Post by cybermuton on Aug 16, 2004 5:50:29 GMT -5
After a relatively brief search, I managed to find myself a beautiful SG01 Tetsujin 28. As most people will know, this particular toy is highly revered, and ranks high on many people’s wish list.
After much research, market study, and sheer desire, I took the plunge and paid the cash.
Obviously, I knew what to expect. A gigantic piece of metal, with magnets, maintenance robots, missiles, opening features, working elevators, child-pilots, missile launchers, etc. I expected a heavyweight in all respects.
So after clearing him through customs (much less painful than clearing him through my wife), the enormous package was reverentially opened. Fighting off the haste demanded by my 8 year old son, he was eventually stood up on the kitchen table in all his near-25 year old glory.
So….did he live up to the hype?
Well at the risk of provoking ire and criticising a Chogokin icon, I’ve got to say…No.
Yes, he’s huge, yes, he’s impressive, and of course, all the features work, things flip open, fists open and close, elevators and maintenance platforms move around, and robots and children live happily inside him. His pilot’s chair flips open, his missiles fire, and so do his fists. So what’s wrong?
Well, firstly I was disappointed by the amount of plastic…His head, fists, jetpack, axes, and some limb parts are lightweight plastic. I kind of expected a Daigokin level of metal…
Then, there’s the lack of articulation. I know the leg elevator precludes a knee joint, but he’s a bit, well, immobile. His elbows similarly are fixed. As are his hips. And his neck.
Then the magnets…Full marks to Popy for the use of magnets to keep on the inspection covers etc, but they’re not engineered to high tolerances. Hence, leg and arm covers are very easy to knock out of alignment. I guess this made manufacture, and display easier, but they’re not precise.
Chrome? Well, there is some, but much of it is plastic, and some is even paper stickers!
Much of the internal chromework is also plastic.
And his face is split vertically. It looks like it should come apart!
And those fists? Well the finger joints are clunky.
So what of the working features? Well the elevator works – but not smoothly. The little winder in his left heel needs assistance if you ant to raise the platform in the leg. It’s not a smooth mechanism.
The fists spring off, but because of their heft, they don’t go far. (In that respect, it’s probably a good job they’re NOT diecast!)
The chest missile flap swings down, but again, does not have great tolerances – there are no Lexus-quality shutlines here!
The pilot’s seat swings up OK, but it’s a bit loose again – and not loose because it’s worn – no, loose because it’s loose.
The hinges all work, and again, to its credit, they are nicely weighted, and detailed on their magnetic faces, so it does show nicely, even with the limb panels removed.
The maintenance robots and Shotaro are nice – the limbs on Shotaro are loose, but his magnets are nicely concealed within his feet.
Generally then, he did not live up to his hype.
A month later, however, I’m starting to be more appreciative. You have to see him as a big toy, and a contemporary to other Popy (and other) chogokins. Such gimmicks in a 5 inch figure would be fantastic. It’s really just the scale of the thing that makes them clumsy.
Then you need to forget him as a robot. He works far better as a Base. If you see him as such, then his lack of articulation is not an issue. As a robot, he is not at all poseable. Probably less so than even a basic Jumbo.
Then there are the details. Things that looked clumsy on first perusal can now be better appreciated. The sculpt on the feet for instance. These look like big ol’ clodhoppers, but actually, there are beautiful compound curves in there…Ditto the removable chest panel – it’s a nice shape. And the plastic jetpack – it’s a nice item in its own right.
I guess the real thing here is that this thing is old. And it’s a toy. And really, it’s a 3:1 scale Chogokin, not a 1:32 robot…I guess that’s why he failed initially – he was too big and too clunky. And of course, that commercial failure and consequent scarcity is what inflates his value.
It was never meant to cost four figures. It was meant to sell for what? $100ish? At that price, and in that context, it starts to make sense.
Of course, the other thing is that we have 25 years worth of development since SG01. I guess I was guilty of comparing him to a newer SOC. If you look at the (much-reviled) Daiku for instance, that has a level of engineering – flexibility, detail, paintwork, articulation, etc. that renders it way beyond toy, and of course, the SG just could not live up to that - nor was it ever meant to.
So don’t expect modern sophistication, just be appreciative of his age and the context in which he was built. Then you’ll be pleased.
That said, my other recently-acquired big toy – the Diaclone Fortress X is an SG01 contemporary, and despite its much higher plastic content has working features and details that are impressive even today…
Anyway, if you can get one, then do. It may take some time, but manage your expectations! You’ll probably find it worth it in the end - and you can always sell it on if you never come to terms with it!
