Tag: Robot

When I found the Transformers Hero Mashers at Toys R’ Us, I almost picked them up. I find these robots very appealing as they are faithful to the Generation 1 cartoon. This is one of the better Generation 1 renditions of Megatron. The original G1 robot form was so poorly done, I have never wanted to add it to my collection. I wish they had concentrated on the robot form instead of how it looks as a gun. The Optimus Prime Generation 1 robot was always the cream of the crop. Awesome looking robot, looks great as a truck.

I may pick up the Megatron, Starscream,  Optimus Prime and Bumblebee. I find the Megatron and Starscream are the best looking figures in the bunch followed by Bumblebee. I love the Starscream as you can see the smirk on his face or Megatron the sneer of disgust. It brings back so many good memories. The size is perfect for display or just playing around with your kids. The only fault I see is that the robots do not transform. But they are not meant to be transformed. You are supposed to pull them apart and mix up the body parts like Mr. Potato Head. Imagine Megatron Prime or a mashup of Grimlock and Optimus?

The Hero Mashers offer a fun option for G1 collectors who want robots that look more like the original cartoon, than their original G1 counterparts in the 80’s or just a great way to get your kids love the Generation 1 Transformers as much as we did. I am glad they came out with these instead of another reissue.

Hero Mashers 2014 Hasbro Megatron, Optimus Prime, Starscream, Bumblebee

Hero Mashers Hasbro 2014 Grimlock, Springer, Drift

The Optimus Prime is also pretty sharp too, but they have so many decent versions of him out there. A good Megatron or Starscream figure is much more appealing as it is harder to find cartoon faithful rendition of those figures. I am sure several of these will fill a happy space in my collection.

I found these Platinum Series Optimus Prime & Supreme Starscream at the local Toys R’ Us. Both are repaints of previous releases, which is disappointing. You would think on the 30th Anniversary, they would provide us with some new products. I don’t care much for the gold grill on Optimus Prime, but it is a marvelous piece aside from that. I really do not understand why some robots are re-released in gold versions. They all look terrible.

I went through all my robots and found out I do not yet have a G1 version of Optimus Prime. I am sure they will issue another 2 or 3 in the next 5 years so I can wait. I am tempted to save up and buy the Transformers Optimus Prime 20th Anniversary Figure as I feel it is the best Optimus G1 figure I have ever seen.
Now the Starscream I am thinking about picking it up. It looks great as a robot and the ship it turns into reminds me of the Ark. Looks like this is a shared exclusive with Big Bad Toy Store. They are both nice pieces, but the boxes are so big. I am reluctant to add a piece with such a large box. I am sure if I had the space, I would have them all.

Platinum Series Year of the Horse Optimus Prime 2014 30th Anniversary

Platinum Series Year of the Horse Optimus Prime 2014 30th Anniversary

Platinum Series Year of the Horse Supreme Starscream 2014 30th Anniversary

Platinum Series Year of the Horse Supreme Starscream 2014 30th Anniversary

Watch out for Aura Battler Dunbine, the insect mecha! Friend of your friendly neighborhood Insecticon. Just kidding. These are kick ass robots of the Middle Ages from a dimension far, far away. It’s a land of knights with horses, castles, fairies, and robots with flying transport planes. Really? If you can build robots and planes, why would you still be riding horses? I guess you really have to suspend your disbelief on this one. Still I like the idea, no matter how far fetched it sounds. For me robots are like bacon, they make everything better. Check out the video below if you want to check it out.

Here is Dunbine. He looks nothing like his anime image. Clover could have done a much better job with this robot. They did not last long as a company after this line came out. The image reminds me of the Guyver from the manga series. It would be a cool robot if it looked anything like the Guyver. Still, it is a cool 80’s robot for what it is. Clover loves making clunky heavy die cast metal robots and I love those super alloy Chogokin robots(though this is a wanna be Chogokin). Most Clover robots have a nice heft to them. Dunbine has what looks like an arrow/antennae coming out of the middle of his head and wings.  It’s not pretty, but it is a nice little robot to have in my collection. They are fun as I really do not have any other pieces quite like it in my collection.

Here is the opening of the episode of the anime Seisenshi Dunbine from 1983-1984.

Dunbine by Clover 1/46 scale 1983 Japan from anime Aura Battler Dunbine 1983-1984

Dunbine by Clover 1/46 scale 1983 Japan from anime Aura Battler Dunbine 1983-1984

Dunbine by Clover 1/46 scale 1983 Japan from anime Aura Battler Dunbine 1983-1984

Dunbine by Clover 1/46 scale 1983 Japan from anime Aura Battler Dunbine 1983-1984

Dunbine by Clover 1983 Japan

Aura Battler Dana-O’Shee Clover 1/58 scale 1983 from anime Aura Battler Dunbine 1983-1984

Gotta love those Japanese! I laugh every time I look at the placement of this insect mecha’s “tail’ as it were. Reminds of the Zone of the Enders robot or the trigger on the Shockwave before they made it a Transformer. Do a quick image search and you will know what I mean. LOL, I am dying here. Sorry, I have to figure out how to move on. I have never seen the anime, but after reading the synopsis it makes me think of Vision of Escaflowne. Robots, knights, and fairies in the time of chivalry. Sounds like fun if they set it up right.

