This toy was released in large numbers and is among the easiest to find Popy Jumbo Machinders today.

Kamen Rider V3 aired for 52 episodes in 1973-1974 and the Jumbo Machinder was released in 1973. It was the second figure in the line, following on the heels of Mazinger Z and this designation is actually noted on the front of the box. The box is also interesting for the fact that is shows the prototype of the toy and depicts it with a missiles launching hand, which of course it does not have.

Although it does not have a missile launcher, this Jumbo does have a few interesting features. First off, it has retractable antennae protruding from the soft vinyl head. Secondly, a white scarf is tied around a hoop on either shoulder. The only other Jumbo to feature a similar gimmick is the follow-up character, Kamen Rider X. His scarf is different, but these two are the only Popy Jumbos to have a cloth accessory. He also has a belt with a tin plated buckle on the front and a holder for what appears to be a flashlight on his hip. Now, it seems you can remove the belt, but it sure looks like a pain in the neck to do it. The only reason I could even think that you would want to do it is so that you can free the flashlight (which is otherwise trapped in place), but even if you did that, it's not like he can hold it anyway. All these parts should probably be considered purely decorative.

Both Kamen Rider Jumbos share the same mold on the hands and feet (although Kamen Rider X has holes in his hands to hold his whips.) Kamen Rider V3's chest details are molded pieces of plastic with the exception of the red stripes within the blue, which are just stickers. Pay careful attention to that if you are looking to buy one of these. It's easy to overlook a missing sticker here.

There is at least one known variation for this guy. Most specimens have a plain, unpainted back of the head, while others have silver paint extending back from the front.

Otherwise, this toy is typical of most Jumbos with removable hands (if you want to buy the missile accessory shown on the box), wheeled feet and minimal articulation. One thing to keep in mind though is that with the antennae fully extended, V3 measures 25" tall, a full inch and a half more than typical Jumbos. This could come into play if you are building a display case for your collection. Keep in mind you'll need a little more room for this guy, especially since he looks much better with the antennae out as opposed to in.

Kamen Rider V3 is a pretty nice Jumbo, but if you have big plans for your collection, it's probably one you can hold off on while you track rarer toys. Although it's not very common in the US, this guy is actually a pretty easy acquisition in Japan. Loose specimens abound and boxed ones do show up fairly regularly too. I'd say the average price for a mint in box Kamen Rider V3 Jumbo is probably something in the $800-1200, but I've seen loose ones sell closer to $300-400, maybe even lower. Unless you just desperately need to have this toy for some reason, I'd suggest you wait until you see it for the value and condition you're most comfortable with.

Between admiring and collecting, there is always that "gateway" toy. For talkers, this one was mine.

I never meant to start collecting talkers. I really didn't. Sure, I'd seen some pictures and thought they were pretty cool, but actually buying one? Nah. Not me. I had a friend who was buying them all up when the re-issues started coming out a few years back, often paying about $100 a piece. I just didn't think they were THAT cool. But then one day I was shocked to see one sitting in an aisle of a little shop at an Asian market in Quincy, MA. The shop had a couple of little Ultraman trinkets and a Doraemon doll, but it was by no means a toy store. I figured they'd probably be asking a fortune for it. But on a lark, I picked it up to check, fully prepared to let out a snobbish, "I know better than to pay THAT!" sort of laugh. Then I saw the price-tag. $15!! I couldn't believe it. Sure, the cellophane window was missing from the box, but hey, it HAD the box and the toy was mint. I had my first talker.

The original Masudaya talking soft vinyl toys were released in the 1970s, but this is a re-issue that came out in the late 90s. It's stands about 14" tall with 5 points of articulation (hips, shoulders and neck). There is a talk box embedded in the back, from which you pull a string to make it talk. Naturally, it speaks in Japanese. I'm not sure exactly what it says, but I think it's just simple stuff like "I am Kamen Rider V3", etc.. No philosophizing or anything like that.

As I mentioned earlier, the toy comes in a cardboard box with a clear cellophane window. There is also a thin piece of cardboard that wraps around the bottom of the box for some reason. I guess they just needed more room for promotional stuff.

Talkers are cool. I like the size and style of the sculpts. But they are something of a niche within a niche. To date, I still haven't been able to bring myself to buy any vintage ones. With the re-issues being readily available (and having since come down in price since my friend was getting them), it's too easy to just grab the newer ones when you see a good deal.

Some do not like this toy because it is not a robot, but it is one of my favorite Jumbos.

Kame Bazooka (カメ バズーカ) appeared alongside Hasami Jaguar in the first two episodes of Kamen Rider V3. Those two, along with Mazinger Z villains Dabulas M2 and Kingdan X10 comprised the first series of Jumbo Machinder villains.

