But this still seems heavy for a very large,walking animal! Whereas I think Brachiosaurus may likely have weighed 20-30 tons- with a load bearing of about 5 to 6 tons on each leg/foot- Argentinosaurus perhaps had an average load bearing of around 8-10 tons? This would have made the animal about 10 or 15 tons heavier, at around 35 -40 tons? To take into account some animals would have been heavier than my average estimation then possibly Brachiosaurus may have weighed up to 36 tons and Argentinosaurus up to 50 tons?
The next model to make will be an elephant and *Tyrannosaurus to the same scale.
*I believe Tyrannosaurus Rex femours or upper legs should be set slightly backwards/straighter (rather than more bent forwards) instead. I believe this is because the femour bones slightly bend at the knee joint, so that when set backwards instead, this area becomes level. I believe this alternative load bearing position would allow the animal to walk/run more quickly and it's efficient energy would be stored better- like a suspension spring, along with the rest of the lower leg becoming straighter at an angle. This would also allow for the animal to straighten up tall (30 feet +) when stationary- a must when looking out for prey and hunting/scavenging. At present I believe the typical pose of T Rex- with forward bended legs- would make the animal slow and clumsy (try walking with knees bent all the time)!
PCT.