HG Bandai gachapon Chodenji Robo Combattler V

What's better than 1 gachapon, yup, you guessed it, 5 gachapons (wait is it gashapon? oh well), in other words, getting a complete set of this Combattler V Gachapon set. This set also includes a clear black set. Just in case, you guys, don't know what Im talking about, gachapon's are toy dispensing machines which  randomly dispenses toys, so you won't know what you're getting till you buy em. Yup, it's all about luck, my man....

From the classic vintage robot animation created by Sunrise.
Combattler V is made out of 5 vehicles.

Battle Jet becomes the head of Combattler V and is smallest vehicle.

Battle Crasher forms the chest and arms. Wings and landing gears are removed when in robot mode.

Battle Tank becomes the torso. The antenna move up and down. The claws are very hard to get in and out and most of the time.

Battle Marine forms the legs of Combattler V.

Battle Craft forms the feet with pegs to push out the drills.













All the vehicles combine to form combined vehicle mode or also known as Grand Dasher mode. The arms are supposed to be turned upwards being the lazy guy that I am, I just left it straight.

The accesories that came with this set shown below.

And of cos, the combined robot mode. Combattler V has basic articulation but fails to make any dynamic poses. In robot mode, Combattler V stands roughly 6 inches tall and still looks good in any chogokin collection.

Picture together with Combattler V, the clear black version.

Overall, I do love the set, the only thing I don't like are the extra parts that has to be taken out due to transformation. Storage is kinda a hassle and some parts are really small and easily lost.

The other bad news is the clear black version has really brittle plastic which tends to break easily after 2 or 3 transformations, I super glued mine back into robot-form and left it as it is ever since.

Bandai Super Robot Chogokin God Reideen

Though there were 3 incarnations of Reideen, the original vintage 1970’s Brave Raideen, which I watch during my childhood days, the 1993’s God Reideen, was one I loved but was too caught up in other stuff at that era and thus I didn't have a chance to owe the Bandai version of God Reideen.
And for the 2007's Neo Reideen, I couldn't be bothered, the anime makes me sleep..

Not to fret,  this year, Bandai's SRC ( Super Robot Chogokin ) series re-released another God Reideen for our collective glory!!!

The box art is sweet though a openable (is there such a word?!) flap to view the toy would be alot sweeter, hey, i'm not complaining just a suggestion, anyways, more pictures less words....

Even though the size doesn't impress me, the design was slick, still mantaining the classic Reideen's Eygptian design, colour scheme was really grand, silver and gold, though the box art made it seem as though it was gold and white. The major attraction to me, was that God Reideen was transformable, given the size, my thoughts was it was static figure, much like Yamato GNU dou figures.

The lower legs and chest area are made of diecast parts, the rest is plastic and painted, the articulation is rather good with all basic joints, arms, elbows, knees, waist, wrists but due to the design of the armor, movement is limited, so there's not much dynamic poses this Reideen can make, he still looks damn good in any display unless you collect Coke bottles.

God Reideen's accesories includes 2 open fists, 2 closed fists, 2 fists to hold his bow and his weapons, a full sized bow and arrow, a anime accurate smaller version bow, a shield and a opened shield. Kinda disappointed as there was no stand included to display Reideen in flight or to display in God bird mode though the back has a peg hole for the Tamashii stand (which is not included).

God Reideen still can do some decent poses, if you want, the shoulder armor and head piece is removeable (the removeable head piece is transformation purposes) and you could have poses without the armor though he look kinda naked...

Transformation is simple, only bad news is there's a need to interchange parts, mainly the headpiece. Another bad news, is there's no pegs to lock things into place, mainly the arms, the legs has a small peg that doesn't do much, making the god bird mode kinda flimsy but it still looks cool if you don't play with it and wave it around.

Overall, I'm quite satisfied with SRC God Reideen, it could have been better but the effort was there, if you're a reideen fan, this is definitely another version to have in your collection.

Nippu Sentai Part 3

KARIKURIMUSHA FURAI MARU




Froms the head and fist of Gourai Senpuujin, nicely done with diecast parts.



 FURAI GATTAI!!

 GOURAI SENPUUJIN Combination of Senpuujin and Gouraijin with FūraiMaru, formed by the command "School Transcendence Wind-Thunder Combine" or "Furai Gattai!"

 
Check out this robo, though the articulation is very minimal (most sentai robos are like that) the weight and presence is quite outstanding.... shown on top is Japan version, left is the US version. The major difference Jap and US counterparts is the diecast parts and the paint work, the Jap version rules with metal parts and better paint work while there's no diecast parts on the US version.














Unlike the other disappointing adaptations from the Japanese counterparts, both versions of this series is good, though there's Nao Nagasawa in the sentai series, Tori's not too bad too.


Next up, the Final combination!

Nippu Sentai Part 2

GD-43 GOURAIJIN (THUNDER MEGAZORD)

 





Gourai Stag driven by the Kuwaga Raiger forms the legs of the Gouraijin.

                                                                        


Driven by the Kabuto Raiger, the Gourai Beetle forms the upper Torso and arms of the Gouraijin.

IKAZUCHI GATTAI!!
























 The Gouraijers bugs merge to form Gouraijin, just like Senpujin, Gouraijin chest stores a Karikuri ball which holds Plant axe which design is based on a Pinwheel.

Yup, there's a part 3 coming up.....

Nippu Sentai Part 1

Ninpū Sentai Harikenjā, asanjō! or Nippu sentai Hurricangers!!!

Sentai translates to 'taskforce' in Japanese and it is also a term to describe a show that involves a superhero team. In 1975, Toei produced the very popular children shows Goranger ( the Original Power Rangers) that led to a franchise known as 'Super Sentai.'
Adapted from the original Hurricangers, US released Power Ranger Ninja storm with Shane, Tori and Dustin ( yup all Ang moh!!though the Jap Version is much cooler ) are three students at the Wind Ninja Academy. Their less than stellar performance gets them the occasional lecture from their Sensei.

Well, here's the zords...
The Shinobi machines
GD-42 SENPUUJIN ( STORM MEGAZORD)

 



 The Red Rangers Hurricane Hawk Zo forms the head of the Senpuujin.

                                                                   



The Hurricane Lion driven by the Yellow ranger is the biggest zord which forms the main body and legs of Senpuujin.

                                                                             





( Left) Blue Rangers Hurricane Dolpin forms the Right arm of the Senpuujin.


NINPU GATTAI!!!

(Top Bandai Japan version) Senpujin is the combination of Hurricane Red, Yellow and Blue Ranger , this is the Basic MegaZord in use most of the time. (Shown below Bandai US version)

The chest plate opens up to contain the karikuri ball which stores sword slasher.

























stay tuned, there's a part 2....