Vintage Toys - Power Ranger Lightspeed Rescue Micro Playset

Apart from Zeo Rangers, one of my favorite Power Rangers series was Lightspeed Rescue (known as GoGo-V in Japan). I loved the series so much that I played both the PSX and Game Boy Color games and collected various merchandise. I even owned a few Lightspeed Rescue toys, including the Supertrain Megazord action figure.

However, there is one collectible I still regret not owning: Bandai’s Micro Playset for the Lightspeed Rescue Megazord.

In the early 2000s, Bandai released playset toys for the Lightspeed Rescue series, just like they had for earlier seasons such as Zeo. But unlike the Zeo playset, the Lightspeed Rescue Megazord version was released only as a complete set, without the gattai (combining) gimmick.

Instead, the playset offered something different: three complete Megazords to play with, turning it into a command-base style toy. Even though I grew up past the Polypocket era, these playsets still inspire a sense of nostalgia and obsession in me.

I’m looking forward to covering another Power Rangers playset in the future. I also hope Bandai and other manufactures explore on other Power Ranger series rather than over-relying on MMPR nostalgia.

Vintage Toys - JAM Battle Sky Hawk

 
Apart from Super Big Rescue, there was this particular Combiner mecha toys consisted of 3 Fighter Planes that I used to have when I was a Kid. Ultimately my long search of this particular 30 year old Memory lead me to a Toy Product made by JAM called Battle Sky Hawk. Apparently for a set of 3, this particular combiner mecha Toy only costed 1000 Yen back in Late 80s, which is a literal steal for Today's standard. Though I would expect the toy cost 5-6 times if it was released in the present JPY rate .

Vintage Toys - B-Daman Bakugaiden I Super Bomber Armor

 
 Apart from Saint Blaster, there were couple of noteworthy B-Daman toys that made it overseas and In fact even I have one in my possession. One of this notable B-Daman Toys is called Super Bomber Armor which is derived from the first Bakugaiden series. Released back in 90s this one is sold for 3800 Yen being one of the more deluxe category of B-Daman series.

B-Daman Super Bomber Armor consist of 3 B-Daman Bakugaiden vehicle toys which are: Bomber Soarer, Bomber Diver and Bomber Lander representing Sky, Sea and Land vehicles respectively. Together these 3 vehichles can combine to form a Mecha called Super Bomber Armor. When I was a kid I used to have Bomber Soarer and Diver which obviously broke down due to being a shitty brat. Then during my Study in China, I managed to get a complete set which still sat down gathering dusts since I have some plan for repaint. 

While Bakugaiden I are predominantly having assorted variations of Bomberman. Apparently Bakugaiden I did have some more cool Mecha stuff which never caught my attention until my recent research for Bakugaiden series like the Gatling Armor or Blizzard Bomber Armor which perhaps I will discuss on another day. Perhaps I could consider making the mechatalk article for it despite the Roster size will be way smaller compared to Bakugaiden III and IV since I will filter out the non mecha stuff.

Mechatalk: B-Daman Bakugaiden III Bomber Fighter Armor Model Kit List

 
 With Takara Tomy re-releasing their Bakugaiden IV Mecha products starting with White Bros, I got myself motivated and dig further their past B-Daman Toy lineup once again. What captivated me the most from B-Daman lineup was the Bomber Mecha like Saint Blaster which made me a big sucker for Mecha Toys with Pilot Gimmick. But back then I did have a particular B-Daman Model Kit that had slightly different aesthetics with the former and features a B-Daman Mecha Design with Semi-transparent Head cockpit that comes with Mini B-Daman as Icing on top. 

 Upon further digging, my search lead to B-Daman Bakugaiden III which is the previous B-Daman Generations that came before Bakugaiden IV which Saint Blaster belongs to. Released around 1997-1998, those B-Daman Mechas with Semi Transparent Cockpit is called Bomber Fighter Armor. As expected, these are some Pretty good stuffs which lead to products that lead me being a fan of Cockpit gimmick for Mecha toys. While my search doesn't lead me to the exact Model that I had which was probably bootleg version of Type-90 Bomber Fighter, this particular endeavor lead me to quite a Vintage treasure trove! And I would to use an opportunity in my blog to make people have easier time to reconnect with their Childhood nostalgia involving B-Daman.

This article will serve as a repository list for Bomber Fighter Armor products that I come across. Due to the archive nature of this Article, it will be relegated to Mechatalk category. On average these Bomber Armor Model fetched around 500-1300 Yen Price tag back in 97-98 save for the extra large one which costed 4000 Yen. Nevertheless those very cheap B-Daman Mecha toys that still comes with good quality. Perhaps Takara could consider re-release some of the Bakugaiden III Products should the Toysrise Saint Blaster being well received. You can check this Japanese Website for the Cross reference used for this article.

Vintage Toys - Voltron 3D Trendmasters Voltron

 Voltron AKA Golion gotta be one of the few Japanese Mecha series with enduring popularity to this day , owing to its success in the west just like Transformers. Given this classic mecha series is a cashcow, obviously there are plenty of Toys renditions dedicated for this guy both cheap and expensive. But in this instance, I would like to cover the one that hold memories to me. It took me years to figure out which version that I had as I only remember the playset gimmick that the Product had. But a random encounter on internet led me to Trendmasters Voltron.

