Another classic, beloved Shogun Warriors toy. Raydeen evoked fond memories in me when I first saw him again as an adult, but once I discovered the original, it lost it's appeal for me.

Two years after Popy released their Raideen Jumbo Machinder, the toy would be imported into North America and Europe as part of Mattel's Shogun Warriors line-up. Mattel labeled the toy as "Raydeen" on the packaging. Depending on who's doing the writing, you'll see it listed sometimes as "Raideen" or "Reideen". There are three versions of this Mattel release. I won't focus on those differences since that's already been done here. What I will touch on is the difference between the Mattel and Popy versions. The Mattel version I have is version 2.

The first thing that jumps out at you is that the left fist has been changed. Instead of having the original bow-fist, Mattel attached a launching "Iron Cutter" fist that was originally a part of Popy's line of Jumbo accessory fists, designated XX-13. It's nice that they wanted you to have another launching fist, but it really throws off the symmetry of the toy, with one hand now hanging lower than the other.

If you stand the Popy and Mattel versions side by sie, you'd notice that the Mattel one is actually taller. On the 2nd version, this can partly be attributed to the different wheel housing on the feet, but more significant is the fact that the legs have been elongated at the knees. In the picture below, notice that the Mattel version (on the left) has a lot more blue plastic above the screw before you get to the white upper leg. You'll also see that the Popy version comes with stickers on the side of the leg, while the Mattel (2nd version at least) did not.

I have no idea why this extra material was added, but personally, I prefer the stockier look of the original toy better. One thing is sure though, while replacing the Iron Cutter with a bow-fist will make your Shogun Warrior Raydeen look better, it's still noticeably different from the Popy version.

Other than those things, it's basically the same as the Popy toy (with the other differences detailed in the link above notwithstanding.) As with most of the Shogun Warrior Jumbos, it's very, very common on ebay. Boxed examples generally run between $100-200 dollars, on average.

This is very likely the easiest to acquire Jumbo out there. But it's a classic and should be in your collection....

Leading the charge for Mattel's Shogun Warrior invasion in the late 1970s was Great Mazinger (called Great Mazinga on the box). This is probably the most easily recognizable Jumbo out there. Not only was it released in great numbers, it also had several different versions produced from Matttel alone. (For more on the variations between releases, check out this site.) Additionally, it was also released in such places as, of course, Japan, but also Hong Kong, Spain and Venezuela. Various different forms to be sure, but quite obviously the same basic toy.

The version I have is the third version with the cheaper sticker on the chest. Now, most people think I'm a bit nuts for wanting to get this one instead of the more elaborate and eye-pleasing first version, but I have a solid reason for that. I simply wanted the one that was most different from the Unifive version that I already had when I bought this. Naturally, I'd love to have every Jumbo ever released at some point in my life, but until then, variety is the way to go for me. Some might suggest just getting all three Mattel versions, but frankly, I just wanted one of each character and then move on. I can also get the other versions later if desired.

If you've clicked the links above, you'll see that about the only other significant thing that sets this toys apart from the previously reviewed versions is that it has a normal right hand and a rocket launcher for a left hand, instead of a matching pair of either. Furthermore, this toy comes with only 3 missiles on each leg instead of the usual 5. Recently, someone was actually able to recognize that my tattoos were from this toy!

You SHOULD own all the Jumbo Shogun Warriors. This is a fact. But if you want only one of each character, you're probably better off getting one of the earlier versions of Great Mazinga, unless you already have the Popy/U5 version and think the same way I do. This version is not as nice, but is cheaper. I paid just over $100, I think, for mine. And they are all over Ebay.

Ok, sorry if this review stunk and that I made you look at my hairy leg. But let's face, this is basically the 5th time I've had to review essentially the same toy so forgive me if it becomes progressively harder to keep it interesting! Maybe this appearance of the toy in the 1982 made for TV movie "Don't Go To Sleep" will add some spice.

And naturally, the old commercials are always fun, too.

As you can see in the pics, I'm missing the sticker for one of the knees. If you've got one, let me know. I've got an extra sticker from the pelvis I could swap for it.

