Tag: Die Cast Metal

Gardian DX Godaikin 1982 aka Popy GB-09,GB-10, and GB-11 in 1979

I bought the Gardian DX toy in 1984 from Japantown, San Francisco.  I remember they had a Godaikin display case and it was cool to see all of them displayed.  This was the first Godaikin I purchased.  There’s supposed to 3 guys – the main Gardian (blue), #2 a red one that goes inside the blue guy, and #3 a white robot (which I no longer have).  I think I paid about 80-90 dollars in 1984.  The left fist has broken off but I was able to glue back in.  I’m torn between leaving the fists (and risking breakage) or leaving them off (but risk losing).

Gordian Warrior still from the intro. The anime ran from 1979 -1981.

Gardian DX Godaikin 1982 This image shows the nesting feature

Here’s a Leopaldon Soul of Chogokin. The original I believe was sometime in the early 80’s and he was Sentai live action robot. The original is taller and presumably more heftier than the re-issue. Still, I never had this one and I liked having the opportunity to get this one as a re-issue. I will say the Soul of Chogokins are quite well done and I got this one for like 60 dollars used at Mandarake in Akihabara. I have finally taken him out of the box and put him on my shelf. I’m so paranoid with losing pieces that I’ve only displayed with his sword and shield.

Leopaldon – 2006 Soul of Chogokin Re-issue GX-33 by Bandai from tv show Supaidāman from 1978-1979

Leopaldon in action

Spiderman & Leopaldon 2006 Soul of Chogokin GX-33 from tokusatsu tv show (スパイダーマン, Supaidāman) 1978-1979

Admin note from CCC:

This robot is from a Japanese live action(“tokusatsu”) show Supaidāman from 1978-1979 based on Marvel’s Spider-Man by Toei Company. Leopardon just made it into the Marvel universe in 2014!

Here’s one of the three Transformers Dinobots purchased in 1984 at the long defunct Service Merchandise catalog showrooms. This one is the Generation 1 Dinobot Sludge.

Dinobot Sludge – Generation 1 Transformers Dinobots -1984

Transformers Sludge Dinobot – Generation 1 Autobot

Hasbro Sludge and Snarl Dinobots G1 1984

Here is my collection of Dinobots. I am only missing Swoop. I am still looking for a good used version of him. Most pieces I have seen have issues, so I still don’t have one yet.

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

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

I decided to create separate posts for the Dinobots. This one is Dinobot Snarl.  I purchased Snarl in 1984 from Service Merchandise which was a catalog showroom store.   Basically, you’d go to the store, look in a catalog and someone would bring out the item to you. I picked up several of my Generation 1 Transformers there.

Dinobot Snarl – Generation 1 Tranformers 1984 Hasbro Autobot

Snarl Dinobot Generation 1 Autobot

Sludge and Snarl G1 Dinobots

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

Here is my collection of Dinobots. I am only missing Swoop. I am still looking for a good used version of him. Most pieces I have seen have issues, so I still don’t have one yet.

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

The Takara Red Shoulder Scopedog is another robot that I bought during my Japan trip in July, 1985. According to my recently found list, I purchased this for 16 dollars.   There was this version (to denote the elite red shoulders unit), the basic Scopedog and the red Brutish Dog.

Chirico Cuvie’s Red Shoulder Scopedog ATM-09-RSC – 1984 Takara 1/24 scale from anime Soukou Kihei VOTOMS 1983-1984

As you can see, he’s quite well armed with a rifle, rocket launcher and gatling gun.  To me, this series was much more realistic than Gundam because I could really see people controlling these robots On a side note, I searched the net and it appears that they are issuing other Votoms toys as well, which is cool because I wanted to see the other mecha as toys but I only saw them as model kits.   Here is the episode credits for the original series Armored Trooper VOTOMS(装甲騎兵ボトムズ) from 1983-1984.

I remember I bought Srungle DX in Japan 1985 and I thought “man, is this robot ugly…” but whenever I went to Japan I generally bought almost everything I could get my hands on. Since these toys were not very common in the U.S.. Clover made Srungle and they were not known for the classic robots like say Takatoku Valkyries and the Takara Dougram toys. They put out big clunky metal robots like the first Gundam robots, Dunbine, Tryder and Xabungle.

Srungle DX 1984 Clover – Srungchange Model

Srungle DX – 1984 Clover

Anime show Akū Daisakusen Srungle 1983-1984

Deluxe Gundam MK-II Mobile Suit RX-78 1985

This one, I recall buying in a small toy store in Kyoto, Japan. This was my very first Gundam. I grew to love this series immediately as there were so many different mecha (compared to Macross). I don’t recall seeing the Zakus at the time but they may have been in the unfamiliar-to-me-at-the-time  or HCM format rather than a toy like this one. I have also placed its replacement – the 12″ Deluxe Nu Gundam from Char’s Counterattack next to it as comparison. I also have a small booklet that I purchased from Kinokuniya book store. I might also have a VHS tape as well. You can now watch episodes on Youtube.

Gundam Mark II

Deluxe Nu Gundam RX-93 Char’s Counterattack 1988 Bandai