The High Complete Models were a set of highly detailed toys released during the ’80s by Bandai, representing giant robots from several different anime series. They were very poseable (right down to the moveable trigger fingers), came with a good assortment of accessories, and featured assembly methods that hid the screws and other visual eyesores normally so obvious in other toy lines. Glossy instruction sheets and detailed file cards were included with every HCM added to their charm.
The HCMs essentially gave those with little or no modeling ability (such as myself) to have a good-looking mobile suit/valkyrie/heavy metal to put on their desk and show off without mangling your hands with a modeling knife. Granted, actual model kits will always be more poseable and easier for kit-bashing projects, but I haven’t come across a model yet that was as sturdy as these toys were.
Bandai has re-released some of these over the years, specifically the Gundam ones, the Walker Gallar, and the L-Gaim MK II. There are slight packaging variations between the originals and reissues (the subject of a future update to this file), but the quality of the toys has remained the same through each subsequent production wave.
Aside from the HCMs listed here, some “side products” did crop up. Sling Pannier units from HCMs #03 and #04 were released separately, and a set of “Mechanical File” 2-ring binders to hold the file cards were available.
This file is a work in progress. Obviously, there are many gaps to be filled, so please send me any corrections, additions, picture files, or comments.
– Roger
10.19.98 addendum by Matt Alt
It’s no secret that there were quite a few planned-but-never-released entries in the High Complete Model line, but new (and depressing) information has surfaced showing that the initially-planned extent of the series was much larger than anyone had previously assumed.
Bandai was ready and rarin ‘ to go all-out on when they announced their plans for the new HCM series at the Tokyo Toy Fair on February 2nd, 1984. The March ’84 issue of Hobby Japan reported that a total of twenty figures was announced for the line-up, and that prototypes of the Full Armor Gundam and Vifam were on display. Interestingly, Bandai also announced a two-pronged approach for the marketing of these toys. According to the article, the HCMs were designed both for those too young to build the models appropriately and for those too old to have time to build models. As such, two types of packaging were planned: the standard sliver box that HCM collectors know so well, and a classier “book-style” slipcase package.
The article also noted that the initial release list was subject to change. (No kidding.) Unreleased casualties-of-marketing are marked with an asterisk. Read it and weep:
[GUNDAM SERIES]
- FA-78-1 Full Armor Gundam
- MS-06R Zaku II
- RGC-80 GM Cannon *
- MS-14C Gelgoog Cannon
- MS-06E Zaku Recon Type *
- MS-06K Zaku Cannon *
- YMS-09D Desert Type Dom *
- RX-78 Gundam *
- MS-06 Zaku *
[VIFAM SERIES]
- Vifam
- Neofam
- Dualfam *
- Wug *
[L-GAIM SERIES]
- L-Gaim
- Works *
It’s unknown if prototypes were produced for any of the unreleased robots; it’s amazing that Bandai was even considering releasing toys of characters as obscure as “Zaku Recon Type” or “GM Cannon.” Apparently, management had similar thoughts, and less than half of the above list ever made it into production. What’s even more amazing is that they decided to axe the standard Gundam and Zaku pieces, two of the most instantly recognizable and popular robot designs in the entire Japanese toy kingdom. Fickleness, thy name is Bandai…
Checklist
Each HCM below is listed first by series number, then the anime it came from in parentheses, then the name.
