Category: Macross

More pictures from Bic Camera

So I guess there was a decent amount of stuff if I have to make another post for Bic Camera. If I had to guess I think Bandai wanted to get into the  building block business. So they came up with the Doubutsu Gattai ZyuohKing show to cash in on the cult that is Lego or maybe to give the robots a Minecraft look. They are kind of cool. Big, heavy, blocky, robots. It is an interesting idea at the very least. I would not buy any, but they did catch my eye every time I popped into a toy section of any department store in Japan. The DX Cube 123 King Zyuoh & 456 Dodekaioh were in a display where you could play with them hands on at another department store name Lab.

バンダイ ジュウオウキューブ/ジュウオウジャー Doubutsu Sentai Zyuohger DX Cube 123 King Zyuoh 456 Dodekaioh by Bandai Japan Gattai from tokusatsu tv show (動物合体ジュウオウキング Dōbutsu Gattai Jūō Kingu, Animal Combination Beast Monarch King)

Doubutsu Sentai Zyuohger DX Cube 123 King Zyuoh & 456 Dodekaioh by Bandai Japan



Doubutsu Sentai Zyuohger DX Cube 123 King Zyuoh Bandai Ultraman Japan Gattai 2016 バンダイ ジュウオウキューブ/ジュウオウジャー

Doubutsu Sentai Zyuohger DX Cube 123 King Zyuoh Bandai Ultraman figure Japan Gattai 2016

Is Ultraman still a thing? Just checked now, I guess that show is still going. I did not know it was an ongoing show. Just like the Super Sentai (Power Rangers in the US).

Getter Dragon, Getter 1, Z Mazinger, Destroid Monster Macross Bic Camera pictures

Getter Dragon, Getter 1, & Z Mazinger Dynamite Action, Destroid Monster Macross at Bic Camera

The Dynamite Action Getter Dragon figure looked pretty good. It looks like it popped right out of the cartoon. Based on what I see, I prefer it to the Soul of Chogokin version. They also have a Tetsujin 28 figure that looks pretty good. Their line of robots are totally up my alley but they seem a little pricy. I guess I will have to see how big they are.


Kaiju, Mecha Godzilla, Ultraman and more figures!

Kaiju, Mecha Godzilla, Ultraman and more figures!

Did I ever mention I was a Godzilla fan?

Tomica car display at Bic Camera

Tomica Cars

The cars by Tomy are cool just because of the packaging for me. Japanese packaging has always been something I have loved about the toys. You can take them out, put them away and practically keep them brand new. In US packaging you have to destroy the packaging to take the toy out, think Matchbox cars for example.

Tomica car display at Bic Camera

Tomica Cars



The Robot Spirits Tamashii Nations Bandai Unicorn Gundam, Zaku & Sniper ROBOT魂

The Robot Spirits Tamashii Nations Bandai Unicorn Gundam, Zaku & Sniper

More robots under the girls anime display, which I assume is more for guys than for girls. The Robot Spirits line by Tamashii Nations has a good selection of Gundam mobile suits and 80’s robots in the line. It seems to me to be the line that replaced the MS in Action!! line.



More Robot Spirits Gundam, Iron Man, Star Wars, Dragonballz figures at Bic Camera ROBOT魂

More Robot Spirits Gundam, Iron Man, Star Wars, Dragonballz figures

VF-1S Armored Valkyrie – Macross 1983


Macross VF-1S 1/55 scale Roy Fokker(ロイ・フォッカー)Armored Valkyrie(アーマード・バルキリー) - Takatoku Toys(タカトクトイス) 1983 from Super Dimension Fortress Macross(超時空要塞マクロス, Chōjikū Yōsai Makurosu) 1983-1984

Macross VF-1S Armored Valkyrie with GBP-1S 1/55 scale Roy Fokker – Takatoku Toys 1983 from Super Dimension Fortress Macross

This is the VF-1S Armored Valkyrie and I thought I got this as a set but looking at my old handwritten notes, I got the armor for 25 dollars in Japan in 1985 and the VF1S in Hong Kong in the same year. During my last trip Japan trip 2013, I saw this in a 2nd hand store for about 140-150 (I think) and I was thinking of getting this for my cousin but I noticed that the plastic was starting to yellow and I so, I ended up getting him the Orguss. In the Macross cartoon, you see the armor is on the VF-1J as showing in the cartoon still (and not the VF-1S as shown below).

