Tag: 1984

I had the brown version of Sasuraiger and for some reason, I just decided to get this green and red version. It looks like someone who was color blind put this together. It is relatively hideous. Oddly enough this is the color scheme for the robot in the anime Galactic Whirlwind Sasuraiger, but the colors are much more subdued and look much better on the cartoon. This one was like $30 shipped from Japan. Guess no one else wanted it there either. I really like the robot other than the color scheme. It is built like a brick and only the arms move a little bit. It transforms pretty easily and looks just like a train which was the big appeal for me. Except for the colors, it looks good in both forms. It stands pretty well for display. Too bad I don’t have the box for the brown Batrain I have.

Yamato released a new pvc version which is much smaller at maybe 5″  in 2008 which does Sasuraiger justice. The old ST and DX robots do not even come close like this one does. The new one looks pretty good in the original colors and actually has some flexibility for poses.

Sasuraiger Batrain C-3 SL Type Takatoku 1984 from anime tv show Galactic Whirlwind Sasuraiger 1983-1984

On another note, I was surprised to see this was Made in Taiwan R. O. C.. The trasformabili on the front makes me think this it the Italian release.

Batrain Takatoku aka Sasuraiger 1984 from anime tv show Ginga Shippuu Sasuraiger 1983-1984

Sasuraiger Batrain Takatoku 1984 from anime tv show Galactic Whirlwind Sasuraiger 1983-1984

Batrain C-3 SL Type Takatoku aka Sasuraiger 1984 from anime tv show Galactic Whirlwind Sasuraiger 1983-1984

Batrain C-3 SL Type Takatoku Sasuraiger 1984 from anime tv show Galactic Whirlwind Sasuraiger 1983-1984

I picked Giant Gorg up because I had the DX version. I have been meaning to take pictures of all my DX and ST robots together to see how they look. I am a big fan of most of the ST models and like to compare them to their DX brethren. Giant Gorg is not one of them. This is the only one I have seen so far where the ST version is so badly inferior to the DX.  The Gorg ST is not very detailed even once you put the stickers on. They didn’t even bother to make the gun out of gray plastic. If you like the Giant Gorg, the big blue DX version is the way to go. The DX really shines in comparison to this one in detail and quality.

The robot is definitely is made of metal as it has quite a heft for a little bugger, but it’s nothing to write home about. Basically it is a big blue chunk of metal and plastic. There is almost no detail. It would have been nice if they painted a little detail on Gorg here. But it was cheap so I really can’t say too much. The anime must have been pretty bad or the anime was not that popular, because I was able to pick this up at a pretty cheap price. After a little more thought, this ST is so easy to pick up as it is just a crappy piece.

Giant Gorg ST 1/100 Scale Takara 1984 Japan from anime tv show Giant Gorg 1984

Giant Gorg ST 1/100 Scale Real Proportion Model Takara 1984

Giant Gorg ST 1/100 Scale Takara 1984 from anime tv show Kyoshin Gorg 1984

Giant Gorg ST 1/100 Takara 1984 from anime tv show Giant Gorg 1984

Tune in to the next

The same GORG time. The same GORG channel.

Had a good laugh about the Batman inspired text at the end of the Giant Gorg episode. So I watched a few episodes on YouTube and I kinda enjoyed it. It really is aimed at kids, but most of the anime for robots I have see really are. But this one more so than others. Think 13 year old boy and humongous effing robot. It’s like hanging around with ET who can kick everyone’s ass. Found a thoughtful review on the show here.

The Hi-Metal L-Gaim is one of my favorite pieces. I have always wanted it since I first saw it on my cousin’s shelf in the 80’s.  Except for the yellowing on the plastic, L-Gaim is robot perfection. The detail and quality of the L-Gaim is amazing for the 80’s. I never knew anything about this robot, but I wanted to have one. This is definitely a must have for any Chogokin collectors. The box art is great. As far as I can see, this is the last Popy robot before they remerged back into Bandai. Popy meant high end quality robots and the the Hi-Metal L-Gaim is it! I can’t say enough about this robot.

The thing is, you can usually find the robot for a good price. I usually see it listed around $120 which is amazing for a robot of this quality from the 80’s.  Unfortunately, this white plastic is prone to yellowing like your old SNES(Super Nintendo Entertainment System). You can see what the actual color should be on the metal parts.  Dunno if its cheap plastic as they just did not plan to have these around that long.  I love the articulation and detail this figure has for an old 80’s robot. I can’t really think of any robot that matches its articulation an poseability from the 80’s. I am missing a gun, and I think I have a loose one of these hanging around somewhere.

I have a loose one as well. The brown plastic cable around the joints are broken off on the ends. I would say that is the main problem with this robot as they break pretty easily and I often see those broken when they are on sale,  but not really a deal breaker considering these are 30 year old robots. For me the cherry on the icing is the leg compartments. They open up and have some really nice detail.

