A World Through Lenses » Mecha

Chogokin VF-27 Gamma Lucifer Valkyrie

phoenix — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 17:47:11 +0000

In anticipation of Macross Frontier movie, not only did Bandai re-released all of their Chogokin VF-25, they also released a new VF-27γ Lucifer Valkyrie. This fighter belongs to Brera Sterne, Ranka Lee’s older brother. And since I already own VF-25F Super Messiah Valkyrie Saotome Alto Custom, I want to make sure that the next Valkyrie that I own is a bit different form VF-25F. This VF-27γ is the perfect one for me. Ever since the Macross Frontier anime, its delta wing design has captured my attention (I always loved the delta wing designs in fighter jets). So now it’s releasing as a chogokin toy that’s fully transformable, I just had to have it. Luckily AmiAmi is doing 50% off shipping promotion right now and so EMS shipping from Japan seems really cheap even for a heavy item like this.

Bandai DX Chogokin VF-27γ Lucifer Valkyrie Brera Sterne Custom (バンダイ DX超合金 VF-27γ ルシファーバルキリーブレラスターン機). Released on February 2010 with a MSRP of ¥16,800.

Here’s the box shot. Much smaller and simpler box when compared to the VF-25F Super Messiah Valkyrie Saotome Alto Custom.

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Permalink | Tags: Macross Frontier, Metal Toys | Categories: Mecha, Toys | 2 comments

Chogokin VF-25F Super Messiah Valkyrie

phoenix — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 18:15:05 +0000

Bandai DX Chogokin VF-25F Super Messiah Valkyrie Alto Type was originally released on January 2009. Later, two add-on packs were released that’s available in the Bandai’s Tamashii shop in Japan only. One for the Super Pack and the other for the SMS display base. I didn’t get a chance to get it back at the beginning of 2009. Qhen I looked around at the prices later, they were high and so I gave up. Now as Macross Frontier movie is scheduled to be released, the VF-25F is released together with Super Pack as well as the SMS display base all in one single package. The paint color was slightly different to match the movie release, all the rest are otherwise the same as the original release. Best of all, I don’t have to pay extra for deputy service or fight in lines to get the add-on packs. It arrived before end of 2009 and it was sitting on my filing cabinet for a long time. Now finally I took some photo of it.

Bandai DX Chogokin VF-25F Super Messiah Valkyrie Saotome Alto Custom (バンダイ DX超合金 VF-25F スーパーメサイアバルキリー早乙女アルト機). Released on November 2009 with a MSRP of ¥16,800.

Here’s the box shot. It was a very nice box with colorful prints of the valkyrie in different forms.

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Permalink | Tags: Macross Frontier, Metal Toys | Categories: Mecha, Toys | One comment

Takara Tomy Transformers Tigatron USB key

phoenix — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 03:55:34 +0000

After playing around with Takara Tomy Transformers Device Jaguar USB Key, I was so impressed with it that I can’t help myself to get Device Jaguar’s counterpart – Tigatron. Just like the Device Jaguar the Tigatron is a 2GB USB key. And Tigatron is pretty much identical to Device Jaguar with the exception of the paint color. But it’s nice to have two different colored ones, white and black makes a nice contrasty pair.

Takara Tomy Transformers Tigatron 2GB USB Memory (タカラトミートランスフォーマータイガトロン). Released on October 2009 with a MSRP of ¥3,990.

The Tigatron box, pretty much identical to the Device Jaguar.

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Goodsmile Alloy Tachikoma

phoenix — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 06:23:42 +0000

Tachikoma is the spider shaped AI tank from the series Ghost In The Shell – Stand Alone Complex. I’ve got this for a long time now but never got chance to take photo of it. Since I’ve been taking photos of all my mecha toys lately, this Tachikoma finally got his debut. I had another alloy Tachikoma toy before and that was the EX Ally Tachikoma by Art Storm. Soon after Art Storm released their Tachikoma Good Smile Company announced that they will be making a even better version of Tachikoma. So naturally I placed order for that. The actual release was delayed and delayed some more, but finally it was released. So here after much delay…

Goodsmile Alloy Tachikoma by Good Smile Company (GOODSMILE合金タチコマ). Original sculptor 山本洋平. Released in June 2008 with a MSRP of ¥17,800.

Front and back.

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Permalink | Tags: Ghost In The Shell, Kusanagi Motoko, Metal Toys, Tachikoma | Categories: Mecha, Toys | One comment

Takara Tomy Transformers Device Jaguar USB key

phoenix — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 08:00:19 +0000

Out of the device label transformer toys from Takara Tomy, this one Device Jaguar or better know in the original Transformers series as Ravage is really cool. Ravage was originally a transforming micro-cassette that was stored in Soundwave’s deck. Just like Soundwave, when Takara Tomy released this time, it got a technology upgrade. It’s now a functional 2GB USB memory key. The size of the USB key is slightly bigger than you average USB key. But of course the cool part is that despite being a 2GB USB key it does fully transform into robot jaguar. This toy is really functional, I see myself actually using this and having a lot of fun with it. Way better than the Soundwave MP3 Player which is a bad MP3 player with out those cool transforming cassette.

