World of Puramo - 世界のプラモ - Plastic Model Kits

Moebius re-issues "Voyager" model kit from "Fantastic Voyage"

2008-01-05T21:20:00.000-08:00

Now this is nice...Moebius has done a fantastic job of re-issuing what is considered one of the rarest and desirable Aurora model kit outside of the "Monster Scene's" series...the Voyager from the 1968 Filmation cartoon series "Fantastic Voyage."

This ship has always been a personal favorite of mine, along with the cartoon series it was featured in. I like the Proteus from the movie version, but it just wasn't as cool as the Voyager.

One thing I was not prepared for is how detailed the cockpit is...not unlike the Flying Sub from "Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea" model kit or the Spindrift from "Land of the Giants." The cockpit in the Voyager kit is fairly detailed. But if you glued the top and bottom halves together, you would never see it!

I purchased mine at a local hobby shop, and according to Moebius' website, they are available everywhere. Next up from Moebius...a 39" Seaview model kit, with Flying Sub, Diving Bell, detailed interior AND the four window configuration on the front of the sub...should be cool!

Imai Monstrous Animal Series

2008-01-03T21:09:00.001-08:00

The Imai Monstrous Animal Series was a collection of four monster kits released during any one of the early kaiju booms in Japan.

Each kit features some vivid artwork of the monster, though it did not present a good representation of the actual kit. The models were very much in that "mascot" mode of design...not super deformed, but their dimensions were exaggerated enough to be more toy than anything.

Interesting that Imai obviously planned that these would be sold overseas as well. The prominent English all over the box makes me think that this series probably did make it to our shores at hobby shops in larger cities in the US.

Does Anyone Want A Bandai Real Hobby Series Kit? Anybody?

2008-01-01T16:51:00.000-08:00

Over the month of January, I am going to explore in detail Bandai's "Real Hobby" series from the early 80's. This will be a total de-construction of the entire series, that will hopefully elicit input from you, my fellow collectors, to determine why these kits, for all of their quality and innovation, are such underperformers in terms of resale value.

I have tracked sales of the entire series through 2007, and I think you will be suprised at some of the results. For instance, the collectors who currently prize these kits the most aren't even kaiju or model collectors....Do you know who they are? You won't believe it when I share that along with other tidbits in the next post.

Nitto Mirrorman Monster Zairasu ミラーマンの怪獣ザイラス

2007-12-31T07:43:00.000-08:00

Nitto sold its share of super hero models, along with Bullmark and Bandai in the Seventies.

The "Badge" series (so called because the model kit came with a metal badge, lithographed with the featured hero) included Mirrorman and Silver Kamen Giant, with a few of their monsters. These were "hashiru" or rolling models, so the hero or monster is mounted on what looks like a space ship with a pull-back motor beneath.

These still pop up on Yahoo Japan, but be ready to pay. They tend to be a pricey, and there are usually more than 2 or 3 bidders when these appear.

MAC Secret Base - マッキー秘密基地

2007-12-28T22:54:00.000-08:00

I've been having fun with this kit...its a re-issue of Imai's Ultraman Leo MAC Secret Base from 1974. I don't know when this re-issue was made, but more than likely it was before 2002.

The base houses the MAC space headquarters, some fuel tanks and a radar dish. But it also has places for all 6 MAC vehicles. Every square inch is used to launch one of the outlandish MAC rides. Even the base is on wheels!

Over the years, these secret base kits were downsized from their former versions. For instance, Imai's "Thunderbirds" base was motorized (with two motors!) that operated a number of actions on the base. The more recent version, like this MAC base, seems to be 100% "imagination" powered now.

I picked up my MAC base kits from Yahoo Japan, for less than $20 each. They are fairly easy to find now, and I think they will definitely increase in value over the years.

Happy New Year!!!

2007-12-27T17:21:00.000-08:00

Well it has been some time since I have posted to my blog. I am hoping to change that this year, now that things have slowed down a bit.

I have been adding to the collection to be sure, and look forward to posting more model kits from my collection. As I visit other sites dedicated to model kits, it makes me realize how fewer and fewer model kits are available. Far from a dying art or anything like that, its just a sign of our times. Bottom line there are so many more things to occupy your idle time than when a lot of the kits featured here were first sold. While I don't wish for a regression to the time where model kits were more prevelant, I do miss the variety and choice from that era.

It is my sincerest hope that you have a prosperous and joyful 2008. Please visit again soon, leave a note and tell me about your collection!

Mark

ENTEX Liabe Star Cruiser - バンダイ・リアベ号

2007-04-21T10:04:00.000-07:00

Entex was Bandai's American brand name throughout the 1970s and into the mid-80s. They released three model kits from "Message From Space" and two or three kits from "Battle of the Planets" (Gatchaman).

Amazing to this day, the "Message" kits were only the second model kit series released in the US tied to a specific movie or TV series since the beginning of Otaku fandom. The first would clearly be the UPC "Ultraman" kit series. However, I doubt that the UPC kits had the same distribution as Entex/Bandai . In fact, deadstock, cellophane wrapped of this kit and the other two models from this series are still popping up on ebay.

The ships in this series were for the most part accurate replicas of the ships in the movie (and TV series). Interesting since these were *pre-Gundam.

I remember buying the Comet Fire kit in 1979 and struggled with the hefty $7.00 price tag! That was a chunk of change back then to a infrequently employed high schooler!

*I have always held the beleif that Gundam revolutionized Japanese "Otaku" model kits. It heraled the end of kits with wind up motors and wheels that made them more toy like than display model.

日東科学初版レモコン大巨獣ガッパ - Nitto Kagaku First Edition Remote Control Gappa

2007-04-16T20:23:00.000-07:00

日東科学初版レモコン大巨獣ガッパ

Nitto Kagaku First Edition Remote Control Gappa

The first edition Gappa kit is quite different from the following editions. Most notably is that in this version the wings flap as Gappa walks. In later versions, that functionality did not exist.

