DX GC-27 Changeman

[daveygee]

Hi, I purchased an unused DX GC-27 Changeman a few years ago. Everything is present including paperwork. The figure and all contents are unused but open box.
Was this figure tape sealed when it was first sold? The box I have is in great condition but I fail to see a broken tape seal on the box itself. I also have a Godaikin Voltes V which does not appear to have broken tape seals either. I'm somewhat new to Collecting Bandai Popy and Godaikin Figures and I have not found this info posted anywhere.I would appreciate any info you can spare.

Thanks!

[Mr. Ginrai]

I don't think a lot of vintage stuff ever came "sealed". I have godaikins and other toys that came from the original owners that have no evidence of "tape" ever being on them. However I have some clover toys that had tape present as it has yellowed over the years.

It's funny you bring this up because I just bought my first takatoku toy about three weeks ago in unused shape and it had interior tape over the accessories. I am wondering if it was factory because it was so well placed. I have yet to see another unused one with the tape inside.

Until one of the other veterans chimes in, rather than just say "no", I am going to say that the sealed w/tape vs. sealed w/no tape when a toy was new depended on the company/manufacturer. I think that is very likely.

If it's not that, then the tape may have been added by a wholesaler/retailer, or a dealer to protect toys during shipping back in the day.

Even when I look at some of the tape jobs on the few toys of mine that have them, I usually think factory or retailer, as it's that different type of tape - not the type that parents would have used (and the placement of the tape is pretty specific to a general degree - I've seen boxes taped by mom and dad over the years when buying and they are not as precise).

[daveygee]

Thank you for the reply. Your explanation does make a lot of sense and seems very likely. I have been collecting for a few years (Transformers/Diaclone) and am used to seeing some evidence of tape left over on open boxes. I plan on expanding on my Popy Godaikin Bandai Collection and therefore would like to know more about little details like this.

[KingboyD]

Yeah, I think most of my vintage toys lack the tape. I suspect that its mostly an American thing to seal up the toy boxes. So perhaps when these were being imported, the distributor or reseller put on the tape as a safety measure to prevent theft or loss of parts that might have come loose during shipping.

[dcwj]

hey hello daveygee! i have an unused dx changeman as well, mine has also no tape on it. hope that helps!
it's a great piece and definitely one of my faves! =)

[daveygee]

Thanks for all of the info. Changeman is definitely one of my favorites out of my collection. I got him off ebay about 4 years ago for $125 and I really didn't know anything about it other than the fact that it looked new and was a cool looking figure.

[dcwj]

Wow! 125 bucks is a great price man! I think nowadays vintage sentai prices have gone up so much, its not that affordable now

[mecha-mania]

thats right, got mine for over 400usd recently and its used.

[daveygee]

Yea, I was really fortunate. The auction was new and I asked the seller for a BIN price but he wanted to keep the auction going.He then told me he had a second one which he hadn't listed. So he sold me that second Changeman. His auction ended at over $400. He Messaged me to let me know what a great deal I got. Thankfully he had already sent mine out.

[dcwj]

Haha lucky you! i think i got mine for 500plus!
you really got a great deal man! =)

[daveygee]

Yea, I felt a bit guilty for some reason after I saw what his auction ended at. I honestly didn't know it would be worth that much.

[xtrlowz75]

Most of the Godaikins and Popys did not have tape mostly from being imported from Japan. It is culturally wrong to steal in Japan so they didn't tend to seal or tape their boxes there, as most people there aren't stupid enough to be shamed from stealing. So they didn't do the same brining them here. Now some retailers like Toys R Us did tape them later for security, but smaller retailers never added tape. Most of my Godaikins do not have tape except my Dynaman and Laserion. My Laserion came from Toys R Us who regularly taped or sealed toys. Then my Dynaman I got from Ed and it has a "Goods" store price tag on it, so I assume Goods must have taped them too. But nice grab on the Change Man. I have a MachineMan version and its minty awesome.

[nikodiablo]

While on the subject of GC-27, I recently acquired one from a fellow member. The bot itself is pretty much in a pristine condition, but the stickers were messily applied. Has any repro sticker ever been made for this guy, and does anybody know where I can procure a copy?

[daveygee]

I don't believe there are reproduction labels which have been created for this figure.

[xtrlowz75]

Just re-apply them. If you want to spend the time, but its worth it, just get the thinnest 3M double sided tape. Carefully lay the decal on one side while the tape is still in the dispenser, stretched between the roll and tare off point. While holding it taunt, carefully smooth it out using a small flat edge tool or carefully with your finger. Then move it past the tare off point and cut it off using scissors. Then carefully cut the excess tape from around the decal, and re-apply it to the toy. While re-applying it make sure to start at one side of the decal and work to the other side to get it stuck down firm. And there you go, decals re-applied and if done carefully should look close to new.

[nikodiablo]

Thanks for the neat suggestion! I might do just that!

[KingboyD]

How do you remove the stickers in the first place without ruining them?

There is a scrapbooking product (I forget the name - I can check when I get home - my wife has some) that enables you to remove stickers and reapply them with the original glue! I have had some success with this, although sometimes removing them leads to folds in the sticker, ruining them. but I assume you will face this no matter how you remove them. The adhesive is always sticky when I reapply it.

[nikodiablo]

On second thought, I had a horrible experience in removing crooked sticker applied over chromed plastic part. The adhesive managed to strip the chrome plating as well!

Had anybody experienced the same thing (BTW, it was a DX Gingaioh Gingat that got stripped)?

[xtrlowz75]

Taking decals off can be done, but you need to do it very slowly. The easiest way is to use some assistance from a hobby knife, flat razor, or scalpel. Pick a corner or side to start and ever so slowly and carefully pry up an edge. Then slowly almost roll the decal up as you go but do not let it roll over on itself or it will stick. If needed use the hobby knife to scrape it up/off too. If the decal tears or begins to come off its own sticky backing, go at it from another side/angle to bring it up/off. You can't rush yourself and need a steady hand. Do Not Use any chemical help like Windex or Goo Gone as it will in turn affect the stickiness of the new double sided tape you apply. Just use patients, don't rush, move slowly and carefully scrape with the hobby knife if needed to get it up. I do this all the time to repair original decals on toys like Gi Joes, Star Wars, and of course robots. Once you do it carefully, you'll be more confident in repairing any decal, except those super cheap, thin knockoff paper decals haha, those are usually beyond help. Let me know how it goes.