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

Japan. 1976. Ark Kaiju reign. Per Prof Robert Duban:

“Mecha Baltan” was kind of an odd choice for the name of this toy, as it’s the most accurately non-mechanical portrayal of the bunch. It also looks nothing like the actual “Mecha-Baltan” that appeared in later episodes of the Ultraman series. Whatever. In any event, although it’s a relatively common piece in the ‘States, it’s highly sought after in Japan.”

Let’s start with the most important fact: I LOVE Patlabor. Anyone who knows me knows that I love military mecha that get dirty and shot up and battle damaged and dirty (again). What may come as a surprise is that, among all the real robot series, Patlabor might just be my favorite. The mecha are all much cleaner and better maintained than in something like VOTOMS, but every aspect of Patlabor just speaks to me, from the characters and the writing to the underlying concept of slick police robots beating up other, bad robots.

As with all good robot shows, Bandai has made many, many toys and model kits over the years. What I did not realize until recently was that, alongside the venerable 1/60 scale plamo kits from the 90’s, Bandai made three soft vinyl kits of machines that had limited screen time. As it turns out, these kits are awesome. They fall together, and the result is a posable vinyl figure not unlike the axillary labor sofubis that CMs Corps released alongside their Brave Gokin line. As such, these figures make an excellent addition to the CMs Patlabor lineup.

I have been on something of a vinyl kick for not quite two years now, started in fact by the CMs labor vinyls, then branching out into modern, designer, and vintage kaiju and all sorts of zaniness. I love everything about vinyl, from collecting to painting myself, and have learned all sorts of new things painting kaiju, including airbrushing and using the excellent Monster Kolor paint system developed by Dead Pre$idents. Painting kaiju is fun, but I’ve been itching to start bringing these new tricks back over to ‘real models’.

As it turns out, a vinyl kit of a police mecha is an excellent middle ground to start that transition. I wanted to give the Python a nice metallic automotive finish with gloss white details, not unlike a real motor vehicle. A few airbrushing sections and some masking work later, I think I nailed it. Now, I’m not one to leave a model kit clean looking if I can help it, so I figured I had better muss this mecha up as if it were finishing up a labor crime scuffle, instead of just arriving on the scene.

It almost seemed sacrilegious to mess up that beautiful finish, but the end result is much more complex and full of depth for it. There’s a couple nasty paint dings that are going to earn Gomioka a chewing out and a little dirt and dust, probably from being pushed into a building by the badguy.

More importantly, I thought I had finally added a machine to my Patlabor collection that drifand, Patlabor collector extraordinaire, did not own, but when I looked back through his pics on the forum I realized there was a different Python figure lurking in the background of his display. I have the Saturn labor kit on the way, so I may yet get one ahead of him.

To me, this kit came out as the perfect blend of modern techniques and a slightly less-than-modern rendition of an awesome mecha. Now I just need to get it home and introduce it to the rest of my Patlabor collection. To finish it off, I’ll have to make the riot shield and baton it wields in its animation appearance. A second kit to make Yuuki’s machine is already in the mail.

Likely to have been overshadowed by the Ogon Bat, I did not mention my other purchase waiting for me this weekend. Until now.

Kitty Fire. Made in 1972 by Yonezawa, this is the smaller of the two sparklers made of the Mirrorman kaiju.

Regan matched her nail polish for the occasion.

Of course now I need the bigger one.

I had seen them so many times before in the old Bullmark Catalogs but never “in the plastic”.

I decided to take the plunge on a BIN “Export version” set from Yeebay which i received this morning.

Even though it’s just one small set ( Set 4 Aerial Airport) , I didn’t get a whole lot done today.

I still have to go into the breakfast hutch where it’s currently located and crank it every so often.

It’s quite fulfilling and I’m not ashamed to admit it!

Had to add some Mini kaiju into the mix as well.

I’m planning on expanding my city eventually and adding a Coffee grinder and a revolving tie rack..

(more…)

Unfortunately, it’s not all that often that I get blown away by a new toy. Especially Japanese vinyl these days.

But right now, I’m blown away.