01
1/144 (Gundam MSV) FA-78-1 Full Armor Gundam
Accessories: backpack w/cannon, forearm shield/gun combo
02
1/144 (Gundam MSV) MS-06R Zaku II
Accessories: backpack, machine gun, “heat hawk” axe
Comments: color scheme reflected Black Trinary’s, versions of this are known to exist with non-articulated hands
03
1/144 (Vifam) RV-S1 Vifam
Accessories: backpack, beam rifle, pilot vehicle, trading card
Features: chest/back plates open to dock with pilot vehicle
Comments: Sling Pannier for this HCM was released in a separate box, then was combined with it to make #08
03
1/144 (Vifam) RV-S1 Vifam
Accessories: backpack, beam rifle, pilot vehicle, trading card
Features: chest/back plates open to dock with pilot vehicle
Comments: Sling Pannier for this HCM was released in a separate box, then was combined with it to make #08
04
1/144 (Vifam) RV-5 Neofam
Accessories: backpack, beam rifle, pilot vehicle, trading card
Features: chest/back plates open to dock with pilot vehicle
Comments: Sling Pannier for this HCM was released in a separate box, then was combined with it to make #09
05
1/144 (Gundam MSV) YMS-09 Prototype Dom
Accessories: bazooka with scope, backpack, 2 heat lances, holster for bazooka
06
1/144 (Gundam MSV) MS-14C Gelgoog Cannon
Accessories: backpack w/ cannon, forearm grenade launcher, 2 beam naginatas (ignited and unignited, beam rifle
07
1/144 (L-Gaim) LM-MK-1 L-Gaim
Accessories: shield, forearm cannon, power cables/connectors, 2 beam sabers (unignited), beam naginata (unignited), frisbee grenade, scale “spiral flow”
09
1/144 (Vifam) FAM-RV-S1 Vifam with Sling Pannier
Accessories: backpack, beam rifle, pilot vehicle, sling pannier, chest armor, trading card
Features: chest/back plates open to dock with pilot vehicle
10
1/144 (L-Gaim) ACL-HM-A Auge
Accessories: 2 beam sabers (unignited), 1 beam naginata (unignited)
Comments: color scheme reflected Nei Mo Han’s
11
1/144 (L-Gaim) ACL-HM-A Auge
Accessories:
shield, backpack, 2 forearm cannons, power cables/connectors (painted bronze), 4 beam sabers (unignited), 2 beam naginatas (unignited), 2 frisbee grenades, 2 scale “spiral flows”, scale “Daba”, scale “Amu”, 2 trading cards, clear overlay for file card
Features:
opening leg covers, extendable backpack shield, opening cockpit
12
1/144 (Xabungle) Walker Gallar
Accessories:
Bazooka, sniper rifle
Comments:
transforms into truck/hovercraft
13
1/144 (Gundam MSV) MS-06R-2 Johnny Ridden’s Zaku II
Accessories
bazooka, backpack, “heat hawk” axe, machine gun
14
1/144 (L-Gaim) L-Gaim Mk-II
Accessories
buster launcher, power cables/connectors, scale “spiral flow”, shield
Features
changes into flying mode
15
1/144 (Z-Gundam) RX-178 Gundam Mk-II
Accessories
“stereo headphone” vulcan gun pod, beam rifle, 2 beam sabers (ignited), shield, backpack, bazooka holder
Features
cockpit opens
16
1/300 (Raideen) RD-GB1 Brave Raideen
Accessories
display stand, bow, shield/sword, 2 arrows
Features
changes into bird mode
17
1/72 (Macross) VF-1S Battroid Valkyrie
Accessories
heat shield (red), antenna, wing mounted missile clusters (12 missiles total), gun pod, Hikaru figure with a helmet on
Features
fully variable, metal landing gear with real rubber tires and cable hooks
Comments
color scheme reflected Hikaru’s VF-1S from Macross: DYRL movie (red/black)
18
1/144 (Z-Gundam) RMS-106 Hi-Zack
Accessories
machine gun, 2 shields, backpack, “heat hawk” axe
Features
cockpit opens, light pipe eye feature
19
1/144 (Z-Gundam) RMS-099 Rick Dias
Accessories
2 beam pistols, beam saber handle with beam attachment, thruster pods
Features
machine gun hatch on top of head opens, light pipe eye feature
Comments
color scheme reflected Char’s personal red/dark brown MS from early episodes of Z-Gundam
20
1/72 (Macross) VF-1J Battroid Valkyrie
Accessories
heat shield (white), antenna, wing mounted missile clusters (12 missiles total), gun pod, Minmay figure
Features
fully variable, metal landing gear with real rubber tires and cable hooks
Comments
color scheme reflected Hikaru’s VF-1J from Macross TV series (white with red stripes)
21
1/72 (Macross) VF-1A Battroid Valkyrie
Accessories
heat shield (tan), antenna, wing mounted missile clusters (12 missiles total), gun pod, Misa Hayase figure in white
Features
fully variable, metal landing gear with real rubber tires and cable hooks
Comments
color scheme reflected general usage VF-1A from Macross TV series (tan and white)
22
1/144 (Z-Gundam) MSZ-006 Z-Gundam
Accessories
beam rifle, 4 beam sabers (ignited and unignited), shield
Features
changes into “wave rider” mode
23
1/144 (Z-Gundam) MSN-00100 Hyaku Shiki
Accessories
beam rifle, 2 beam sabers (ignited), backpack
24
1/144 (Gundam-ZZ) MSZ-010 Gundam-ZZ
Accessories
2 beam sabers with beam attachments, 2 forearm shields, backpack, beam rifle
Features
fully variable
Comments
packaged in silver box
25
1/144 (Gundam: CCA) RX-93 Nu-Gundam
Accessories
shield, small beam saber (unignited), large beam saber (unignited), large beam saber (ignited), beam rifle, bazooka, one piece fin funnel system, backpack
Comments
packaged in silver box, significant die-cast metal content
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