Macross VF-1J Armored Valkyrie still

Macross VF-1J Armored Valkyrie


SDF-1 – Macross Takatoku 1984

Macross SDF-1 DX 1/3000 scale 12" Battle Fortress- Takatoku Toys 1984 Storm Attacker Construction from anime Super Dimension Fortress Macross(超時空要塞マクロス, Chōjikū Yōsai Makurosu) 1983-1984

Macross SDF-1 DX 1/3000 scale 12″ Battle Fortress- Takatoku Toys 1984 Storm Attacker Construction from Super Dimension Fortress Macross

Here’s probably the holy grail of the Macross collection – the original Takatoku SDF-1.  Actually, I do not think they have re-issued this toy under the Bandai or Yamato line (unlike the various VF jets).  I bought this in Hong Kong in 1983 and I was very, very happy to have purchased him. When I look back at that trip to HK, I really remember there were more toy stores.  When I went again in 2011, I didn’t see anywhere near the volume that I recalled as a child.  I do remember though, that HK used to be a big maker of toys but not so much anymore and perhaps, that has something to do it.

SDF-1 in action from Super Dimension Fortress Macross anime still (超時空要塞マクロス, Chōjikū Yōsai Makurosu)

SDF-1 in action from Super Dimension Fortress Macross



VF-1J “Miria” – Macross

Variable Fighter VF-1J Valkyrie Miria Jenius 1-55 scale 2002 Bandai from anime Super Dimension Fortress Macross(超時空要塞マクロス, Chōjikū Yōsai Makurosu) 1983-1984

Variable Fighter VF-1J Valkyrie Miria Jenius 1-55 scale 2002 Bandai from anime Super Dimension Fortress Macross 1983-1984

Here’s another Bandai re-issue that I couldn’t get as a kid – this time the red “Miria” model VF-1J.  Basically, the background story behind her was that she was originally sent by the Zentradi’s to kill Maximillian Sterling – the ace pilot of the Earth Forces.  She grew to fall in love with him and they eventually got married, had a child and she ended up fighting along side the Earth forces against her motherland – the Zentradi Empire.  This red VF-1J depicts her plane.

What’s fascinating about this (especially in the context of a cartoon) was the very adult idea that love could conquer all.  You never saw such depth and meaning in U.S. cartoons and that’s why I grew to love Japanese anime – they were so much more sophisticated in story and plot line and overall, animation quality.

 


Variable Fighter VF-1J Valkyrie Miria Jenius from anime Super Dimension Fortress Macross(超時空要塞マクロス, Chōjikū Yōsai Makurosu) 1983-1984

VF-1J Valkyrie Miria Jenius from Super Dimension Fortress Macross


VF-1J “Max” – Macross

Variable Fighter VF-1J Valkyrie Max Jenius Sterling - 1/55 scale 2002 Bandai from Super Dimension Fortress Macross( 超時空要塞マクロス or Chōjikū Yōsai Makurosu)

Variable Fighter VF-1J Valkyrie Max Jenius Sterling – 1/55 scale 2002 Bandai from Super Dimension Fortress Macross

This one’s a Bandai re-issue of the blue VF-1J “Max” model from the Macross series.  I never could find the Takatoku versions as a child but I was able to find the Bandai re-issues from the early 2000’s. Bandai and Yamato has since made tons of re-issues.

 


Variable Fighter VF-1J Valkyrie Max Jenius Sterling from from Super Dimension Fortress Macross( 超時空要塞マクロス or Chōjikū Yōsai Makurosu) animated still

Max’s VF-1J Valkyrie from Super Dimension Fortress Macross in action



VF-1J Max and Meria – Macross

Below are the “Max” and “Meria” VF-1J’s from the Macross series.  I vividly remember wanting to have these as a kid to complete the collection but I didn’t see them on my various trips to Japan.  I didn’t realize until later that the original maker (Takatoku) went out of business in the early 80’s and the molds were purchased by Bandai.  I’m going to guess that Bandai hadn’t yet gotten around to re-doing these two until later.  Anyway, these are Bandai re-issues that I purchased in the early 2000’s.  I’m glad I have them as I now have a complete Macross collection.




Variable Fighter VF-1J Valkyries Max Jenius Sterling and Milia Jenius - 1/55 scale 2002 Bandai from Super Dimension Fortress Macross( 超時空要塞マクロス or Chōjikū Yōsai Makurosu)

Variable Fighter VF-1J Valkyries Max & Miria Jenius – 1/55 scale 2002 Bandai from Super Dimension Fortress Macross



VF-1A – Macross

Here’s two variants of the VF-1A model – the red/black version from the “Do You Remember Love?” Macross movie and the brown version from the Macross series.  I purchased the red/black version on a trip to Japan in 1985 and the brown version (the first one I received for my Macross collection) I received as a Christmas present in 1984. The brown version was 70 dollars back in Dec 84.  The red/black version was purchased for about 20 dollars back in 1985.

