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

SIX POUNDS OF SOLID DIE-CAST…..naw, just kidding. It’s a hollow plastic bootleg from the 80’s, made in Korea. Despite some obvious design/quality issues, I gotta’ say, I love this thing. Right off the bat, the box is simpley awesome, appealing to all my senses that love this hobby. Open it up, and the joy continues…the genuine styro insert, the DX asthetic, parts, pieces, weirdness..it’s all there.

Mekanda himself is an original sculpt (although suspiciously similar to the Bullmark Jumbo) and significantly larger than the official mid-sized die-cast. It’s cool. He’s light, loose, and has goofy-head-color syndrome, but the care and quality is way above the typical boot-bot. Spring-loaded fists, decent articulation (could this be the only Mekanda that bends at the knees?), little shooty things & a sword all add to the coolness.

But, the BIG fatty payoff on this toy is the inclusion of the Mekanda 1, 2 and 3 vehicles. Not only do these missile shooting, Grip sized jets combine (once again, since the 3rd vehicle was never officially released, this is the only represention I know of…), but, they fit on the robot’s back like a jet-pack and it looks great.

All this for 5 bucks.

Naw…just kidding.

Anyway, hope you enjoy the pics and I apologize for the suck PS work!

-Mike

How long it is I’ve suffered
(And whined and bitched and rent
What’s left of my poor patchy hair)
And typed my fingers bent
Dispatches to the Mother Land
To Jersey and Hong Kong
Wherein I’ve sung my sickly
Never ending greedy song:

“Find for me these balmy bits
These mini malformed mutts
These teensy tiny reproducted
Elusive vinyl runts
Find them for me and dear friends
Upon my thanks you’ll sup
Not to mention your relief
When fin’ly I shut up”

Months later came from old HK
The news I’d longed to hear
A chance to get the latest ones
But oh the price was dear!
I gulped and wondered at the chance
Hesitating now with doubt
But how the world seemed well again
As I drained my bank account

When I see olive packages
My heart leaps from my chest
From far they travel to my home
And inside treasures rest
Today a green bound box arrived
And I’m filled with nerdy joy
Two sets of brand new SOB
Sets four and five -Oh Boy!

I will not write about a set
That’s seen here once before
Especially when the best kaiju
Make most of my audience snore
But series five if I’m not wrong
Has not been seen here yet
So let me introduce to you
this latest wacky set:

Antlar Redking Miculas
(redeco’d don’t you know)
And let’s not forget third Kanegon
With his eerie greenish glow
Ultra Jack and 7 are new
(not that you give a darn)
Lastly goofy Takkong
And salad-like Zazarn

And there you have it Gundam fans
Some verse both dull and trite
With pictures of some crap that proves
Ol’ Corey’s just not right
And if I might address the folks
Who’ve made these hard to find:
Thanks a lot there Bandai
You can kiss my ripe behind

cae 9-19-03

How long it is I’ve suffered
(And whined and bitched and rent
What’s left of my poor patchy hair)
And typed my fingers bent
Dispatches to the Mother Land
To Jersey and Hong Kong
Wherein I’ve sung my sickly
Never ending greedy song:

“Find for me these bits of barf
These mini malformed mutts
These teensy tiny reproducted
Elusive vinyl runts
Find them for me and dear friends
Upon my thanks you’ll sup
Not to mention your relief
When fin’ly I shut up”

Then from old HK came lo
The news I’d longed to hear
A chance to get the latest ones
But oh the price was dear
I gulped and wondered at the chance
Hesitating now with doubt
But how the world seemed well again
When I drained my bank account

When I see olive packages
My heart leaps from my chest
From far they travel to my home
And inside treasures rest
Today a green bound box arrived
And I’m filled with nerdy joy
Two sets of brand new SOB
Sets four and five -Oh Boy!

I will not write about a set
That’s seen here once before
Especially when the best kaiju
Make most my audience snore
But series five if I’m not wrong
Has not been seen here yet
So let me introduce to you
this latest wacky set:

Antlar Redking Miculas
(redeco’d don’t you know)
And let’s not forget third Kanegon
With his nifty glow
Ultra Jack and 7 are new
(not that you give a darn)
Lastly goofy Takkong
And sewage-like Zazarn

And there you have it Gundam fans
Poor verse for your delight
And pictures of some crap that proves
Ol’ Corey’s just not right
And if I might address the folks
Who’ve made these hard to find:
Thanks a lot there Bandai
Kiss my ripe behind

 

How long it is I’ve suffered
(And whined and bitched and rent
What’s left of my poor patchy hair)
And typed my fingers bent
Dispatches to the Mother Land
To Jersey and Hong Kong
Wherein I’ve sung my sickly
Never ending greedy song:

“Find for me these bits of barf
These mini malformed mutts
These teensy tiny reproducted
Elusive vinyl runts
Find them for me and dear friends
Upon my thanks you’ll sup
Not to mention your relief
When fin’ly I shut up”

Then from old HK came lo
The news I’d longed to hear
A chance to get the latest ones
But oh the price was dear
I gulped and wondered at the chance
Hesitating now with doubt
But how the world seemed well again
When I drained my bank account

When I see olive packages
My heart leaps from my chest
From far they travel to my home
And inside treasures rest
Today a green bound box arrived
And I’m filled with nerdy joy
Two sets of brand new SOB
Sets four and five -Oh Boy!