A cool toy, but Pegas is probably the least desirable of the three Jumbos released by Nakajima. I think it's unique design actually works against it in terms of it's appeal to collectors.

Nakajima's Jumbo Pegas Robot (ペガスロボット) is another one of those toys that gets less respect than it probably deserves, both from myself and many other Jumbo collectors. It's not that it's a bad toy. In fact, it's a fantastic toy, but it just doesn't look enough like a normal Jumbo. Although it hails from the same show and is the companion piece to the Jumbo Tekkaman, it still feels like the odd man out when displayed with the other 2 Nakajima Jumbos. But every time I take it out of it's box and look at it as an individual piece, it's appeal is hard to ignore.

I guess what really sets this guy apart from his brethren is that he's shorter (measuring in at only 19.5" tall), has no real legs to speak of and is the only Jumbo that I'm aware of that has no hands. Both arms end with missile launchers. This isn't a bad thing. It's pretty cool actually. The missile launchers are made of hard plastic and each shoots three missiles. There is a third barrel molded into the plastic beneath these that looks like it might represent another gun, but I've not seen the show so I'm not sure. A nice sticker in these would be cool, but none are included. These missile launchers are not meant to be removed and no accessories can be swapped for them, but you can unscrew them easily and take them apart if you need to adjust the firing mechanism for some reason. Mine were sticking a bit so I took it apart and reassembled it and now it seems fine.

Although Pegas does not have any legs, he does have an opening cockpit instead. The dark blue plastic can be opened up and a mini vinyl of Tekkaman (included along with another generic villain) can be placed inside. The way it closes is pretty cool. There is a small bump in the light blue polyethylene near the bottom of the left door. You push that door past it and it will stay closed. Then close the right door and turn the knob until the latch on the back grabs the opposite door. This works fine, but I remember that when I first got the toy that it wasn't overly obvious that this was how you do it. I didn't notice the bump that closes the first door and was worried it might even be broken.

Pegas also has one of the cooler sets of wings that you'll ever find on a Jumbo. A pair of large and small retractable wings adorn the back of the robot. They are on simple hinges but the smaller wing is connected to the larger, so that when you lift the large one, the smaller raises as well. These wings, combined with the large pointy missile launchers for hands and the large ridges on either side of the head really give the toy something of a vampiric appearance, which appeals to me as a horror fan.

There's probably not too much more to say about this guy. Besides the hard plastic hands, most everything else is typical of a Jumbo. Polyethylene body, soft vinyl head and wheels on the feet. It comes in a box that sort of annoys me because the top lid does not cover the entirety of the cardboard bottom, but I'm fickle that way and am probably the only person on the planet who cares about such a thing. My specimen also came with several cards of some sort, but I'm not sure if every one was issued with these or if they were just left in there by the previous owner. I've never really noticed them in other specimens, but I just might not have been paying attention.

Pegas is a really cool toy, but much like Tekkaman, it probably isn't really essential to your Jumbo collection. It's probably about the same as Tekkaman in terms of rarity and price as well. It's not exactly everywhere, but if you made it your goal to get one, it probably wouldn't take that long if you watch the auctions and ask around for it. I found mine on a Japanese website and got a really good deal on it (about 25,000yen) because it has a little sticker damage and was missing one of the metal rods on the wheel. (Fortunately, my dad works in a machine shop and made me a perfect replica.) You're likely to get a better price if you find it listed somewhere other than a Jumbo Machinder search, but it either way, it shouldn't set you back too much, at least in comparison to other Jumbos. An Italian bootleg Junior Machinder of this character was made, but is nowhere near as cool and if you like Pegas, you have to get the real deal.

Being nuts for just about any Jumbo, I like Nakajima's Tekkaman. But I suspect the average fan doesn't exactly consider it a "must have" toy for their collection.