After much research, market study, and sheer desire, I took the plunge and paid the cash.
Obviously, I knew what to expect. A gigantic piece of metal, with magnets, maintenance robots, missiles, opening features, working elevators, child-pilots, missile launchers, etc. I expected a heavyweight in all respects.
So after clearing him through customs (much less painful than clearing him through my wife), the enormous package was reverentially opened. Fighting off the haste demanded by my 8 year old son, he was eventually stood up on the kitchen table in all his near-25 year old glory.
So….did he live up to the hype?
Well at the risk of provoking ire and criticising a Chogokin icon, I’ve got to say…No.
Yes, he’s huge, yes, he’s impressive, and of course, all the features work, things flip open, fists open and close, elevators and maintenance platforms move around, and robots and children live happily inside him. His pilot’s chair flips open, his missiles fire, and so do his fists. So what’s wrong?
Well, firstly I was disappointed by the amount of plastic…His head, fists, jetpack, axes, and some limb parts are lightweight plastic. I kind of expected a Daigokin level of metal…
Then, there’s the lack of articulation. I know the leg elevator precludes a knee joint, but he’s a bit, well, immobile. His elbows similarly are fixed. As are his hips. And his neck.
Then the magnets…Full marks to Popy for the use of magnets to keep on the inspection covers etc, but they’re not engineered to high tolerances. Hence, leg and arm covers are very easy to knock out of alignment. I guess this made manufacture, and display easier, but they’re not precise.
Chrome? Well, there is some, but much of it is plastic, and some is even paper stickers!
Much of the internal chromework is also plastic.
And his face is split vertically. It looks like it should come apart!
And those fists? Well the finger joints are clunky.
So what of the working features? Well the elevator works – but not smoothly. The little winder in his left heel needs assistance if you ant to raise the platform in the leg. It’s not a smooth mechanism.
The fists spring off, but because of their heft, they don’t go far. (In that respect, it’s probably a good job they’re NOT diecast!)
The chest missile flap swings down, but again, does not have great tolerances – there are no Lexus-quality shutlines here!
The pilot’s seat swings up OK, but it’s a bit loose again – and not loose because it’s worn – no, loose because it’s loose.
The hinges all work, and again, to its credit, they are nicely weighted, and detailed on their magnetic faces, so it does show nicely, even with the limb panels removed.
The maintenance robots and Shotaro are nice – the limbs on Shotaro are loose, but his magnets are nicely concealed within his feet.
Generally then, he did not live up to his hype.
A month later, however, I’m starting to be more appreciative. You have to see him as a big toy, and a contemporary to other Popy (and other) chogokins. Such gimmicks in a 5 inch figure would be fantastic. It’s really just the scale of the thing that makes them clumsy.
Then you need to forget him as a robot. He works far better as a Base. If you see him as such, then his lack of articulation is not an issue. As a robot, he is not at all poseable. Probably less so than even a basic Jumbo.
Then there are the details. Things that looked clumsy on first perusal can now be better appreciated. The sculpt on the feet for instance. These look like big ol’ clodhoppers, but actually, there are beautiful compound curves in there…Ditto the removable chest panel – it’s a nice shape. And the plastic jetpack – it’s a nice item in its own right.
I guess the real thing here is that this thing is old. And it’s a toy. And really, it’s a 3:1 scale Chogokin, not a 1:32 robot…I guess that’s why he failed initially – he was too big and too clunky. And of course, that commercial failure and consequent scarcity is what inflates his value.
It was never meant to cost four figures. It was meant to sell for what? $100ish? At that price, and in that context, it starts to make sense.
Of course, the other thing is that we have 25 years worth of development since SG01. I guess I was guilty of comparing him to a newer SOC. If you look at the (much-reviled) Daiku for instance, that has a level of engineering – flexibility, detail, paintwork, articulation, etc. that renders it way beyond toy, and of course, the SG just could not live up to that - nor was it ever meant to.
So don’t expect modern sophistication, just be appreciative of his age and the context in which he was built. Then you’ll be pleased.
That said, my other recently-acquired big toy – the Diaclone Fortress X is an SG01 contemporary, and despite its much higher plastic content has working features and details that are impressive even today…
Anyway, if you can get one, then do. It may take some time, but manage your expectations! You’ll probably find it worth it in the end - and you can always sell it on if you never come to terms with it!