I will not write about a set
That’s seen here once before
Especially when the best kaiju
Make most my audience snore
But series five if I’m not wrong
Has not been seen here yet
So let me introduce to you
this latest wacky set:

Antlar Redking Miculas
(redeco’d don’t you know)
And let’s not forget third Kanegon
With his nifty glow
Ultra Jack and 7 are new
(not that you give a darn)
Lastly goofy Takkong
And sewage-like Zazarn

And there you have it Gundam fans
Poor verse for your delight
And pictures of some crap that proves
Ol’ Corey’s just not right
And if I might address the folks
Who’ve made these hard to find:
Thanks a lot there Bandai
Kiss my ripe behind

              cae 9-19-03

How long it is I’ve suffered

(And whined and bitched and rent

What’s left of my poor patchy hair)

And typed my fingers bent

Dispatches to the Mother Land

To Jersey and Hong Kong

Wherein I’ve sung my sickly

Never ending greedy song:

 

“Find for me these bits of barf

These mini malformed mutts

These teensy tiny reproducted

Elusive vinyl runts!

Find them for me and dear friends

Upon my thanks you’ll sup

Not to mention your relief

When fin’ly I shut up”

 

Then from old HK came lo

The news I’d longed to hear

A chance to get the latest sets

But oh the price was dear!

I gulped and wondered at the chance

Hesitating now with doubt

But how the world seemed well again

When I drained my bank account

 

When I see olive packages

My heart leaps from my chest

From far they travel to my home

And inside treasures rest

Today an green bound box arrived

And I’m filled with nerdy joy

Two sets of brand new SOB

Sets four and five -Oh Boy!

 

I will not bore you with the set

seen here once before

Undoubtedly even the best kaiju

Make most of you all snore

But series five if I’m not wrong

Has not been seen here yet

So let me introduce to you

this latest wacky set:

 

Antlar Redking Miculas

(redeco’d don’t you know)

And we can’t forget third Kanegon

With his nifty glow

Ultra Jack and 7 are new

(not that you’d give a darn)

Lastly goofy Takkong

And sewage-like Zazarn

 

And there you have it Gundam fans

Poor verse for your delight

And pictures of some crap that proves

Ol’ Corey’s just not right

And if I might address the folks

Who’ve made these hard to find:

Thanks a lot there Bandai

Kiss my ripe behind

 

                cae 9-19-03

(Foreward–There are certain people that I don’t want to hear any snide comments about this rumble or its subject from, you know who you are).

As everyone knows, I was (still am) big skeptic of ‘Superior Defender'(a.k.a. ‘Stuperior Defender’) Gundam. However, as much as I don’t like the idea of the show, I do have a soft spot in my heart for SD toys of all kinds (not just Gundam), so when I was out shopping the other day, I figured I’d look at the SD toys. I never liked the Musha Gundam stuff, so I passed on the toy inspired by that theme. Captain Gundam looked funny to me and while I have some interesting plans for Zero-The Winged Knight, I knew that now was not the time. Then, a glare hit me–one caused by the ‘exclusive’ ‘Burning Gundam’ and Master Gundam Set in Hyper Mode Colors. I figured that at 12.99, these worked out to $6.50 a piece and said why not. Who’dve thunk that I’d be buying something combining 2 of my pet peeves, Superior Defender AND G Gundam?

These turned out not to be half bad toys. The gold coating is well applied. Articulation is decent for fathead SD toys, and yes, there’s a waist joint–limited, but there. My only complaint is about the Master Gundam. All of the SD figures seem to have a kid-baiting ‘action feature’. On these figures it is the chest and wings opening on the Burning Gundam and the Wings extending on the Master. The Master’s wings are so top heay however that it takes a little work to get him to stand up with extended wings.

Burning Gundam comes with 2 translucent orange’Burning Finger’ hands and 2 sable holding hands, as well as…you guessed it, 2 beam sabers. Master comes with 2 open hands and 2 translucent purple ‘Dark Finger’ hands.

