Alen Yen's ToyboxDX

	9.24.01-- 9.28.01


RUMBLE INDEX

9.28.01: Soul of ABS Plastic

Big warm smooches to Kay-Yut for pointing out Yujin's website update on the BBS...

Yujin's all-plastic Gattai-Henkei GaoFaiGar now has an official release date and price: Mid December, ¥15800 respectively. The toy marks the renaissance of the early 90's "big plastic combining robot" gangu-genre-- embodied by Takara's Brave/Yuusha toys and Tomy's Eldoran line. Here's the current scuttlebutt:

Comes with a "Protect Wall" open palm hand. No Dividing Driver or Goldion Hammer accessories announced as yet-- or ever.
Gold metallized pieces for the Knee Drills and the head crest. The Drills will be "cast sharply since this is targeted for ages 15 and up."
Articulation in the head, shoulders, elbows, wrists, thighs, and ankles. Note the lack of knee joints.
The core robot, Gaifar will transform into the Phantom Gao jet, but the henkei will require the removal and replacement of arm and leg parts. The full gattai into GaoFaiGar will also necessitate some toy-leprosy. Check out Matt's slightly aged Tokyo Toy Show photo of the prototype and its extra bits.

-- TBDX Rumble Crew

9.26.01: Cosplaya Hater

The Cosplay phenomenon has reached insane new heights in Japan. Sorry to take so long to get these out, but it's taken me a month to recover from the sights -- and smells -- of the August 2001 Wonderfest in Tokyo. I hope to God those guys had air-fresheners inside their "mobile suits," 'cause there must have been a hundred and fifty percent humidity on that sweltering summer day. Enjoy.

Nise Gaofaigar | Nise Dom

-- Matt

9.26.01: Death Knell For Gokin

He predicted the Haro Jumbo. He also foresaw the end of the gokin age. Roger Harkavy is a seer. Two years ago, in what seemed to be a casual aside, he whispered the foreboding words, "in the future... robot toys will be made of... wood." Ladies and gents, that time is nigh.

Behold the poetically named Wooden Activity Robots. Chogo-kindling. Manufactured by god-knows-who.

It's rare these days to see a new item (from the western hemisphere, no less) that somehow conjures up that intangible essence of golden-age Hero Robotics-- the clean geometry, the stove-pipe simplicity, the child-friendliness of it all. That something so innocuous, something so seemingly banal can do so makes one question the emotional emptiness of today's overwrought toy design and engineering. Or perhaps that's just crazy old me...

Did I forget to mention they're MAGNEMO?! Available through FAO Schwartz.

-- Yappy

9.25.01: Takashima & the Mold Man

Mr. Takashima (aka Studio Half Eye) took the completed Perfect Change Gaofighgar prototype to his molder for price estimation. He was surprised to learn that if he sells GFG unassembled ... in kit form ... the price will be about ...

$750 !?!
Mr. Takashima is now reworking the prototype and simplifying many parts from the cardiac ward of his local hospital.

In other SHE news, Perfect Change CV Shin Getta 2 is in the works for a February release.

-- Darren

9.25.01: LETS! MAZINGER!

Okay, Bandai has Mazinger on the brain. Buckle up for the deluge ...

The new GX-07 SOC OAV Mazinger will ship minus the Jet Scrander and sell for ¥4,800. The GX-07 designation isn't official -- he's sometimes referred to as GX-01EX.

It also looks like we'll see an "SOC" Aphrodite A, and possibly Boss Borot and Diana A. We don't know about diecast content or quality of these figures, though. But that's not all! There's a strong possibility of "SOC" third rate Mazinger villains Jetfire P1 and Genocider F9, too!

Not enough Maz? The upcoming BGX-01 DX SOC Mazinger will be 25cm tall in 1:72 scale.

More? The upcoming Extra Finish MC (Mecha Collection) Mazinger uses a polystyrene that has twice the specific gravity of the first MC kit. It's a quality fix.

Lastly: Bandai is moving to a monthly production schedule. (Think: Monthly Power Animal.) That should keep new toy energy pretty high strung for the next year. Let's hope "production fever" doesn't impact quality.

Sick of Maz? You're not alone. Many Japanese fans feel the same, although apparently Maz does sell. While many Japanese fans would like to see Zanbot 3, Voltes V, and Daimos, it looks like Dynamic Productions / Mazinger will be served up for the foreseeable future.

-- TBDX Rumble Crew

9.25.01: Totally TRONned Out

As if the upcoming Kubrick figures weren't enough, Medicom has just announced a new series of Real-Action Hero figures of Tron characters! Dubbed the RAH100 series, these are, in Medicom's words, "a new articulated action figure system [featuring] a not-articulated action skeleton body wearing [a] costume-type figure," whatever that means. Each "costume" will feature the markings and details appropriate to each character.

