Category: Popy

This is one of the coolest Super Sentai robots, it also happens to be the first. At least the first time Super Sentai was coined. It was the third Sentai series to come around and it was inspired by Marvel’s Captain America. After the success of the Spider Man live action(tokusatsu) series(with Leopardon or is it Leopoldon?), Toei thought more robots were needed in our Sentai series. Which I am personally happy about as I have a few of these amazing robots.

So Leopardon is a heavy(so heavy for its size) ST robot that looks like a samurai. It is bigger than most ST robots and has a great design. The Popy brand which is pretty much the standard bearer for any Chogokin(Super Alloy) robot. It is from 1979, but the design is timeless and does not feel dated at all. I wasn’t nearly as appreciative of this robot when I got it, but after learning and researching about them I definitely have a better understanding and appreciation of all things Popy.

All of the Godaikins were originally Popy robots before Bandai absorbed them into the main company. So this post is in honor of the grand daddy of the Megazord. Battle Fever J.   My cousin has the Soul of Chogokin version GX-30 which is just a great piece as well. Here is a first episode of the tokusatsu show Battle Fever J(バトルフィーバーJ ) from 1979-1980.

Popy Battle Fever Robo ST GB-03 1979

Popy Battle Fever Robo ST GB-03 1979 from Battle Fever J 1979-1980

Popy Battle Fever Robo ST GB-03 1979

Popy Battle Fever Robo ST GB-03 1979 バトルフィーバーJ

The DX Dancougar is a solid piece, but I can’t say I love this one. I got it without the box. I should have held out for a boxed copy(though maybe I never would have picked one up). I will have to change this into the large robot one day and redo some of these pictures as my old iPhone really does provide the detail I would like to see in these photos. I keep forgetting. This one is like Abegas, but the robots are a little better. The largest robot is a decent piece and they didn’t forget to make sure there was some diecast metal. Sorry, I hate cheap plastic robots. Probably should get around to the better pictures for each robot and as one large robot. ***

I plan to add the ST Dancougar to my collection, but I haven’t seen it for a while. I will have to keep an eye out for it.

Dancougar DX GoDaikin by Bandai 1985 aka Popy GC-30 from anime Dancougar Super Bestial Machine God

Here is the intro from the anime Chōjū Kishin Dancougar in 1985

I am not a big Sun Vulcan fan. The design is a little too boxy for me, but all the accessories and the big ass sword make up for it. It’s kinda like the Megazord before they came up with it. Big, clunky, dorky. That is the Sun Vulcan Godaikin in spades. Hmm, checking out the design a little more, the top part is ok, only the legs need a redesign to make this a cool looking robot. This one has the standard red, yellow and blue color scheme as many of the Super Sentai robots have from the 80’s. Based on what I have read, this is the first Sentai combining robot.

I got this in mint condition. I don’t this thing has ever made it out the box as the tape is still on it. Guess the previous owner was not a big fan either. Still, it’s better than Abega or Machine Dolphin. The Sunvulcan DX came out first as a Popy Chogokin robot GB-32 in 1981. We got it here in the States in 1982 in the Godaikin line.

Though it would be nice if this was more than a rectangle chunk of plastic with arms, legs and a head. It’s kinda like a Rubik’s cube with a head and some arms. That being said, it is nice having a Godaikin in mint condition.

Sun Vulcan Godaikin – Popy Sun Vulcan Robo GB-32 from Taiyo Sentai Sun Vulcan 1981-1982

Sun Vulcan Godaikin – Popy Sun Vulcan Robo GB-32 from Taiyo Sentai Sun Vulcan 1981-1982

Here is a funny video of Taiyo Sentai Sun Vulcan from 1981-1982 playin with their own toys.

Machine Dolphin was one of those borderline purchases for me. The robot was not very good if you can call it a robot, but light years better than my Abega purchase. Like Abega, I find I like it better as Dolphin Jet or as a car. The only reason I have this is because it is part of the Godaikin line.

To me, Machine Dolphin is a really large Gobot. It was designed as a car, looks good as a car, but not so good as a robot. It is a cruddy Gobot. That being said, I am a big fan of the Gobot/Machine Robo line up. Just not too fond of Machine Dolphin. To me, this is next to the worst Godaikins out there.

This robot is from the Super Sentai series Machine Man in the 80’s.

I have to figure out how to get his arm stickers to stay on. Might have to whip out the Gorilla Glue to see if I can fix that.

Machine Dolphin GoDaiKin 1984

Machine Dolphin GoDaiKin 1984 by Bandai

Machine Dolphin GoDaiKin 1984

I can pop in a picture of the robot out of the box into this post later. I am still putting up the rest of my collection. Pop in a comment below and I will get to it a little quicker. ***

Seiun Kamen Machineman from tokusatsu 1984

Dynaman is another great Godaikin. It is from a Super Sentai series. I will have to watch one before I pass judgement on this series. Like many Super Robots it incorporates a red, white, yellow, and blue color scheme, it has a solid build, and it stands well. You wouldn’t think that was important. But when you want to display it, it sure helps. The colors remind me of Combattra, Daidenjin, Voltes V, Daitetsujin 17, or Sun Vulcan. It seems like so many of them incorporate the same colors. The only real design flaw I see, is the head seems a little small for the body. I would have made it a tad bit bigger, but this is one of the better builds for a DX Godaikin. I noticed the feet and legs are almost identical to other robots, like say Vavilos, Goggle V, or Machineman. It makes sense since those Why reinvent the wheel if you already have a solid foundation?

I sure wish my Dynaman Godaikin came with the sword. It’s a little cheaper to pull off Ebay if they are not complete. Maybe I can pop in the sword from my Protector Self Separation(the Gardian clone) into his hands. I don’t really think many would be able to tell the difference anyway.

Dynaman Godaikin 1983 Bandai America

Dynaman DX Godaikin 1983 Bandai America

Here is a the intro for Kagaku Sentai Dynaman from 1983-1984 also listed as Kaizoku Sentai Dynaman. I would have added the spoof from USA Network, but the quality of all of the videos were terrible. But they were pretty funny. Check them out on Youtube.

I picked up Abega because it was a Godaikin and it was cheap. Can’t say I care for any of the robots, They don’t combine or look good as robots. Definitely some of the worst robots I have ever seen. The jets themselves look much better. The Gamma Jet is not too bad and I actually like the Alpha Jet and the Abega as the combining super spacecraft are its saving grace. That being said, this is the worst or least favorite Godaikin I own because of those horrible robot forms.

I guess they had a hard time selling these. They were released as initially as Godaikins and re-released as Robo Machine by Bandai in the early 90’s based on the sticker on the box.

Abega GoDaiKin by Bandai 1984 aka Super Abega DX PC-39 Popynica 1983

After a little more research, it looks like this was part of the Albegas cartoon which was supposed to be released as Voltron II in the US. Now I can see why Albegas was released as part of the Voltron pantheon of toys. Got this info thanks to CollectionDX. Those guys know their stuff. I may just have to dig up the cartoon for some late night viewing. I watched a bit of Golion and the story was much more watchable then the old Voltron anime. I am sure Albegas will be an interesting watch.

Abega GoDaiKin by Bandai 1984 aka Super Abega DX PC-39 Popynica 1983

Abega GoDaiKin by Bandai 1984 aka Super Abega DX PC-39 Popynica 1983

I may need to revisit these with pictures of the robots, the jet combined and some pix of Super Abega with his buds Gamma Robo and Albegas. ***

Sadly, we never got to see Voltron II in the US. Here is the opening for what could have been.