Month: December 2013

I bought the Popy Golion DX  GB-36 in Hong Kong in 1985 for 24 dollars. On that trip, we went to Japan and Hong Kong.  I went back to Hong Kong in 2011 and I saw nowhere near the amount of toys I recall as a child. I mean, I remember I would go to the malls and there’d be toyshops everywhere and that these toys were relatively in my price range.  Fast forward to 2011 and I only saw about 2 toystores and I went to a bunch of malls.  I guess the robot toys of my youth are an adult hobby these days…

Here’s Golion aka Voltron and the cartoon image.  He’s got a massive sword which I understand was not included in the Matchbox version, but was in the Bandai Godaikin release.

Golion DX Godaikin Bandai 1981 GB-36 aka Voltron III 1984 from anime Beast King GoLion(百獣王ゴライオン) 1981-1982

Still from Beast King GoLion 1981-1982 or Voltron: Defender of the Universe 1984-1985

I will make a separate post for most of the robots below, a lot of MSIA Gundam. But I just had to make one big post for a nice haul of Gundam Wing/G Gundams/0080/Endless Waltz loose figures that I scored from a nice guy on Craigslist. Not only did I get a good price, but I had none of these figures since I didn’t get too involved in these genres… I had never considered using Craigslist before but I lucked out thanks to my cousin’s suggestion.

What you see here is after I spent nearly 5 hours re-constructing each piece as each was in some state of disrepair i.e. missing arm, shoulder armor, shoulder, leg, weapon etc.  So, in the right image you can see I have a YouTube video of a toy review of one of the toys so that I could figure out which pieces go with what.

Lot of MSIA Gundam

Lot of Gundams continued

Here’s another Super Sentai robot. This is my Sunvulcan DX introduced under the Godaikin line.  I’m pretty certain this was another one that I purchased in Japantown in 1984-1985. According to my notes on an old price list, I got the Sun Vulcan for 50 dollars. I recall Toys R Us sold these for a time and I may have purchased one or two there.  What kills me is that these toys would sometimes get blown out (since kids at the time had no idea who/what they were – (although I NEVER saw those prices…)) for cheap (like under 20 dollars or so).   Fast forward 30 years later, these toys are now worth hundreds.

Sunvulcan DX Godaikin 1981 – Popy Chogokin GB-32 from Taiyo Sentai Sun Vulcan 1981-1982

Taiyo Sentai Sun Vulcan still of Sun Vulcan Robo in Action 1981-1982

Another super robot from the Godaikin line.  I never got into this one as a kid.  I borrowed this DX version from my cousin. I put the tea bottle next to him to reference his size.  He is quite a hefty robot and he’s got a unique look to him.  I have seen a few of the cartoons but didn’t really get into the story.  Once I’ve cycled through my Transformers and Gundams, I will display the Godaikins.

Laserion DX Bandai Godaikin – Popy GC-17 1984 from the anime Video Warrior Laserion 1984-1985

Video Warrior Laserion anime from 1984-1985

Voltes V DX Godaikin 1982 aka Popy Volt in Box 1977

My first experience with Godaikin robots was in the Philippines in 1983.  A friend of mine had the Voltes V DX  toy and I was in awe of it. It was a big hefty die cast metal robot.  I went to look for it, but these toys were not readily available in the Philippines. It was because of him that I got into collecting robot toys.

Fast forward a few years later and I managed to trade a bunch of Transformers for the loose version I have here.  He’s very top-heavy and doesn’t stand well without leaning against the wall.  I never had the sword – I managed to get a sword from another Godaikin.  In the cartoon, the red emblem on his chest forms the base of the sword.

Voltes V from anime Chōdenji Machine Voltes V 1977-1978

Here a taste of the first episode in the Philippines. Gotta love those Filipino accents.

Voltes V DX Volt Machine Volt In Box 1977 Popy

Voltes V DX Volt Machine Volt In Box 1977 Popy

Voltes V DX Godaikin 1982 aka Popy Volt in Box 1977 Bandai America

Voltes V DX Godaikin 1982 aka Popy Volt in Box 1977 Bandai America

Voltes V could be purchased in separate pieces as Popy PB-04, PB-05, PB-06, PB-07, PB-08, Volt-In-Box as one release, or as Voltes V the Bandai Godaikin US version of the Chogokin.

Here’s a Dynaman DX that I bought from the Japanese toy store in Japantown, San Francisco in 1984. I bought so many toys from that shop, I hated to see him retire.  I remember he would also have a Nintendo out in the front for the kids to play.  He had a display case for all the Godaikins and it inspired me to get the collection. I wish I had kept my boxes. I have lost a lot of the accessories and it would have been a great place to store them.

Dynaman DX – Bandai Godaikin 1983 Popy GB-96 Dyna Robo from Kagaku Sentai Dynaman

Kagaku Sentai Dynaman Still of Dyna Robo in action 1983-1984

Gardian DX Godaikin 1982 aka Popy GB-09,GB-10, and GB-11 in 1979

I bought the Gardian DX toy in 1984 from Japantown, San Francisco.  I remember they had a Godaikin display case and it was cool to see all of them displayed.  This was the first Godaikin I purchased.  There’s supposed to 3 guys – the main Gardian (blue), #2 a red one that goes inside the blue guy, and #3 a white robot (which I no longer have).  I think I paid about 80-90 dollars in 1984.  The left fist has broken off but I was able to glue back in.  I’m torn between leaving the fists (and risking breakage) or leaving them off (but risk losing).

Gordian Warrior still from the intro. The anime ran from 1979 -1981.

Gardian DX Godaikin 1982 This image shows the nesting feature