Tag: transforming robot

Polyfect Tornadonumber

Tornado Number is from Polyfect Toys. It is another dollar store find. It appears to be a knockoff of a series that never made it over to the US. Granbird  from the anime  Brave Fighter Sun of Great Fighbird back in 1991-1992 came right after Transformers Generation 1 ended. I am not a fan of the Brave Series robots design wise. Takara made some robots for this in DX deluxe or STD standard versions. A lot of the robots from the series are recycled and modified from the Transformers cartoon.

Sorry, I won’t be putting up any images of this in robot mode as I will not be adding it to my collection. But the quality and build looks better than most robot knockoffs I have seen. If I actually liked the robot it would be on display now. It may be cheaply made, but it does not look cheap. They are fun additions to the site, so I will put them up on my site until they stop making them.

 

Polyfect Tornadonumber Tornado Number aka Granbird  from the anime  Brave Fighter Sun of Great Fighbird in 1991-1992 Taiyō no Yūsha Fighbird 太陽の勇者ファイバード (Japanese)

Polyfect Tornadonumber

Polyfect Toys makes a number of knockoff toys or KO for short, but the quality is much better than I would have thought initially based on Construction the Devastator KO I picked up from them. Even if they do not last, $5.99 for a cheap plastic robot will not break the bank for a nice little display robot.

Polyfect Tornadonumber Tornado Number aka Granbird  from the anime  Brave Fighter Sun of Great Fighbird in 1991-1992 Taiyō no Yūsha Fighbird 太陽の勇者ファイバード (Japanese)

Polyfect Tornado Number

I put an image of the Takara Granbird below. Look familiar?

Yuusha The Brave Fighter Of Sun Fighbird DX Granbird Takara 1991 タカラ 太陽の勇者ファイバード   グランバード DX

Yuusha The Brave Fighter Of Sun Fighbird DX Granbird Takara 1991

Polyfect Tornadonumber Tornado Number aka Granbird  from the anime  Brave Fighter Sun of Great Fighbird in 1991-1992 Taiyō no Yūsha Fighbird 太陽の勇者ファイバード (Japanese)

Polyfect Tornadonumber Tornado Number


Prowl Masterpiece Edition MP-04 Hasbro Transformers 2014

Prowl is a nice piece to add your Masterpiece collection(probably the best one this year). I have yet to own one of the Masterpiece Editions, but this one is making me think about it. I usually try to add the cheaper new Transformers or pieces from the 70’s, 80’s and early 90’s.

Prowl is one of my favorite Autobots and one of the better Generation 1 toys.  I never had one and this piece is so much nicer than the original G1 robot by far, but for the price I wish it was a little taller than 7 inches.  It looks so close to the cartoon version it is making me itch to see the old cartoons again. From the pose on the box it has much more articulation than the original, so poses will be much more fun than what you could do before. The police car transformation really looks great, but the robot form is where the toy really shines. What a beautiful version of Prowl. Though it seems a lot of people prefer the Takara version. The only big plus I can see is that the missile launchers shoot( I actually prefer the white missile launchers to the original black ones. They look too big). One other plus I see is the Takara box is so much smaller. The Hasbro box seems like a space waster. You can get either version on Amazon, eBay or ToysRUs.com.

Prowl Masterpiece MP-04 2014 Autobot Hasbro-  Foreign names Japanese(プロール Purōru), Cantonese(Tsim-Hang-Shou 潛行獸), French (Cervo, Rôdeur), Italian (Pantera ("Panther"),   Mandarin (Pái-húai Taiwan, 徘徊, "Prowl"), Jǐng Chē (China, 警車, "Police Car"), Portuguese (Batedor or Espreitador)

Prowl Masterpiece MP-04 2014 Autobot Hasbro Intelligence Specialist


If you are going to pick up a Masterpiece robot Prowl blows away Sunstorm. And the Masterpiece Grimlock re-release is just another reissue. So they will likely put him back out again in some form or other.