Now, despite this statement, we've found out that the RAH100 series will be fully articulated.

The figures will be 10cm tall and come packaged with a Light Cycle and "light stick" and "light disc" accessory. Look for Set A (Tron and Yellow Cycle), Set B (Flynn and Red Cycle), Set C (Warrior and Yellow Cycle), and Set D (Sark and Blue Cycle) to hit Japanese shelves in February of 2002. Thanks to the sparkling Mr. Facets for the heads-up!

While you're at it, check out some nice new shots of the upcoming Medicom Tron Kubricks, too.

-- Matt

9.24.01: DanGossip

According to a representative at GigaBrain -- (a member of their vast, huge, marketing organization, spanning many planets) ...

The focus of Dancougar is on the proportions of the fully combined robot. This means the Eagle Fighter, the head, will be much smaller than the one seen on the DX Chogokin toy. In fact, the head is only 1.2 inches in size, making Eagle Fighter a "high precision item".

The above was paraphrased and translated.

-- Darren

9.24.01: Want More?!?

Was the Rumble from the 21st not enough? Need more R/C Zaku porn? Here's another look at the green goblin and his video controller. Bandai reports the bugs are shaken out and Zaku no longer falls over. That's a selling point.

Images courtesy of Game Watch.

-- TBDX Rumble Crew

9.24.01: Doyusha Valk (Gezhundheit!)

Macross fans should be getting a serious fix in the near future. Not only is Bandai re-releasing the hallowed 1:55 toy, and Yamato their transforming VF-1 series beauties, but newcomer Doyusha will be selling 1:144 non-transforming "desktop models" of several Valkyrie Fighters as well.

Price and release dates aren't set yet, but the series is set to include Hikaru's VF-1J, Focker's VF-1S, and a VF-1A from the original series, and the YF-19 from Macross Plus. Thanks to Macrossworld.com for the scoop!

-- Matt

9.24.01: They Did What?

Is GigaBrain on your radar yet? It may be soon. This is the new company that's brought us the Ordian figure.

But now they're bringing us Superbeast Ultramecha DANCOUGAR. Yes, a partially diecast, fully transformable Dancougar. We are not kidding. At 1:144 scale, his mostly ABS plastic body will stand 13 inches tall. We don't know how much diecast will be involved, and no price has been determined, but he'll be out in the Spring of 2002.

Get this: The toy's design was submitted to GigaBrain by a FAN. He'll come with various armament, and will have 30 points of articulation. Futher, he'll have at least two interchangeable faces -- a "glaring" face and a "barking" face. Sheesh.

If you're not a Dancougar nut, be advised this henkei / gattai mega mech has about 12 different modes and is plenty fun, even if the old DX toy is a little awkward looking.

Dancougar has a huge following in Japan because he represented a return to wacky Hero Robot design in the 1985 post-Gundam robot desert. If you recall, there were rumors of Dancougar being a possible future SOC. So, what could this move mean?

Eagle Fighter Head | BigMos Humanoid | BigMos Beast Mode
BigMos Tank Mode | Land Cougar

-- Cho Yappy Darren Sentai

9.24.01: Red King!

The Great Seal was intact! I was the first to explore this ancient tomb. As I broke through to the inner chamber I pushed my oil lamp into the inky blackness. In it's flickering glow I saw the unmistakable glint of Gokin. I saw things inside... WONDERFUL THINGS!... MORE!

-- Keith

9.24.01: Rare Nakajima

Ok, I think we all know Pegas, the mighty collectible, and Ganira robots from Tekkaman series.

How many of you have noticed differences between versions? I am now sure 100% there are first factory runs out there but people is somewhat not knowledged so to spot them.

Check this picture of the catalog. Look at the baseplate between feet of Pegas... don't you see a piece of metal raising from the base which is not in your Pegas? That's basically a hook used to fix the baseplate to Pegas' feet, I can say that because I spotted one which doesn't have the baseplate screwed under the feet (like 99% of all the Pegas robots around). Look here.

I know you could say I descrewed the plate but that is not the case. The plate in infact in the box, it uses a red plastic hook to be attached to the robot... here you go. As you can see there are no holes under Pegas' feet... other difference between this version and the common ones are: red vertical sticker on the chest is metallized and all 4 fists are chrome colored.

Let's pass to the Ganira, look at the catalog picture again... you may not notice that but the shoulders and the cannons on the belly are colored black while every Ganira out there has them light blue. Also, the firing mechanism on the arms have orange buttons instead of light blue.

Believe it or not I spotted an actual Ganira with those black details... I think this is even rarer than the first Pegas... check it out.

Unfortunately I don't have it on my hands so I can't spot other possible differences... check your Ganira and Pegas to look if you have the rare ones by coincidence and you didn't know.

-- Chris

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