Alen Yen's ToyboxDX

	12.24.00-- 12.31.00


RUMBLE INDEX

12.31.00: Ol Unibrow is Back...

Happy New Year Everyone! Are my eyes mistaking me or have Medicom continued their onslaught of KUBRICKS with ol unibrow himself Kankichi Ryotsu?

Blair Witch 2 figures apparently soon come as well...

-- Joseph Buck

12.31.00: Valk ReIssued?

Unconfirmed Rumor: Bandai may be re-issuing the old Macross 7 DX Valks, specifically the VF-19 and VF-17, in the spring for 6,800 yen. We are working on getting confirmation, but the source has been accurate in the past. The plasticy Macross 7 DX Valks aren't the best loved toys in the Macross kingdom, but perhaps Bandai is firing a shot across someone's bow.

Yamato's response: "REALLY?!?"

From the Horse's Mouth: The Yamato Toys horse, that is. The Fastpack equipment on the upcoming Fastpack version Yamato YF-19 and YF-21 will be removable, but you might consider leaving it attached. You see, one of the reasons the varibirds are being retooled is to create attachment points for the Fastpack equipment. This may leave unsightly holes and tabs when the Fastpack is removed.

In other news, they have re-confirmed that the upcoming VF-11 is still on track for a spring release.

-- Darren

12.31.00: Half Eye's Perfect Shin

We've all drooled over the Studio Half Eye Perfect Change Getta Robo; now prepare yourself for the Perfect Change CV Shin Getta One. This CV ("Compact Version") figure marks the first of a new line. Shin Getta One is a 6 inch tall resin cast figure. Similar to its predecessor, it seperates 3-ways into Shin Eagle, Jaguar, and Bear, giving many of us our first clear glimpse at those vehicles. However, unlike its predecessor, it combines only into the Shin Getta One robot.

Due to smaller size and simplified transformation, pricing is promised to be FAR more reasonable than the lavish Perfect Change Getta Robo. The CV is due in the spring. Pictures are of an unpainted prototype.

-- Darren

12.30.00: Inside the Head

This is how the Bandai Mazinger Head looks out of the box. Here are pictures of the Mazinger Head "in action", with Pilder and without Pilder.

The eyes are lighted-up by a button located on the head, activated when the SOP Hover Pileder docks onto the bowl shaped head crown.

The box is designed in typical "Soul Of Chogokin/Popynica" style. When compared with other SOC/SOP boxes, the Mazinger Head's box cardboard quality is little more inferior. I'm a little surprised that the head is made of soft vinyl instead of die-cast or plastic. Although this may help to bring down the cost, it also brought down my satisfaction level.

The head lamp switch button is also somewhat cheesy. It doesn't behave as tactile as I would expect from a microswitch. Other than that, if you have the SOP Hover Pileder docking on it, it does look quite cool on the shelf. To prevent battery drain, there is a bottom main switch to on/off the head lamp even with the Hover Pilder sitting on it. Requires 2 "AA" size batteries (not included). The fine print on the box front says that estimated battery life for continuous use of the head lamp is about 40 mins.

-- shieldwulf

12.29.00: Dangaizer-3

Thought you might like to see the France Shoin promotional pics for Dangaizer-3, the face of the modern Hero Robot in Japan. It's an Ohbari / Studio Tria design. Gosh, things just aren't what they used to be. He looks a little Raideen influenced right in the head ... maybe some Deathscythe around the shoulders. Those elf shoes have to go, tho.

-- Darren

12.28.00: The Kowloon Conundrum...

A month or so back, we showed you, faithful readers, the differences between the US, the Japanese, and the Hong Kong Wing Gundam MSiAs. The HK versions came out the winners-- after all, MSiAs are designed and produced by Bandai HK. Until the Wing series, Japanese and HK MSiAs were pretty much identical, but now larger discrepencies have started filtering into the Universal Century line-up.

The Japanese get the short end o' the Gundam stick again with the AEUG Gundam Mk 2. Observe what you get with the HK version:

More linework, including gray lines on the chest and filled-in ankle thingies.
Painted soles. Whee!
Additional paintwork on the beam rifle and shield. The lenses on the rifle and bazooka are also painted green, unlike the Japanese equivalents.
Painted backpack verniers and beam sabers.
Paint detail on the itsy-bitsy Gundam-Lobot headphones!

Yes. Only we are obsessive enough to bring you news like this.

-- Yappy

12.28.00: Sanderbirds!

