Tag: Bandai

Daimos DX Godaikin 1984 Popy Chogokin GA-85 from anime Battle Commander Daimos from 1978-1979

Here’s the Daimos DX from the Godaikin line, 1984.  I never had this one as a kid nor did I ever see him as a kid either.  After keeping a casual lookout for him, I could never find him complete for a decent price. So, I was thinking of getting the Soul of Chogokin version thinking it would be cheaper but I was always seeing him for about 250-300 online and besides, he’s not as big as the Godaikin version. I was almost tempted to buy this same robot listed on Ebay for 300 from Taiwan but I decided to wait and my faith was rewarded when I found this one for 166 and to boot, the item was being shipped from the next town over!

I am very happy to have him as I paid a decent price for a robot that wasn’t exactly a must have AND he’s complete!  The ones I was looking at were missing fists, swords etc. Anyway, I’ve reached out to this seller to see if he has other things he might be interested in selling and as well, it would be cool to find another person who shares my interest in these toys.  I’m getting closer to completing the Godaikin collection – Tetsujin 28, God Sigma, and Valvilos are the remaining ones left.

One of my “Holy Grail” Godaikin pieces that I’d been coveting for quite a long time but could never get him at the price I wanted. I actually saw the Combattra DX in Japan, but he was 525 dollars.

Combattra V DX Godaikin 1982 Popy Chogokin GB-55 Super Robot from anime Cho Denji Robo Combattler V(超電磁ロボ コンバトラーＶ) from 1976-1977

I was very tempted to buy him at the time but I had already bought quite a few toys and this would have really put me over my budget. I then kept an eye out on Ebay and missed out on one for 125 buy it now last month and was kicking myself.  Luckily this one came up and I managed to win him for 300 dollars.  A little steep but still much cheaper than when I have seen him since this one was loose, one of his antennas is broken and he doesn’t have the weapons.  Still, I’ve very glad to have this piece since he’s just so hard to find.

Here’s the Qubeley AMX-004 from Gundam ZZ.  There are three colors of this robot – white, blue and red.  I bought the red and blue ones in the Philippines from Toy Kingdom in 2004.  I just purchased this white one from Ebay for about 30 dollars. I now have all three colors. If I recall, the box said 2007.

AMX-004 Qubeley – HCM Pro #36-00 AXIS Prototype Mobile Suit for Newtype Bandai 2007 1/200 Scale

AMX-004 Qubeley – HCM Pro #36-00 AXIS Prototype Mobile Suit for Newtype Bandai 2007 1/200 Scale

AMX-004 Qubeley – HCM Pro #36-00 AXIS Prototype Mobile Suit for Newtype Bandai 2007 1/200 Scale

Gundam MSIA AMX-004-3 Qubeley Mk-II from Gundam Z 2003 Bandai

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 Heavy Metal L Gaim

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

Variable Fighter VF-1J Valkyrie Max Jenius Sterling – 1/55 scale 2002 Bandai from Super Dimension Fortress Macross

This one’s a Bandai re-issue of the blue VF-1J “Max” model from the Macross series.  I never could find the Takatoku versions as a child but I was able to find the Bandai re-issues from the early 2000’s. Bandai and Yamato has since made tons of re-issues.

Max’s VF-1J Valkyrie from Super Dimension Fortress Macross in action

Below are the “Max” and “Meria” VF-1J’s from the Macross series.  I vividly remember wanting to have these as a kid to complete the collection but I didn’t see them on my various trips to Japan.  I didn’t realize until later that the original maker (Takatoku) went out of business in the early 80’s and the molds were purchased by Bandai.  I’m going to guess that Bandai hadn’t yet gotten around to re-doing these two until later.  Anyway, these are Bandai re-issues that I purchased in the early 2000’s.  I’m glad I have them as I now have a complete Macross collection.

Variable Fighter VF-1J Valkyries Max & Miria Jenius – 1/55 scale 2002 Bandai from Super Dimension Fortress Macross

Below are the two variants of the VF-1S – the “Strike Valkyrie” and the “Roy Fokker” model from the Macross series.  The Roy Fokker model skull and crossbones insignia is actually modeled from an actual U.S. Navy squadron – VFA-103 “The Jolly Rogers.” The VF-1S “Strike Valkyrie” is from Bandai while the VF-1S “Roy Fokker” is from Takatoku Toys.  I believe I purchased the “Roy Fokker” model in Hong Kong in 1983.  During my last trip to Hong Kong in 2011, I tried to look for toy stores in the malls but there just didn’t seem to be same amount of volume that I remembered.  It’s also possible that these stores are now for adults like me and maybe in less traveled/less touristy areas. Both VF-1S and the Strike Valkyrie, I purchased in Japan 1985 for 20 dollars each.

Variable Fighter VF-1S Valkyrie 1/55 scale – Strike Valkyrie Hi Metal Hikaru Type 1984 With Fast Pack Bandai & Roy Fokker Takatoku Toys 1983 from Super Dimension Fortress Macross