Diecast Ultraman Toys

[sketcher]

[Last updated 04/28/2009]

Posted some of this data in another thread long ago, but thought that folks could use this data in a more accessible place, plus it's easier to find this post and make edits as necessary. On with the toy geekdom!

This post will cover the die-cast world of Ultraman and Ultra Kaiju toys.
Certainly not in any order, and not necessarily complete, but I will make reference (when available) to the year and manufacturer of said toy. I hope you guys find this information useful when searching or creating that "want list" we all have in our minds. Read on, and if you have any additions or corrections, please post them in this thread so I can fix this post. Information is power, folks. Lets share some...

"Shuwattt!!!!"

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Vintage Chogokin Ultra Series
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Popy/Bandai GA/GB/GC/** series, chogokin Ultraman figures.
In my searches for every gokin version of these characters, I have learned that I am still very far from complete. I still am missing many of the figures that were available. These toys can be quite elusive when searching because they can be listed in many ways and often get lost in the thousands of Ultraman toys posted online for sale.

Here is a list of the vintage Ultraman Popy/Bandai toys I know of and the year of release.
1978 GA-95 Ultraman
1978 GA-96 Ultraseven
1978 GA-98 Ultraman Taro
1979 GB-04 The Ultraman
1980 GB-21 Ultraman80
1983 GB-99 Ultraman version 2
1983 GC-05 Ultraseven version 2
1989 **-** Ultraman version 3
1989 **-** Ultraseven version 3

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1978 GA-95 Ultraman -



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1978 GA-98 Ultraman Taro -



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1980 GB-21 Ultraman80 (photo reference from ToyEast) -



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1989 Bandai Chogokin Ultraman version 3 (There is no GA/GB/etc, series designation on this figure.) -



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1989 Bandai Chogokin Ultraseven version 3 (There is no GA/GB/etc, series designation on this figure.) -



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While Popy/Bandai has the most entries in this segment, there were other small companies that created die-cast toys related to the Ultraman series of characters. Eidai Grip and Takatoku are 2 of these companies, each adding an entry not done in the Popy/Bandai side of things. They went with a more obscure character in the franchise by doing Ultraman Leo. This character hails from the darkest side of Ultraman fame. The series was almost depressing in it's themes and nearly adult subject matter, but the character is, in my opinion, one of the best Ultra suits to be created. From his winged head and sharply defined facial sculpt, he exudes kaiju a$$-kicking badness.

The 2 entries here are as follows:
1974 Eidai Grip Ultraman Leo
1974 Takatoku Ultraman Leo

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Eidai Grip Ultraman Leo


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Side by side reference of the Takatoku (on the left) and Eidai Grip Ultraman Leo (reference photo courtesy of Corey Edwards -



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Modern Chogokin Ultra Series

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Bandai GD series, chogokin Ultraman figures.
In 2004 Bandai decided to return to casting Ultraman in die-cast. This was a nice change from the vinyl that has been the common diet for most Ultraman collectors. The GD series has given us most of the more popular characters in the lineup of brothers and hopefully Bandai will produce more in this series to fill it out. These figures are much sought after by gokin collectors as well as Ultraman fans alike. Other than being slightly floppy and prone to shelf dives, these figures are well made and have steadily improved over the span of the series. They are greatly articulated, using click/ratchet joints in the main limbs, which is the reason they are apt to fall, but they can be set into very dynamic poses reminiscent of the scenes in the television show. Paint quality has definitely improved since the GD-58. If you pick these figures up, be sure to grab some figure stands for them to prevent the inevitable falls that will occur. I have added all of these to my shelf and can honestly say that they are some of my favorite Ultraman toys. I eagerly await more entries and hope we get a Leo, Father, Zophy, Astra, King and Mother.

Bandai GD Ultra Chogokin series figures in chronological order of release.

4/2004 GD-58 Ultraman
4/2004 GD-59 Ultraseven
8/2004 GD-67 Return of Ultraman (Ultraman Jack)
12/2004 GD-74 Ultraman Ace
2/2005 GD-75 Ultraman Nexus
2/2006 GD-97 Ultraman Taro

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GD-58 Ultraman -



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GD-59 Ultraseven -



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GD-67 Return of Ultraman (Ultraman Jack) -



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GD-74 Ultraman Ace -



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GD-75 Ultraman Nexus -



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GD-97 Ultraman Taro -



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Here is a Jet VTOL I picked up a few years back. I won't try to get into the vehicles in this post, there are too many and I don't own enough of them, but thought I would include this icon of the Science Patrol from the original Ultraman series.

