Tag: Popy

Here is Dynaman the American incarnation of Dyna Robo from Kagaku Sentai Dynaman. This one had a Robo Machine repackaging sticker on it. I guess Bandai couldn’t sell them as Godaikins so they repackaged them as Robo Machine without creating new product, but that is what the Godaikin series was. The box is in sucky condition but the robot is mint. I would actually display these if I didn’t have to dust them. The head shoots off, and you can shoot off a missile from hole in the head. I am a big fan of the ST sized robots, this is one of them. Hopefully I can pick up a few more. Though this is one of the Godaikins where I really do like the DX version as well. The design is typical  of Popy ST robots that come with a sword, shield and shooting fists. This is one of the robots that got me into this hobby in the first place. I love this guy!

Dynaman ST GoDaikin by Bandai 1984

An Innovative Series of Super Robots

Dynaman ST GoDaikin by Bandai 1984

Dynaman ST GoDaikin by Bandai 1984

Dynaman ST GoDaikin by Bandai 1984

Dynaman ST GoDaikin by Bandai 1984

The Machine Robo line came out in 1982 in Japan as Popy robots and later from Bandai itself when they were absorbed back into the parent company in 1983 as robot sales fell. These robots came out as Gobots from Tonka in the US a couple of years later.

These are easily some of my favorite robots. I love the packaging they come in. You can take them out, transform them, then put them back in and they take up so little space. They are so easy to transform and they are the same size of Matchbox or Hot Wheels cars so they can be run on their playsets and tracks. They are by far superior to the Mini Vehicles that came out for Generation 1 Transformers in 1984 and even the Transformers Generation 2 Go-Bots line that came out 1995.

These are great little robots. It is a shame that Bandai has not seen fit to re-issue these amazing little robots. I have been looking to pickup a few more of these, but my cousin could not find them in Japan and some of them are so expensive on eBay. With a little luck, I will get one or two more.

I bought at least 6 of these in the 80’s when I went to Japan in 1984 or 1985, because they were pretty much the only ones I could afford. I remember paying 600 yen for them. I think that was around $6 at that time. That’s why I picked up Albegas in Singapore. For $40 it was the biggest, cheapest big robot I could afford at the time. Though it was definitely not my first choice. There were a bunch of awesome Popy DX robots just out of my price range at $80 a pop(which was pretty much my whole budget).  The first line of Machine Robo came out in 1982 running out to 1985.

I have been meaning to watch the Machine Robo: Revenge of Cronos anime that came out in response to the Transformers cartoon coming out. I have watched the first episode below which interesting and so much better than the GoBots cartoon here in the states. A newer cartoon in 2003 aired called Machine Robo Rescue came out with in intriguing line of combiner robots that I am considering adding to my collection. The robots combine into robots that look like they came from the first series. I would love to add more of these to my collection. I will try to get some pictures of the individual robots later.

Here is the first episode for Machine Robo: Revenge of Cronos anime that ran from 1986-1987.

Machine Robo Popy Bandai 1982-1985

Machine Robo Popy Bandai 1982-1985

Machine Robo Popy Bandai 1982-1985 vehicle side

Machine Robo Popy Bandai 1982-1985

Machine Robo Popy Bandai 1982-1985

Machine Robo Popy Bandai 1982-1985

Machine Robo Popy Bandai 1982-1985 robot side

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

Voltron is one of the robots that started it all for me. Where we fell in love with our big metal robots. The Golion DX as a Godaikin is the one my cousin Dave had. It came with a huge amount of accessories, like most DX Popy robots. Damn Matchbox for not providing Voltron with his sword. Voltron was all about his sword in the cartoon. Man, that is one terrible cartoon, ain’t it? And the dubs are terrible too. I wish I could unwatch those. Maybe if I watch them in Japanese they will be better. Hmmmm…

Matchbox Voltron III Defender of the Universe The Deluxe Lion Set

Anyway I have a lotta love for this robot. This robot has 5 lions that tranform into one of the best robots out there. Even the lions forms are excellent. I will have to pop him into robot form later for this post. This robot has been very popular over the years, so there have been a lot of releases. Lets see, Popy, Bandai America, Matchbox, Trendmasters, and now Toynami. I figure they will release it again within the next few years, so maybe I can try picking up a new one with all the accessories or even the Lionbot set made from the original molds(but vastly inferior paint applications!).

Matchbox Voltron III The Deluxe Lion Set from the anime Voltron: Defender of the Universe tv show from 1984-1985

Matchbox Voltron III The Deluxe Lion Set from the anime Voltron: Defender of the Universe tv show from 1984-1985.

