Tag: transforming robot

Macross VF-1J ST 1/100 scale Hikaru Battroid Valkyrie by Takatoku Toys 1983 from anime Super Dimension Fortress Macross( 超時空要塞マクロス)

The Takatoku 1/100 scale Valkyries as a whole are a lot harder to come by than the 1/55 scale version. Except for the Hikaru VF-1J ST. This appears to be the only one that keeps coming up on the sites I usually buy from. I hope to add a few more of these to my collection next year. This is actually my first Takatoku Valkyrie. I actually added the brown cannon fodder 1/55 scale this year as well from David’s trip to Japan. Before this I only had the 1984 Bandai VF-1A, so it is nice to have one of the original Takatoku toys that started it all. I consider the these the gold standard of  robots from the 1980’s.

The toy captures the robots from the anime in great detail. The VF-1J looks fantastic both as a robot and a plane! The toy is solid with a great design and fun to transform. Normally when the robot looks good the form suffers. But  this is definitely not in this case.  The Valkyries easily outclass any transforming robots from the 1980’s with their perfect transformations(kanzen henkei). Plus it helps that the anime was one of the better ones to watch in 80’s. I like this particular color scheme as I can imagine an actual combat jet with these colors.

Macross VF-1J ST 1/100 scale Ichijō Hikaru Battroid Valkyrie by Takatoku Toys 1983 from anime Chōjikū Yōsai Makurosu( 超時空要塞マクロス)

Macross VF-1J ST 1/100 scale Hikaru Ichijyo Battroid Valkyrie by Takatoku Toys 1983 from anime Choujikuu Yousai Macross( 超時空要塞マクロス)

Popy GC-22 Bismarck DX 1985 from anime Seijuushi Bismarck 1984-1985

So this is my Bismarck DX. I just picked it up this year. Dave got his back in the mid 80’s in Japan. It is one of the last branded Popy Chogokin super robots before Popy was reabsorbed into Bandai. The anime cartoon Sei Juushi Bismarck is a cowboy western, sci-fi frontier setting, with a super robot from 1984-1985. You may know it here as Saber Rider and the Star Sheriffs from World Event Productions the same people who brought over Voltron. The ship turns into wings for the robot and you an insert the robot into the ship or you can say it transforms into a ship.

It is a nice heavy 9 inch diecast metal robot with a black and white theme, which is a welcome change  from the red, white and blue sentai robots. It was not one of the must have robots from the 80’s for me, but it is a nice addition.

Popy GC-22 Bismarck DX & Space Cruiser 1985 from anime Seijuushi Bismarck(星銃士 ビスマルク) 1984-1985 Star Saber and the Star Sheriffs

I have the Space Cruiser, but sadly no missiles or tank treads either. I also am missing Bismarck’s pistol. I never really cared for the cruiser converting to wings on Bismarck. The cruiser itself is a nice piece.

Popy GC-22 Bismarck Space Crueser 1985 from anime Seijuushi Bismarck(星銃士 ビスマルク) 1984-1985 Star Saber and the Star Sheriffs

Popy GC-22 Bismark 1985 from anime Saber Rider and the Star Sheriffs 1984-1985

Check out the absolutely solid metal construction on the legs and chest giving it a solid heft.

Popy GC-22 Bismarck DX 1985 from anime Star Musketeer Bismarck(星銃士 ビスマルク) 1984-1985

Popy Bismarck DX GC-22 1985

Popy Bismarck DX GC-22 1985 from anime Star Musketeer Bismarck

Here is the intro for the anime Seijuushi Bismarck 1984-1985. It kinda reminds me of a cowboy anime version of the Super Sentai series. The uniforms have a Power Ranger look to them.

Ok so I know I haven’t posted anything in a while and I still have plenty of robots to post. But I have found some pretty cool new exclusives from Toys R’ Us you should check out. They have a huge 18 inch Transformers Generations Combiner Wars Devastator which just looks amazing! I only had a few of the original robots from the Devastator set, but if I was going to get one now that would be the one. The only issue I have with it is the price $169.99(its cheaper at Walmart for $143). It looks a lot better than the original one in the 80’s so I might just give in and pick it up.