 

Variable Fighter VF-1A Valkyrie 1/55 scale - Brown Takatoku Toys(タカトクトイス) Mass Production(量産機) version 1983 & Bandai Hi Metal Hikaru Type 1984 from Super Dimension Fortress Macross(超時空要塞マクロス, Chōjikū Yōsai Makurosu) 1983-1984

Variable Fighter VF-1A Valkyrie 1/55 scale – Brown Takatoku Toys Mass Production version 1983 & Bandai Hi Metal Hikaru Type 1984 from Super Dimension Fortress Macross


VF-1S Strike and VF-1S Roy Fokker – Macross

Below are the two variants of the VF-1S – the “Strike Valkyrie” and the “Roy Fokker” model from the Macross series.  The Roy Fokker model skull and crossbones insignia is actually modeled from an actual U.S. Navy squadron – VFA-103 “The Jolly Rogers.” The VF-1S “Strike Valkyrie” is from Bandai while the VF-1S “Roy Fokker” is from Takatoku Toys.  I believe I purchased the “Roy Fokker” model in Hong Kong in 1983.  During my last trip to Hong Kong in 2011, I tried to look for toy stores in the malls but there just didn’t seem to be same amount of volume that I remembered.  It’s also possible that these stores are now for adults like me and maybe in less traveled/less touristy areas. Both VF-1S and the Strike Valkyrie, I purchased in Japan 1985 for 20 dollars each.

Variable Fighter VF-1S Valkyrie 1/55 scale - Strike Valkyrie Hi Metal Hikaru Type 1984 With Fast Pack Bandai & Roy Fokker Takatoku Toys(タカトクトイス) 1983  from anime Super Dimension Fortress Macross(超時空要塞マクロス, Chōjikū Yōsai Makurosu) 1983-1984

Variable Fighter VF-1S Valkyrie 1/55 scale – Strike Valkyrie Hi Metal Hikaru Type 1984 With Fast Pack Bandai & Roy Fokker Takatoku Toys 1983 from Super Dimension Fortress Macross

 

VF-1S Strike Valkyrie – Macross

Here’s the Bandai VF-1S Strike Valkyrie as piloted by Hikaru Ichijyo in “Do You Remember Love?” Macross movie in 1984.  I purchased him in Kyoto, Japan 1985. You don’t see this one until the climatic ending of the movie.

 

VF-1S Strike Valkyrie(ストライクバルキリー) 1/55 scale Bandai 1985 Ichijō Hikaru(一条 輝 ) from anime movie Do You Remember Love? 1984(超時空要塞マクロス 超時空要塞マクロス 愛・おぼえていますか)

VF-1S Strike Valkyrie 1/55 scale Bandai 1985 Hikaru Ichijyo from anime movie Do You Remember Love?





VF-1S still VF-1S still 2 Hikaru Ichijyo(一条 輝 ) from anime movie Do You Remember Love? 1984(超時空要塞マクロス 超時空要塞マクロス 愛・おぼえていますか)

VT-1 Trainer – Macross

 

Another robot from the “Do You Remember Love?” Macross movie from 1985.  This time, the VT-1J trainer. Again, this one didn’t have a large role in the movie.  Here he is in toy form and the cartoon still.

Macross VT-1 Super Ostrich Hi-Metal Variable Trainer(HI-METAL 1/55 VT-1 スーパーオストリッチ バンダイ) DX 1/55 scale Bandai 1985 Super Real Model- S-Heavy Version Japan from anime The Super Dimension Fortress Macross: Do You Remember Love? (超時空要塞マクロス 愛・おぼえていますか Chōjikū Yōsai Makurosu: Ai Oboete Imasu ka) 1984

Macross VT-1 Super Ostrich Hi-Metal Variable Trainer DX 1-55 scale Bandai 1985 Super Real Model- S-Heavy Version Japan

VT-1 Super Ostrich from the anime The Super Dimension Fortress Macross: Do You Remember Love? (超時空要塞マクロス 愛・おぼえていますか Chōjikū Yōsai Makurosu: Ai Oboete Imasu ka) 1984

VT-1 Super Ostrich from the anime The Super Dimension Fortress Macross: Do You Remember Love?


 

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