Tekkaman comes from the anime "Space Knight Tekkaman" (aka "Uchuu no Kishi Tekkaman, 宇宙の騎士テッカマン) which aired for 26 episodes from July through December of 1975. Evidently it was a flop on it's initial Japanese run, being canceled only half way through it's planned 52 episode run. However, reports say it did very well here in the United States, though I never even knew it aired here. Must have been in another region of the country. (Source: Wikipedia and Anime News Network)

Kazunori Saito's Encyclopedia Of Jumbo Machinders stated that the Tekkaman Jumbo was released in 1977, but this seems strange to me. Why would Nakajima release a jumbo of a failed character two years after his show was canceled? Seems like a weird thing to do, especially back then, long before retro toy collecting was in vogue. Perhaps the toy came out very early in '77 and combined with the sudden cancellation of the show in late '75, maybe Nakajima was already far enough along in the process that they just decided to go ahead with it regardless. There is nothing on the box to show date of release, and while there is a copyright molded into the back, no date is shown on the toy either. Whatever the case, we would end up with two more Jumbos from this show (this one and his robot, Pegas) so I'm glad they were made.

This in another one of those jumbos that collectors are somewhat divided on. It's not a bad toy in it's own way, but it's not a robot character (though it sort of looks like one with that mask on) and the style and proportions are different from the classic Popy style. The large rounded shoulders clash with most other toys of this type. Of course, I like it (hey, have I reviewed a Jumbo yet that I DIDN'T like?!).

Much like Nakajima's previous Jumbo release, Capsule Robo G, Tekkaman comes with a missile launcher attached to each hand. In fact, these are almost the exact same launchers except that the version on Tekkaman has been molded in clear plastic. Also, I'm not sure of the significance of it, but the one on the left hand of my Tekkaman has a little number 5 molded into the outside edge of the button you press to launch the missile.

More weaponry is included with the toy in the form of another missile launcher, this time from the very forehead of the toy. This missile appears to have the same shaft as the other Nakajima missiles, only the front has been changed from the typical red, 4-finned nose to a circular disc with a sticker on the front. There is a button on the back of the head that you press to fire this missile.

But that's not all. Tekkaman also comes with a pretty cool and unique weapon that he can hold in either hand, a double sided and extendable spear. The blades on either side of this weapon can be pulled out to increase the size of the weapon. Getting Tekkaman complete isn't really that hard, but this is one of the items that is most often missing from loose specimens. Lastly, you also get two more mini vinyl monsters for Tekkaman to do battle with.

The articulation on the arms of this jumbos is different than most others. You can turn the arms at the seam where the red and blue meets. Since the joint is at an angle, you get a different look than the most straight forward jumbos. He can achieve a pose that is reminiscent of an Old West gun fighter, hands at his sides, waiting to draw. You can also turn the head and waist, and there are wheels on the feet.

I've also encountered one very minor variation in the Tekkaman specimens I've seen. While the waist sticker on mine is red, I've seen at least one other that was blue. The box image (which is really kind of boring) doesn't show this sticker at all and the red is more uniform throughout the toy. But otherwise, it's the same sculpt as the finished product. And one thing I never really consciously noticed until now is that with the exception of the missiles shooters, everything above the waist on this toy is made of vinyl. On most Jumbos, just the head is vinyl.

The Tekkaman Jumbo isn't for everyone. Unless you are a Jumbo completist or just love the character, I'm guessing you could probably do without it. It might be a bit too funky for most. But I think it makes a great companion piece to Capsule Robo G, even though the characters are not from the same source media. If you do want a Tekkaman Jumbo, it's probably one of the easier ones to get. Maybe I should say "less rare" than most Jumbos instead of easy to get, but they definitely turn up several times a year, in varying conditions. Mint in box specimens probably cost less than $500 at this point, though I made the mistake of paying more than that when I started. You win some, you lose some I guess...

I bought my JAKQ Dia Jack at an IPMS Model kit show at the Knott’s Berry Farm Hotel in Buena Park about 1986. It was in a huge box full of blow out priced Japanese toys and I believe I paid $2.00 for it. Looking back all these years later I wonder what other toys were in that box that I failed to recognize! This was also the same show that I saw the Tetsujin 28 Godaikin for sale for only $100.00! Boy, have times changed!