Checking out Dana O’Shee, the robot has such an organic feel. Rounded body parts, insect like, its kind of awkward looking for a robot. The legs look like they walk the other way. The design is kind of funky, but it does have character. I can imagine this would have been a great Insecticon if it could transform, but it doesn’t. I got these around 2003-2007 because I was curious and I got a cheap run of them for about $40 each. I had never seen or heard of them before. When I got them I remember being disappointed. Now oddly enough, I am glad I got a few of these, as they have an ungodly amount of die cast metal. It’s a heavy little bugger. They have a satisfying heft to them.

The design, articulation and build are pretty standard for a Clover robot. Clunky poor design, lots of metal, barely any articulation, and does a poor job of representing the anime robot. Now that I know more about theses robots and have watched a little bit of the anime.

Here is the opening for the anime Aura Battler Dunbine from 1983-1984. Fun stuff.

Aura Battler Dana-O’Shee Clover 1/58 scale 1983 from anime Aura Battler Dunbine 1983-1984

Aura Battler Dana-O’Shee Clover 1/58 scale 1983 from anime Aura Battler Dunbine 1983-1984

Aura Battler Dana-O’Shee Clover 1/58 scale 1983 from anime Aura Battler Dunbine 1983-1984

RoadBot Hummer H2 SUV No. 10 1/18 scale 2009 by Aoshima

This robot is big. 11 inches tall BIG. The RoadBot line name is about as generic a name as it comes. I am surprised there is no Transformers Hummer, but this one is interesting. It kinda reminds me of a Transformers Alternator, but bigger and not as well designed. It is a cool idea though.

Atosa the toy maker appears to be a small toy company is Spain and they have a line of robots on their site. Looks like they are just the European distributor of RoadBot. You can see their active line of robots here. They made it easy for me as the site is in English. I found this robot in a small dollar store in Burgos Spain.Thought it was pretty expensive at 29.90 euros.

I did some research and found this originally came out as the RoadBot No. 10 from Aoshima Bunka Kyozei produced by Happy Well in 2009.  They have 10 other robots in this line which are actually pretty cool. This line would give Transformers a run for their money if they had a decent cartoon to help market the line. You can see them here. The Toyota Celica and Mitsubishi Lancer are my favorite. The site is in Japanese, so use use your favorite translating site. This robot line is pretty rare as I hardly ever see them in Ebay and it looks like it has been discontinued.

Road Bot No. 10 Hummer H2 SUV 1/18 scale 2009 by Aoshima

Sorry the pictures suck, I was in a hurry and I really did not plan to pick it up.  I just found it amusing. The robots represent part of my European robot tour as small and insignificant as it was.  Wish I could have seen a vintage Italian toy store as they really like their old 80’s super robots there!

Road Bot No. 10 Hummer H2 SUV 1/18 scale 2009 by Aoshima Happy Well – image courtesy of aoshima-bk.co.jp

Astro Fighter Mask and Robot 1/500 scale

So I found this bootleg Astro Fighter Mask and robot at the same store as the last robot in Burgos Spain. I have no idea what it is. I am thinking Zone of the Enders maybe? Anyone, Buehler? The image on the box makes me think of the Gundam with the wings.

Optimus Prime Mask from Age of Extinction Transformers movie

For some reason they decided to add the robot with this mask. I am not even sure why you would include the robot if it is not even an Optimus Prime robot. It seems kind of random. It definitely looks like the Optimus Prime mask from one of the movies. It is pretty similar to the one out now. I put in a picture of the most current one at Target above. It’s a pretty cool robot mask, but the robot looks really generic.

Found an old Optimus mask that fits the bill.  It is the Hasbro Transformers Optimus Prime Voice Changer Helmet from 2006.

The bootleg toy is made by La Gran Familia in Spain. I think their site is gftoys.biz or the now defunct lgftoys.com. It looks really cheaply made. I wouldn’t pay  €10 for it.

Astro Fighter Mask and Robot 1/500 scale

God Sigma DX 1984 Godaikin from anime Space Emperor God Sigma 1980-1981

Here’s God Sigma DX from the Godaikin series. This wasn’t a must have except only in the context of completing the Godaikins collection and I didn’t want to spend a whole lot on it.  I was about to spend 200 on this piece last month, but then decided against it.  Fast forward two weeks later and my cousin saw this awesome listing on Ebay for 80 bucks!  (Thanks cuz!)  This piece went for 80 because the leg on the blue robot (the left leg) is broken but luckily it doesn’t prevent the robot from being combined.  It was also missing a few of the weapons and the box top, but overall, I’m VERY satisfied as you can’t even get the Soul of Chogokin version for this price!

God Sigma DX 1984 Godaikin Bandai from anime Space Emperor God Sigma 1980-1981

God Sigma DX 1984 Godaikin Bandai GB-18 GB-19 GB-20 Popy

Here is the opening of Space Emperor God Sigma!