New Super Robot Chogokin Line

[qb]

Nice and informative reviews Gold! I just got my Data Weapon Set a week ago and it did a great job beefing up both Dendoh and Ogre. ;D

[Gold]

Thanks QB.


More incoming SRC figures. Thanks to Dead-Man over at the Robotjapan forums.


















Gold

[qb]

I really need to get to know the characters/mechas from the series. Speaking of, just picked up SRC GGG and the Key to Victory Weapon Set 1 the other day:

[Gold]

Nice images QB.



Hi all, here's a quick look at SRC Gaogaigar with the Overload Effects parts and the Key of Victory set 1.


Please click videos to begin playback (Eng. Audio)


Series intro




















Overload Effects parts. These are supposedly free, a promotional item of sorts celebrating the Super Robot Chogokin line's first anniversary.





The parts are easily assembled, but they don't exactly lock into the base. So they will topple over if you accidentally hit them. I also find the base a bit too big, would be cooler if GGG could stand closer to the "flames".



Final Fusion approved!




GAOGAIGAR!!








Gaogaigar in Action!



PROTECT SHADE![/color]
Interestingly, the plastic is very thin, almost similar to the plastic used for the trays.







There's actually a proper way to attach the Protect Shade, the palm has to be on the outside.

Wrong way



Right Way





DRILL KNEE!



To get the Drill knee to properly pop up, slide up GGG's knees by pushing the red part of his knee, it will slide upward.





BROKEN MAGNUM![/COLOR]










Adapter Plug part for attaching Broken Magnum to Soul Stage Act 5 base.







PLASMA HOLD!

(Note: it should actually be the left hand that's able to do the Plasma Hold, not the right. Sorry about that. )


DIVIDING DRIVER!

















HELL AND HEAVEN!!![/B][/COLOR]






Some parts need to be swapped in before you can do H and H.

-Swap in the vent plates for Anime accuracy.



-chest plates

















Goldion Hammer Approved!


Optional clip for holding onto Soul Stage Act 5.






To make GGG more scene accurate, you have to pluck out the wrist joint before attaching it to the wing, using a pair of pliers, it was relatively effortless.













HAMMER CONNECT!!







GOLDION HAMMER!!!!













HAMMER HELL![/COLOR]





HAMMER HEAVEN![/COLOR]







TRANSFORM INTO LIGHT!!!!





















Extras
-Bandai included an extra set of helmet "fins" but unlike the default pieces which are hard plastic, the extra piece is made of soft plastic (PVC?)




-Gaigar Faceplate. Gaigar's faceplate is usually shown right before the end of the Final Fusion sequence, it was also "revealed" in the final battle against the Z-Master.






-Diecast parts include the feet and side parts of GGG's calf areas. I'm not sure about the main torso though if they're also diecast.



-Clear windshield pieces on the Linear Gao.



-It's got toe articulation!!



-The wrist plug design takes some getting used too but all in all, it's not too bad.




Gaogaigar stands roughly 6 inches tall and weighs roughly 235Grams. It's 5 Grams heavier than Alt Eisen.



-New box design for the SRC line, gone are the window strips on the box. Which is a good call I'd say since they don't do anything but add to production costs. I love the new foil stamp motif



A word of warning though, don't bother trying to pluck out the plug for the "nail" it's insanely hard to pull out. I had to use a tiny screwdriver to pick it out, it left an ugly scratch on the "tire" tsktsk...


It would've been nice if they included hands for GGG to hold the Hammer directly without the Marg Arm too.





Fun poses - thanks to the crazy amount of articulation on this thing, you can recreate almost any pose from the series. ;D
















There you have it, an awesome GGG figure, I can honestly say this is the first time I handled a GGG toy without fear of anything breaking (Cm's Corp, Kotobukiya, Maxfactory, Kaiyodo, Yujin). I was beginning to think any GGG toy except from Takara was cursed. ;D

But there are still a few misses here for me, the groin joints do tend to be a little loose, but it doesn't affect posing or stability. They just swing around easily when you're lifting or moving the figure. There are also a few QC problems here, like paint chips (see GGG's helmet fins) and paint pools (Stealth Gao's red paint). I guess it's luck of the draw.

My biggest surprise was the lack of any ratchet joints. Likewise, the shoulder joints seem to pop out way too easily on mine (posing the train shoulders to point up in hell and heaven was pure hell for me), but it's so bad that the shoulder joints popped out with the Hammer set on, so I think it might be in the way you twist the shoulders that cause the joints to pop out.


Still, all those negatives and I still love this figure and highly recommend it.













