Tag: Robot

The Gerwalk Nikick is another of my favorite robots from the 1980’s(Takatoku made some great robot toys before they went out of business). I watched some of the Super Dimension Century Orguss series in the late 90’s on VHS tapes at my old video rental store, remember those days? I enjoyed them, but it was not hard core sci-fi like Super Dimension Fortress Macross. The storyline felt a bit hokey. My cousin already had the Orgroid and Nikick robots back in 1984, but we really had no context for them back then. I never finished the story line as they never finished the dubs on VHS. Looks to me like they only dubbed the first 17 episodes and never completed the entire 35 episodes. The only dvds I see for these are the Japanese set and Japanese dvds are so expensive!

Gerwalk Nikick MBG-24C 1983 1/40 scale Takatoku Toys from anime Super Dimension Century Orguss 1983-1984

I always liked the design of the Gerwalk Nikick MBG-24C. It looks like a walking tank. The color scheme seems right for a military robot compared to the Orgroid. The head seems a bit small, but overall I really like the design and feel of this robot. I prefer it over the Orgroid, the other robot in this series(which is still a pretty cool robot). It transforms to a Gerwalk and flight form as well, making it much like the Macross Valkyries. The Nikick is another great transforming robot from Takatoku Toys.

Gerwalk Nikick MBG-24C 1983 1/40 scale Takatoku Toys from anime (超時空世紀オーガス Chōjikū Seiki Orguss) from 1983-1984

Gerwalk Nikick MBG-24C 1983 1/40 scale Takatoku Toys from anime Super Dimension Century Orguss 1983-1984

Here is your Robot of the Week! Beachcomber from the Generation 1 Transformers mini vehicles. So if it looks like I am doing a run of G1 mini vehicles, you would be correct. I will probably eventually do a run of Go-Bots from Generation 2 and Machine Robos when I get around to it. So Beachcomber is a pretty cool little robot. Stands good, you don’t have to extend the legs(like Bumblebee and Cliffjumper) which can cause issues down the line if you transform these baby’s long enough. Blue and gray work pretty good colorwise for this little dune buggy. It is a simple design, but simple can take you a long way when you got a nice looking dune buggy and decent looking robot as options. The transformation is simplistic as well, but it’s nice as I have done it about 3 times while writing this little blurb. The dune buggy mode reminds me of a Lego car. The pieces mold tightly together and you would hardly know it was a Transformers robot if not for the Autobot sticker on the hood. It’s a nice Generation 1 robot that really would not cost you much to add to your collection loose.

Beachcomber Generation 1 Autobot Hasbro 1985

This is a robot from the 80’s I have only seen online. I knew nothing about this series before I bought it, but I found it when I was searching for the Clover Gundam. It is from an anime series from one of the guys who brought you Mobile Suit Gundam. The Aura Battler Dunbine is a series based on knights  with robots  instead of armor. So if you dig medieval times with dragons and fairies, just throw in some kick ass robots and voila you have Aura Battler Dunbine.

Unfortunately, this is the last batch of toys Clover came out with before they went out of business. These little robots are amazingly heavy and full of die cast metal goodness. Too bad these are a bit clunky when compared to Takatoku’s amazing Valkyrie but this may be part of the reason Clover is not around anymore. The Gundam robots Clover made are really terrible design wise, but they have a heavy die cast metal appeal for me. The Virunvee is one of the better looking robots this line.

Here is the opening trailer. The robots are pretty sharp in the cartoon, not so much as a Chogokin. Looks like it might be worth an episode or two to check out.

Aura Battler Virunvee Clover 1/58 Scale 1983

Aura Battler Virunvee Clover 1/58 Scale 1983

Aura Battler Virunvee Clover 1/58 Scale 1983

Aura Battler Virunvee Clover 1/58 Scale 1983

When I first got this one, I was like nice. I have Bumblebee! It really looks like Bumblebee from the cartoon since I have the yellow version, but it is the wrong car. Bumblebee is a Volkswagon Bug, not a Porsche Turbo. The face really looks like Bumblebee though. While looking this up with Bumblebee I realized I had Cliffjumper and I mixed the two up. Hasbro made the choice to have Cliffjumper in red and yellow as a way to make the toy line look bigger. I dunno, six cars in the Mini Vehicles line is good enough as far as I can tell.

Cliffjumper Generation 1 Autobot 1984 Mini Vehicles

I enjoy the little guy as it is easy to transform. Not too stupid looking, but they could have put a little more effort into the hands and arms. Anyway figure since these Bumblebee and Cliffjumper both transform the same way and I confused the two, they will my Robot of the Week this week. Cliffjumper’s legs are a little loose after transforming him over the years. So the joints on the arms and legs are a bit loose and he does not stand or pose as well as he used to.

Cliffjumper G1 Transformers Hasbro Mini Vehicles 1984 car form

Soundblaster with Buzzsaw and Ravage Generation 1 Takara 2003 The Transformers Collection

Here’s Soundwave, one of the G1 Transformers I never had as a kid.  I had a loose one at some point but traded it.  This re-issue comes with two of the Decepticon tapes – “Laserbeak” and “Ravage.”  This is the Soundblaster version. Soundwave is upgraded to Soundblaster in later iterations of the cartoon.

I bought this in Japan at Mandarake, Akihabara branch for 52 dollars. If I were to buy him here, he’d be double the price, maybe more since I never saw him at Toys R Us when these were re-issued in the early 2000’s. I haven’t put any of the stickers because I’m afraid they will come off over time.

Soundblaster with Buzzsaw and Ravage Generation 1 Decepticons Takara 2003 The Transformers Collection

Soundblaster with Buzzsaw and Ravage Generation 1 Decepticons Takara 2003 The Transformers Collection

Battle Fever Soul of Chogokin Bandai GX-30

Here’s the Soul of Chogokin Battle Fever that I bought in Japan at Mandarake in Shibuya Oct 2013.  I paid about 50-60 dollars.  The toy is 2nd hand but sure didn’t seem like it. It seemed like it was almost brand new, with complete box, styro tray, uncut tape, manual  and pieces. My cousin has the original 1979 version.  With all the accessories that came with this toy, I was so paranoid of losing pieces(I lost a few pieces the last time I put away my robots). I’ve only displayed him with one sword.

One of my “Holy Grail” Godaikin pieces that I’d been coveting for quite a long time but could never get him at the price I wanted. I actually saw the Combattra DX in Japan, but he was 525 dollars.

Combattra V DX Godaikin 1982 Popy Chogokin GB-55 Super Robot from anime Cho Denji Robo Combattler V(超電磁ロボ コンバトラーＶ) from 1976-1977

I was very tempted to buy him at the time but I had already bought quite a few toys and this would have really put me over my budget. I then kept an eye out on Ebay and missed out on one for 125 buy it now last month and was kicking myself.  Luckily this one came up and I managed to win him for 300 dollars.  A little steep but still much cheaper than when I have seen him since this one was loose, one of his antennas is broken and he doesn’t have the weapons.  Still, I’ve very glad to have this piece since he’s just so hard to find.