Takara's elf-staffed Choro-Q department, ever the source of SD fun, has released a set of Thunderbirds Choro-Q toys. If you're not familiar with the line, Choro-Q is a very popular and old series of small, SD sports cars with pull-back, spring-powered motors (aka "zenmai").

Choro-Q is known for their sense of humor. About a year ago, they re-released a 15-year-old set of transforming, SD Choro-Q Dougram, Votoms, and Gorg. Their new Thunderbirds Q's include Thunderbirds 1, 2, and 4, the Mole ("Jet Mogura"), and FAB 1 ("Penelope-go"). 880 yen.

-- Darren

12.28.00: Don't Tread On Me

Macrossworld.com has posted photos of the elusive Gakken Tread-Fighter, otherwise known as the "Beta Fighter" to Robotech fans. Although it was never sold retail, Gakken make a few prototypes of the toy before they got out of the toy business in the mid-80s, and they've been slowly (and expensively) finding their way into collectors' hands ever since. G'wan and check it out for yourself.

-- Matt

12.28.00: EXIT POLLS

What's your pick for Toy of the Year 2000? We wanna know who you're voting for and why! Read what other people are saying, and be sure to leave your opinion!

-- TBDX Rumble Crew

12.27.00: Viva Le Ramble

The Endless Ramble chimes in with another mighty picture-laden update! Visit now to hear about the latest escapades of Alen Yen and Matt Alt way out west in the land of Robozone!

-- TBDX Rumble Crew

12.27.00: Speaking of Yamato ...

Yamato's Leiji Matsumoto Museum Collection is nearing a perfect assemblage of Space Battleship Yamato goods. Again, It's pure coincidence that the company shares the same name as the anime. Yamato is actually an old name for Japan, and is a very popular name in general.

Lingual history aside, the recently released Triple Cast DX Andromeda now shares the shelves with a "Capsule Collection" set of three backlit mini-Yamatos for 2,340 yen.

If the Triple Cast DX ships are too pricey for your blood, there's also a full flotilla of nine Resin Cast ships, including the Andromeda, Gamilas, Shuryoku, Desular, Cosmo Tiger, Cosmo Zero, Arcadia (from Harlock), and two varieties of Yamato. Whew! These sell for about one-third the cost of the DX ships.

-- Darren

12.27.00: Over-Compensating?

Yamato's released a small blurry picture of the "powered-up" version of their upcoming OAV Giant Robo diecast toy. Check out that enormous bazooka! Each version of the toy (regular and powered-up) will come with a different 9cm tall Ginrei figurine. If you're not too caught up in the current SOC Daikumaryu hype, start saving your greenbacks for ol' sphinx-head's tentative spring release.

-- Yappy

Happy Holidays!

-- TBDX Rumble Crew

12.26.00: Yamato Droppings

Sales of the super new Yamato YF-21 will STOP in early January! Why? Time for a retool? Plans to make the toy highly limited? Time for a "second edition"? We don't know, but you can bet we're working on finding out.

At any rate, we know there will be a FastPack version YF-21 "real soon now" that will include the long, lost YF-21 gunpod.

One thing is for sure, Yamato is not afraid to retool. YF-19 Version 3, to be included with the FastPack YF-19 product, is also coming soon with even better engineering! This is actually the fourth rework of the toy. This just gets better and better.

-- Darren & Matt

12.25.00: More Head

Some box pictures of the creatively named SOP PX-01X Mazinger Head for the faithful. If you don't own the SOP Hover Pilder, you can always use it as a cereal bowl (take out the batteries first, please). Pilder On, Koji!

-- Darren

12.24.00: Alt Reviews YF-21

"Even when I was young, I knew I was different from other little boys." Experience the childhood horrors that drove Matt to play with Valks. Enjoy the Yamato YF-21 review. Eyeball the Valk comparison pictures.

It's all here. What are you waiting for? Jump to Eau de Alt right now!

-- TBDX Rumble Crew

12.24.00: In Living Color

The Japanese trade mags have released nice, full color pictures of Bandai's Soul of Chogokin Daiku Maryu ... and it looks really, REALLY sweet. Sorry we can't give you pictures here -- you know how lawyers can be. The palette is softly muted and has a nice, metallic sheen. The paint on tiny Nessar, Bazolar, and Skylar is finely detailed. Daiku cannot get here fast enough.

-- Yappy & Darren

12.24.00: Zenda Pounce

A brief note: Unifive's Cho Shin Gokin Zenda Lion is on the shelves. All 90mm of him. Retail is 6,800 yen. See Yappy's 14 December Rumble for more pictures and info.

-- Darren

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