Archive for the ‘Robots’ Category

Gama-Go’s Deathbot by Tim Biskup

Sunday, February 17th, 2008

Deathbot
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Gama-Go Deathbot Wooden Toy by Tim Biskup and  Ningyoushi Gama-Go Deathbot Wooden Toy by Tim Biskup and  Ningyoushi

He wants to kill. He loves to kill. He’s programmed to kill. He has “kill” written all over him (on his chest anyway)!

Tim Biskup's Deathbot

Deathbot is a fellow you can find (along with several other recurring characters) on Gama-Go.com – a site dedicated to the art and design of illustrator, Tim Biskup.

This wooden Deathbot toy is available through the Gama-Go site, and the toy was produced and also sold by Ningyoushi.com. It’s a pretty cool, simplistic wooden toy with limited poseability (his arms, legs and neck are made up of wooden rings threaded with metal wires).

Okay, Deathbot’s a killer. I get that, but what happens when you pin him against a virtually identical, heartless, robotic killer in a battle of the Deathbots? That’s right! There’s an even more “rare” wooden Deathbot, and this guy means business.

Deathbot (Suit Version) – limited to 400
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Gama-Go Deathbot Wooden Toy by Tim Biskup and  Ningyoushi Gama-Go Deathbot Wooden Toy by Tim Biskup and  Ningyoushi

Who will be more “death-y?”
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Gama-Go Deathbot Wooden Toy by Tim Biskup and  Ningyoushi

Will it be the the primal, nude, intensely-colored, original red Deathbot we all know and love? Or will it be the subdued, cold, calculating and sophisticated black suit Deathbot?

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Gama-Go Deathbot Wooden Toy by Tim Biskup and  Ningyoushi

You be the judge.

Note: the toy’s arms, legs and neck come packaged super-stiff. They will not pose like the pics shown on the site. The only way I managed to loosen the pieces for added poseability is by unscrewing each appendage slightly, giving enough space between each wood ring to allow the metal wire to bend. Good luck.

Info Update:

During this photoshoot, i was posing my Deathbots (very delicately mind you) and the metal in their arms snapped. Both of them. It was very disheartening that they had immediately become expensive pieces of trash. I contacted Ningyoushi via their website and explained my troubles. Within a day, I received a message stating they’d happily repair my Deathbot toys. I was just asked to send the broken ones in for repair. Yippee! It is always great to interact with a company that stands behind their products and will put themselves in the shoes of the customers.

I’m a guy with two nearly-irreplaceable wooden toys, and I’ve been given the chance to get them repaired instead of spending even more money on buying new ones. Thanks Ningyoushi for understanding and not milking me for all I’m worth.

Info Update Again:

Good news! I received my Deathbots in the mail today. They’re back and as good as new. Maybe I should try not to pose them so much this time around. Thanks Ningyoushi for the quick repair service.

Mighty Max – “Cybot (or UNDED-209)”

Sunday, January 6th, 2008

Wow! It’s the first robot I’ve posted on the blog (and I’m sure it won’t be the last)! Let’s check ‘im out.

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Mighty Max Playset - Cybot Mighty Max Playset - Cybot Mighty Max Playset - Cybot

I found this toy at a flea market a couple of years ago. It may not seem like much. I think its biggest appeal for me initially was its creepy, skeletal face on the fully-mechanical robot body. It almost seemed to be the decayed remains of ED-209 (you know… from Robocop).

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Mighty Max Playset - Cybot

Robocop's ED-209

It wasn’t until I got him home and started checking him out that I discovered a little something extra. Apparently this thing could open up, and inside, I discovered a little a robo-skeletal evil-doer. HA!

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Mighty Max Playset - Cybot

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Mighty Max Playset - Cybot Mighty Max Playset - Cybot

My gut reaction was that this is a Mighty Max toy. I never paid much attention to the Mighty Max toys or cartoons from years ago, but I knew they existed. If you don’t know what Mighty Max is, just imagine the “masculine” version of Polly Pocket (you know, those little makeup kits that opened up to reveal cute little scenes – houses and whatnot). Due to Polly’s success, the Mighty Max toyline was born. It was made up of monster heads, dinosaur-heads, aliens… you know, the cool boy stuff (If you want to know more about the toys or the cartoon, you can find info at the Mighty Max Portal).

The only info I found on the toy was “Bluebird (which is apparently the company that made the toy) ©94″ and a “MM” logo. Sure enough, one minute and one Google search later, I found that this is indeed a Mighty Max toy. This is Cybot, and he’s actually part of the “Action Masters” series which were more like action figures that opened up instead of little spaceships or monster heads or whatever. I also found out that this guy originally wore sunglasses and had “ammunition” for his guns… so I’m missing those.

Oh well. What do I expect for $1?

Go-Go Gadget Toy!

Thursday, December 20th, 2007

It’s everyone’s favorite mechanical crime fighter (other than Robocop)! Here we have an old 12″ Inspector Gadget by Galoob dated 1983.