Thats about it. Once again, decent little figures for a decent price. These are great if you just HAVE to buy a toy (like I did). These are the only ‘canon’ SD toys out now so if they just have to continue this line, I’d like to see some more ‘real’ Mobile Suits SD-ized rather than stuff like Captain/Musha/Knight. SD Sazabi anyone?

(Foreward–There are certain people that I don’t want to hear any snide comments about this rumble or its subject from, you know who you are).

As everyone knows, I was (still am) big skeptic of ‘Superior Defender'(a.k.a. ‘Stuperior Defender’) Gundam. However, as much as I don’t like the idea of the show, I do have a soft spot in my heart for SD toys of all kinds (not just Gundam), so when I was out shopping the other day, I figured I’d look at the SD toys. I never liked the Musha Gundam stuff, so I passed on the toy inspired by that theme. Captain Gundam looked funny to me and while I have some interesting plans for Zero-The Winged Knight, I knew that now was not the time. Then, a glare hit me–one caused by the ‘exclusive’ ‘Burning Gundam’ and Master Gundam Set in Hyper Mode Colors. I figured that at 12.99, these worked out to $6.50 a piece and said why not. Who’dve thunk that I’d be buying something combining 2 of my pet peeves, Superior Defender AND G Gundam?

These turned out not to be half bad toys. The gold coating is well applied. Articulation is decent for fathead SD toys, and yes, there’s a waist joint–limited, but there. My only complaint is about the Master Gundam. All of the SD figures seem to have a kid-baiting ‘action feature’. On these figures it is the chest and wings opening on the Burning Gundam and the Wings extending on the Master. The Master’s wings are so top heay however that it takes a little work to get him to stand up with extended wings.

Burning Gundam comes with 2 translucent orange’Burning Finger’ hands and 2 sable holding hands, as well as…you guessed it, 2 beam sabers. Master comes with 2 open hands and 2 translucent purple ‘Dark Finger’ hands.

Thats about it. Once again, decent little figures for a decent price. These are great if you just HAVE to buy a toy (like I did). These are the only ‘canon’ SD toys out now so if they just have to continue this line, I’d like to see some more ‘real’ Mobile Suits SD-ized rather than stuff like Captain/Musha/Knight. SD Sazabi anyone?

  

 

Well, it’s official.  Bandai America hates you, too.

There has been nothing in recent memory to divide Gundam fans as much as Cartoon Network’s recent decision to run Gundam SD: Superior Defender in place of the expected (and highly anticipated) Z Gundam.  Some have seen the show as great fun for the younger set with some nice nods to older fans.  Others have seen this as the last Gundam series that will be seen on western television.  More conspiracy-minded devotees of the franchise believe the show to be Bandai Japan’s revenge for all of those Gundam 0079 toys that Target couldn’t sell. 

Quite frankly, I don’t know what to think.  But I do know three things:

1.  I’ve always had a soft spot for SD Gundams.  BBs, Musha Cloths, I love ’em all.

2.  Living in Canada, I’ll probably never see the offending show.

3.  I finally got a few expendable bucks in my pocket.  Bucks that demanded to be traded for posey, rubbery robots.

Long story short, There is a “Captain Gundam” figure staring at me from atop my desk as I type this, and I’m almost embarassed to say…

… for what it is, this thing’s pretty damn good.

I couldn’t believe what I felt when this guy fell out of the bubble and into my hand.  Heft.  This little thing had honest to goodness weight.  Moreso, at least, than any domestically-released MSIA in recent memory (barring the Xamel, natch).  To my surprise, most of the figure is made of thick, solid ABS plastic.  That’s right… ABS.  The guy’s held together with little screws like some twisted baby HCM.  Granted, there is still some PVC in this package (joints, hands, skirts, shoulder armor, crest, beam saber, rifle, and any grey detailing on the arms and shield), but the amount of hard plastic this guy’s made with gives him a heft that few MSIAs can match.

Captain Gundam has a nice range of movement, with thirteen points of articulation.  Granted, this isn’t a version two MSIA body, but it’s also a mobile suit with a physique more like Wee Man than Superman, so the lack of contortionist-level poseability can be forgiven.  He does sport an ‘action feature’, whereby a twist of his backpack will cause his right arm to raise, hopefully to brandish one of the enclosed weapons.  This feature does not limit movement in the figure’s arm, though manual posing may cause the figure’s backpack to tilt.

I guess what it boils down to is this:  I may not know Gundam, but I know what I like.  And I like this guy a lot.

Now if I could just get my wife to let me play with him for a minute, I’d be all set. 

I’ve always liked “Aura Battler Dunbine.” But that being said, I find the actual animated show a real snoozer. Dungeons and Dragons meets Gundam in a half-assed world of swords, sorcery, and angst-ridden teenagers riding enormous robot insects.

Perhaps I should qualify: I’ve always liked the robots from Dunbine.

