My first experience with Godaikin robots was in the Philippines in 1983. A friend of mine had the Voltes V DX toy and I was in awe of it. It was a big hefty die cast metal robot. I went to look for it, but these toys were not readily available in the Philippines. It was because of him that I got into collecting robot toys.
Fast forward a few years later and I managed to trade a bunch of Transformers for the loose version I have here. He’s very top-heavy and doesn’t stand well without leaning against the wall. I never had the sword – I managed to get a sword from another Godaikin. In the cartoon, the red emblem on his chest forms the base of the sword.
Here a taste of the first episode in the Philippines. Gotta love those Filipino accents.
Voltes V could be purchased in separate pieces as Popy PB-04, PB-05, PB-06, PB-07, PB-08, Volt-In-Box as one release, or as Voltes V the Bandai Godaikin US version of the Chogokin.
I found out the info for your Voltes V. This one hails from 1977 for the Popy Volt in Box or 1982 for the Bandai America Godaikin version. That’s probably why it’s so expensive. I am glad you got one because I don’t think I would pay the premium to own this one. I want to know if it came in a different version in the Philippines after Japan or if they got the GoDaiKin version.
I cannot say what version the Philippines…he would go to Japan frequently and I’m guessing he got the Japanese version. I don’t recall seeing these toys in the toy stores at the time but I may not have been looking too hard.