Category: Popy

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

Live Robo and Five Robo – 1988 from Liveman & Fiveman Super Sentai shows

Here are two Super Sentai robots – the yellow one is Liveman Live Robo and the blue one is Fiveman Five Robo. They are about 19 cm or 7.5 inches. These are my cousin’s – he likes the Sentai stuff but I never really got into them (except for the ones that came out as Godaikins).  They are both entirely made of plastic and pleasantly were both still made in Japan. I’ve attached images of what they looked like on their respective shows.

Liveman Live Robo from Super Beast Squadron Liveman 1988-1989

Fiveman FiveRobo from Chikyuu Sentai Fiveman 1990-1991

Deluxe Gundam MK-II Mobile Suit RX-78 1985

This one, I recall buying in a small toy store in Kyoto, Japan. This was my very first Gundam. I grew to love this series immediately as there were so many different mecha (compared to Macross). I don’t recall seeing the Zakus at the time but they may have been in the unfamiliar-to-me-at-the-time  or HCM format rather than a toy like this one. I have also placed its replacement – the 12″ Deluxe Nu Gundam from Char’s Counterattack next to it as comparison. I also have a small booklet that I purchased from Kinokuniya book store. I might also have a VHS tape as well. You can now watch episodes on Youtube.

Gundam Mark II

Deluxe Nu Gundam RX-93 Char’s Counterattack 1988 Bandai

Here’s a Daidenjin Godaikin which I purchased from a little shop in Japantown, San Francisco in 1984. I bought quite a few robot figures/toys from that store. The owner retired sometime in the early 2000’s. I added a picture of what he looks like in his Super Sentai show. I think this is the Japanese DaiDenzin GB-14 DX by Popy instead of the Godaikin version, as the shop in Japantown only sold Japanese robots. This one is another robot with heavy diecast metal content, which makes it another awesome Chogokin robot.

Daidenjin Godaikin 1984

Live action show Denshi Sentai Denziman 1980-1981

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

Here is Goggle Five Chogokin. It’s nice to have the DX and ST versions of this robot. I will have to do a group picture for my GoDaiKins and the DX versions with their little brothers. ***

Wow, this thing is heavy. It earns the Chogokin name by far. The chest and legs are definitely metal. I can’t find the year on this thing, now I wish I could read Japanese. This is probably one of my older Popy robots. You can’t have a Popy robot without the shooting fists, sword and shield. The design as on most ST robots is fabulous. As usual they get the proportions right. I love this thing. Goggle Five is an 80’s Super Sentai robot from the series Dai Sentai Goggle Five in 1982.

I wish American toys came in this type of packaging. Storing is a breeze with all my Japanese robots. Even when I have a boxed Hasbro Transformer it is harder to store once you have opened the box.

Popy Goggle Five Chogokin GB-76 Japan ST

Goggle Five Chogokin by Popy GB-76 Japan ST 1982

Goggle Five Chogokin by Popy GB-76 Japan ST 1982

Goggle Five Chogokin by Popy GB-76 Japan ST 1982

Goggle Five Chogokin by Popy GB-76 Japan ST 1982

Goggle Five Chogokin by Popy GB-76 Japan ST 1982

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.