The concept was real simple for this once 12-year-old kid in the mid 1980’s. If the toy looked Japanese…I bought it, regardless if I even knew what series it was from or not. Years later I had assembled a huge collection of Japanese toys and when it came to identifying some of these toys pre-internet days it was near next to impossible.

So I now introduce one of these toys that I haphazardly bought, JAKQ’s Dia Jack Blue. JAKQ was the second Super Sentai series from 1977. Although now considered a groundbreaking program, JAKQ only ran for 35 episodes and was cancelled about a third of the way through the series. The costume gimmick of JAKQ was that all colored hero’s wore card shapes on their helmet’s visors: Spade Ace, Dia Jack, Heart Queen, Clover King, Big One and Commander Joker. The subject of this review is Dia (Diamond) Jack.

I bought my JAKQ Dia Jack at an IPMS Model kit show at the Knott’s Berry Farm Hotel in Buena Park about 1986. It was in a huge box full of blow out priced Japanese toys and I believe I paid $2.00 for it. Looking back all these years later I wonder what other toys were in that box that I failed to recognize! This was also the same show that I saw the Tetsujin 28 Godaikin for sale for only $100.00! Boy, have times changed!

Dia (Diamond) Jack figure stands at 3 ¾ making it one of the few Japanese action figures lines next to microman in this scale that would later prove popular with Kenner and Hasbro with their respective lines. As my Dia Jack did not come with any packaging and was bought “as is” I do not have any photo reproduction of what the outer package looked like. My example came with: 1x Dia Jack Figure, 1x Strengthening Capsule.

Typical of many Japanese figures of this era, the figure is not a realistic depiction of a human body; I hate to see what the female Heart Queen figure looked like! Dia Jack bends at the knees, hips, elbow and shoulder. The gloves, head and waist also spin around. The figure comes with a cool yellow vinyl cape that adds a lot of character to the figure. I also love the look of the diamond visor helmet. In my opinion JAKQ helmets are the best looking in entire 30 year series and one of the most easily remembered.

One of my favorite features of Dia Jack is the strengthening capsule that is included with the figure. In the series each character henshin into their respective outfits in these strengthening capsules that was located in their ship, Sky Ace. It is a great carrying case for Dia Jack and it holds the figure securely inside the capsule. The capsule could also explain why my Dia Jack was in clean condition when I purchased it and why stayed in mint condition in my possession for so many years.

Over the last few years I have been clearing out many of my Japanese toys and focusing my collection on Chogokins, Macross, Robotech and 1980’s GI Joe related items and I have since sold this figure on Ebay to a local collector for $23.00.

If you are a fanatic about this classic Super Sentai series I would definitely try to assemble a complete set as it would be an impressive and unique display. But to be honest I’m going to patiently wait for a better and true to life toy depiction of JACQ’s characters, sadly something I do not see happening any time soon.

For More information on JAKQ: http://www.supersentai.com/database/1977_jakq/index.html

Leonardo Flores “Uplandmod”

Voltes V (Pronounced Voltes FIVE) was the second part of Tadao Magahama’s Romance Trilogy.

I had gone back and forth on whether or not to pick this toy up. I had all of the other Shogun Warrior ST figures, so I thought I should eventually get it, but I was in no rush. To me Voltes was never as cool as Combattler. However a deal came about with a partial trade and I figured I would go for it. It wasn’t a Shogun Warrior box, and it wasn’t in the best of condition, but the price was right. (Thanks Sanjeev).

Voltes V (Pronounced Voltes FIVE)  was the second part of Tadao Magahama’s Romance Trilogy. See our other Voltes V Reviews for more background info on the show.

The Chogokin GA-80 Voltes V ST (超合金 ボルテスＶ) is a really nice toy. It features firing fists, Firing head, and a removable chest part that becomes the hilt for the sword.

Included accessories:

• Manual
• Rocket Punch (4)
• Swords (2)

The swords can be held in either hand and use the red chest section as the hilt. The Swords have a tendency to tarnish really easily.

Voltes V can also transform into Battlewagon mode in the same fashion as Combattler V. With Voltes, you have to pull the rear wheel assemblies out to the sides, rotate them down, and then push them in. The plastic here tends to get worn and loose so be careful.