Transformers Generations Combiner Wars Devastator Figure Set Decepticon Hasbro 2015

Transformers Generations Combiner Wars Devastator Figure Set Decepticons Hasbro 2015

They also have a Transformers Platinum Edition Optimus Prime Figure and Transformers Platinum Edition Soundwave Figure. I don’t really care for these as I do not really like clear plastic figures. These are two matching clear figures if you like the whole translucent look. I am not a fan. The only thing really exciting about these are the accessories: Decepticon Frenzy figure, Buzzsaw figure, Laserbeak figure, Ravage figure, Decepticon Rumble figure, 2 Quake Hammers, Megatron mini-figure.

Age of Extinction Platinum Optimus Prime With Trailer & Sideswipe 2014

Age of Extinction Platinum Optimus Prime With Trailer & Sideswipe 2014

There are a couple of Masterpiece figures. The Transformers Masterpiece Bluestreak Figure is pretty sharp. I am considering picking that up. But a pre-order for Transformers Masterpiece Starscream Figure coming out in October is what I am really waiting for(Sorry it sold out on the site and stores! I never got one, but I did get the Bluestreak). I do not have any pictures of these as I have not seen them at the store, but I hope to see them soon!

Age of Extinction Platinum Optimus Prime With Trailer & Sideswipe 2014

Found Platinum Prime was still at Toys R Us June 2016. Guess its not that popular or just too expensive. So I added a few pictures without the security clip on the box and now you can see the toy itself in the picture above.

So this is my first post in a while. I have been meaning to put up some of my new robots. Here is a new one from my cousin’s trip to Japan.

Aura Battler Billbine 1/46 scale SF Fantasy Figure from anime Seisenshi Dunbine 1983-1984

My cousin found this Aura Battler Billbine in a Mandarake in Akihabara. I was surprised it was only 1,080 yen(about $10 ) for an 80’s die cast metal robot. When I got it, I realized it may be a knock off. I was looking for the little Clover leaf emblem like I see on my other Aura Battler robots. But I did not see one. See the box on the bottom right? Usually the ST icon is there. The Aura Battler Dunbine robots were the last toys made by Clover. I have read conflicting reports that this Billbine may have had the molds created by Clover, then manufactured by Tomy who picked up their licenses when they folded. The box looks a lot like the Clover boxes for Aura Battler Dunbine robots. The ST icon is a Japanese safety standard not required on exported toys. So this is likely a Tomy toy made for export, as the box was unbranded/unmarked with English instructions,  but the box and robot markings indicate it was made in Japan. So yay! I have a Tomy produced Billbine.

Aura Battler Billbine 1/46 scale SF Fantasy Figure from anime Seisenshi Dunbine 1983-1984

Even if this is a bootleg, it is solid/decent die cast metal robot. Nothing about it wows me, but Clover robots rarely do. I am guessing it was probably made in the same factory as mold seems pretty solid for this robot. I do not care for the color scheme (white, red and yellow plastic with some metallic metal stickers). The legs, arms, wings, and head are plastic. But the body is mostly metal. It would have looked a lot better if the robot was bluish gray as it shows on the images in the back and box art instead of the white plastic and paint application. The hands have big bird claws on the end, but they remind me of Wolverine’s claws from the X-Men.

Aura Battler Billbine 1/46 scale SF Fantasy Figure from anime Seisenshi Dunbine 1983-1984

It’s interesting how much time they spent on wrapping this. That is a lot of time to spend on a $10 robot. I am trying to figure out if they did this to protect the packaging from water or for some other reason. After spending some time with the box, it is pretty musty. I am starting to understand why it is under wraps. As with most of the Clover robots, the box art and images are one of the nicest parts of the toy sadly enough.

Aura Battler Billbine 1/46 scale SF Fantasy Figure from anime Seisenshi Dunbine 1983-1984

Aura Battler Billbine 1/46 scale SF Fantasy Figure from anime Seisenshi Dunbine 1983-1984

The toy comes as a robot and transforms into as some kind of flying bird form. The bird form reminds me a bit of the Brave Raideen’s transformation. The feet can be squeezed together to resemble bird feet.  The wings on the back actually provide the largest range of motion and I think this is my favorite part of the robot. I was able to pose the robot with various wing configurations. The robot comes with 2 cannons you can mount on the back or put in his hands. It comes with 3 orange yellow missiles. The sword on the box illustrations is nowhere to be found though. It would be nice to pop one of those into Billbine’s hands. The robot itself barely moves or has any articulation,  but the knees and hips rotate.

