Tag: ST

Here is the Vavilos ST. I really don’t know why, but the ST versions of these robots are often better than the DX versions. This is definitely the case in this robot. Vavilos is from the live action ‘tokusatsu’ show Space Sheriff Shaider. So think Power Rangers.

Vavilos does not have a great design. I definitely would have liked a little more detail on the head and maybe if it was a little bigger it would feel right. But the head is more proportionate, than say the arms which are a little puny and insignificant. It is like a Tyrannosaurus Rex, big body, teeny weeny arms. Oh well, if T-Rex can kick ass, then maybe Vavilos wouldn’t get the crap kicked out of him. The robot transforms from a space ship to a robot and giant gun as well, in this case I prefer the V Spaceship form. He comes with 6 yellow missiles which shoot out of the chest. The build of the legs remind me of the Dyna Robo, Goggle Robo or Change robo. The main body of the robot is just blocky, Seems like the transformations were more important in the design than the actual robot.

That being said, I like having both the DX and ST Vavilos. It fills out my Godaikin collection which is my favorite line of 80’s robots. Though if I had to be more specific, I have a big soft spot for the Popy ST line. Check out the Vavilos DX!

Vavilos GoDaiKin ST by Bandai GC-16 from Space Sheriff Shaider tokusatsu tv show from 1984-1985

Vavilos GoDaiKin ST by Bandai GC-16 from Space Sheriff Shaider tokusatsu tv show from 1984-1985

Vavilos GoDaiKin ST by Bandai GC-16 from Uchu Keiji Shaider tokusatsu tv show from 1984-1985

Here are a few fun videos from the tv show Space Sheriff Shaider!!!

I recently added Vavilos in the Bandai Godaikin packaging which is nice. So now I have some missiles to test out! I swear that is about my favorite part.

Vavilos GoDaiKin ST by Bandai GC-16 from Uchu Keiji Shaider tokusatsu tv show from 1984-1985

Vavilos GoDaiKin ST by Bandai GC-16 from Uchu Keiji Shaider tokusatsu tv show from 1984-1985

Here is Goggle Five Chogokin. It’s nice to have the DX and ST versions of this robot. I will have to do a group picture for my GoDaiKins and the DX versions with their little brothers. ***

Wow, this thing is heavy. It earns the Chogokin name by far. The chest and legs are definitely metal. I can’t find the year on this thing, now I wish I could read Japanese. This is probably one of my older Popy robots. You can’t have a Popy robot without the shooting fists, sword and shield. The design as on most ST robots is fabulous. As usual they get the proportions right. I love this thing. Goggle Five is an 80’s Super Sentai robot from the series Dai Sentai Goggle Five in 1982.

I wish American toys came in this type of packaging. Storing is a breeze with all my Japanese robots. Even when I have a boxed Hasbro Transformer it is harder to store once you have opened the box.

Popy Goggle Five Chogokin GB-76 Japan ST

Goggle Five Chogokin by Popy GB-76 Japan ST 1982

Goggle Five Chogokin by Popy GB-76 Japan ST 1982

Goggle Five Chogokin by Popy GB-76 Japan ST 1982

Goggle Five Chogokin by Popy GB-76 Japan ST 1982

Goggle Five Chogokin by Popy GB-76 Japan ST 1982

HCM’s are great little robots. The YMS-09 Dom is by far one of the better ones. I got tired of the white original Gundam armor so the Prototype Dom is a welcome relief. I like the Zions armor as they have more variety. They look more like tanks, heavy armor. More sinister. I love picking up these HCM”s from the 80’s. I eventually want to pick up the Vifam or Neofam HCM’s. Not sure if they are Gundam robots, but I like them.

High Complete Model YMS-09 Zions Mobile Suit Prototype Dom Gundam by Bandai Japan 1984

High Complete Model YMS-09 Zions Mobile Suit Prototype Dom Gundam by Bandai Japan 1984

High Complete Model YMS-09 Zions Mobile Suit Prototype Dom Gundam by Bandai Japan 1984

High Complete Model YMS-09 Zions Mobile Suit Prototype Dom Gundam by Bandai Japan 1984

Albegas was the Voltron we never got to see over here. One would hope Voltron II would be better dubs than the vehicle and lion Voltron cartoons. Due to the popularity of the GoLion Voltron and the lack of interest in Dairugger vehicle Voltron, the Albegas version was canceled so they could focus on new Lion Voltron cartoons.

I plan to watch the Japanese versions as they have edited out all the violence in the US versions for kids. I have already seen one GoLion episode and it has more promise than Voltron at this point.

The Albegas Gamma Robo is from the Victora line. These are cheap plastic versions of the Popy line that could be sold at train stations without tarnishing the Popy name. I was disappointed initially that these were all plastic and smaller, but I got them cheap so what can I say. After opening them up to work with them, they are not bad and have about the same functionality of the metal versions. Only thing missing are the swords which would have been nice to have.

Kousokudenjin Albegas Gamma Robo ST Victora Popy 1983

Kousokudenjin Albegas Gamma Robo ST Victora Popy 1983

Kousokudenjin Albegas Gamma Robo ST Victora Popy 1983

Kousokudenjin Albegas Gamma Robo ST Victora Popy 1983

Kousokudenjin Albegas Gamma Robo ST Victora Popy 1983

Check out the intro to Albegas, the Voltron that could have been.

I will have to watch a few of these!

