For a while now, I’ve been singing the praises of the little company that could, Shark City Ozark.

From their 37″ Bruce to their massive 1/6 scale shark bust, they seem to demonstrate a knack for bringing this classic screen beast to 3D life. Their newest offering is no exception.

This time, instead of going bigger, SCO took a step in the opposite direction, and went with a less space-consuming 1/16th scale, or 18 inches long. The new size definitely satisfies, and the detail and accuracy I’d come to expect from SCO is there. Additionally, at an SRP of $299, he’s definitely affordable, and a solid deal when you think about the cost of statues these days, let along made to order, here in America, and painted individually by hand.

This version of Bruce depicts the prop’s carcass, in the waning days of filming, as he was abandoned on the beach of Martha’s Vineyard to rot as they wrapped shooting. As fans know, there were a few different mechanical sharks used, and this one accurately depicts the version that was open on the right side, with all of the pneumatics and hydraulics visible. There was also another version that was open on the left side, and a solid version. Knowing Mike Schultz, head of SCO and lead artists/sculptor, he has spent countless hours researching every reference photo available to ensure that this model is as accurate as possible. Based on the photos I’ve seen, he’s VERY close to the mark, if not standing squarely upon it. Due to the rigors of filming, repairs were made daily if not hourly, and not every photo looks the same, but the look and feel here are 100% on the money. You get a ton of fine detail work here for your $299.

Check out the pics, this is a pretty piece. And there are so few collectibles, let alone good ones, available from one my all-time favorite films. Stop on by Shark City Ozark, check out what they’ve got going on, and tell ’em that Cap sent ya! They’re really a fascinating story of an entire family working to create products they believe in.

Items reviewed were purchased by the reviewer.

 

About the Author: Captain Collector A veteran member of the toy journalism community for more than ten years, Steve "Captain Collector" Ceragioli has been an avid collector for four decades. Known for his honest reviews and vivid photography, he has written for some of the most prestigious action figure sites on the web. As a collector, Steve can often be found at local retail stores, hunting for the latest releases and meeting fellow collectors. Steve collects many of today's hottest toy lines, and he has a massive collection of vintage toys and knowledge. Cap brings a deep passion for the hobby along with him to AFHub!

 

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