Plate arrangement on Stegosaurus Stenops

[Kjetil Åkra <Kjetil.Akra@zmb.uib.no>]

I am currently building a model (1/35 scale) of Stegosaurus Stenops and hope
to get a reasonably accurate representation of this interesting dinosaur.
During my research I dicovered several areas in which the model was highly
inaccurate, as follows:

1 - the plate arrangement is (acoording to my references) a single row along
the midline, not two rows of alternating or paired plates. Can anyone
comment on this, the accuracy of this interpretation, current theories, etc?

2 - the model portrayed a dinosaurhead without cheeks, that looks to much
like a lizard, I think, so I added some.

3  - the scutes (or ossicles) was portrayed as a part of the skin. This view
is now abandoned I believe, but I would like a confirmation on that point.

A friend of mine who has studied dinosaurs for some time, suggested an
alternative arrangement of the plates which I had difficulty refuting. He
believes that there were indeed two rows of plates, but they were situated
laterally, one on each side, from necj to tail. I am not convinced, but have
not been able to find any evidence contradicting his view. Is there anyone
out there who know of some scientific reason why the plates of Stegosaurs
cannot be arranged in this way, or is this arrangement really a posibillity?
I and my friend would be very interested in learning more about this.

I have already portrayed my model with a singel row (and four tailspikes),
but if my friends theory cannot be immidiately falsified, I might have a go
at his arrangement too.

Thanks.

Kjetil =C5kra

Kjetil.Akra@zmb.uib.no