VOTOMS

[mpchi]

toystarr said:

by the way, for all that are interested... HLJ is offering the Takara
DMZ-05 Scopedog Turbo Custom with a Microman Chirico Cuvie
figure on sale for $122:

www.hlj.com/product/TKT77245

I really don't know whats going on with HLJ and the DMZ getting 30% off...AGAIN! I hope it doesn't mean the line is doing bad. I just received the DMZ-05 Turbo Custom (without discount). Haven't take it out yet, but its gorgeous from the window box, and comes with lots of stuff. Heard a lot of praise on this one too, and if its just as good as the other DMZ I have, its sure a winner as well. Would be a real shame if such awesome line doesn't do well and HLJ has to clean them off everytime. And I think they still have the DMZ-04 on 30%off, and still in stock after all this time. That toy is a great toy too...sigh.

[toystarr]

haven't got mine yet but so far I can only find praise for the DMZ series.
and this one is packed with a lot of goodies and at this price level it is
simply a steal! just don't know if HLJ overstocked that much on the
DMZ-04 and 05 but for me this is good news as I was lurking for a 1/12
or 1/18 Votom figure. anyways, mpchi, do you also have Yamato 1/12
in your collection? and if, how does it compare to the DMT series?
don't know yet if I also want to get a 1/12 Yamato figure, so any
info is greatly appreciated

[mpchi]

toystarr said:

haven't got mine yet but so far I can only find praise for the DMZ series.
and this one is packed with a lot of goodies and at this price level it is
simply a steal! just don't know if HLJ overstocked that much on the
DMZ-04 and 05 but for me this is good news as I was lurking for a 1/12
or 1/18 Votom figure. anyways, mpchi, do you also have Yamato 1/12
in your collection? and if, how does it compare to the DMT series?
don't know yet if I also want to get a 1/12 Yamato figure, so any
info is greatly appreciated

I don't have the Yamato 1/12, but chose Takara's 1/18 over it when I was deciding which line to go. Yamato is too unstable for play. And now that Bandai's 1/20 kit is super detailed, I don't see reason going for Yamato's anymore, other than the size. It a nice big display piece. But I wouldn't enjoy figures that can't even hold its accessories without needing additional support pieces. For Takara's, everything snaps on and the figure balances just fine.

If you are getting a DMZ, go for the Turbo Custom. I just took mine out last night and the joints were overall improved, mainly a much sturdier hip and a wider range ankle. I did find the shoulder hydrolic joint looser than my other DMZs, but I took the arm apart and fixed it with inserting a piece of paper in the joint and add friction. Easy fix.

However, looks like Takara sealed the feet even better this time, so I have no idea how to take it apart and insert metal inside to give it more weight (doing those extreme gliding poses). Too bad...

[toystarr]

thanks a lot for the information mpchi! glad I have already ordered the DMZ-05
at the HLJ sale. really looking forward to have a big Votom in my collection. guess
I gonna hunt for a different Chirico figure to pose it with, the one provided with
the package seems a little bleak to me. anyways, if you find a way to open the
feet please let me know. your tip with the weights is excellent

[mpchi]

No problem. I did the weight thing to my DMZ-01, and it feels like a gokin now LOL. Just a bunch of coins (as many as you can fit in there, then seal them in place with kneaded eraser (probably sculpy will work too). DMZ-04 got trickier as the screws are all hidden, so I only managed to open the front half with only added weight to the toes. But for this TC, I couldn't even fins a gap or panel that might be hiding the screws. I bet they are underneath the triangle roller dash thing in the inner side of each feet. But I couldn't figure out a way to even loosen up that piece. Don't think it'll help even if I pry with screw driver. It'll just dent the outside. So might need to give up on the mod on this one.

[dooquie]

mpchi said:

dooquie said:

Does anyone know which figures were released back in the 80's in the 1/24 scale? I have the Scopedog, Brutishdog, and the Red Shoulder Scopedog but in the manual that came with the Scopedog they show a Marshydog. Was this guy ever released as a Dual Model?

I could be wrong, but don't think Marshydog ever got the Duel Model treatment. It did have a Takara 1/24 scale model kit. If memory serves me right, the old Duel Models only comes in these forms: Scopedog with parachute backpack, Scopedog with Roundmover, Brutishdog, Red Shoulder Custom, and the all red Slashdog (PS1 game limited figure). Some of these have re-issues in slight different color variations.

If you enjoy votoms toy info, consider getting a copy of the current Hobby Japan Plus vol.4. It has a very big coverage on votoms stuff from 1983-2007, as well as a bunch of very nice custom models.

Thank you for the response! Where could I locate a copy of Hobby Japan Vol. 4? I am very interested in picking up as many of the 1/24 scale Takara dual models as I can find. They are so well made. They look great next to my Takara Dougram Dual Models as well.

[mpchi]

Nice collection there. I also got the vintage Scopedog, a chrome version, as well as the recent reissue Brutish & RSC.

About the Hobby Japan Plus Vol.4, you can probably pick up a copy at Kinokuniya Bookstore at SF, or buy it online from their website and ship you the book if you live too far to drive. The Hobby Japan Plus is like a Hobby Japan for adults & modelers. So its thinner, less advertising, and more articles & interviews. Vol.4 's main thing is Votoms (on cover too). Roughly 1/3 of the book is all Votoms stuff, from diorama customs to a time line of all Votoms plastic kits, resin kits and toys. Not super indepth like a encyclopedia, but a very good coverage (20-30 pages) for a non Votoms-exclusive book.

