DX Robo

Here is Dynaman the American incarnation of Dyna Robo from Kagaku Sentai Dynaman. This one had a Robo Machine repackaging sticker on it. I guess Bandai couldn’t sell them as Godaikins so they repackaged them as Robo Machine without creating new product, but that is what the Godaikin series was. The box is in sucky condition but the robot is mint. I would actually display these if I didn’t have to dust them. The head shoots off, and you can shoot off a missile from hole in the head. I am a big fan of the ST sized robots, this is one of them. Hopefully I can pick up a few more. Though this is one of the Godaikins where I really do like the DX version as well. The design is typical  of Popy ST robots that come with a sword, shield and shooting fists. This is one of the robots that got me into this hobby in the first place. I love this guy!

Dynaman ST GoDaikin by Bandai 1984

An Innovative Series of Super Robots

Dynaman ST GoDaikin by Bandai 1984

Dynaman ST GoDaikin by Bandai 1984

Dynaman ST GoDaikin by Bandai 1984

Dynaman ST GoDaikin by Bandai 1984

I had the brown version of Sasuraiger and for some reason, I just decided to get this green and red version. It looks like someone who was color blind put this together. It is relatively hideous. Oddly enough this is the color scheme for the robot in the anime Galactic Whirlwind Sasuraiger, but the colors are much more subdued and look much better on the cartoon. This one was like $30 shipped from Japan. Guess no one else wanted it there either. I really like the robot other than the color scheme. It is built like a brick and only the arms move a little bit. It transforms pretty easily and looks just like a train which was the big appeal for me. Except for the colors, it looks good in both forms. It stands pretty well for display. Too bad I don’t have the box for the brown Batrain I have.

Yamato released a new pvc version which is much smaller at maybe 5″  in 2008 which does Sasuraiger justice. The old ST and DX robots do not even come close like this one does. The new one looks pretty good in the original colors and actually has some flexibility for poses.

Sasuraiger Batrain C-3 SL Type Takatoku 1984 from anime tv show Galactic Whirlwind Sasuraiger 1983-1984

On another note, I was surprised to see this was Made in Taiwan R. O. C.. The trasformabili on the front makes me think this it the Italian release.

Batrain Takatoku aka Sasuraiger 1984 from anime tv show Ginga Shippuu Sasuraiger 1983-1984

Sasuraiger Batrain Takatoku 1984 from anime tv show Galactic Whirlwind Sasuraiger 1983-1984

Batrain C-3 SL Type Takatoku aka Sasuraiger 1984 from anime tv show Galactic Whirlwind Sasuraiger 1983-1984

Batrain C-3 SL Type Takatoku Sasuraiger 1984 from anime tv show Galactic Whirlwind Sasuraiger 1983-1984

The Machine Robo line came out in 1982 in Japan as Popy robots and later from Bandai itself when they were absorbed back into the parent company in 1983 as robot sales fell. These robots came out as Gobots from Tonka in the US a couple of years later.

These are easily some of my favorite robots. I love the packaging they come in. You can take them out, transform them, then put them back in and they take up so little space. They are so easy to transform and they are the same size of Matchbox or Hot Wheels cars so they can be run on their playsets and tracks. They are by far superior to the Mini Vehicles that came out for Generation 1 Transformers in 1984 and even the Transformers Generation 2 Go-Bots line that came out 1995.

These are great little robots. It is a shame that Bandai has not seen fit to re-issue these amazing little robots. I have been looking to pickup a few more of these, but my cousin could not find them in Japan and some of them are so expensive on eBay. With a little luck, I will get one or two more.

I bought at least 6 of these in the 80’s when I went to Japan in 1984 or 1985, because they were pretty much the only ones I could afford. I remember paying 600 yen for them. I think that was around $6 at that time. That’s why I picked up Albegas in Singapore. For $40 it was the biggest, cheapest big robot I could afford at the time. Though it was definitely not my first choice. There were a bunch of awesome Popy DX robots just out of my price range at $80 a pop(which was pretty much my whole budget).  The first line of Machine Robo came out in 1982 running out to 1985.

I have been meaning to watch the Machine Robo: Revenge of Cronos anime that came out in response to the Transformers cartoon coming out. I have watched the first episode below which interesting and so much better than the GoBots cartoon here in the states. A newer cartoon in 2003 aired called Machine Robo Rescue came out with in intriguing line of combiner robots that I am considering adding to my collection. The robots combine into robots that look like they came from the first series. I would love to add more of these to my collection. I will try to get some pictures of the individual robots later.

Here is the first episode for Machine Robo: Revenge of Cronos anime that ran from 1986-1987.

Machine Robo Popy Bandai 1982-1985

Machine Robo Popy Bandai 1982-1985

Machine Robo Popy Bandai 1982-1985 vehicle side

Machine Robo Popy Bandai 1982-1985

Machine Robo Popy Bandai 1982-1985

Machine Robo Popy Bandai 1982-1985

Machine Robo Popy Bandai 1982-1985 robot side

The Gats Blocker robot was a mystery to me for the longest time. I traded for this from a kid down the block in the late 80’s, but I never had the outer box or asked what it was. I was not sure what this robot was when I got it, but it looked pretty cool. It would have been nice to have the internet on this guy back then.