Gold

[qb]

SRC The King of Braves: Gaogaigar

Series Bio: The King of Braves GaoGaiGar (勇者王ガオガイガー Yūsha Ō GaoGaiGā?) is an anime television series series begun in 1997, created by Sunrise's internal "Studio 7" under the direction of Yonutsomo Yonetani, and was the eighth and final in the Yūsha metaseries funded by Takara and produced by Sunrise - Wiki

Mecha Bio:
Components: GaiGar (Cyborg Guy + Galeon) + DrillGao + LinerGao + StealthGao
Successful result of Final Fusion between the three GaoMachines and GaiGar, vastly increasing GaiGar's power. In order for this combination to take place, the act of Final Fusion must be approved by the Chief of GGG (Kohtaroh Taiga), followed by the relevant operator (Mikoto Utsugi, or Swan White in her absence) breaking through the safety glass on her panel and hitting the button that engages "Program Drive." This begins the Final Fusion sequence, during which GaiGar creates a tornado of electromagnetic fog ("Denji Tatsumaki") that the three GaoMachines penetrate. (This fog also serves as a defense against entities from approaching GaiGar and interrupting the sequence.)
The drill tank DrillGao forms GaoGaiGar's lower legs, feet and knees; The bullet train LinerGao forms its shoulders and upper arms; and the stealth bomber StealthGao forms its back wing section, lower arms, and helmet. - Wiki

Broken Magnum!!!




Protect Shade!




Dividing Driver!!!





Hell and Heaven!!!

My thoughts:
The figure sports great articulation, an astounding amount of detail, has everything you see in the series, can do anything that it did in the series and it's just overall a pure awesome figure to have.

A few minor gripes are that the right leg joint connecting to the crotch is loose right from the start but it still holds its place when posed. The arms pop right off the socket whenever you move it around so it was a challenge getting him into those Hell and Heaven poses. I have a small paint splotch on the lion's right mane but nothing that I really mind.

Despite these minor points, it doesn't deter anyone from enjoying this really great figure. All in all, a solid release from Bandai's Super Robot Chogokin line and this one comes highly recommended in my book!

Thanks for looking!

[qb]

Here's Part 2.

SRC The Key To Victory Weapon Set 1

Weapon Background:
Goldion Hammer

Technical name: Gravity Shockwave Generating Tool. Referred to as the "G-Tool" before its introduction (likely its code name). A gigantic hammer containing an artificial gravity well at its center that generates a "custom" shockwave, transforming all particles in contact with its striking surface into photons.

Initially, its direct handling was severely damaging to GaoGaiGar and any other machine coming in direct contact with it. This situation would only be resolved when the Hammer became incorporated into GGG's Super-AI robot Goldymarg, using the "Marg Hand" system in order to properly channel and control the Hammer's power.

Much like Final Fusion, the Goldion Hammer's use requires approval of the Chief of GGG; as an additional step, it requires the Chief to insert and turn a key bearing the authorization of the Japanese Prime Minister (for the Gutsy Galaxy Guard, this key represents the authorization of the UN Secretary General instead). This allows the operator access to a card reader, after which said operator (Mikoto Utsugi) swipes a "Gold Card" into the reader to "relieve" the Hammer's safety device.

Goldymarg!!!





Goldion Hammer!!!





Hammer Hell!!!!





Hammer Heaven!!!



Transform into Light!!!!

Final Words:
The Key to Victory Weapon Set 1 is just a great, great addition to an already awesome figure. The add'l weaponry pimps GGG quite well and adds an extra layer of bad@$$-ness to an already fierce mecha design.

I can't help but be impressed as to how Bandai looked into the little details surrounding Goldymarg and manifested it here in this set. I do hope they release a robot version of him in the future. A little care is to be taken with regards to removing the entry point for the nail on Goldymarg. It's wedged in quite tight and I didn't dare attempt to remove it with an external tool.

The Hammer is equally well detailed, though, was a little tough to wield using the figure. While not top heavy, it does swing around when you try to pose the figure making a lot of my shots on this really hard to pull off.

All in all, it's a great add-on set to the SRC Gaogaigar. Again, highly recommended in my book. I am definitely looking forward now to Set 2.

Thanks for looking!

[qb]

SRC Gear Fighter Dendoh Data Weapon Set

Weapons Bio:
The animal-like Data Weapons are the key to winning the war between Earth and the Gulfer Invasion. He who obtains all 7 data weapons will unlock the key towards limitless power.

The set contains 4 more Data Weapons (with Unicorn Drill and Viper Whip already released with SRC Dendoh and Ogre): Leo Circle, Gatling Boar, Bull Horn and Dragon Flare. Along with the set comes Dendoh's support unit, the Cell Fighter and the Walkure Bike ridden by GEAR's 2nd commander, Vega.