See that styrofoam? Not a single accessory! The Popy and Godaikin versions had the full arsenal of missile launchers, daggers and a huge sword! I picked up Voltron III as an adult and I was really disappointed in the castrated Matchbox Voltron.

Matchbox Voltron III The Deluxe Lion Set from the anime Voltron: Defender of the Universe tv show from 1984-1985

I gotta admit there is a bit more violence in the Beast King GoLion, than in Voltron. The story works a little better and I am actually enjoying the first episode. Checkout the anime tv show from 1981-1982.

So my Vavilos has never been taken out of the styrofoam. I can tell as I never took the twisty tie thing off. This is a robot from the Space Sheriff Shaider series which is very much like the Power Rangers(Is that show still running in Japan?). Godaikins were a bunch of robots from various anime series with no cartoon tie in to back it up here in the United States. This is likely the reason they were not that popular. I think if they had released some of these anime here, we would be remembering them as nostalgically as Voltron.

Design wise, Vavilos would look much better with a larger more defined head and arms that are proportionate with the rest of its body. It is the main reason this was not a must have robot for me. But it is nice to have. The rest of the robot looks ok. The legs are similar in design to Goggle V and Dyna Robo. The chest is a bit blocky like Sun Vulcan, like a cube with a triangle on top. Its decent in ship form, in fact I prefer it. That is likely why I have never pulled it out to transform Vavilos. Overall it is a decent robot, but it is on the lower end of what Bandai released in their Godaikin line. More yellowing white plastic from these old 80’s robots. Guess these toys discolor after a while.

Check out the first episode of Uchu Keiji Shaider tokusatsu show from 1984-1985. The cheesy 80’s tv music on this video was just killing me along with all the cheap special effects!

Vavilos GoDaiKin DX Bandai from Uchu Keiji Shaider tokusatsu tv show from 1984-1985

I have a post on the Vavilos ST as well. I should post a picture of them both the Vavilos Godaikin DX and Vavilos ST together later.

Vavilos GoDaiKin DX Bandai from Uchu Keiji Shaider tokusatsu tv show from 1984-1985

Vavilos GoDaiKin DX Bandai from Uchu Keiji Shaider tokusatsu tv show from 1984-1985

This is one of the coolest Super Sentai robots, it also happens to be the first. At least the first time Super Sentai was coined. It was the third Sentai series to come around and it was inspired by Marvel’s Captain America. After the success of the Spider Man live action(tokusatsu) series(with Leopardon or is it Leopoldon?), Toei thought more robots were needed in our Sentai series. Which I am personally happy about as I have a few of these amazing robots.

So Leopardon is a heavy(so heavy for its size) ST robot that looks like a samurai. It is bigger than most ST robots and has a great design. The Popy brand which is pretty much the standard bearer for any Chogokin(Super Alloy) robot. It is from 1979, but the design is timeless and does not feel dated at all. I wasn’t nearly as appreciative of this robot when I got it, but after learning and researching about them I definitely have a better understanding and appreciation of all things Popy.

All of the Godaikins were originally Popy robots before Bandai absorbed them into the main company. So this post is in honor of the grand daddy of the Megazord. Battle Fever J.   My cousin has the Soul of Chogokin version GX-30 which is just a great piece as well. Here is a first episode of the tokusatsu show Battle Fever J(バトルフィーバーJ ) from 1979-1980.

Popy Battle Fever Robo ST GB-03 1979

Popy Battle Fever Robo ST GB-03 1979 from Battle Fever J 1979-1980

Popy Battle Fever Robo ST GB-03 1979

Popy Battle Fever Robo ST GB-03 1979 バトルフィーバーJ

Voltes V ST GoDaiKin aka Popy GA-80 1977 from anime Chōdenji Machine Voltes V(超電磁マシーン ボルテスV) 1977-1978

Voltes V is one of my favorite pieces. The ST version is a hefty piece of metal. It would be nice to have the DX counterpart but I don’t have the dough for that piece. My cousin has it, but it tilts a little bit from playful overuse. I am more picky about the pieces in my collection, but at least one of us have it. I picked up Voltes V on eBay. It comes with the sword and the chest piece becomes part of the sword.

Finally a robot based on anime. The anime was Super Electromagnetic Machine Voltes V. This cartoon was popular in the Philippines and translated to English. I definitely need to get around to seeing that version of the cartoon. When my cousin and I get together, we will need to do some binge tv watching.