Packaging

The packaging features a painting of Voltes V instead of a photo of the toy. Towards the end of the GA series, Popy had moved away from photos of Jumbo Machines and Prototypes and began using character artwork on the boxes.

Another thing you might notice is the smiling mug of a jolly Japanese fellow on the box. That’s Susumu Abe (阿部進), a famous Japanese educational commentator. Born in 1930 (and still alive) Susumu Abe had a weekly serialized column in Shonen Jump Magazine in the 70s. From there he took his advice for children and by agreement with Popy (a heavy sponsor of Shonen Jump) and placed small nuggets of wisdom on the back of  Chogokin Boxes.

It's simply the best Machinder ever made!!

Wakusei Robo Dangard A (惑星ロボ・ダンガードＡ (エース), (aka Danguard, or Dangard, Ace) aired on TV Tokyo from March 6, 1977 until March, 26 1978 for a total of 56 episodes. But more importantly to me and others in the New England area, it was imported into the US by Jim Terry Productions as part of his "Force Five" cartoon, an anthology of edited and dubbed Japanese animation shows. Others in the group were UFO Robo Grendizer (called simply "Grandizer"), Gaiking, Getter Robo G (retitled "Starvengers") and Science Fiction Saiyuki Starzinger (retitled "The Spaceketeers".). This show was hugely popular with children in the area and is one of the biggest reasons many collectors of Japanese toys live here. For most, Danguad Ace, which was shown every Monday, was a distant fourth in terms of popularity among the group, but for me it was number one with a bullet. And as an adult just beginning to rediscover my interest in toys, it was the discovery of the existence of a Dangard Ace Jumbo Machinder that made me throw myself headlong back into the hobby.

I had had Jumbos as a kid in the form of Mattel's Shogun Warriors line of toys, but had always wanted ones of all the robots from the Force Five shows, especially Dangard. Finding out that one existed 20 years later, I made it my goal to get one, but at the time, it was considered a very rare toy and my hopes were low. About a year later, one did appear on Yahoo!Japan auctions, but it was missing one of the double lancers and the box was in poor condition. Regardless, I HAD to have it. I had thought it would be my only chance ever. So I bid and won and for awhile I was happy. Shortly afterwards, I was off to Japan for my second trip there and the first where I would be seeking out Jumbos. Well, I would manage to find a second Dangard Jumbo at the now gone Tokyo Robot in Koiwa but it did not have the parts I needed. It had less in fact. Still, I told a friend about it and he purchased it. Later that year, he would find another specimen online and this time it was PERFECT! Complete and in a beautiful box. It looked like it had never been played with. But the price was high and since mine was missing only one piece, I couldn't justify spending what it would take to get it. So it went to my friend and between the 2 of us, we suddenly had 3 Dangard Ace Jumbos!

But over time, I would become increasingly frustrated at my specimen's lack of perfection and my friend would grow further and further away from toy collecting. It was decided I would buy the perfect specimen from him. A price was agreed upon and the sale made. (Furthermore, this would be the beginning of an incredible run of Jumbo scores for me, as within a few weeks, I would manage to get my first two Jumbo villains, Hasami Jaguar and Green Ghost C3, as well as the very rare Ultraman Leo, Cosmos 2000 and a bootleg yellow Dangard Ace Jumbo!!)

Since I haven't seen the show since I was a child, I can't even remember why I used to like it so much. But the reason for my love of the Jumbo is obvious. It's simply the best Machinder ever made!! A beautiful sculpt with great colors and gimmicks from head to toe, it's a true masterpiece. 23.5" of toy majesty. Dangard has all the appeal of regular Jumbos but is more complex. Starting at the top, you can remove the Gard Rancher helmet to reveal the soft vinyl head beneath. The only complaint I have with this toy is that this is easier said than done. Ideally, it would simply slide off with no problems but it really needs a little coercion to make it happen. I don't like to even do it for fear of causing any damage and these pictures you see here mark the only time it's ever been done to this specimen.

The chest of the toy opens up to reveal two missile launchers hidden within. The same mechanism for this was re-used by Mattel on their Jumbo version of Gaiking.