Whatever the case, fate dealt me this set of Clover Dunbine figures during my near-uninterrupted slide in recent years into the reeking bowels of toydom. And what a glorious set it was: four, count ’em, four Dunbine robots molded in that supple yet fragrant material known as polyvinyl chloride, sculpted to capture the every detail, nay, the very essence of each character.

Or so they appeared in the thumbnail-sized scan in the auction. Reality proved slightly different.

Behold: Dunbine, Dana o’Shee (the token Irish robot in the series?), Virunee, and Drumlo.

The crown jewel of the lot has to be Drumlo. Although this squat, beetle-like mechanical character appears to be nearly ball-shaped in the show, Clover’s vinyl “engineers” had to make some sacrifices to shoehorn him into the blister package. It looks less like a giant robot and more like one of those mushroom creatures from Super Mario Brothers. And while Drumlo retains the same bulky waistline as ever, the portrayal, somehow, lacks… depth. It’s as if Slim-fast worked front-to-back rather than side-to-side.

Do these capture the glory of the characters as they appeared in the anime? Hell, no (although they DO capture their inherent marshmallow-y goodness). So do I feel ripped off? Hell, no. One collector’s vinyl trash is another’s treasure. And these are a treasure that burn so very, very brightly. Especially if brought anywhere near an open flame.

“Never need another”…? Yeah, right. Less than five minutes after opening the package, I found myself surfing the auctions for more Clover vinyl goodness. God help me….

Simple. A word not used too often to describe the toys that tickle our fancy. But that’s what the Takatoku Zenda Mogura is…a simple, gokin mole.

There are no fancy combinations. It’s a single piece of vintage goodness, and the only extra parts you get are missiles that load into the launchers on its back and into the tip of the drill-type nose. And when fired, the projectiles launch with a force that surpasses many modern missile-firing mechanisms. Danger.

There are no confusing transformations. It’s got two modes: on all fours or upright. You choose. The launchers can be positioned so that they are next to one another or spread apart. When in the upright position, the head can be pulled to expose a transparent neck that cocks the head in an upward direction. It’s funny how the little fella looks at me with the same amount of curiosity that I’m looking at it with.

There is ample diecast content. The main body and head (minus the drill and hat) are diecast, and the rest is plastic. It’s a hefty one for being small in stature. And no, the treads aren’t rubber and they don’t move.

So what’s the appeal?

Look at the pictures. If you don’t get it, you never will. Besides, when’s the last time you had a diecast mole in your collection?

I’ve always had an affinity for Powered Convoy.

Well, that’s not exactly true. Ultra Magnus was a worthless loser in Transformers: The Movie. I left the theatre at the ripe age of six wanting an Optimus and a Rodimus toy. I didn’t want an Ultra Magnus. I kinda liked Ultra Magnus once I discovered that his toy included a version of Optimus Prime’s cab. One Christmas, instead of the original Optimus Prime I opted for a Jetfire, and by the time I had the opportunity to request Optimus again, he was already off the shelves. However, Ultra Magnus was something of a second chance. Sure, I couldn’t get the regular trailer, but the extra armor was intruiging. One problem: Those colors were just awful. Instead of looking like a more powerful Optimus Prime, Ultra Magnus looked like Optimus Prime’s flamboyant brother. I wished I could just get an upgraded Optimus Prime, if I couldn’t get the original.

Years later, I found out that just such a thing existed in the original Japanese Diaclone line. As soon as I first saw pictures of Powered Convoy on the Internet I was obsessed with it. Sure, I’d gotten my own original Optimus Prime earlier, but this was the toy that I had dreamed of when I was a child. It was real all this time and I didn’t even know it!

Powered Convoy’s color scheme was so well designed that the trailer went beautifully with either Powered Convoy’s blue cab or Battle Convoy’s (and hence Optimus Prime’s) more traditional red cab. Hey, in Italy, Gig released Powered Convoys with both blue cabs and red cabs in their Transformer line, which at that time was a strange mismash of Diaclone, Microchange, several other Takara toy lines, and Transformers. Either way the toy looks beautiful.

Since then I’ve tracked down several Powered Convoys of my own (one Italian Powered Convoy with a blue cab, one with a red cab, and one Japanese one), and have written a series of articles on the toy at my website (http://www.masterforce.org), but I always wanted to be able to provide the television commercial online. At long last (over three years later), thanks to a little help from a certain monk, I now have Powered Convoy’s commercial ready for your viewing pleasure. Just hop on over to http://www.masterforce.org and check it out for yourself in our new Commercial Sign (http://www.masterforce.org/4.1/cs1.html) section!

Enjoy this piece of Japanese toy heritage.

P.S. If you have any requests for other old Takara Diaclone, Microman, or Henshin Cyborg commercials, let me know.