I will put out some pictures from the robot itself when I get the time…

Aura Battler Billbine 1/46 scale SF Fantasy Figure from anime Seisenshi Dunbine 1983-1984

About 10-15 years ago I picked up a few cheap Aura Battler Dunbine robots when I really did not know much about robots. Mostly I was just curious as I had never seen them before. These were not robots I wanted when I was young(like the Macross and Transformers robots), so I picked up a few for fun. None of them were amazing and I really didn’t care too much about them until I learned more about the history of them and the company that made them.

Clover made a few cool robots like the Daitarn, Zambot III, Daioja and the first Gundam robots. So having these robots now is a little bit of history. So even if I cannot pick up the Clover DX Gundam’s anytime soon, the Dunbine robots will do for now.

I found the first episode of Aura Battler Dunbine on YouTube which is kind of a kick. I did not think they ported it over to English. Go figure.

Bot Shots made it right to my local Tuesday Morning and Ross store. I don’t see them at the regular stores like Walmart and Target, just the discount stores. So they must not be very popular. They are cute little robots and I hate to say it, but they look better than the original Generation 1 line of Mini Vehicles. The snarky little grin on Bumblebee’s face almost makes me want to pick this up. If they have a Starscream with this grin I’m sold. Too bad I have never seen one. I would not mind seeing other robots in this line, but this is the only one I have seen. I am guessing I will not see more of this line due to its piddling success.

Bot Shots is a game like Rock, Paper, Scissors. Fist beats sword, Sword beats blaster, Blaster beats fist.

You shoot the robots at each other as cars and the emblem on the chest will show Sword, Fist, or Blaster if it transforms.  If your Bot does not transform and the other does, you lose by default. If there is a tie, the highest number on the chest is the tie breaker.

Bumblebee Bot Shots Battle Game 2012

I guess I wouldn’t mind getting these free, but otherwise I am not really that hot on what I have seen so far.

Bumblebee Bot Shots Battle Game 2012

I was just resizing my images when I found this last bootleg the Super Change Robot from Harmony on my trip to France last year.  Two of the same robots in red and yellow. I can’t figure out which robot this is a knockoff of. I am guessing it was a Transformer, but not sure which one. This is from the same store in Lourdes(France) right across the street from the chapel on the field. They sell a lot of religious tourist trap stuff at the store, but they also had some toys to keep the kids from driving their parents nuts religious pilgrimage. I would not pay 5 euros for these robots.

Harmony Super Change Avion Transformable Robot

From the first picture you can see Harmony makes a bunch of other cheap toys. I could not find any info on the net for the Harmony Super Change Avion Transformable en Robot Plastique. So I guess I am the only one who has a post on this little bugger. Anyways, I always find the bootlegs pretty fun to post. I am sure I will find more soon. It is odd that the text ,”Avion Transformable en Robot Plastique” means Transformable Robot Plastic airplane when it is clearly a robot car. Go figure.  Someone needs to learn French.

Harmony Super Change Avion Transformable Robot

Raydeen was another of my favorite robots from the 70’s Shogun Warriors.  I read the old Marvel Comic book, but its another one where we never saw the anime here. There was no Force Five dub on this one we could watch here. We didn’t have options like Youtube or Crunchyroll to get our anime fix, but with a little imagination and a cool metal robot we were good to go. Here is the Soul of Chogokin Reideen the Brave GX-41.  I put him next to the old 5″ Mattel Shogun Warrior Raydeen from 1979 as a point of comparison.

Reideen the Brave GX-41 Bandai Soul of Chogokin 2008 from anime Brave Raideen from 1975 to 1976

Dave added this one in Akhibara. Comparing it against the old Shogun Warriors 5 inch, I can see it is a real improvement. He looks like a pharoah from hieroglyphs. Not sure why there are so many variations on his name, I have seen it as Raydeen, Raideen or Reideen. The Soul of Chogokin version is better by far. He bears a much better resemblance to his anime version and as always the articulation and poseability are amazing in comparison.  But the old Shogun Warrior holds a special place in my heart. That being said, I can’t wait till I have one of these as well.

Reideen the Brave GX-41 Bandai Soul of Chogokin 2008 from anime 勇者ライディーン Yuusha Raideen from 1975 to 1976