When Marusan first announced its M-Pop Rainbow Series, it definitely seemed like an interesting experiment to me. I mean, they’ve been pushing the barriers of licensed (character) kaiju vinyl for some time now with lines like the iridescent foil-filled “Crystal Kaiju” series and other cool, creative shit like that. The M-Pop Rainbow sets seemed like a nice way to return to a certain simplicity. No clear vinyl. No glitter. No glow. No crazy inserts. Just seven unpainted figures of some of their most venerable Toho and Tsuburaya sculpts…cast in opaque ROYGBIV (rainbow) colors.

Neat…but I never thought I’d actually get a set for myself. I mean, I respect Marusan and I kept up with news of the series, but it just didn’t seem my thing. I kinda figured the series wouldn’t last seeing as how the vinyl market’s in retreat. And what “hardcore” Japanese vinyl collector’s gonna plunk down $200 for something as un-kewl as licensed kaiju toys when there are so many “hot” designer toys out now (bitter, table for one?)???

But, yo, honestly each release tempted me. The original Marusan Goji sculpt was tough enough to pass up. Hard to get more iconic than that. Then they go and drop a gorgeous Mothra set…that’s basically perfect in rainbow colors. The Ultraman ones were intense. Hedorah almost broke me. And, yes, believe it or not, fucking Guilala–one of my favorite all-time underdog kaiju–had me on the fence!

Oh. But then Marusan done did it. They brought the mechanized noise. Set #8: Mechagodzilla. Now, how in the hell was I supposed to resist this?? Nah, it was on now. I previously didn’t have any figures of this sculpt, and at 2313 yen per figure (plus shipping, of course), I’d be pretty fucking stupid NOT to throw down.

And am I pleased with my purchase? Oh hell yeah.

For real, these things are killer. So much fun. They look amazing…in pretty much any display. As long as you can fit ’em all on your shelf, of course.

Honestly, the part I like about them the best is how much they take me back to my childhood, playing with erasers. Yup. Roger definitely blew up the spot with his tongue-in-cheek passion for keshigomu. When I was little, all I knew was that they were not for erasing! As long as they were tiny, detailed, solid-colored (and cheap enough for my mom to buy me), they were plenty for my imagination to take off to unknown worlds…

And like every good boy, I was an inexplicably huge fan of dinosaurs. Just like many of you I’m sure, I had an almost terrifyingly encyclopedic knowledge of the creatures…and, of course, I salivated over any and all dino-related toys. For whatever reason, solid-colored dinosaurs–erasers or not–were super-popular in the 80’s. I didn’t have a ton, but the few I had, I loved the shit outta.

Which brings me back to these guys.

Fantastic. These figures are simply a joy. Sure, I love the fact that it’s fucking Mechagodzilla…but just the solid, unpainted colors makes them a blast to mess around with. For real, taking these pictures in my backyard was the most fun I’ve had with modern toys in a while! Totally took me back…

Mechagodzillas. They’re here. They’re cybernetic. Get used to it.

We arrive at Walker’s at 9:27 and wait for him a few minutes to show. He drives up in his truck and greetings are exchanged. He has that awesome gregarious good nature that makes picking up a conversation, even when it has been a while since you last talked, seem like no time at all. Matt is a guy with a lot on his plate, yet always makes you feel welcome.

Dave, Sanjeev, Regan and I prepare for sensory overload, and we are not disappointed.
The room smells of fresh paint, paint thinner and insanity. The machines hum, the air is thick with creativity and toys in various states of drying.

Matt takes us upstairs and unloads a bin of toys for sale. A few of us pick through and acquire some gems to add to collections and gladly see some new projects sitting in the office.
Regan is enchanted by a Weta space gun and it occurs to us all, how perfect the outfit she wore was for the occasion. Steampunk meets 50’s sci fi chic.
Matt shows some of his new acquisitions and the smell of Bullmarks is both familiar and comforting. A collective buzz soon gives way to a realization we have things to do and projects to finish.

Walker puts us to work, in helping him bag and prep some projects. We readily agree and all enjoy the quiet repetition of bag, header card, toy , staple, repeat.
I help him label and bag some Monster Color orders while Dave and Sanjeez rub some kaiju out… um yeah anyway.

