toyboxdx toy blog brog: is graceful art of daily expressing japanese toy  

Just what the world needs! MORE GUNDAM TOYS! That’s right! They aren’t all that special or creative, and being fully assembled they aren’t really models, but no fear: Bandai’s SCM (“Special Creative Model”) series is back!

Now, in addition to the mobile suit designs already released (for the scoop on the first three, check out the Rumble on the topic from late late last year), Bandai’s releasing the inevitable third color variation of the RX-78 (“Char’s Gundam”), a Mk. II Gundam in normal and “Titans” colors, and a non-transforming Zeta Gundam. They’re being sold through crane-game machines as prizes or (for those of us with slothful, alcohol-dulled reflexes) in sets of two for 3,000 yen a pop. Release date is slated for March 2005, all the better to serve as merch for the upcoming Zeta Gundam movie.

Given the existence of the HCM-Pro toys, G.F.F. “FIX” figures, and innumerable PVC renditions of the exact same damn Gundam characters, it’s a bit of a mystery as to why I feel even the remotest sense of interest here. Maybe it’s because the previous SCMs were great cheap ‘n sleazy fun?

At any rate, here’s to hoping big B fixed the biggest problem with the first run: the incredible stench of the low-grade plastic they used to make them. No joke; even now, close to a year later, the handful of SCM on my shelf still smell like minature chemical factories. (Waitasec. Could that strangely alluring aroma promote a dangerously pathetic addiction to Gundam merchandise? DAMN YOU, BANDAI! Too… late… to… resist…)

Most of the G1 transformers, as everyone knows, came from either Takara or Takatoku. Shockwave came from ToyCo, and Omega Supreme and Skylynx from Toybox. Toybox never actually produced their version of the Skylynx toy, why I do not know. I would assume that Toybox went out of business… This was the early eighties, after all.

After the abysmal failure of the recent Energon Omega Supreme, I though I should remind everyone what a real transformer is. Enter MECHABOT – 1.

There are no functional differences between the Toybox Mechabot and the Hasbro Omega Supreme. There were no features or accessories removed, only the color was changed. I think the original colors serve the design much better, and make it a little more military. The box even shows a painted (or “detail-up” for the gunpra heads) version on the cover.

The box is the large Godaikin type with a carry handle across the top. Under the lid you find the requisite styrofoam with all the parts visible. Notice the black slip cover that fits over the styro… this houses the carry handle. Nice touch.

Batteries fit inside the tank portion, and it can travel across any flat surface, with the turret rotating as the gun raises and lowers. The real fun of this, however, is to place it on the track and watch it drive around in a circle until you pass out.

The arms and backpack of the robot become some sort of rocket launching platform. This doesn’t really do anything except sit there, and it can be placed in the center of the track oval.

Once all the parts are combined into Mechabot-1, the motorized action changes. Instead of the motor driving the wheels and the turret, the internal gears shift and now Mechabot can walk. Very slow, mind you, but still impressive for its time.

The instructions also suggest changing the track formations when mounted on the back of the robot, but this is pretty lame. It reminds me of the the Kronoform watch package, proclaiming over 10 different modes wich simply consisted of the robot standing on its head, lying down, spread eagle, etc.

Mechabot is pure vintage love. There is no diecast, but the plastic is of the Takatoku-mecha variety. If you like transformers, this is a better version of one of the most unique. If you don’t like transformers, even better… this is not your typical TF.

Ah, Dorcus. Cast in a shiny purple plastic, his bright coloring is certain to draw attention in a ‘toy society’ of patriotically colored robots. He is very curvy, giving him a definite organic feel in both “Warrior Mode” (Robot) and “Live Mode” (Beetle / Space Ship), and he’s definitely based on the Japanese Kabuto-mushi — a real-life insect that has inspired quite a few transforming robots in its time. My first exposure to this robot, of course, was via the live action TV series Gransazer – which, you understand, I watch for the high drama and plot twists. In the series he’s part of the Kaze (Wind) Tribe, a name evocative of butterflies, birds, and sleek airplanes – certainly not chunky beetles.

And chunky he is. He’s packaged in his “Live Mode”, with his armament sealed in a separate bag. As I carefully removed him from his plastic coffin, keeping him protected from the prying eyes of humans, I felt like I was embarking on an archeological journey. The hieroglyphs on the instructions were less than worthless to my western eyes, so the small bag containing them was tossed aside, and I went for the weapons – four cannons, and a plate to mount the two larger on. The two smaller ones, which I have been told are called “Dol Cannons”, are placed on the outer edge of the approximate area of his shoulders – the two larger cannons (“Insector Magnum”) clip into the plate, which is pegged into a hole in an exposed area of his back. I picked up the toy, fingers caressing the smooth ABS plastic, admiring the details from the retractable claws in the front legs, and the four mounted on hinges on the rear. Light accents of silver break the monotony of an otherwise very bright design, and a few spots of gold on the claws and gunmetal in the internals provides adequate other color to clearly identify the different parts of his anatomy.

