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Post by renibatz on Jul 23, 2004 6:06:07 GMT -5
OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG
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Post by renibatz on Jul 23, 2004 6:22:41 GMT -5
Now that we got that out of the way let me explain. I just saw the Soul of Chogokin toy line that has been stickied on this thread for the 1st time. I have to have them all!!! I need some information though. It looks as though these toys are not readily available in the US as I haven't seen them in Toy R US or Walmart.
How do I go about getting them?
How long has Bandai been making them?
Are some of these discontinued already?
Which is the newest model?
Which models are still in production?
Should I buy on ebay? (I did a search on ebay and found quite a few)
Why is there nothing about these toys on any of the Bandai websites foriegn or otherwise?
This is awesome in so many ways for me. I will be turning 30 next month and as a kid my late mother always gave me Godaikins as presents for xmas and birthdays, starting with a Golion. I still have all my Godaikins 13 or 14 of them and this summer I was looking into selling them off. While I was cataloging and taking pictures of what I had my 2 year old boy was going nuts. He wanted to play with 'dady's toys' so bad. Probably the hardest thing I've had to do in a while was say no to him so many times. After exploring and chatting with members of these forums I've decided that I will continue the collection rather than selling it.
Anyways, these Soul of Chogokin toys really recapture the toys I always loved. I thought I was just going to complete my Godaikin collection.... but now after seeing the SOC line I know I'll have all these in time. I'll probably open the SOCs and play with them, whoops I mean display them and collect them with my son. Please if you can give me any tips or advice on my new found it would be much appreciated.
Thank you,
renibatz
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Post by Koji on Jul 23, 2004 8:04:09 GMT -5
Let see if I can help you out.
Ebay. On-line Japanese toy stores. Or, here from fellow collectors who are selling parts of their collection.
I believe the same SOC timeline thread gives you the release date. IIRC, since 1997 and the releases are on going.
Yes. In all likelyhood, the earliest releases. But, with some exceptions you can find them in eBay.
Referring to the same SOC Timeline at the top of this section, that would be the GX-23 Zambot.
Err... I guess I will have to refer than to some of the other members here. BTW, this is a corollary to your earlier question on which ones have been discontinued so answering that question answers this one.
Maybe, I suggest you comparison shop first. It's easy to get lost in the auctions and a newbie can be duped into buying toys at a high price. When all else fails, you can probably post here. Please let us know where you are based. Since SOC prices around the world vary due to shippings, customs duties and other cost considerations.
Probably because they focus on the Japanese market for SOCs and just see global sales as just icing on the cake. After all, the instructions are still in Japanese.
Yes, that's why I love SOCs too. As for tips perhaps you can lurk in the other SOC threads since there are tips all over the place. If you can find any, then post a new thread. Good luck with your SOC collecting... with over 23 releases, your wallet is surely gonna cry. ;D
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Post by renibatz on Jul 23, 2004 9:45:16 GMT -5
I'm located in the US. I've been looking around ebay and a few stores online. Zoids.com seems to be very reasonable. IE Dancouga for $158. It looks like shipping would be under $30.
What is a fair shipping price from Japan to the US?
Dancouga, Zambot, Dragon (can't remember the name of the top of my head) and other large robots?
Mazinger and the other normal sized ones.
I'm not too concerned about speed. I can be patient.
renibatz
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Post by rx79msg on Jul 23, 2004 9:50:10 GMT -5
Welcome to your financial nightmare!!!  But all kidding aside I love these toys they are some of the most accurate depictions of these characters I have ever seen.Even though they can go for a lot on E-Bay you can still find them reasonably priced once and a while. If I see anything I will let you know. ;D |
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Post by alexander on Jul 23, 2004 9:52:43 GMT -5
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Post by Chen on Jul 23, 2004 10:18:09 GMT -5
Also try www.toy-wave.com, they have a pretty good selection at resonable prices plus their shipping isn't to bad. But if you live in the States, www.bigbadtoystore.com has the best deal on shipping, I think it's a flat rate of $5.00. |
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Post by bbechtold on Jul 23, 2004 10:22:15 GMT -5
Dancouga, Zambot, Dragon (can't remember the name of the top of my head) and other large robots? renibatz If size is your thing, start with Dancouga. They don't get any bigger than that! =) BTW, I recommend BBTS for purchases. But they will not have the older models, only recent releases. You can search online for other stores for older models, or ebay. Bill |
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Post by GDomino on Jul 23, 2004 10:41:18 GMT -5
Start with the GX-07 Mazinger OVA to really test the line. Who knows, some of the toys and designs may not be your gig. Combattler V for instance looks wonderful but he does look skinny if you are looking at him from the side. He also has some floppiness in his legs and ankles. Also, I have to warn you that some of the later toys, like the Evas, do have QC/QA issues such as blotched paint jobs or seams in the diecast and the Evas also suffer a major design flaw leading to less articulation in the shoulders.
If you use the search function or ask the folks here, you'll see all kinds of opinions on the SOC line...but everyone seems to be in agreement; these are still a lot better than 99% of toys out there.
