Heavy Metal L-Gaim Archives

L-Gaim 1984

Dave January 15, 2014 Bandai, Heavy Metal L-Gaim, Popy No Comments

Here’s the original “Heavy Metal L-Gaim” that I purchased in Japan, 1985. I never saw the cartoon but I liked him nonetheless. I actually saw this again in a 2nd hand store and was going to get it for my cousin as it was reasonably priced at 30 dollars. Good thing I didn’t as he already has this. Anyway, I bought a later version under the “HCM – Hi Complete Model” series in 2004 but that one is much smaller than this one. I have customized my toy, however, by painting the leg flaps silver with black trim and the waist armor, black.

L-Gaim DX Hi Metal 1/100 scale 1984 Popy Chogokin from anime tv show Heavy Metal L Gaim(Juusenki L-Gaim 重戦機エルガイム) 1984-1985

L-Gaim DX Hi Metal 1/100 scale 1984 Popy Chogokin from Heavy Metal L Gaim

L-Gaim from the anime Heavy Metal L Gaim(Juusenki L-Gaim 重戦機エルガイム) 1984-1985

L-Gaim from the anime Heavy Metal L Gaim(重戦機エルガイム) 1984-1985

Heavy Metal L-Gaim HCM Version

Dave December 1, 2013 Bandai, Heavy Metal L-Gaim, High Complete Model No Comments

Heavy Metal L-Gaim MK-II A-Class HCM High Complete Model 1/144 scale Bandai 1984 from the anime tv show Heavy Metal L Gaim(Juusenki L-Gaim 重戦機エルガイム) 1984-1985

Heavy Metal L-Gaim MK-II A-Class HCM #14 1/144 scale Bandai 1984

I bought the Heavy Metal L-Gaim HCM Mk-IIduring my 2004 Japan trip. I had the original HI Metal deluxe version that I had bought during my 1985 visit to Japan and I wanted to compare the two. The HCM version looks a little different but the concept is the same. Of course, the HCM version is much smaller than the deluxe version. I will post the deluxe version once I have dusted it off.

Heavy Metal L-Gaim MK-II A-Class HCM High Complete Model 1/144 scale Bandai 1984 from the anime tv show Heavy Metal L Gaim 1984-1985

Anime still from tv show Heavy Metal L Gaim(Juusenki L-Gaim 重戦機エルガイム) 1984-1985

Anime still from tv show Heavy Metal L Gaim 1984-1985

Hi-Metal L-Gaim 1/100 Scale Popy Bandai ST 1984

Con September 26, 2013 Bandai, Heavy Metal L-Gaim, Popy No Comments

The Hi-Metal L-Gaim is one of my favorite pieces. I have always wanted it since I first saw it on my cousin’s shelf in the 80’s. Except for the yellowing on the plastic, L-Gaim is robot perfection. The detail and quality of the L-Gaim is amazing for the 80’s. I never knew anything about this robot, but I wanted to have one. This is definitely a must have for any Chogokin collectors. The box art is great. As far as I can see, this is the last Popy robot before they remerged back into Bandai. Popy meant high end quality robots and the the Hi-Metal L-Gaim is it! I can’t say enough about this robot.

The thing is, you can usually find the robot for a good price. I usually see it listed around $120 which is amazing for a robot of this quality from the 80’s. Unfortunately, this white plastic is prone to yellowing like your old SNES(Super Nintendo Entertainment System). You can see what the actual color should be on the metal parts. Dunno if its cheap plastic as they just did not plan to have these around that long. I love the articulation and detail this figure has for an old 80’s robot. I can’t really think of any robot that matches its articulation an poseability from the 80’s. I am missing a gun, and I think I have a loose one of these hanging around somewhere.

I have a loose one as well. The brown plastic cable around the joints are broken off on the ends. I would say that is the main problem with this robot as they break pretty easily and I often see those broken when they are on sale, but not really a deal breaker considering these are 30 year old robots. For me the cherry on the icing is the leg compartments. They open up and have some really nice detail.