Brontosaurus Greek for “Thunder Lizard”. One of the most famous of the Dinosaurs is back! New research indicates Brontosaurus is a distinct genus from Apatosaurus that includes B. excelsus, B. yahnahpin and B. parvis. The 300 page study examines 477 different physical features of 81 specimens of sauropods including Diplodocus, Apatosaurus and now Brontosaurus. A long-necked herbivore with small heads and a long whip-like tails. They lived during the Late Jurassic Period and remains have been found in the Morrison Formation in North America. They roamed the earth about 155 – 151 Million Years Ago. A full-size Adult weighted in at 15 tons and 72 feet long! A complete skull has never been found, but it is assumed it would look very much like an Apatosaurus skull.
Cindy & Gary joined the Park on May 31st. They traveled from Mexico to Atascadero, California then about 170 miles south to the Park. We are so glad to have them! See post June 1, 2018 “Dinosaur Hunting: Trip to Templeton” for more on their discovery. Check out “Needing Rescue/Adoption” tab for availability of some of their friends.
After wire brushing, an acid wash & rinse, it will be time for a coat of rust reformer and rusty brown primer. Then Gary & Cindy will get some color. Make sure you protect yourself during this process. I use the blue nitrile gloves while wire brushing and heavy rubber gloves for the acid wash & rinse. I always wear eye protection and a hat too! I found various sizes and types of wire brushes. Depending on the Dinosaur I find different ones are easier for heavy rust and to reach tight spots. A dusting brush and blower will help keep your dinosaur and work area clean. The Masonite boards have provided me with a flexible work area. The boards come in 4 foot by 8 foot sheets. Home Depot has always cut them into four 2 foot by 4 foot sheets at no charge. It’s easier to transport them home in my car and allows me the ability to position for the shape of the dinosaur I’m working.
You may decide to clear coat to keep the original metal look. I still recommend light brushing to remove loose & heavy rust before clear coating. I have been tempted to do this many a time myself. Perhaps I will one day. Or you may like the natural build up rust over time and not do anything to stop or slow that process.
I used the smaller brush for these two. Neither one had heavy rust. The spray bottle works well for me to get into even the tightest places. I start with the dinosaur on its side to have access to the inside of the legs. After letting the wash set overnight, it was time for the rinse. Same staring position on the side this allows the water to drain when you return it to upright. A towel is great at making sure you have removed all of the acid. The blower aids in drying and helps remove the puddles of water on the masonite board. After a day to ensure all is completely dry, the rust reformer will be applied. Stay tuned for those steps.
Brontosaurus Name Issue: Long story short 1903 researchers determined there was not significant differences between Brontosaurus and Apatosaurus to warrant a different species. Apatosaurus was named first so that was to be the name. However, the Brontosaurus name had become so well known it wasn’t until the 1990’s that corrections where being made outside the scientific community. An extensive 2015 study published by a joint British-Portuguese Team concluded Brontosaurus is a separate genius from Apatosaurus.
For more information https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brontosaurus
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-brontosaurus-is-back1/
A friend of mine from Austin, Texas found these timely YouTube videos.
“How to Clean a Dinosaur at the New York City Museum of Natural History”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wswi7T8A_Go&index=3&list=PLtmzdzCeRsyFZ2suNsdDWHn9kaAGpkm8U
A Dinosaur Expert reviews the Dinosaurs in movies and TV shows. How do they compare with the ones that roamed the earth millions of years ago? Caution: there is a clip from “Jurassic World: Kingdom of the Fallen”. If you haven’t seen it yet you may want to wait until you have before watching this video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=PLtmzdzCeRsyFZ2suNsdDWHn9kaAGpkm8U&v=UiOImNcvqi8
Have a Great Weekend!
“Encouraging the Appreciation of Art and Education through the Inspiration of Dinosaurs”
Paul & Prehistoric Pals
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