Go-Go Gadget Copter!
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Inspector Gadget Action Doll by Galoob 1983 Inspector Gadget Action Doll by Galoob 1983

For those who don’t remember Inspector Gadget, I’ll try to sum him up quickly. It was an 80s cartoon inspired by the old spy show, Get Smart. The show starred a clumsy, absent-minded, and oblivious detective, Inspector Gadget – a cop with various gadgets built into his anatomy. Gadget spent most of his time trying to stop his nemesis – the mysterious Dr. Claw, leader of the evil organization, MAD.

There’s a bit more to the show, but I’m not going to bother you with every little detail.

I just happened upon the Inspector Gadget “action doll” at a toy show months ago. I never even knew this toy existed, but as soon as I saw him, I knew I had to have him. I just love the playability of this toy and the absolutely appropriate and accurate accessories included with it. He has “8 magic features and 20 moving parts.”

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Inspector Gadget Action Doll by Galoob 1983

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Inspector Gadget Action Doll by Galoob 1983

Just look at all he has to offer:

  1. He looks perfect. Looks like he just stepped out of the cartoon
  2. 12 inches tall
  3. 20 points of articulation
  4. Firing Hand and Pop-out Hand
  5. Pop-Out Legs
  6. Fabric Trench Coat
  7. Helicopter Hat
  8. Huge Cartoony Mallet
  9. Working Handcuffs (to cuff the fake arm in Dr. Claws’ chair I guess)
  10. Hat Extension Arm
  11. Parachute Umbrella

Go-Go Gadget Legs!
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Inspector Gadget Action Doll by Galoob 1983

Go-Go Gadget Neck!
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Inspector Gadget Action Doll by Galoob 1983

Go-Go Gadget Hands!
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Inspector Gadget Action Doll by Galoob 1983

Go-Go Gadget ‘Brella!
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Inspector Gadget Action Doll by Galoob 1983

Go-Go Gadget… Cuffs?!
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Inspector Gadget Action Doll by Galoob 1983

Told you he was great. Only bad thing is, he has no one else to arrest. I guess he could always cuff Barbie. “Go-Go Gadget… nevermind.”

Wowzers!
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Inspector Gadget Action Doll by Galoob 1983

If that isn’t enough for you, check this truly unforgettable intro. Careful though. The song may be a bit too catchy.

INFO UPDATE:

Over the months I’ve noticed that the Inspector Gadget doll I featured here isn’t the same one I’ve seen online and on eBay and everywhere else. At first glance they are pretty much the same, but in a few moments, you’ll see that things are definitely much different.

Slim-Box Gadget
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Inspector Gadget Action Doll by Galoob 1983

First, let’s start with the doll’s box. I’m not sure whether this package version appeared first or second, but as you can see, it’s a slimmer, condensed version of the box pictured in my original entry above. It does have an extending flap that makes it appear wider. Not quite sure why they included that, because it seems like that panel would block any other Gadget dolls or other merchandise from being seen on the store shelves.

Straight-Arm Gadget
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Inspector Gadget Action Doll by Galoob 1983

Second, let’s look at his arms. This is something I’d noticed most whenever i found images of the Gadget doll online. The most common version is this straight-armed version. This lack of elbow, bicep and shoulder articulation really makes Gadget appear stiff and awkward. He can’t bend his elbows to comfortably hold his Gadget-Copter. To accommodate this new awkward hand position, Galoob altered the design of the Helicopter-Hat accessory. The handlebars are much more narrow, short and they protrude in front of him.

Gadget Accessories
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Inspector Gadget Action Doll by Galoob 1983

Third are his accessories. Both Gadget dolls come with the same accessories, but the pink items that come with with the “Straight-Arm Gadget” are much more vibrant and saturated. Also, as you can see here, his handcuffs are a dull gray plastic instead of the metallic-coated plastic of the original Gadget.

Gadget Arms & Legs
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Inspector Gadget Action Doll by Galoob 1983

And last and probably least are his activation buttons. The “Straight-Arm Gadget” has blue buttons instead of yellow. It doesn’t really matter, but I though I’d point that out. I actually like the blue better, because they match the color of his Gadget-Neck.

If anyone has info on which of these versions is the original and has any explanation for these differences, please let me know. Hey. Maybe this “Straight-Arm Gadget” is the original. The other one could be the updated one… ya know… kinda like “swivel-arm battle grip” being introduced to the G.I.Joe toys.

Vintage 80's 90's DIC Tiger Toys Inspector Gadget "Penny" Action Figure
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Vintage Spiderman He-Man Inspector Gadget Power Rangers Figure Thundercat Lot
US $39.95
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Inspector GADGET - 3 figures & a childs T shirt 1983
US $1.07 (0 Bid)
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GROUP OF INSPECTOR GADGET PLASTIC FIGURES
US $5.38 (0 Bid)
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NIP Inspector Gadget Squirting Water Action Figure 1992 DIC * Rare
US $42.99
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