[mpchi]

Just got my DMZ-05 Turbo Custom all assembled, with minor silver spots weathering so it doesn't look too clean. So now people can see the color and paint difference compare to a DMZ-01 with Red Shoulder parts. The DMZ-01 Red Shoulder Custom sure look more busy with all the weathering and painted decal. Even the weapon parts have more sculpted detail on them. But the overall form does look more clunky (since Chirico just slapped whatever weapons he could find in the warehouse to put on a normal Scopedog). The Turbo Custom on the other hand looks simpler in some areas, but more streamlined and slick. Weapons feel more tailor made. Rabidlydog in the back of course towers over these two. It is pretty much one of the biggest & the most advanced AT in the series afterall. Love them all.

As a side note, if you have both the RSC & TC, their missiles are identical in shape, but the RSC missiles have a deeper red color. Looks better if you swap the missiles between the two figures.

[toystarr]

WOW! this really looks good, mpchi! and I finally got my shipping
notification from HLJ, he's on the way..... now I may have to hunt for
that DMZ-01 too.... these guys just look so good together.
thank you very much for that picture!!!!

[mpchi]

No need to hunt down for DMZ-01. Just get the DMZ-06. Its same with DMZ-01 with new hands and a Round Mover backpack. The RSC add on parts is an extra set, which you do need to look for.

[toystarr]

now that's good news! thank you very much mpchi! just hope I can find
a RSC add on somewhere.... shouldn't be a problem getting the DMZ-06 though

[toystarr]

I have to say, I'm very impressed with the DMZ-05 (finally got it today) I have
not opened the box yet... but it's a real beauty. I also found the RSC add-on at
BBTS. funny that the add-on is on pre-order status with BBTS but already sold
out at HLJ. anyways, glad I found it, now I will have to order the DMZ-06 to go
with it thank you again mpchi for all the information and pictures. I sure
developed a mighty hunger for Votoms. also, the max factory scopedog turbo
custom got in as well, my fourth max votom. I really like the 1/35 series from
Max. I'd have all of them if they would not be so pricey. btw do you have any
max votoms? and if, how do you like them?

[mpchi]

No problem. Glad you like the DMZ-05.

I watched Pailsen Files vol.3 (episode 5 & 6). No mecha action in these 2 either. All about Chirico, and how the whole army (his own side) is trying to kill him (to test if he really can't die). Its a bit weird since if Chirico stirred up such a big fuss among the Gilgemesh army, there is no way people don't know him in the TV series like a celebrity. So feel like they pushed the 'Chirico can't die' fact a bit too far. But we'll see more as the story goes.

[micromanzone]

And now for something completely different yet still on-topic; an oddball Chinese knock-off straight from 1984:

[dooquie]

I just picked up a DMZ-04 Rabidlydog for $109 from a seller on Ebay and I am very impressed! This is my first in this series and I cannot believe the amount of detail Takara put into this dog. I have been collecting primarily the vintage 1/24 and 1/60 Takara Scopedogs and I had no idea that this guy was so monstrous. Would of been nice to have a little more metal content but the overall quality is outstanding.
Also purchased a CMs Shadow Flare from BBTS for $19.99. I was a little disappointed with this one. The look is great but the material is a very rubbery plastic and it smells like bad plastic. I never thought I would comment on the smell of a toy! For 20 bucks it was a good buy but anything over that would be too much.
I am awaiting delivery of a 1/24 Takara Slashdog from a friend in Japan now, cannot wait to see this one up close.

[domu]

To anyone that has CM's Sunrise MechaAction Series DX ATM-FX1 Calamity Dog Blue Version Zerberus VR Maxima, the large 300mm, 1/18 scale, one, how many guns did yours come with? I just got mine, and it came with two. There are three guns pictured on the included pamphlet. Mine didn't include the GAT-FX-02M, the bottom one in this picture.

Thanks in advance for any help.

EDIT: Found out that that gun only comes with the Yodobashi Camera exclusive Metallic version.

[dooquie]

Just wanted to see if anyone knows what the other Dogs were that came out with the Playstation game back in the day? I recently purchased the Slashdog and I think there are two maybe three others. Any help appreciated!

[drifand]

The Slashdog was probably the most unique 1/24 Takara release for any of the PS1 games. The first box came with the 'normal' Scopedog. Box 2 was the RSC. I love it!

[Ben-Ohki]

Jumping topics again... I just got Yamato's 1/12 Brutishdog! Yay!

Got question tho because my experience with these is limited to the "Version 2" Red Shoulder Scopedog... is it just me or do the shoulders on these toys NOT have ratchet joints? I thought they did (and am obviously an idiot) - but now I realize that Scopedog's shoulders are simply really tight-fitting joints. And Brutishdog's shoulders are somewhat loose in comparison. This worries me because I think if I put it in an "extreme pose" (arms out against gravity, then the shoulders will eventually losen even farther).

On a related note: anybody know if Brutishdog is also a "version 2" model? I remember somebody asking before about what to do with those extra pieces that come in the weapons-sets. They weren't necessary for my Scopedog because the joints were so tight already... I wonder if I could fit them on Brutishdog, and would they help...

[Scurvy Dog]

GA Graphic has new pictures of the upcoming Bandai 1/20 Fatty (2 versions). Due for release in July 2008. They also show parts of a Pailsen Files Scopedog.