Transformers Collection

Robot Collection - Gundam and Transformers on my TV stand

Robot Collection – Gundam and Transformers

Hopefully the pictures come out ok (might be some daytime glare/flash glare) but here’s my display of all of my Transformers.  To the left of the t.v. you’ll see the Insecticons, Ultra Magnus (White Optimus Prime), Shockwave.  To the right of the TV, you’ll see the 3 280ZX cars (Smokescreen, Prowl, Silverstreak), Hoist, Trailbreaker, Grapple, Inferno, and Blaster.  One the 2nd shelf, you’ll see my four Dinobots.  I’m still looking for the Swoop (the Petradactyl) and the rest of the G1 Autobot cars for my Transformers Collection.  The bottom shelf has my collection of the 6 Decepticon planes.  Evidently, there is one more called Sunstreaker (he’s yellow) but I’ve never seen him as a child but I have seen recent versions of him.

 

Transformers collection3 Transformers collection1 Transformers collection
Transformers collection2


Dave's Collection mostly shows Transformers with a sprinkling of Godaikin and Gundam robots

From Dave’s Collection mostly shows Transformers with a sprinkling of Godaikin and Gundam robots

Dave's Collection of mostly Transformers with a sprinkling of Godaikin, Dougram and Gundam robots

Dave’s Collection of mostly Transformers with a sprinkling of Godaikin, Dougram and Gundam robots


So my pictures were so bad, I decided to get a few more that were still pretty bad. Oh well, at least they were not as blurry!

Dinobots Hasbro Generation 1 G1 Slag Sludge Grimlock Snarl 1984 front of robots

Generation 1 Dinobots by Hasbro Slag, Sludge, Grimlock, Snarl from 1984 Autobot G1

Thrust, Ramjet, Sunfire and Dirge are Generation 1 Seekers(Decepticon jet fighter robots) also known as Coneheads or seekers in 1985 Transformers frontside

Thrust, Ramjet, Dirge, and Sunfire Decepticon G1 Seekers aka Coneheads 1985 Transformers

Transformers Insecticons 1985 Hasbro Generation 1 Kickback, Bombshell, & Shrapnel G1 image back

Transformers Insecticons 1985 Hasbro Generation 1 Kickback, Bombshell, & Shrapnel G1

Gerwalk Nikick – Orguss

Here’s another robot from the Orguss series – the “Gerwalk Nikick.” I didn’t really do too much with him as a kid as it really only looks good as a robot. Still, I’m glad to have him as I have the two main robots from the Orguss series.

Gerwalk Nikick MBG-24C 1983 1/40 Scale from Super Dimension Century Orguss(Cho Jiku Seiki Orguss超時空世紀オーガス) from 1983-1984

Gerwalk-Nikick MBG-24C 1983 Takatoku Toys 1/40

 

Gerwalk Nikick in action from Super Dimension Century Orguss (Cho Jiku Seiki Orguss超時空世紀オーガス) from 1983-1984

Gerwalk-Nikick in action from Super Dimension Century Orguss from 1983-1984

Orguss Orgroid

This one’s called Orguss Orgroid and I bought this in Japan in 1985. I bought the same robot for my cousin during my last trip to Japan in 2015 for about 120 dollars.

Drifand Orguss Orgroid 1983 Takatoku Toys from the anime Super Dimension Century Orguss(Cho Jiku Seiki Orguss超時空世紀オーガス) from 1983-1984

Drifand Orguss-Orgroid 1983 Takatoku Toys from the anime Super Dimension Century Orguss

Anime still from Super Dimension Century Orguss(Cho Jiku Seiki Orguss超時空世紀オーガス) from 1983-1984

Super Dimension Century Orguss anime 1983-1984


 

L-Gaim 1984

Here’s the original “Heavy Metal L-Gaim” that I purchased in Japan, 1985. I never saw the cartoon but I liked him nonetheless.  I actually saw this again in a 2nd hand store and was going to get it for my cousin as it was reasonably priced at 30 dollars.  Good thing I didn’t as he already has this.  Anyway,  I bought a later version under the “HCM – Hi Complete Model” series in 2004 but that one is much smaller than this one. I have customized my toy, however, by painting the leg flaps silver with black trim and the waist armor, black.

 

L-Gaim DX Hi Metal 1/100 scale 1984 Popy Chogokin from anime tv show Heavy Metal L Gaim(Juusenki L-Gaim 重戦機エルガイム) 1984-1985

L-Gaim DX Hi Metal 1/100 scale 1984 Popy Chogokin from Heavy Metal L Gaim

L-Gaim from the anime Heavy Metal L Gaim(Juusenki L-Gaim 重戦機エルガイム) 1984-1985

L-Gaim from the anime Heavy Metal L Gaim(重戦機エルガイム) 1984-1985




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

 

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