Cell Fighter



Leo Circle



Bull Horn




Dragon Flare



Gatling Boar



Dendoh and Ogre fully equipped with their respective Data Weapons:

My thoughts:
The Data Weapon set does a really, really good job of pimping up the SRC Dendoh and Ogre release. The fact that they added on the support units is a major plus for me regarding this set. The Cell Fighter comes with it's own unique stand but can be easily loaded onto a Stage Act stand when playing. The Walkure bike is really nothing more than a display piece but I have to give credit to Bandai for giving the time to detail something so small. It really does look like Vega riding her bike.

The weapons are attached to the figure via either a connecting socket on the feet or a clamp that attaches to Dendoh/Ogre's forearm. Moving parts are where they should be, such as Dragon Flare's mouth, Gatling Boar's gun, and Leo Circle's mane to simulate the various Final Attack's used per weapon. Also, Bull Horn has an extension part for it to extend further forward.

All in all, an excellent set to add on to your SRC Dendoh and Ogre if you want to relive the action from the series. It's a bit on the expensive side though so I'd recommend this only to fans of Super Robots or of Gear Fighter Dendoh in particular.

Thanks for looking!

[Gold]

Great reviews and gorgeous pics QB!!! Congrats on the new acquisitions! BTW what did you use for the "splash" effect in the hammer pic? Awesome work!



Update on upcoming Kokubogar, due out in March and is a Tamashii Web Exclusive.

blog.yahoo.com/cybergundam/articles/53862/index




Gold

[Gold]

Here's a nice page on how to mix and match the effects parts, I love what the combined effects can do, I wish they can be bought individually though and not bundled together with each SRC release.

tamashii.jp/t_life/t_life.php?eid=00010





Gold

[Gold]

Hi all, here's a quick look at the Super Robot Chogokin Dai-Guard.


Series Opening credits


Box



Trays




Dai-Guard launch!!






Some Assembly required.



... though later on, Dai-Guard gets an upgrade to make it combine without any logistical support.






Dai-Guard's attacks are all melee based. In most instances, Dai-Guard loses an arm evry in every battle.











SRC Dai-Guard comes with a lot of weapons based from the show.

Drill Arm

















Finger Net












Mine trap (for creating pit traps for Heterodynes)



Spike (for taking out Fractal Knots on the Heterodynes)





Rocket Punch















Knot Punisher - an upgraded form of the Knot Buster (will come later packaged with Kokubogar)














Near the end, Knot Punisher gets upgraded to Great Knot Punisher, with Dai-Guard now retaining both hands for use.








Dai-Guard is the heaviest SRC so far. 289 Grams (the second heaviest is GGG, 239 Grams). Diecast parts mostly in the legs (not including feet), sections of the torso.







Impact Effect parts





The parts comes with 2 types of attachments, one for the Soul Stage base, one for plugging into ball joints.













Series Ending Credits




For more fun reading:
tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Anime/DaiGuard?from=Main.DaiGuard












Gold

[qb]

Oct 11, 2011 9:02:13 GMT 8 Gold said:

Great reviews and gorgeous pics QB!!! Congrats on the new acquisitions! BTW what did you use for the "splash" effect in the hammer pic? Awesome work!

Gold

Thanks Gold! I used the effect parts from SRC Dendoh for the splash effect on the hammer. ;D

Awesome review on Dai-Guard. Still on the fence regarding him since I never really got to watch the series plus the design really doesn't appeal to me that much. Looking forward to Choryujin though not that I've finished the GGG series.

[Gold]

Thanks QB, the Dai-guard series is decent enough. Good character developement (even though it gets a little slow in the middle of the series) but I think I enjoyed it more than Godannar or any of the more recent Super Robot remake Anime.




Gold

[Heer0san]

Maagi Jiruma Magi Jinga, Magiking, Number One!

robotpilipinas.blogspot.com/2011/11/super-sentai-news-src-magiking-official.html

[Gold]

From the Tamashii Nations!


Upcoming GGG items!
-Hell and Heaven GGG
-Plated Goldion Hammer GGG
-Key of Victory set 4 (for Choryujin) - includes SP Pack (for space) and Eraser head -9999 variantion
-Gekiryujin with SP pack and Climber-1 Energy supply ship complete set


















Mass produced Aquarion





All taken from here, credits to Cybergundam for the images.
blog.yahoo.com/cybergundam/articles/207507/index



Gold

[Gold]

Details on Key of Victory set 4 for Choryujin... coming in April

blog.yahoo.com/_ED274AZGFINLESDVVHRADMVIMU/articles/554030/index




Speaking of Choryujin, he's out!

blog.livedoor.jp/hacchaka/archives/51791148.html



I'm surprised Bandai never teased about it being able to do Symmetrical Docking out. Non-transforming though.




Gold