Gigantic Visitors Invade the Mall

It is 25 feet tall, and it roars, claws and gyrates like a real dinosaur.

The polyurethane and steel Tyrannosaurus rex, one of several models on display at MainPlace/Santa Ana until June 16, is drawing crowds of youngsters and their parents, who mall officials hope will do a little shopping while they’re there.

Mall marketing director Judith A. Bijlani said that schoolchildren from Orange and neighboring counties will take tours of the exhibit, rented from Irvine-based Dinamation International Corp., and will receive information packets about prehistoric animals.

The T. rex, the largest of the models, appeared to be attracting the most attention, upstaging the triceratops and a dilophosaurus that spits.

“How can we get one of those?” asked Chuck Augade, a Mission Viejo resident and structural engineer, as he examined the T. rex. “It’s amazing the way it’s constructed and balanced.”

The 2-ton creation is controlled by computer and powered by an air compressor like those used by house painters, said Tony Aloi, vice president of marketing for Dinamation, which builds dinosaurs for fairs, zoos and museums around the world.

Even on a day when the T. rex broke down and had to be unplugged to silence an ear-splitting whine, it still drew crowds, especially tots who gazed at the dinosaur with a mix of fascination and trepidation.

Said 2-year-old Connor Paone, visiting the mall with his nanny: “Don’t step on me, big guy!”