Manufacturer - unknown to author
Diecast construction and almost in scale with the GD series figures. Very nice!
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Here is the MAK-KI 3 Ship from Ultraman Leo. Made by Bullmark.




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Vintage Chogokin Ultra Kaiju

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Back when Popy was firing off all the greatest diecast creations ever conceived, they decided to do one of the kaiju from the Ultraseven series. This is the only Ultra kaiju to ever be cast in metal by Popy/Bandai. They may have missed the boat there, when you consider the popularity of the Ark series with collectors.

1978 GA-94 KingJoe

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1978 GA-94 KingJoe -



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Ark, or Arklon series bots, were produced in the mid to late 70s (1975-78?) by the folks that brought us the Bullmark line. Ark was a subsidiary of Bullmark and only produced a limited number of toys. When Bullmark went out of business in 1977, Ark went independent and continued to produce toys under the eye of it's president, Saburo Ishizuki, until sometime later when they may have merged with another company. The series was focused in the Ultraman kaiju side of things with one exception, Mecha-Kong, which is based on King Kong. Some of the foreign packaging actually had poster art from the 1976 King Kong movie printed onto the packaging. I'll include Kong here because he is left out unless his wacky brethren are present. These toys are unique in the die-cast world, as they can be taken apart and re-combined into many other shapes and combinations only hampered by your imagination. Perfect examples of these toys are difficult to find, as they often have broken or missing parts due the large number of pieces and the playability of the toys. The kaiju they represent are supposed be organic creatures, while the toys go the other way by leaning toward the robot end of things. If you have a bent side that enjoys strange looking characters and toys that are just a bit different, try the Arklons. You will not be disappointed.

Ark "Arklons", in order of production.
01 KingJoe version 1
01B KingJoe version 2
02 Mecha-Baltin Seijin
03 Mecha-Black King
03B Mecha-Red King
04 Mecha-Gomora
05 Mecha-Kong/Gorilla

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KingJoe version A -



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KingJoe version B -



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Joes side by side -



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Mecha Baltan Seijin -



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Mecha Black King -



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Mecha Red King -



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Mecha Gomora -



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Mecha Kong/Gorilla -



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Rounding out the vintage Ultra Kaiju spectrum, we have Marushin, who produced only a small handful of toys, and only one, that is related to this subject; Kemular, from the original Ultraman series. This toy is absolutely beautiful. This piece is very hard to acquire in any condition and almost impossible to find in perfect condition due to the fragile back plates/fins. Because the company was so obscure, many collectors do not even know these figures exist.
Learn more about Marushin here: www.toyboxdx.com/datafiles/data/marushin/

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1977/79? (actual production date unknown to the author) Kemular/Kemler (reference photo courtesy of Corey Edwards -



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Modern Chogokin Ultra Kaiju

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Bandai

There are two entries in this category from Bandai, two seperate versions of Ultraseven's enemy kaiju, KingJoe. Because I am a big fan of the Ultra series of toys, as well as the SOC line, and I can't get enough of this character, these were an obvious fit for my shelf. The figures are very well made and pay great respect to the character's design and function, going as far as to have the exploded gattai option available. Coming on the heels of the standard release, there is a black version SOC KingJoe. This figure sports a modified arm in the form of a multi-purpose cannon as well as a diffused black paint scheme.

05/2007 GX37 Soul of Chogokin KingJoe
02/2008 GX37B Soul of Chogokin KingJoe Black

GX-37 Soul of Chogokin KingJoe -



GX-37B Soul of Chogokin KingJoe Black -

[KingboyD]

Nice job, Dylan. Now do the vinyls.

But seriously, you might want to consider the vintage vehicles. I don't think this list will be too expansive.

[sketcher]

Thanks, Myles!

I think you may have more of the vehicles from that series than I do. My focus in that department has been more on the traditional Popy/Bandai stuff than any of the obscure Ultra-rides.

I do have the Jet V-Tol, but the Space Mammy, other ships, cars and such have been low on the list. Some day...

As for the vinyls, I am not that guy. There are just too many Ultra kaiju and characters to list. Check with Mark Nagata, he can attest to the numbers.

[xiombarg]

Great photo documentary of cool classics! Nice photos too!

[sketcher]

Thanks, xiom. Now post those Ultraman Tiga ships, I know you have.