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Post by Koji on Jul 24, 2004 2:55:19 GMT -5
Just few comments: 1) There are over 23+ SOCs released (GX-01 to GX-23 plus variants). 2) Collecting some of that (and all of that for that matter) will be a daunting and VERY expensive task. I suggest you start your collecting on SOCs based on your favorite Super Robots then build from there. That way you maximize your enjoyment while growing your SOC army. I started collecting SOC's based on Go Nagai Robots (which is still much of the SOC line  ) then proceeded to add the others every now and then. |
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Post by renibatz on Jul 24, 2004 23:48:37 GMT -5
Thanks Koji, rx79msg, alexander, chen, bbechtold, and Gdomino for your comments and advice. The price of these toys are comparable to the Godaikins of late. They were always a bit pricey but the quality of the toy was tip top. I'm currently liquidating a portion of my Lego collection, don't laugh there fun, to get some extra funds for this project. cgi6.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewSellersOtherItems&userid=stabiner&completed=0&sort=3&since=-1I'm thinking of it as kind of like managing a financial folder, diversifying. Let me list the sets that really caught my eye on this SOC line; Most noteably would be the GX-05. As a kid I was a Shogun Warrior nut. I loved watching the cartoons, Force Five and the like. I remember that there was a movie with Gaiking and the dragon with it. This toy is a must for me. I've noticed that there is a GX-05R and a Black version? What's the difference? By the looks of the pix on the Timeline thread the GX-05R's paint looks the best. This looks like a stout toy. GX-13 Dancouga - Really peeked my interest when I read a review for it. It sounds like an impressive toy with all the different configurations. GX-18, GX-19, GX-20 - This really brings back memories of the Force 5 cartoons. They look like they would display well too. PX-01X Mazinger Head - Its just cool. Do his eyes really light up? GX-09 Mineva X - If I get the lady line up I'd probably start with this one. GX-12 Venus - She would be next on my list of ladies. GX-17 Evangelion 00 Yellow - I'm not familiar with Evangelion lore, but the shield on this guy is pretty cool. GX-23 Mutekichojin Zambot 3 - I'm a sucker for big bots  I would also get a Mazinger and Grendizer set eventually. There are so many versions of these 2 guys. Is there a thread that discusses the variances of the versions? renibatz |
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Post by GDomino on Jul 25, 2004 14:36:16 GMT -5
Here you go... Chen just had a reply this same question a few weeks ago. As for the different versions of various releases, the only differences are mostly minor as in different colors in parts. The Mazingers and femme bots, IIRC, so far are the only versions that got the re-design treatment. The GX-04 Grendizer just had Drill and Marine spazers as additional accessories (and was also released as a complete set in the GX-04S). Just use the Search function and Chen's SOC timeline to help you in your research. |
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Post by ronin777 on Jul 26, 2004 7:19:31 GMT -5
question about toy-wave.com , what country are they in?
thanks.
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Post by mazingox on Jul 26, 2004 7:31:39 GMT -5
Hey ronin777,
I think it's located in Hong Kong.
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Post by ronin777 on Jul 26, 2004 7:33:15 GMT -5
thanks mazingox! i just wanted to know, i'm considering placing an order but wasn't sure if i'm gonna get hit hard on shipping. what about toyworkz.com any experience? thanks.
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Post by Ben-Ohki on Jul 26, 2004 17:28:33 GMT -5
Just wanted to add my 2 cents: As an SOC newbie, I think he's got it right - the line is all about the nostalgia. As fun as it would be to "collect them all" this isn't feasible unless you have tons of disposable income... especially since it's difficult to find the older models. Although ...at the back of the room, some of us are cheering for you!  That said, I'll post my own experiences... I started out with SOC a couple of years ago and managed to snag a GX-01R Mazinger Z (the redesign of the very first SOC) and that's definitely what hooked me. I grabbed a few others but the holy grail was always the GX-04S Grendizer, because as a Quebecer, I grew up watching French dubs of this show. Well, it finally arrived at my door a few weeks ago and he's now the proud centerpiece of my collection. That said, I've suddenly become very reluctant to buy anymore of them because quite frankly, this whole SOC thing was about the nostalgia. And now I have my two all-time favourite robots... Evangelions are cool, but hey, it's all about that warm fuzzy feeling! On a couple of other random notes, yes, the Mazinger head lights up with a switch hidden in the docking-port. It's a cool conversation piece but from what I've heard, it's all PVC plastic... I did snag a PX-01 HoverPilder from Twinmoons and it's great! BTW, just thought to mention that strictly speaking, these are known as "Soul of Popynica" (and they're an awesome line in themselves!). Anyway, my advice: do a search on eBay and add them all to your watchlist - keep adding different auctions and monitor the prices for a month or so. You'll start to see a pattern on which models sell for how much. I did monitoring for 3 months for a Grendizer and it was worth it! I passed up several auctions and paid what I felt was VERY good deal. And finally - good luck! Ben-Ohki |
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