This was a Diaclone robot Gats Blocker before most Diaclone robots became Transformers. Takara tried to market Gats Blocker here as Diakron, then Kronoform and later as Grandstand Convertors Alphatron. After reading about Diaclone robots, I found the solution to this mystery. Not that it was bugging me, but it was nice to know. I have had this robot for over 20 years and had no idea what this was. Now, I know. The link below covers Diaclone robots over the years. I also appear to be missing the pilots that go in 5 of the vehicles.

http://tfsource.com/blog/diaclone-abroad/

At this point I am not sure if this is the Diaclone or US version. Do I have Gats Blocker or Diakron? The guy I traded with bought robots here and in Asia. Maybe if I check out the made by on the robot I will find out.

It is a nice display size and a good looking robot. You can pick it up on the secondary market for a relatively low price as it had so many releases. ***

Diakron Multi Force 14 Robot aka Gats Blocker & Kronoform by Takara

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.

Hi-Metal L-Gaim 1/100 Scale Popy Bandai ST 1984 from anime Heavy Metal L Gaim 1984-1985

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

Hi-Metal L-Gaim 1/100 Scale Popy Bandai 1984 from anime Juusenki L-Gaim (重戦機エルガイム) 1984-1985

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

Hi-Metal L-Gaim 1/100 Scale Popy Bandai 1984 from anime Juusenki L-Gaim (重戦機エルガイム) 1984-1985

Hi-Metal L-Gaim 1/100 Scale Popy Bandai 1984 from anime Heavy Metal L Gaim 1984-1985

Made in Japan Product of Popy

Heavy Metal L Gaim(重戦機エルガイム) Episode 1, anime tv show from 1984-1985

Here is the Dual Model Soltic Round Facer from the anime Fang of the Sun Dougram. I have been meaning to watch the anime, but I keep forgetting to watch. Looks like there are quite a few episodes on Youtube. I never opened the Soltic robot, so I never got excited about it. I think I will need to purchase a loose one just for display purposes.

The Takara Dougram series of robots are pretty cool robots. I liked the Soltic and Dougram armors as they felt like realistic mecha would, like the Votoms or Gundam robots. The dark green coloring gives the Soltic a nice military vibe and evokes an image of  tank in my mind or military vehicles in general. The modern feel of the Soltic robot reminds me of newer Gundam designs as opposed to the clunkier Votoms robots.

Soltic H8 Round Facer 1/72 scale Takara 1981 Japan from anime tv show Fang of the Sun Dougram 1981-1983

The Soltic is a perfect example of a solid 80’s robot. Good design and quality, realistic in its look, a good portrayal of the robot in the anime, solid build, and diecast metal awesomeness. It is one of the reasons I love robots from this era. It was nice as they actually released Dougram robots in the USA and Japan. They were not that popular, as the anime was never released here or dubbed. But a lot of the models for Dougram were released by Revell as part of their Robotech line.

Soltic H8 Round Facer 1/72 scale Takara 1981 Japan from anime tv show Taiyou no Kiba Dougram(太陽の牙ダグラム) 1981-1983

Soltic H8 Round Facer 1/72 scale Takara 1981 Japan

Soltic H8 Round Facer Series-02 1/72 scale Takara 1981 Japan from anime tv show Fang of the Sun Dougram 1981-1983

Soltic H8 Round Facer Series-02 1/72 scale Takara 1981 Japan

Episode 1 of anime Fang of the Sun Dougram 1981-1983

Voltron is one of the robots that started it all for me. Where we fell in love with our big metal robots. The Golion DX as a Godaikin is the one my cousin Dave had. It came with a huge amount of accessories, like most DX Popy robots. Damn Matchbox for not providing Voltron with his sword. Voltron was all about his sword in the cartoon. Man, that is one terrible cartoon, ain’t it? And the dubs are terrible too. I wish I could unwatch those. Maybe if I watch them in Japanese they will be better. Hmmmm…

Matchbox Voltron III Defender of the Universe The Deluxe Lion Set

Anyway I have a lotta love for this robot. This robot has 5 lions that tranform into one of the best robots out there. Even the lions forms are excellent. I will have to pop him into robot form later for this post. This robot has been very popular over the years, so there have been a lot of releases. Lets see, Popy, Bandai America, Matchbox, Trendmasters, and now Toynami. I figure they will release it again within the next few years, so maybe I can try picking up a new one with all the accessories or even the Lionbot set made from the original molds(but vastly inferior paint applications!).

Matchbox Voltron III The Deluxe Lion Set from the anime Voltron: Defender of the Universe tv show from 1984-1985

Matchbox Voltron III The Deluxe Lion Set from the anime Voltron: Defender of the Universe tv show from 1984-1985.

See that styrofoam? Not a single accessory! The Popy and Godaikin versions had the full arsenal of missile launchers, daggers and a huge sword! I picked up Voltron III as an adult and I was really disappointed in the castrated Matchbox Voltron.

Matchbox Voltron III The Deluxe Lion Set from the anime Voltron: Defender of the Universe tv show from 1984-1985

I gotta admit there is a bit more violence in the Beast King GoLion, than in Voltron. The story works a little better and I am actually enjoying the first episode. Checkout the anime tv show from 1981-1982.