Both sides of the interior here have stickers for detail. With the exception of the face and helmet, all other color details are from stickers. The arms are jointed not only at the shoulders, but also at the elbows on both sides, allowing for a greater range of motion than most Machinders. Both fists also shoot as well. The double lancers on the legs are detachable and have a rod that folds out allowing you to place them in it's hands!

Furthermore, the ends of each have openings that let you join the two together to form one mighty weapon.

If you like winged Jumbos, well, Dangard has you covered in this regard as well. Two separate wings are included and can be easily attached to the back for added play value. These are often missing though.

Dangard has two large wheels on the bottoms of each foot and comes with 5 short vaned Machinder missiles on the outside of either leg. But the fun doesn't stop there. It also comes with a full color poster!

The only other thing I should say can be a problem with this toy is that over time the silver stickers can start to become corroded.

There seems to be at least two different releases for this toy. Some come with the stickers pre-applied while others feature a separate sticker sheet. It seems some specimens come with the poster while others don't. Also, some versions have a yellow missile-firing mechanim in the back, while it is blue on others. I'm unsure which version, if either, is more commonplace.

What I am sure of is that this isn't as rare as it was believed to be 5 years ago. I've seen many more specimens of varying conditions come and go since my first foolhardy rush to get one back then. That doesn't mean it's an easy acquisition, just that if you want one, it can be had if you are willing to spend the money to do it. How much you will have to spend depends on condition (as it always does), but I would expect about $2000-3000 for a MIB one. But it's worth every penny if you are a Jumbo collector or Dangard fan!

Probably not a must have for Jumbo Machinder fans, but it's one that no monster collector should be without.

Reviewing the Shogun Warriors Godzilla Jumbo feels like a daunting task. It's a bit like reviewing the sky. Most everyone is already familiar with it. Robot fans, Jumbo collectors, monster collectors and pretty much everyone in the vicintiy of 30 years of age seems to have owned this toy at some point in their lives, whether as children or adult collectors. But I think it should be covered and what better time to do it than during the Halloween season?

The Shogun Warriors was one of the most influential line of toys released in the 1970s and Godzilla was added to the group of Jumbos in 1977. It was the only kaiju released in the line and collectors are divided on it. Some consider it one of their most beloved childhood toys, while others think of it as a poor interpretation of the character and a bastardization of the Popy Jumbosaurus Godzilla. The interesting thing about this take though is that it seems to be wrong! The Mattel Godzilla was released in 1977, while the Jumbosaurus was released in 1978. So while it can be in vogue to bash Mattel for copying and dumbing down the Popy toys of the '70s, in this case it was Popy who seems to have copied Mattel. They even replicated the silly and inappropriate launching fist mechanism.

Both the left fist and the right launching fist can be turned to different positions. Additionally, the tail (with needs to be attached) turns and the position of the legs can be adjusted. Like the other jumbos in the line, there are wheels on the feet. The toy features a fiery tongue that can be extended from the mouth via a red lever on the back of the head.

This lever is one of the most commonly broken parts on the toy. You'll often find specimens with the toes cracked as well.

Frankly, I actually like this toy better than the Popy one. Partly for nostalgic reasons, but also because I like the eyes on this one more than the Popy. They just look meaner to me. The toy is smaller than the other jumbos in the line, at only 19.5" tall. Mattel released at least three slightly different variations of Godzilla. Since I generally am only interested in having one version of each character, I tend to not pay much attention to these minor differences so for further details about them, I'll direct you to John Eaton's classic Shogun Warriors page which lists the differences.

The Mattel Shogun Warrior Godzilla is a classic toy, but is probably not a must have for Jumbo Machinder fans. It doesn't quite fit either with the robots in the line or even any of the monstrous villains. However, it's one that no monster collector should be without. It's a pretty easy acquisition too as they are always available on eBay. The only trick can be getting one a perfect condition. A MIB specimen probably costs about $200 on average.

In other parts of the world, Voltes reigned supreme...