Takara Tomy Transformers Device Jaguar 2GB USB Memory (タカラトミートランスフォーマーデヴァイスジャガー). Released on October 2009 with a MSRP of ¥3,990.

Here’s the box.

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Permalink | Tags: Ravage, Transformers | Categories: Mecha, Toys | No comment

Takara Tomy Transformers Soundwave MP3 Player

phoenix — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 06:30:57 +0000

Soundwave was originally a micro-cassette recorder in the Transformer series. He has little transforming spy cassette stored in the deck on his chest. However, this time around when Takara Tomy is releasing Soundwave, he got a technology upgrade: now Soundwave is a MP3 player. I wasn’t going to get Soundwave because as a MP3 player, you no longer have those transforming cassettes. However, I saw a deal with Soundwave being sold at ¥3,000 vs. the regular price of ¥10,500. At less than 1/3 of the original price, I caved in and ordered it. Soundwave comes in three different version: spark blue, blaster black and sonic white. Each has a different color scheme but are otherwise identical. I got the blaster black version.

Takara Tomy Soundwave Playing Audio Player (Blaster Black). Released on December 2007 with a MSRP of ¥10,500.

So here’s the box that Soundwave came in, front and back.

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Permalink | Tags: Transformers | Categories: Mecha, Toys | No comment

Transformers Masterpiece Grimlock

phoenix — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 09:48:59 +0000

In the transformers series another set of toys I always wanted is the Dinobots. Out of the five Dinobots, Grimlock the T-Rex is one of the coolest. I’ve played with the Generation 1 Grimlock toy back in my earlier years but never managed to own one. Seeing Takara Tomy is re-relasing the the MP-8 Masterpiece Grimlock, I ordered it together with the MP-4 Masterpiece Optimus Prime. Weight in at 1.6kg for the entire package, Grimlock is much lighter than Optimus Prime and cost a lot less in shipping.

Takara Tomy Transformers Masterpiece MP-8 Grimlock (タカラトミートランスフォーマーマスターピース MP-8 グリムロック). Released on March 2009 with a MSRP of ¥13,650.

Picture of the box, front and back.

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Permalink | Tags: Grimlock, Optimus Prime, Transformers | Categories: Mecha, Toys | No comment

Transformers Masterpiece Optimus Prime

phoenix — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 05:54:15 +0000

I have always wanted an Transformers Optimus Prime toys ever since I watched the Transformers animated series when I was little. However, I never got my hand on one, until now. When I say Takara Tomy’s Masterpiece MP-4 Optimus Prime is being re-released complete with the trailer, I was excited. Placed the order on amazon.co.jp and just arrived from Japan recently. Yes this is the Japanese version, a lot of die-cast metal parts are used in this and way better than any version released in the North America in terms of built quality. The package is really heavy, nearly 4kg, the shipping itself from Japan was a whopping ¥6,800.

Takara Tomy Transformers Masterpiece MP-4 Optimus Prime (タカラトミートランスフォーマーマスターピース MP-4 コンボイ完全版). Released on October 2009 with a MSRP of ¥18,000.

Here’s the box, front and back.

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Permalink | Tags: Metal Toys, Optimus Prime, Transformers | Categories: Mecha, Toys | No comment

Curry Potato

kainushi — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 00:57:08 +0000

Wanted to test out the new curry powder I bought recently and after looking around the kitchen, found some long-neglected mini potatoes lying around… curry potato it is then… Typically curry potatoes are made as a stew but I happened to be baking a quiche today so I thought why not maximize the oven use and roast the potatoes as well? And if I may say so myself, the finished product is not bad at all… XD

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Permalink | Tags: | Categories: Food, Mecha, Toys | No comment

Art Storm EX Alloy Tachikoma

phoenix — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 05:19:33 +0000

EX Alloy Tachikoma 2nd GIG Version by Art Storm (Art Storm EX 合金　タチコマ 2nd GIG Version). Original sculptor 藤原辰弘. Released on May 2007 with an MSRP of ¥14,800.

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Permalink | Tags: Ghost In The Shell, Metal Toys, Tachikoma | Categories: Mecha, Toys | No comment

Chogokin Eva-00

phoenix — Sat, 20 Nov 2004 07:37:58 +0000

Soul Of Chogokin GX-16 Eva-00 by Bandai(バンダイ超合金魂 GX-16 エヴァンゲリオン零号機改). Released on August 2003 with a MSRP of ¥5,775. This is a special version that comes with a acrylic plaque.

Here’s the full package with Eva-00 standing on the launch paltform.

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Permalink | Tags: Evangelion, Metal Toys | Categories: Mecha, Toys | No comment