His transformation is simple, but at the same time, interesting, unique, and sturdy. The transformation from Live Mode to Warrior Mode couldn’t be more intuitive – extend the legs and fold forward his small, silver insect ones, then open his feet (which are clasped heel to toe in Live Mode), Separate the front legs (Noting the peg that ensures the hand touching the shoulder – yes, he has ‘2.0 joints’, for you MSiA fanatics…) and push the silver tabs by the elbow, which makes the golden claws erupt from the forearms. Finally, lean the head forward, pushing down his ‘crest’ in order to cover his fragile, silver brain (Which can accommodate optional weapons from additional toys of the line), lift up the plate on his back to bring the four cannons into firing position, then form the skirt by opening the two halves of the curved plate that covers his posterior, swinging them around to his front. ‘Warrior Mode’ is an accurate description – he certainly looks like a big, tough bruiser – so, even though some of his fellow Beetles, such as Gourajin, may dwarf him in size and weight, he definitely is superior in terms of presence.

As similar, yet unique as it is, Dorcus is definitely a treasure – a true example of the planning and engineering that goes into making a toy that’s simply merchandise to be sold in a 22 minute long commercial. While I am for certain not the target audience for this piece — or many others that I own, for that matter — this toy is beautiful for both the eyes and hands.

“Ah, Dolcrus.” Cast in a shiny purple plastic, his bright coloring is certain to draw attraction to him in a ‘toy society’ of patriotically colored robots.  He is very curvy, giving him a definite organic feel in both “Warrior Mode” (Robot) and “Live Mode” (Beetle / Space Ship), and he’s definitely based on the Kabuto Beetle – Which, actually, has inspired quite a few transforming robots in its time. My first exposure to this robot, of course, was via the live action TV series – which, you understand, I watch for the high drama and plot twists. He’s part of the ‘Kaze’ (Wind) Tribe, which is pretty evocative of butterflies, birds, and sleek airplanes – certainly not chunky beetles. And, Chunky he is.

He’s packaged in his “Live Mode”, with his armament sealed in a separate bag. As I carefully removed him from his plastic coffin, keeping him protected from the prying eyes of humans, I felt like I was embarking on an archeological journey. The hieroglyphs on the instructions were less than worthless to my western eyes, so the small bag containing them was tossed aside, and I went for the weapons – four cannons, and a plate to mount the two larger on. The two smaller ones, which I have been told are called “Dol Cannons”, are placed on the outer edge of the approximate area of his shoulders – the two larger cannons (“Insector Magnum”) clip into the plate, which is pegged into a hole in an exposed area of his back. I picked up the toy, fingers caressing the smooth ABS plastic, admiring the details from the retractable claws in the front legs, and the four mounted on hinges on the rear. Light accents of silver break the monotony of an otherwise very bright design, and a few spots of gold on the claws and gunmetal in the internals provides adequate other color to clearly identify the different parts of his anatomy.

                His transformation is simple, but at the same time, interesting, unique, and sturdy. The transformation from Live Mode to Warrior Mode couldn’t be more intuitive – extend the legs and fold forward his small, silver insect ones, then open his feet (which are clasped heel to toe in Live Mode), Separate the front legs (Noting the peg that ensures the hand touching the shoulder – yes, he has ‘2.0 joints’, for you MSiA fanatics…) and push the silver tabs by the elbow, which makes the golden claws erupt from the forearms. Finally, lean the head forward, pushing down his ‘crest’ in order to cover his fragile, silver brain (Which can accommodate optional weapons from additional toys of the line), lift up the plate on his back to bring the four cannons into firing position, then form the skirt by opening the two halves of the curved plate that covers his posterior, swinging them around to his front. ‘Warrior Mode’ is an accurate description – he certainly looks like a big, tough bruiser – so, even though some of his fellow Beetles, such as Gourajin, may dwarf him in size and weight, he definitely is superior in terms of presence.

                As I placed him on my shelf, a light glow began to appear off of him. I realized I had not had lunch, and quite obviously, I was beginning to feel the ill effects of this poor decision. Suddenly, it felt like the toy was speaking to me – something which had never happened in my years of speaking to my toys. It began to compel me… “I’m different!” it repeated… I pondered the meaning of this. There are very many beetle robots, that’s definate, given the Japanese fascination with that type of insect. He was from a show that could be considered analogous to the Toei ‘Super Sentai’ series, (The Gransazer Television show was produced by Toho, famous for the Godzilla series.) which has had many imitators over it’s long run. This toy has no die cast metal, it doesn’t combine with other toys – it is simply meant to be independent, a toy that makes no sacrifices in terms of looks to increase play value – but it’s definitely not a fragile, difficult to handle collector’s item, either – caught between both worlds, neither plaything nor delicate prize, giving it definite issues in terms of classification.

                As similar, yet unique as it is, this item is definitely a treasure – a true example of the planning and engineering that goes into making a toy that’s simply merchandise to be sold by a 22 minute long commercial. While I am for certain not the target audience for this piece – or many others, for that matter, this toy is beautiful for both the eyes and hands.