I think your love for Voltes V (ボルテスＶ)depends on where you grew up. In the USA, Voltez V was farily unknown, aside from a few toys in the Shogun Warriors and Godaikin line. As a kid, I always thought he was some kind of Combattler-V copycat. I grew up with Combattler-V as part of the Shogun Warriors comic series and toy line, and I didn’t know much about Voltes at all.

In other parts of the world, Voltes reigned supreme. In the Phillipines, Voltes is synonomous with Super Robots. The show was banned in the ‘70s by Ferdinand Marcos, Dictator of the Phillipines, due to its rebellious overtones. The cancellation of the show only fueled the nation’s passion for this Super Robot.

One toy, many versions

In 1977, Popy began releasing toys of Voltes V, including the drool-worthy Volt in Box and the separately packaged Popynica vehicles. A basic rundown of the releases is:

• Volt in Box version 1 1977 (this version has yellow arm joints)
• Individually boxed Popynica vehicles 1977 (Same toy as version 2, But Volt Panzer included a segmented sword, as opposed to the full sword found in the box set.)
  
• Volt in Box version 2 1982 (Red arm joints)
  
• Godaikin version 1983 (Same toy as version 2, minus some extra accessories, including a pen and book).

With the Popy releases, there were minor packaging changes throughout the run. Some second version Volt in Box has black trays instead of blue and different locations for the pen and book. Also, the individually boxed vehicles had several different packaging variations, including slightly different box art. The Volt Crewzer has been seen in a bagged format as well.

Bandai America brought Voltes V to the USA in the early 1980s. It’s essentially the same toy as the version 2, but does not include the pen or the book.

Let’s Volt In!

There are 5 vehicles that make up Voltes V.

PB-04 Volt Crewzer
Volt Crewzer is a red ship that makes up the head of Voltes V. It features small missile launchers under the tips of each wing and wheels to roll around on. Included are 6 yellow missiles, instructions, booklet and a catalog. It is the only Voltes vehicle to feature a visible pilot. Be careful of the joint that connects the front and rear of the Crewzer – it is fragile and is prone to breaking.

PB-05 Volt Bomber
Volt Bomber forms the arms of Voltes V. The toy comes with one set of fists that fire from the forearms, a spinning top weapon, string for the top, chrome weapon, tail section, catalog, booklet and instructions. The landing gear is metal and folds down.

PB-06 Volt Panzer
Volt Panzer is a tank-like vehicle that forms the torso of Voltes V. It features articulated claws, working rubber treads, sword hilt and firing missiles. This vehicle is almost all metal. Included in the set are 6 missiles, sword segments, booklet, instructions and catalog. The rubber treads tend to deteriorate over time as the rubber dries out and begins to crumble. Fortunately there are sellers who sell replacement treads.

PB-07 Volt Frigate
Volt Frigate forms the legs of Voltes V. It features 2 sets of missile launchers as well as fold-out wings and landing gear. The toy includes 2 chrome antennae, 6 blue missiles, 6 red missiles, catalog, booklet and instructions.

PB-08 Volt Lander
Volt Lander forms the feet of Voltes V. This toy has rolling rubber tires, retractable magnets and opening doors with firing drill missiles. Included in the box are 2 chrome antennae, 6 drill missiles, 2 rubber hoses, 2 white connector pieces, booklet, instructions and catalog.

Combining the giant

Start with the Volt Panzer. Pull the tank legs aside from the back and rotate backwards. Insert the Volt Bomber in the top, then fold the Volt Crewzer so the head is exposed and attach at top.

Insert the cockpit of the Volt Frigate into the base of the Panzer. Separate the two halves of the Lander and fold the white towers down. Attach to the bottom of the Volt Frigate. Attach the hands and you are done! When combined, Voltes is solid and stable. He is probably the heaviest of the classic chogokins; a giant block of die-cast terror.

In robot mode, Voltez has a lot of accessories at his disposal.

The sword is formed by removing the red hilt from the chest of Voltes. Insert the sword into the hilt and it slides into place. Other weapons can snap into the forearms in place of the fists. One weapon looks like a giant spinning top. Pull the string and the top launches. I believe this is supposed to replicate Voltes’ Choudenji Goma attack. There is also a chrome weapon that looks kind of like a blender tip – this is supposed to be the Chain Knuckle attack.