Prowl Masterpiece MP-04 2014 Autobot Hasbro Intelligence Specialist back of box Foreign names Japanese(プロール Purōru), Cantonese(Tsim-Hang-Shou 潛行獸), French (Cervo, Rôdeur), Italian (Pantera ("Panther"),   Mandarin (Pái-húai Taiwan, 徘徊, "Prowl"), Jǐng Chē (China, 警車, "Police Car"), Portuguese (Batedor or Espreitador)

Prowl Masterpiece MP-04 2014 Autobot Hasbro Intelligence Specialist

Sunstorm Masterpiece Edition MP-05 Hasbro

On a recent trek to Toys R’ Us I found a stack of Masterpiece Sunstorms. It was a pleasant surprise and they were fun to look at. I am afraid that the bright yellow color is so ugly, that I will never seriously consider adding this piece to my collection. Maybe if they blow Sunstorm out here on clearance for $30, but I will not be paying $79.99 to add this Toys R’ Us exclusive due to limited funds and space.

I do not have a Masterpiece Seeker in my collection and would love to add one of the other ones like Skywarp, Thundercracker, or Starscream, but Sunstorm is very low on my list. I wish they had chosen another robot for the Masterpiece edition. Say Shockwave or Arcee.  Instead they do a redeco of Takara’s Masterpiece MP-11 Starscream mold, which kinda tells me they are too lazy to make a new mold. They are really milking this one.  The sculpt is the same one they used on the Acid Storm and Thundercracker which were also Toys R Us exclusives as well. It is an amazing sculpt and I do not blame them for re-using it, but it would be nice to get some new original product. Maybe if they used the orange/goldish color in the first cartoon I would actually be interested in this robot.

Sunstorm Masterpiece MP-05 2014 Hasbro Decepticon Spark Hunter and Seeker(サンストーム Sansutōmu)

Sunstorm Masterpiece MP-05 Masterpiece Edition 2014 Hasbro Decepticon Spark Hunter


Sunstorm Masterpiece MP-05 2014 Hasbro Decepticon Spark Hunter and Seeker(サンストーム Sansutōmu)

Sunstorm Masterpiece MP-05 Masterpiece Edition 2014 Hasbro Decepticon Spark Hunter


Transformers Age of Extinction Grimlock Evolution 2-Pack

This is a pretty nice Toys R’ Us exclusive. The Transformers Age of Extinction Grimlock Evolution 2-Pack comes with a classic Generation 1 like Grimlock based on the classic 1984 cartoon and the Age of Extinction 2014 version from the movie.

If you don’t want to pay big money for a G1 Grimlock, here is a cheaper option you can pick. I do not have Grimlock yet, so it is an option I am thinking about. I have been eyeballing the dark blue Generation 2 Grimlock as my cousin already has the G1 version. But what I like about this one is that the head is not a teeny weeny wee little thing like the original Generation 1 release. The new Grimlock looks really nice, but I haven’t gotten around to seeing the movie yet. So I do not have any attachment to it like I do for the G1 Grimlock redux.

Transformers Grimlock Age of Extinction Evolution 2-Pack 1984 Generation 1 version and 2014 front box cover Foreign names-Japanese(グリムロック Gurimurokku), French La Menace, Italian: Tiran, Drago, Korean (그림록 Geurimnok), Mandarin Gāng Sǔo (鋼鎖, "Steel Lock"), Portuguese Trancoso, Grunhido, Implacável, Spanish: Ferozaurio

Transformers Grimlock Age of Extinction Evolution 2-Pack 1984 to 2014

Both robots change to Dino mode or into a tyrannosaurus rex.

Platinum Series Year of the Horse Optimus Prime & Supreme Starscream

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 back box cover

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

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

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

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

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


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

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


Dancougar Godaikin DX GC-30 – 1985

Here’s Dancougar – another one from the Godaikin collection.  Checking the back foot, I see this one was made in 1985.  This was another one I never had. Looking at the old price tag from Kaybee, I see the original price was 44.99 and then was marked down to 24.99. Man, I never saw this at a Toys R Us or Kaybee let alone marked down! Anyway, I briefly borrowed my cousin’s Gigabrain plastic re-issue from the 1987 anime and that one looks better as a robot but it’s not a combiner and it’s all plastic.  I got this Dancougar Godaikin at a really good price – 170 dollars! Whenever I do see this piece, it’s been about 300-400 dollars.  It’s missing the gun, however.