LIke all Kamen Rider V3 villains, Kame Bazooka is a cross between an animal and a man-made object. It is simply a mutated turtle with a giant bazooka on his back. "Kame" is Japanee for "Turtle", hence "Kame Bazooka" = "Turtle Bazooka". Simple enough. In the show, Kame Bazooka actually had a hydrogan bomb implanted in his body with the goal of destroying Tokyo, as well as a body augmented with a special protective alloy.

One of the first things I noticed about this toy when I got it was that the bazooka on his back is actually two separately mold pieces. I'd never seen the toy in person before and always assumed it was one solid piece. The top part turns but it honestly doesn't look any different no matter how it's positioned so it really makes no difference. If you count this as articulation, then the toy is articulated in six places. (Here, the neck, the shoulders and hips.) As with all the first series villains, Kame Bazooka was originally intended as just a store display and as such, really doesn't do anything other than look good.

Another minor point that is not always obvious is how much orange is on the bottom of his arms. You don't often see too many pictures of him with his arms raised so it may go unnoticed to the casual fan.

Once again, name and copyright information is etched into the bottom of the feet. I can't read all the kanji, but the right foot says "Popy" and "Ishinomori Productions", something I can't read, and then "Toei Company", while the left says "Kamen Rider V3 versus Destron "Mystery Man" (?) Kame Bazooka".

Right Foot

Left Foot

Kame Bazooka is 20" tall and comes in a deeper box than most Jumbos due to the size of the bazooka on his back. Note the difference in depth between his box and that of Kingdan X10.

This is a real pain if you like to display your Jumbos with the toy in front of the box like I do. Very often you'll find you simply don't have the room to do it, or it will make the display look inconsistent. Currently I can't even display this with my other villains because of the box.

Kame Bazooka is standard first series villain size, measuring in at 20" tall. Some do not like this toy because it is not a robot, but it is one of my favorite Jumbos. The green color really stands out and the subtle, but threatening claws, pointed eyes and shiny boots give it an "all business" look that really appeals to me. This is one of the easier Jumbo villains to get, maybe the easiest. It usually shows up several times a year, but rarely with the box, and often with a cracked head or some other such imperfection. Price range is about $800 on the low end, for a loose and damaged specimen and possibly as much as $3000 for a perfect MIB one. I've seen it sell for higher and lower in extreme cases, but typically it'll be about $1500 for a loose specimen in good condition.

An enemy of Kamen Rider V3, Hasami Jaguar was a first series Machinder villain.

Hasami Jaguar (ハサミジャガー)was one of two villains from the show Kamen Rider V3 to be released in the first series of Jumbo Machinder villains. The other was Kame Bazooka and both appeared togther in the first two episodes of the show, which aired from February 17, 1973 until February 9, 1974 on NET TV (later TV Asahi). (The other two first series Jumbo Machinder villains were Dabulas M2 and Kingdan X10.)

The villains from the TV show all combine an animal with some kind of man-made item. Hasami Jaguar is a jaguar with a giant blade on each hand and when those blades are combined, they form a giant pair of scissors. ("Hasami" is Japanese for "Scissors", hence...Hasami Jaguar = Scissors Jaguar). Hasami Jaguar was also able to transform himself into a Catholic priest as a disguise.

This toy was the first Jumbo villain I was able to get, and although he is probably my least favorite one, it was still a momentous occasion for me as I'd been wanting a villain for several years. Strangely, my next villain, Green Ghost C3, would be acquired just a week later.

Hasami Jaguar is 21.5" tall with 5 points of articulation (hips, shoulders, and neck). The left arm doesn't raise as high as the right due to the silver shoulder pad on that side. Originally, the toy included whiskers on the face, but those are very often missing from remaining specimens today, including mine unfortunately. (Sadly, I'm also missing the box.)

As with all the first series villains, Hasami Jaguar was originally intended to be a store display and is made entirely out of soft vinyl. He is at least partially handpainted and you can still see brush strokes on various parts of his body. Name and copyright information is etched into the bottom of each of his feet so that shop owners would know who to display him with. I really dont know kanji, but I do know that the left foot says "Kamen Rider V3 versus Destron "Mystery Man" (?) Hasami Jaguar" while the right foot says "Popy" and "Ishinomori Productions", something I can't read, and then "Toei Company".

Right Foot

Left Foot

Like all Jumbo Machinder villains, Hasami Jaguar is not an easy toy to get. It's probably in the middle of the pack as far as rarity among villains go. It does show up from time to time, but almost always loose and missing the whiskers. I'd say the average price for a loose one is about $1500, but I have seen it sell for around $1000 or even less. (A recent auction for one with a repaired horn finished at just under $600.) The most I've seen it sell for was about $3,400 for a perfect deadstock example. I think if I had a specimen like that, I might like the toy more. Though I'm not a huge fan of the character, it does look sharp when the paint is still shiny and perfect.