Voltes V also has a tank mode called "Voltank Mode". The treads swing around, the feet bend and Voltes can roll around like a giant tank. Not a remarkable transformation, but still fun nonetheless.

Fanboy swooning

I really really like this toy. It’s one of my favorite gokins. Unfortunately, acquiring a vintage Voltes V can get very expensive. Your best bet is to hunt down a Godaikin version as those can be found in the $600 - $900 range. If you want to try to track down a Japanese Volt in Box version, prepare to spend thousands of dollars.

Bandai is releasing a new version of Voltes V – the Soul of Chogokin GX-31 in May of 2006. It probably won’t affect the price of a vintage Voltes, but it might be a more affordable way to get a die cast, transforming version in your collection.

Special thanks to Kim Castro and vivi1561 for the box images

*The toy shown in this review is the one that came packaged indvidually in popynica boxes. The toy is identical to the Godaikin and second version popy.

This piece was the one that opened my eyes and filled me with real lust and drive to collect Japanese robots, jumbos in particular.

For all collectors of anything, there is always THAT item, the Holy Grail of your hobby. Be it for rarity, monetary value, bragging rights, maybe even a long lost thing from your past, we all have the "gotta have it" piece we seek. In my case, it was the Mekanda Robo Jumbo Machinder. This piece was the one that opened my eyes and filled me with real lust and drive to collect Japanese robots, jumbos in particular.

For years it seemed like just a dream that I'd ever get a chance to handle one of my own, but then a couple months ago, I took the plunge and went for it, barely managing to nab this specimen off Yahoo Japan. It's no wonder Mekanda seems to always attract high prices and extreme interest. It has to be without a doubt probably the best proportioned toy representation of Mekanda produced.

The jumbo was produced by Bullmark in 1977 and was 1 of only 2 Jumbos they produced, the other being the Battinger batting game. As such they went all out on it, packing in details and extra craftsmanship, something that seems fairly common on most non-Popy jumbos. Unfortunately this came at a price. Bullmark, being a small company, wasn't able to produce as many Mekanda as they probably wanted to. It's becoming harder and harder to find them, and when they do appear, the price is usually well above $1,000 US for loose specimens, based on their popularity as well as rarity.

Just about every piece on it is made using separate molded plastic, all of which is of the highest quality. The color scheme chosen is quite unique for jumbos, the most striking being the baby blue used on the legs and other details. In terms of action and play value Mekanda is the Cadillac of jumbos. The chest contains a dial activated Gatling gun style 4 missile shooter (I am without any missiles for my piece so I can't testify as to their range and power, though the springs do appear to be fairly strong). Next up are the arms...while Popy would usually settle with either fixed fists, a rocket punch, or a small spinning blade as found on the Dragun, Bullmark armed Mekanda with dual gear driven spinning blades of death! Each spiked(!) arm shield contains 3 semi-soft vinyl blades that extend when the shields spin and retract via rubber bands located inside. It's truly an awesome feature, that I can well imagine young children having a blast with whacking their friends with.

Besides pure "stand there and look cool" play value that's the full range of Mekanda's features, but what it lacks in quantity it more than makes up in quality. The face sculpt is very striking, soft, but at the same time its eyes seem to bore right into you.

Rather than stick with the standard 60cm height, Mekanda goes far beyond it, nearly hitting 66 cm, making it a full head height taller than most Popy jumbos (which can lead to problems with displaying it on pre-built shelves).

As I said above, Mekanda was my holy grail, and after handling it, I can say it more than deserves to be. Though mine is missing some parts and isn't in the best condition, it still manages to shock and awe. Josh was kind enough to take some very amazing pictures of my Mekanda for this review when I was at his house last, and I think that they truly convey the quality and presence of this piece better than my review here.

This particular version of the Mekanda Jumbo is missing quite a few pieces, but I am in the process of restoring it. If you have any of the missing pieces, such as missiles the head crest, or the chest parts, please contact me.
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