Hi-Metal L-Gaim 1/100 Scale Popy Bandai ST 1984 from anime Heavy Metal L Gaim 1984-1985

Hi-Metal L-Gaim 1/100 Scale Popy Bandai 1984

Hi-Metal L-Gaim 1/100 Scale Popy Bandai 1984 from anime Juusenki L-Gaim (重戦機エルガイム) 1984-1985

Hi-Metal L-Gaim 1/100 Scale Popy Bandai 1984 Japanese instructions

Hi-Metal L-Gaim 1/100 Scale Popy Bandai 1984 from anime Juusenki L-Gaim (重戦機エルガイム) 1984-1985

Hi-Metal L-Gaim 1/100 Scale Popy Bandai 1984 from anime Heavy Metal L Gaim 1984-1985

Made in Japan Product of Popy

Heavy Metal L Gaim(重戦機エルガイム) Episode 1, anime tv show from 1984-1985

Combat Armor Dougram Takara 1984 1/72 scale from anime tv show Fang of the Sun 1981-1983

Dougram Dual Model is another cool little 80’s robot. With all the plastic add on armor, the Dougram reminds me of the HCM line from Bandai. It still packs enough die cast metal to make it a Chogokin robot. I really wish this one came with the shoulder armor. I thought it would not be a big deal, but you can see it looks off without the shoulder pad. It is pretty much the only missing piece. Oh well. You have to watch what you are for bidding on in eBay. That being said, Takara came out with another quality line of robots in the 80’s besides Transformers and Votoms.

I gotta watch the anime for Fang of the Sun Dougram some time. The robots are pretty cool. It’s not a wannabe Gundam. I love the packaging. It looks like a book, its compact and easy to store, but I wish it had a styrofoam insert.
Here is a taste of the anime Fang of the Sun Dougram 1981-1983.

You can see the quality in the robot as you pop in each plastic piece onto the base robot in the diagram below. It is like a detailed model without having to use paint and glue.

Combat Armor Dougram Takara 1984 1/72 scale from anime tv show Fang of the Sun Dougram 1981-1983

Combat Armor Dougram 1/72 scale Dual Model Decal Takara

Combat Armor Dougram Series-01 Mechanic Manual Takara from anime tv show Taiyou no Kiba Dougram 1981-1983

Fang of the Sun Combat Armor Dougram Instructions

Combat Armor Dougram(太陽の牙ダグラム ) Japanese Instructions

Combat Armor Dougram Takara 1984 from anime tv show Fang of the Sun Dougram 1981-1983

Fang of the Sun Combat Armor Dougram Takara 1/72 scale robot toy Made in Japan for Takara Toys 1984

Combat Armor Dougram Takara 1984 from anime tv show Fang of the Sun Dougram 1981-1983

I don’t have any of the Takatoku Valkyries, but I cherish this Bandai VF-1A as it is my only Valkyrie from the 80’s. This is the Hikaru Ichijo Bandai VF-1A from the movie “Macross: Do You Remember Love?” in 1984. Bandai made this Valkyrie just after they bought the molds from the remains of Takatoku Toys. I love the big 80’s Chogokins with die cast metal. While it is not the 1/55 scale I covet, I like having both the ST and DX versions of a robot. Hopefully I will add the larger one soon. I consider the 1/100 scale ST’s and 1/55 scale as DX versions. It seems that the 1/100 scale Valkyries are harder to find than the 1/55 scale robots on the auction sites though, so I am glad to have any of them.

Bandai made some really solid Valkyries during that time in the 1980’s, like the Elintseeker or VT Trainer. The Valkyries themselves hold a special place in my heart. I only have two Toynami Masterpiece 1/55 Valkyries and one Bandai Valkyrie from 2002, but I really hope to add the original Takatoku and Bandai robots from the 80’s. They were the first robots that were amazing as jets and just as amazing as robots. Even 30 years later the quality, design and beauty of these pieces still shine. These are the must have robots of the 80’s.

Bandai Variable Fighter VF-1A Valkyrie 1984 from movie Macross: Do You Remember Love? 1984

Bandai Variable Fighter VF-1A Valkyrie 1984 from the movie Macross: Do You Remember Love? 1984

Bandai Variable Fighter VF-1A Valkyrie instructions and stickers from the movie 超時空要塞マクロス 愛・おぼえていますか 1984

Bandai Variable Fighter VF-1A Valkyrie 1984 from the movie Macross: Do You Remember Love? 1984

Computer Number 0302526

Machine Dolphin was one of those borderline purchases for me. The robot was not very good if you can call it a robot, but light years better than my Abega purchase. Like Abega, I find I like it better as Dolphin Jet or as a car. The only reason I have this is because it is part of the Godaikin line.

To me, Machine Dolphin is a really large Gobot. It was designed as a car, looks good as a car, but not so good as a robot. It is a cruddy Gobot. That being said, I am a big fan of the Gobot/Machine Robo line up. Just not too fond of Machine Dolphin. To me, this is next to the worst Godaikins out there.

This robot is from the Super Sentai series Machine Man in the 80’s.

I have to figure out how to get his arm stickers to stay on. Might have to whip out the Gorilla Glue to see if I can fix that.

Machine Dolphin GoDaiKin 1984

Machine Dolphin GoDaiKin 1984 by Bandai

Machine Dolphin GoDaiKin 1984

I can pop in a picture of the robot out of the box into this post later. I am still putting up the rest of my collection. Pop in a comment below and I will get to it a little quicker. ***

Seiun Kamen Machineman from tokusatsu 1984