Back in Late 90s, there were plenty of  US Cartoons with wonky 3D animation broadcasted worldwide like Beastwars or Starship Troopers Roughnecks. Voltron was no exception and it got a 3D Cartoon called Voltron the Third Dimension which Trendmasters made a Robot toy for it. What makes Trendmaster version of Voltron notable was its playability gimmick which resemble Micromachines playsets which bestow pilot and shooting action gimmick. Trendmaster Voltron is certainly no way superior compared to Soul of Chogokin or Blitzway version of Voltron but it is good enough to make a Kid like my past self very happy. Heck my fixation toward pilot cockpit gimmick for my Toy product is probably owed to this guy even If I never have the complete set. While I already make peace with never having Trendmaster Voltron anymore, I am still open to a suitable candidate for my Voltron collection though my current budget is not that particularly high at the moment.

Vintage Toys - Zeo Ranger Micro Morphin Playset

 Another Vintage Toys topic! given that it is quite a pleasant experience for me to make these sort of articles as it serves as the self reminder for the present me the reason I became a mecha fan in the first place. While I don't post Super Sentai/ Power Ranger stuffs in this Blog, as a kid who grew in 90s I obviously got exposed a fair amount with Power Ranger series and had plenty fond memories with these series with Zeo Ranger and Lightspeed Rescue being my personal favorite.

 When I was a Kid, there were Toys series called Micro Machines which feature miniature Playsets with vehicles and people minis at times and this lineup is one of the reason I personally think why Kids growing up in 90s had some of the best toy to play around. Then at some point, Galoob's Micro Machines together with Bandai create the offshoot lineup for Power Rangers called Micro Morphin and Zeo Ranger was part of this series. As for Zeo Ranger, the Micro Morphin had a playset made for Zeo Megazord and Red Battlezord which Individual Zords can be turned into a military base complete with Power Ranger Minis and other trinkets.

On Hindsight the Zeo Megazord proportion is not the best especially the head parts but I think it was the coolest thing ever when I had the Red and Yellow Zord which god knows where they are now. Seriously being an Adult with Toys collections that I barely play, I wouldn't mind to double Dip should Bandai released this type of product on top of Soul of Chogokin which I am still waiting to this day.

Vintage Toys - Super Big Rescue Robot

 A little bit detour to the Blast from the past! An individual's interest and passion were mostly shaped and nurtured during their childhood and so applies for my passion toward Mecha which is still going strong to this day! In this opportunity I would like to introduce one my earliest robot toy which is called Super Big Rescue. In fact it is one that I acquired during my Kindergarten times but being a shitty brat I was, this robot eventually gone into gods know where.

Saint Blaster Get!

Finally i got one of my long sought B-Daman Toys which i used to have years ago but lost them due to stupidity as a kid. At first tempted to get the set for 350 RMB, but in the end got the whole set for 200 RMB on Taobao which is quite reasonable and the kit's condition are not to shabby either. I could have got the Blue and Yellow Bomber's unit easily but it was the White one that's really hard to find and if it is not a complete set, there's not much meaning collecting them. The reason i bothered to collect this vintage stuff is because the kit represented well some of my favorite gimmicks in mecha; Gattai and Openable Cockpit. Since i got the Saint the Blaster, i just need to get the Black Dragon to complete my Saint Dragon set which is no easy task since the cheapest one i saw in Taobao was around 600 but eventually i think i should be able to find one for reasonable price.

Meanwhile i also manage to get the Mystical 4 Symbols version of B-Daman toys similar to Saint Dragon set for 100 RMB but the kit's condition is worse but still workable. Though from my impression it really looks like a villain's mecha and it got Gattai gimmick too! If you are interested to look for B-Daman toys in Taobao try search 弹珠警察 on the website.

Some B-Daman Loots

Not exactly the Holy Grail that i seek but still a good haul imo. Got this set from Taobao for roughly $12 which is very good deal since this product had been long discontinued. These B-Daman Armor set is the one that the B-daman team used before the Saint Dragon that i shown before and obviously they can't combine to form larger mecha. I have seen another variation of Saint Dragon with 4 Celestial Beast Pattern which i would get if i can find one with reasonable price. I wished Takara would continue to make their B-Daman toy lineup but unfortunately since the series license now owned by konami they can't do anything for now i suppose.

B-Daman Bakugaiden Saint Dragon

Back when i was a kid around 4th grade i was collecting B-Daman toys which were robot plastic model kits which you had a small B-daman to put on the ball like cockpit. And today i was digging back my old toys and saw the particular toys which was the Yellow Robot that can be combined with other 2 Robots to form a giant robot which i used to have all 3 of them. This makes me dig the net and found what i was looking for and decided to write this post. It turns out the robot toys are from particular B-daman series called Bakugaiden and it seems there is another item to be put on wishlist. This particular set called Saint Dragon have 4 robot model from White, Blue, Yellow and Black bomber can be combined together to form a dragonlike mech named Saint Dragon. By this time this product is really rare and going to cost a kidney to get one either on Ebay or Mandarake costing about more than $100.

I think i will try to find this toy when i go to Hongkong and didn't care if it is bootleg due to rarity status because these toys means alot for me when i was a kid and partially drives me to get into plastic models. First i think i am going to watch the B-daman Bakugaiden no matter how silly the series and if anyone knows where can i get this toy for reasonable price, please let me know but it would be even better if Takara Tomy decided to reissue the kit one day. Before i stopped writing at this post, here is the giant robot that i said to be the combination of the 3 robots which is called Saint Blaster.