Victora Albegas and Gamma Robo 1983

This is a 5″ Chogokin Jr Kurojishi figure from the anime Ninja Senshi Tobikage. That appears to be this yellow lion robot. After a little search I found this ninja robot anime. I have watched a little of the first episode Ninja Robots in English dubs by Cartoon Network in 1995 and Japanese version from 1985 – 1986 on Youtube, but it looks like they stream it on Anime Sols. It might be worth watching, though I usually like the Japanese version as they will not edit out the violence.

I liked the bigger DX robots Tobikage & Houraioh, but not this little all plastic ST version. It does not earn the Chogokin Jr name as there is no diecast metal in this robot. I was trying to get the other figures in the series but only ended up getting this little one. This one looks cheap and clunky. There was not a lot of thought put into the build for this. It is pretty much just a brick except for a little arm rotation. Probably one of those cheap train station toys to shut up the kids. The Kurojishi toy and box reminds me a lot of the Victora Albegas  I have here. Sadly, I am afraid the thing I like most about this robot is the box.

Chogokin Jr Ninja Senshi Tobikage Kurojishi by Bandai 1985

Chogokin Jr Ninja Senshi Tobikage Kurojishi by Bandai 1985

Chogokin Jr Ninja Senshi Tobikage Kurojishi by Bandai 1985

Here is the opening for the anime tv show Ninja Senshi Tobikage from 1985-1986

Think this is a reissue of the original Popy GC 28 which has a red shield. The five Super Sentai guys pictured on the cover kinda look like cops. They are from Dengeki Sentai Changeman. Even though I am not a fan of Super Sentai, I still like the robots. Change Robo is one of them. I try to only collect the 70’s and 80’s chogokin robots. I couldn’t fit the sword in the fist because it was so tight, but it was fun shooting the head off. The fists do not shoot off with much zing and the robot is a little light in die cast metal, but I really like this ST robot which fits in well with my Godaikin collection, but the DX robot looks really good too. My copy is missing the 5 little plastic Changeman Sentai figures.

Plastic Changeman figures from the Change Robo GC-28 by Popy Bandai 1985

The DX robot came out as a late release Godaikin in 1985 or 1986. Change Robo is pretty rare as Godaikins go. I have only seen him a few times on auction and lost every time. The ST is a Popy robot as it has the Popy label, though I did not know it at the time I purchased it. So it’s one of the only  two Popy robots I have.

The robot’s design reminds me a lot of Goggle V robot. It is a simple but solid design, that you can change into a decent looking jet, car and helicopter(the Jetchanger, Helichanger, and Landchanger). The only real difference between Goggle V and Change Robo is in color scheme. A few tweaks to the design & color and you would have Goggle Five which is a good thing. It is a lot like the Generation 1 Transformers that all used the same molds like Bluestreak, Smokescreen and Prowl . If I ever display these two, I would have to put them right next to each other.

Change Robo GC-28 by Popy Bandai 1985

Change Robo GC-28 by Popy Bandai 1985

Change Robo and accessories. Lightning Sword, Change Shield, propeller and head missile

Change Robo GC-28 by Popy Bandai 1985

Change Robo GC-28 by Popy Bandai instructions

Change Robo GC-28 by Popy Bandai 1985 from tv show (電撃戦隊チェンジマン Dengeki Sentai Chenjiman) 1985-1986

Change Robo (チェンジロボ Chenji Robo) GC-28 by Popy Bandai 1985

Change Robo(チェンジロボ Chenji Robo) GC-28 robot toy by Popy Bandai 1985 from Super Sentai tv show 電撃戦隊チェンジマン Dengeki Sentai Chenjiman 1985-1986

Popy gave these to us first as Golion GB-35 in 1981. This is the iconic robot from the 80’s. I don’t have anything bad to say about this robot. Golion has a great design and is a great ST version with the sword and shield.

I have the Voltron version. I wish the Voltron versions had a sword. The DX and ST Voltron from Matchbox and do not have the sword or any of the Golion accessories and I have both. Guess I know what I will do if I ever get a 3D printer. I did not realize this one had never been opened. The tape and tie to hold it to the styrofoam are still there. Guess it’s opened once now, but as mint as it will ever be. Seems like the legs and the chest are die cast metal(only the head and arms are plastic) so it’s a pretty heavy robot likely making this one from its Chogokin line or roughly translated Super Alloy. If you notice, I mention that a lot. I am a fan of the old toys they made with metal. They seem more sturdy and substantial, like American cars from the 70’s. My little cousin clocked me in the head with an old metal Tonka truck I had and that one time, I wish it was plastic.

Voltron III Matchbox Miniature Lion Space Robot 1984 from cartoon Voltron Defender of the Universe 1984-1985

The American version of the cartoon for this robot was pretty lame, but I can only say I liked a few robot anime. Getta Robo, Dangard Ace, Gaiking, especially Macross and Gundam. Not the American versions. Hate Matchbox for depriving us of swords for Voltron, bastards.

Anyway checked out a couple of the original Japanese Golion episodes and it was a much better. Seems like they made a lot of changes to the plot and removed the violence.

Voltron III Matchbox Miniature Lion Space Robot 1984 Lion Instructions Super Alloy or Chogokin

Voltron III Matchbox Miniature Lion Space Robot 1984 from cartoon Voltron Defender of the Universe 1984-1985

Voltron III Matchbox Miniature Lion Space Robot 1984 from cartoon Voltron Defender of the Universe 1984-1985

Voltron III Matchbox Miniature Lion Space Robot 1984 from cartoon Voltron Defender of the Universe 1984-1985

I heard the anime for GoLion was edited for violence, so I am definitely watching the Japanese version. Enjoy!