DX Dancougar Godaikin 1985 Bandai America from the anime Chōjū Kishin Dancougar(超獣機神ダンクーガ) Dancougar DX Godaikin 1985 Bandai America from the anime Chōjū Kishin Dancougar(超獣機神ダンクーガ) Dancougar DX Godaikin 1985 Bandai America from the anime Chōjū Kishin Dancougar(超獣機神ダンクーガ) Dancougar DX Godaikin 1985 Bandai America from the anime Chōjū Kishin Dancougar(超獣機神ダンクーガ) Dancougar DX Godaikin 1985 Bandai America from the anime Chōjū Kishin Dancougar(超獣機神ダンクーガ) Dancougar DX Godaikin 1985 Bandai America from the anime Chōjū Kishin Dancougar(超獣機神ダンクーガ) Dancougar DX Godaikin 1985 Bandai America from the anime Chōjū Kishin Dancougar(超獣機神ダンクーガ)

Dancougar DX Godaikin 1985 Bandai America aka Popy GC-30 from the anime Chōjū Kishin Dancougar(超獣機神ダンクーガ)



RoadBot Hummer H2 SUV 1/18 scale by Aoshima

 

RoadBot Hummer H2 SUV 1/18 scale 2009 by Aoshima Happy Well Skynet Roadbot

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 Happy Well Skynet Roadbot

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 Skynet Roadbot

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

Robot Super Trucks Kickback Insecticon bootleg

 

Robot Super Trucks - Trucks to Robot - Robot Heroes get ready to roll out! Transformers Kickback Insecticon Decepticon bootleg robot

Robot Super Trucks – Trucks to Robot – Transformers Insecticon Kickback Decepticon bootleg robot

I found Robot Super Trucks in Fatima Portugal.  Thought it was interesting enough to post. It’s a Kickback Generation 1 Transformer bootleg Insecticon with a different color scheme instead of the typical purple and black. Glad to know the old molds are still being put to use.   Sorry the images are sideways.  I can’t figure out how to rotate them on my phone.

Anyway this is the Robot Super Trucks. I figure this maybe an Autobot reference. I can see a few of these on eBay occasionally, but it is hit or miss. Maybe Takara sold the molds for some extra cash. I kinda wished I had picked this one up.

These robots do not look half bad for knockoffs. I am just not a fan of the colors or I would own this now. I am kind of kicking myself for not picking this one up.

Robot Super Trucks - Trucks to Robot - Robot Heroes get ready to roll out! Transformers Insecticon Decepticon bootleg robot Kickback

Robot Super Trucks – Trucks to Robot – Kickback Transformers Insecticon Decepticon bootleg robot

Gerwalk Nikick MBG-24C 1983 1/40 scale Takatoku Toys

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 Super Dimension Century Orguss back cover 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

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 Super Dimension Century Orguss(超時空世紀オーガス Chōjikū Seiki Ōgasu) styrofoam

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

(超時空世紀オーガス Chōjikū Seiki Ōgasu) Gerwalk Nikick MBG-24C 1983 1/40 scale Takatoku Toys from Super Dimension Century Orguss side cover

Gerwalk Nikick MBG-24C 1983 1/40 scale Takatoku Toys from (超時空世紀オーガス Chōjikū Seiki Ōgasu)Super Dimension Century Orguss front box cover

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

 

Cliffjumper Generation 1 Hasbro 1984

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 Transformers Mini Vehicles

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 Generation 1 Hasbro Mini Vehicles 1984 car form front

Cliffjumper G1 Transformers Hasbro Mini Vehicles 1984 car form

 

Cliffjumper G1 Generation 1 Hasbro Mini Vehicles 1984 robot form back

Cliffjumper G1 Generation 1 Hasbro Mini Vehicles 1984 car form back

Cliffjumper G1 Generation 1 Hasbro Mini Vehicles 1984 car form bottom



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