Author: Con

I love Gundam. And I love big robots. And this, THIS is a very large Zaku. Both of my favorite things in one toy! It is interactive, so if you have the other Gundam Motorized action figure(I think it is the RX-78) it kind of looks like they are fighting. Saw this monstrous robot for $15 at Target as they were clearing it out and I just had to buy it.

I think it is 18″. That’s less than a dollar an inch. There is a hole in the packaging so you can press a button to see the Zaku in action. It moves left and right and waves his axe and gun around. The speaker spouts out loud music and copy from the first anime series I believe. Actually that part is kind of irritating, but it is fun to watch once a year.

Yeah, I still haven’t taken it out of the box. I hate the idea of dusting this thing.

Merry Christmas all! ***

Meet Flash King from Choushinsei Flashman. He joins all of his Sentai brethren in my collection. This is not a robot I coveted in the 80’s. Mostly found out about Flash King from my love of other 80’s robots as most of the information on this guy is in Japanese. This robot is pretty light for an 80’s Popy robot. I always expect some diecast metal goodness when dealing with Popy robots. Seems to be all plastic, but he is decent looking. After looking him over, looks like only the feet and chest are metal. Oops, looks like I forgot to take a picture of the front of the box. Oh well.

Flash King  is one of the nicer designs for a Super Sentai robot, I really like the color scheme and proportions. Though most ST robots don’t have an issue with this. This usually is an issue with the DX robots like Combattra, Daimos, and Daltanias. I wish i had his bigger brother Flash in Box, the DX version which seems pretty rare. Flash King looks great for a DX. This is one of my few Popy robots. I am a bit surprised,  as Popy had been reabsorbed back into Bandai in 1983 and this came out in 1986. ***

Flash King GC-33 ST by Popy Bandai Japan 1986 from tokusatsu tv show Choushinsei Flashman(超新星フラッシュマン) 1986-1987

Flash King GC-33 ST by Popy Bandai Japan 1986

Flash King GC-33 ST by Popy Bandai Japan 1986

Flash King GC-33 ST by Popy Bandai Japan 1986 from live action show Chōshinsei Furasshuman 1986-1987

Flash King GC-33 ST by Popy Bandai Japan 1986

Flash King GC-33 ST by Popy Bandai Japan 1986 from live action show Choushinsei Flashman 1986-1987

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

Honestly, not really sure why I got the Britt Jetter. I must have found the box art appealing(I actually like the Srungle ST and DX which are part of this line). But when I opened the box to check out the robot, I was not impressed. This one is a chunk of metal with arms and legs that move. This is one of the worst pieces I own. At least with the Shogun Warriors they were classic and appealing to look at.  The robot itself reminds of an old 80’s robot I really feel distaste for, the Starriors or a Zoid. If they had only stayed true to the image on the box I think we would have something. Sadly they made a short, stumpy version of what looks like a pretty decent mech.

Though Clover seems to be known for making big clumsy clumps of metal they call robots. I would like to pick up one of their pieces though. The Clover Gundam pieces I feel are pieces of history and I would love to have one.

Britt Jetter is from the anime Akū Daisakusen Srungle or Mission Outer Space Srungle from 1983-1984.

Britt Jetter 1/100 scale Srungle System Mecha Colection No.2 ST Clover 1983 from anime Akū Daisakusen Srungle 1983-1984

I am curious about the robot on the side of the box Babysaurs. It looks like a cool robot, but never seen it on ebay or on the internet. It is like it does not exist, which is interesting in itself. Maybe I will find it one day.

Britt Jetter 1/100 scale Srungle System Mecha Colection No.2 ST Clover 1983

Britt Jetter 1/100 scale Srungle System Mecha Colection No.2 ST Clover 1983

Britt Jetter 1/100 scale Srungle System Mecha Colection No.2 ST Clover 1983

Britt Jetter 1/100 scale Srungle System Mecha Colection No.2 ST Clover 1983

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

I had the Denjinbox DX Albegas by Popy, but I can’t say it did much more than this one does. The DX had 3 swords that combined into one long skinny one.  The robots themselves are short and blocky, but the anime has a much better look. If I never get the Denjinbox again, it would not be a huge loss as this version is as functional as I need it to be. I did not really care for the design as the arms needed to be folded into the back and hidden. It looked ok from the front, but not the sides and back. They have a few new releases by Evolution Toy and Dynamite that look much better.

The Victora products were train station versions that could be bought on the cheap. Yup, they are pretty cheaply made, but solid so I am not worried they will break like the DX version.

Albegas ST Victora Popy 1983

Albegas ST Victora Popy 1983

From the back you can see it is just one big chunk of red plastic and the top is a chunk of black plastic. Hopefully more than glue is holding them together.  

Kousokudenjin Albegas St Victora Popy 1983

Kousokudenjin Albegas St Victora Popy 1983

Kousokudenjin Albegas St Victora Popy 1983

Here is the big guy with Gamma Robo.

Victora Albegas and Gamma Robo

Here is a taste of the anime Lightspeed Electroid Albegas.