Dave makes a discovery of a variation on the jumbo Raideen fist, and gives the night a level of historical jumbo significance.

In the meantime personal projects are discussed and timelines figured out, and jokes made in good nature at one’s another’s expense. Much like the community here, ball busting is a favored pastime.

With the work done late that night, we take our leave and promise to be sure the next visit is sooner than later. Matt thanks us and Regan and I are amused at the almost twisted Santa’s workshop nature of it all. Matt Walker is the mad hatter genius of our toy making community and we are all better off for it.

Visit Matt at his website and check out some of the cool things he is working on:

http://deadpresidentsdesigns.blogspot.com/

What can I say? Ben inspired me with his Mogera pics.

So…more Bullmark love for y’all!

As you may or may not know, I scored this guy from Alen in a monumental Summit trade a few weeks ago. Monumental because it’s started me down the path of vintage Bullmark kaiju…something I’ve feared (and thus avoided!) for years now.

No longer! The Bullmark cherry has been popped!

I’ve looked at vintage kaiju longingly for a while now, but I decided early on that I was going to be very particular about the vintage figures I’d pick up. I knew that my number one priority was a Bullmark classic, the 1957 Moguera, released way back in 1970. Collecting modern vinyls, they are very much made for adult collectors in a style reflective of the vinyl toys of old, but if I was going to pick up any real vintage figures, I wanted them to reflect that plaything aspect, and one of the biggest aspects representative of these being toys for children is writing on the foot. Many vintage figures have a kid’s name written on the bottom of the foot, so that those kids could keep track of their figures during the most chaotic of sandbox battles. I searched high and low for months for just the right Moguera: unbroken, in played with condition, and proudly emblazoned with something on the foot. I was expecting ‘the one’ to have a kid’s name on the foot, but a remarkably unique specimen popped up on YJA that I just had to have. Instead of a child’s name, this Moguera had the character’s name written on the foot. The marking is clearly vintage, and adds a unique bit of character to the toy. Who knows why ‘Moguera’ is written on its foot… perhaps the child owner couldn’t remember all the characters names?

When the figure finally came, it was pure bliss. I finally got to experience the ubiquitous Bullmark smell, and I could swear there was vintage sandbox sand stuff crusted into some of the deeper details of the figure. The actual figure is also fantastic. There are spots on the figure where you can still make out tool marks from where the original sculpt was only cleaned up ‘enough’. These were designed for kids, and, while handcrafted, were effectively pumped out the door. Everything about the figure has a utilitarian charm… effective but simple paint, chunky detail, and tons of dorky character.

This is my Moguera… here’s to forty more years of fun!

OK, another quick one. Spent some time this weekend going through some of my super robot sofubi. Trying to create a “list” of what’s out there. Talk about an exercise in futility….

Wall O’ Sofubi: Just a quick couple shots of one of my wall shelves with carded standard sized Popy, Clover and Takatoku sofubi.

Bag O’ Sofubi: This is one of four big ziploc freezer bags packed full of bagged mini sofubi. These things look like couch pillows..

Also, behold the GREATEST packaging for a mini sofubi ever. If you feel you have found or have one that is better, please share but as far as I’m concerned this Baxinger is the best I’ve ever seen:

AND, last but not least, the GREATEST carded double set of super robot minis ever:

I’m coming to find that creating any sort of definitive list of super robot sofubi might just be impossible, but something is better than nothing I suppose. It boggles my mind how folks that catalog Kaiju have the patience to do so. There truly is NO end… NO END.. Stay tuned.

Battle of the beasts!
Bullmarks Baragon vs KYs incredible evil Crab from outer space

Zinc vs Plastic, $1,50 vs $150.
No chance for the crappy Crab. The winner is good old Baragon.
But this wind-up robot kaiju Goggle Crab isn’t that uncool.
It could walk and comes with a nice little box. Don’t know
much about the brand KY – Yamazaki. The Crab must be
from the 70ties and KY made losts of plastic wind-up toys.

I

Sorry for this crappy Brog…I’m a liar, the Crab isn’t from outer space.

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