Dairugger XV Mechagold KO

Some bootlegs take the core concept and pervert it, making weird folk art masterpieces. I love these types. Other bootlegs are just straight up copies, which I am not so much of a fan of. But there is also the rare instance where bootleggers actually improve on a product. This MechaGold Dairugger bootleg is one such case.

First, the box is bigger, and each component has it’s own window.

The design takes most of its cues from the original, but when you get to the back the truth comes out.

“CAN DISASSEMBLE LIKE THIS DIAGRAM”*

“LETS PLAY MECHA GOLD”

*due to mold changes, the toy cannot disassemble like the diagram.

But get the toy out and the improvements are immediately noticable. For one, they added back in the propellors for the shoulder helicopters.

Secondly, they added a sword! And not just any sword, but a real Dairugger sword!

The shiny gold has been replaced with a more matte finish. It looks fine. You can also notice another improvement – the hands are now separate pieces, and can rotate.

The metal weights are still included inside, but they are much less detailed than before.

There are more Dairugger toys that share a similar mold, so stay tuned…