[gort]

Nice re-post Sketcher, this info is more than worthy of a thread of it's own. I still love looking at these pictures

While we're on the subject of Ultra Chogokin, does the GD-59 Ultraseven have a detachable Eye Slugger?

[sketcher]

I think it does. It's been a while since I handled the toy. I'll check it out tonight. I seem to remember an extra one in the box.

[sketcher]

Been a while since updating this post. Focus has been designated to other areas of the habit.

Anyway, recently, after posting this group shot :



, I was able to finally acquire the Popy GA-94 King Joe! Finally I have the ever elusive Joe on my shelf to collect dust with the brethren. I have to give all the credit to RJ/TBDX member JoshB for his help in acquiring this piece!



I am very excited to put this one on the shelf. Many lost opportunities and skipped chances have occurred. Other members have tried to help along the way because they know I have been looking for this one, and always my timing was bad. After all this waiting, Joe is home!

Seems lately, I have been on a Joe binge. I have added this piece, the Popy Godzilla's Gang vinyl, and I have the new black vinyl special version in the mail, as well as the black version SOC on preorder.

All-in-all, 2008 will be known as the year of King Joe, in my book!

[gort]

Congratulations, Sketch!! I know you've been after him for a long time.

Looking pretty sweet as well, I'd love to see a pic of him with your GA-GB Ultras, as well as an updated King Joe group shot onece they're all in (I've always liked the look of that Godzilla Gang vinyl as well).


*edit* Just spotted the new avatar...

[KingboyD]

Congrats on the new addition! That's one sweet toy.

[sketcher]

Thanks you guys. I was pretty stoked when Josh mailed me about this piece. The quest is complete.

As for the group shot, I am running out of room in my photo-cube. It's time to build a new one so I can fit all the figures for these group shots into the frame. Next month when the black version SOC and the new Bandai vinyl are here, I will defintely do that.

Last night I decided that I now have to own the Medicom King Joe! I am a sick person when it comes to "getting them all"!

I think I now need to compile this same data to capture the diecast pieces in the Godzilla realm.

[zman]

I have recently acquired the SoC King Joe and I was wondering if there were any diecast Ultraman to compliment him. Now, I know nothing about this series or line at all except that King Joe was Ultraman's main enemy.

Would GD-58 Ultraman be the guy I am lookong for? Would they look good together? Diecast contents?

[00silvergt]

May 5, 2008 15:24:20 GMT -5 zman said:

I have recently acquired the SoC King Joe and I was wondering if there were any diecast Ultraman to compliment him. Now, I know nothing about this series or line at all except that King Joe was Ultraman's main enemy.

Would GD-58 Ultraman be the guy I am lookong for? Would they look good together? Diecast contents?

It would be the Ultraseven, GD-59. HERE
Yes, they would look great together and the diecast content is similar to the Evas.

[zman]

Thanks bro! So it's UltraSeven GD-59 instead. Do you know any other place to get it as Angolz is sold out.


Oh, I don't have the EVAs so I wouldn't know the diecast contents. Is it 30%?

[00silvergt]

Chest, elbows , shoulders, and legs are diecast, If memory serves. Head, forearm, hands, and feet are plastic. There's always eBay or post a WTB add here, maybe someone will want to get rid of theirs. They stopped circulating like two years ago. So it would be a little bit of a hunt.

[sketcher]

I still see these on my saved searches pretty regularly. Good luck finding these. You will really like them, but make sure to get those stands if you plan to display at all. "Shelf Diver" is no joke!

Great figures nonetheless. They can pull off almost any pose you can imagine.

Enjoy!

[admin1 aka Ed]

Awesome picture set Sketcher. Thanks for sharing!

[kamakirin]

Seeing the SoC King Joe makes me want to buy him and keep it displayed in exploded-mode to compliment my Black Version in robot mode.

[sketcher]

Jun 18, 2008 21:22:59 GMT -5 admin1 aka Ed said:

Awesome picture set Sketcher. Thanks for sharing!

Thanks Ed!

[sketcher]

Jun 18, 2008 21:39:14 GMT -5 kamakirin said:

Seeing the SoC King Joe makes me want to buy him and keep it displayed in exploded-mode to compliment my Black Version in robot mode.

You should do it. I have been seeing them fairly cheap recently, You should be able to pick one up for under retail.

I have two of them + the black version, but I am nuts! ;D