Bandai Robot Damashii or Robot 魂 entry for the Full Metal Panic series arm slave ARX-7 Arbalest, perhaps is one of a solid action figure mecha and yet affordable compared to the Alter Mechanical Model ARX-7 from my previous entry.
Autobot Drift, one of the Transformers character in the IDW comics universe. The story about redemption. My first impression of Autobot Drift, some badass cybertronian Samurai that takes confrontation up close and personal.
Voltes V weilding Sword of Heaven.
Voltes V as far as I know is a Japanese animation made in the 1970s, fall under the Super Robot genre with intriguing storyline. Bandai has finally given Voltes V with Soul of Chogokin treatment. What attacted me to this toy is not because I am a fan of the animation series but it is the details and engineering of this highend collectible toy.
Most part of this robot is made of die case, joints at the shoulders are ratchet joints. Ball joints were used at the legs connected to the pelvic region. Knees are using ratchet joints. Too bad there is no articulation at the waist and chest due to the transfromation mechanism. Head and elbow has very limited articulation too.
SOC Voltes V box front view.
Got this die cast toy many moons ago but did not have a good camera. The box art is conservatively follow any Soul of Chogokin; actual picture of the toy in the front and the back of the box is printed the features of the toy.
SOC Voltes V box back view.
Only manage to snap a few pictures before my camera run out of juice.
SOC Voltes V packed in polyester foam.
Even if you have never watch the cartoon before. Bandai add a card deco on the package with label on vehicles that forms the Super Robot Voltes V.
SOC Voltes V in the package
More to come in the next up coming post. Stay tuned.
DIA Commander robot mode posing.
DIA Commander or Powered Commander is a 3rd party add on to make Henkei Convoy or Classics Prime to be more beefy and intimidating. It is created by FansProject not related with Takara nor Hasbro. Just from Fans to Fans kinda operations.
Not to forget, Henkei Convoy or Classics Optimus Prime sold seperately. You need to have either Henkei Convoy, Classics Optimus Prime or Classics Ultra Magnus to complete DIA Commander.
I got mine after deciding to make my Henkei Convoy more intimidating. Powered Commander is inspired from the City Commander, and add on to Classics Ultra Magnus to reflect its G1 roots. Other than that I do not recall any canon story line of any Transformers that include Powered Commander.
Alter ARX-7 Arbalest.
Lets look at how much labour and love Alter has poured into this figure. Will show case its monoculer cutter, arm slave shotgun, grenade and an anti-tank knife. For the owner of this superb figure you will notice that some part of the figure has small print, in which can be read if magnifying glass is used. Unfortunately, not all word from the small print can be read.
ARX-7 Lamda Drive ability.
Alter ARX-7 Arbalest from the anime Full Metal Panic! The Second Raid is a Generation 3 arm slave with an experimental Lambda Drive. In the story the Lamda drive gives supernatural abilty to the arm slave, making it a 1 man army.
Alter has replicate this iconic mecha from the series with very high detailed in 15cm or about 5 inch action figure.
HLJ parcel.
Finally after 10 days of waiting and worrying that it will lost in transit. Finally it arrived safe and sound without any damage on the parcel. I guess I’m lucky 
The newest addition is the long awaited ARX-7 Arbalest arm slave model from Alter. The model is scaled to 1/60 from its actual size in the anime series Full Metal Panic.
Packaging :
The book like packaging is the signature casing to store this toyline. The functionality is to ensure mint like condition for the toy. Its cover can be open to display the item.
A book ?
Opened, an impressive packaging
Stickers and Manual
Manual :
Although lacking of hard cover, but the illustration & step by step transformation guide is quite informative. Nicely colored.
Preface, introduction to pilot & machine
Sample of transformation instruction
Center fold, sorry no hentai here
Instruction to place stickers
Catalog cum teaser
Accessories :
Not too shaby or generous. Antanae/radar/sensor, pilot, cyclone, gunpod & ammo clip. Too bad pilot not posable or articulated. Cyclone also not possable or transformable. Cyclone act more like a display. Gunpod, can have the ammo clip attached & detached.
On the top, sensor, below it the pilot, below the pilot is the cyclone & gunpods with detached ammo clip
Main content :
From the first look, it has impressive amount of diecast. The die cast content concentrate on its main thrusters or its legs (in battroid mode). Other than die cast at the truster, its nosecone, wings, stabilizers are in plastics. Most of the part are solid except the stabilizers and the landing gears.
Paint job in certain part is quite sloppy aka not smooth.
In term of proportion, in fighter mode, the thruster looks rather imposing & over sized. In guardian & battroid mode, its legs is noticible big & imposing.
There is also noticable gaps at the wing.
In guardian mode & battroid mode, its flaw will be shown. Complain is on floppy joints of the arm, elbow, wrist, legs(joining to the hips).
The grip on the gunpod is not so great, with floppy wrist, the hands will not be able to support the weight of gunpod.
Transformation, is near to perfect but not perfect due to the sensor or radar needs to be attach & detach during the transformation.
Landing gear is part of gimick but poorly executed for it is not able to support the fighter weight, & the rear landing gear will retract automatically due to its weight concentrate on the thrusters.
With gunpod attached with one side of the wing. Unfortunately, the ammo clip is left out.
Cockpit open without pilot
Cockpit with pilot
Cyclone storage compartment
Poorly executed landing gear, it does not support its own weight
Part of the gimick, missle pods opened revealing micro missles to be unleashed
Conclusion :
Good : Good amount of die cast, good packaging
Bad : Floppy legs, heel & arms. Bad paint job. Not perfect transformation.
Not recomended for perfectionist. But good addition to a hardcore fan of robotech new generation or mospeada.
From left to right : Voltes, Dancouga & Gunbuster
VoltesV :
Generally the robot mode & vehicle mode is nice. For picky players, the vehicle mode of the Frigate (aka Legs of VoltesV) does not look like a frigate. Overall its a good toy for play & display.
Dancouga :
It doesn't do much justice the points. However, its strongest reason that I had bought danny is; each of the machine Eagle, cougar, liger & moth looks very much like its Anime counterpart. On top of that, each of the machine can convert from robot mode to machine mode, to aggressive beast mode & part of Dancouga. Exception for the eagle it does not have a clear division of aggressive beast & machine mode. However, I'm glad I bagged this gokin.
Gunbuster :
At first look was planning to pass this gokin. But due to alot of poison & good review… wat the heck… juz bag this little bugger. Heck… calling it little bugger will not do it much justice as it is undeniable is the most possable with a satisfying "click" sound (reminds me of some of the old days Transformers). My only lament for this gokin is its alternate spaceship mode is far from perfect… need to swap parts
A superlative trivia :
1. Tallest, Dancouga is the tallest followed by Gunbuster… then … (*Height is taken based on measuring from foot base to the head.)
2. Most posable, Gunbuster, Voltes… then..
3 Heaviest, Dancouga, Gunbuster… then…
4. Most innovative transformation… Dancouga, Voltes… Gunbuster last for it needs no swap parts