The final Remocon edition by Nitto (not Arii) featured light up eyes, with two little red LEDs. I would have prefered the moving wings.

初版のガッパのキットは次の版とかなり異なっている。ガッパが歩くと同時にこの版のそれは翼の羽ばたき特にある。より遅い版では、その機能性はなかった。日東 (ない有井)によるレモコンの最終的な版はつける2つの少し赤い発光ダイオードが付いている目を、特色になった。私は移動翼を好もう。

バンダイウルトラマン80 スペースマミー - Bandai Ultraman 80 Space Mammy

2007-04-15T19:27:00.000-07:00

レッツ・ゴー・ UGM! U-G-M!
Lets go UGM...U-G-M!

The Space Mammy was a cool ship, but it didn't seem to go with the Sky Higher or Silver Gull. Design wise it seems to fit the animated "The Ultraman" from the year earlier.

This model kit was a product of the new Gundam age of realisim in plastic models, and it shows. It doesn't include a wind-up motor. Instead its a great replica of the ship, and includes a small model of Ultraman 80 to pose right next to it.

このモデルキットはプラスチックモデルのリアルのガンダムの年齢のプロダクトであり、示す。それはゼンマイモーターを含んでいない。その代り船の大きいレプリカはそれの隣で正しく提起するために、ウルトラマン80の小さいモデルを含み。

イマイ・マイテイ号 - Imai Mighty Go from Mighty Jack

2007-04-13T21:25:00.000-07:00

Mighty Jack was the Science Patrol without an Ultraman or giant monsters. Sort of a hybrid that combined elements of "The Man From U.N.C.L.E.," "James Bond," and "Thunderbirds."

The Mighty Go was a outrageously large vessel for the six or so main characters to get around in, but that is what made the show fun. Not to mention Isao Tomita's movie size soundtrack for the first half of the series.

This Imai Mighty Go is the small pull back motor version. Push on the little conning tower and the front deck lifts up and fires a torpedo. I'm still looking for the large "Big Mighty" which not only includes the Mighty Go, but the supporting ships as well. Mighty Jack is calling!!!

バンダイ「マスコミシリーズ」No. 73 ウルトラマンタロウ ZAT ラビットパンダ - Bandai "Masukomi" Series No. 73 Ultraman Taro ZAT Rabbit-Panda

2007-04-10T21:09:00.000-07:00

Well now you can say you have seen it all...presenting the Rabbit-Panda from Ultraman Taro. By far the goofiest "garrison" vehicle in the entire series (a very close second is the "Roady," MAC's street transportation from Ultraman Leo). I think if the designers left the clown nose off the front, it would be a bit more appealing, but Taro was a series that was all about overdoing it. Like its companinon vehicle the Wolf 777, the Rabbit-Panda has every square inch covered with junk. Somewhere under it all is a very embarrassed Honda delivery van.

I was amazed at how detailed and substantial this model kit is. Its approximately 1/24th scale, so if it were built it would display nicely with the Bullmark "TDF Pointer," the Hasegawa "MAT Vehicle" and the Marusan "TAC Panther." Why didn't anybody make a UGM Mazda RX-7?

Like other kits of this vintage and genre, expect to pay a few yen if you find and want one. I have seen these go for as high as 9600 yen. Oy!

バンダイ「マスコミシリーズ」No. 68 ウルトラマンタロウ ZAT スパースワロー - Bandai "Masukomi" Series No. 68 Ultraman Taro ZAT Super Swallow

2007-04-09T20:36:00.000-07:00

I have always been a big fan of the Ultraman series. Each series has its hero(s), monsters and the resident Science Patrol/Monster Defense Garrison. The scenarios are just about the same in every series, but each is unique unto itself.

Of these series, Ultraman Taro's garrison was known as ZAT (Zariba of All Territory). ZAT's vehicle designs were interesting to say the least. You can see a major influence from the then growing Anime Super Robot craze sweeping Japan in the early seventies.

Where the designs of the garrison ships from Ultraman, Ultra Seven, Return of Ultraman and Ultraman Ace are functional, ZAT vehicles are all 100% fantasy. They are not in my top ten, but I cannot resist these early Bandai model kits from these series! Plus, Bandai made a model of every vehicle in the ZAT arsenal, except for the submarine. So I have been picking them up here and there. Because of their age and nostalgia value in Japan, they are sometimes pricey, but I must have them all!

The Super Swallow kit is number 68 in the masukomi series! Sixty-freakin-eight! I don't know how I'm going to find the first 67, but you can bet I will. Incidentally, "masukomi" is short for "mass communications." Why Bandai chose this name for the series is a mystery.

バンダイかいじゅうシリーズ No. 2 キングギドラ - Bandai Kaiju Series No. 2 - King Ghidorah

2007-04-08T18:25:00.000-07:00

Like the Godzilla kit before, this kit to started as a Bullmark "unipuzzle" kit. While it is not nearly as accuarate as Bandai's later Ghidorah kits and figures, it was pretty cool for the time.

ゴジラのキットのようにの前のの、のブルマァクのの「ユニパザル」ののキットとして始められるへのこのキット。それはバンダイのより遅いキングギドラキットおよび図としての正確なとしてほぼない間の、の時間の間かなり涼しかった。

バンダイかいじゅうシリーズ No. 1 ゴジラ - Bandai Kaiju Series No. 1 Godzilla

2007-04-06T19:50:00.000-07:00

Bandai かいじゅうシリーズ No. 1 ゴジラ

Bandai Kaiju Series No. 1 Godzilla

This kit was the first in a series of Bandai models to be released in 1978. The Kaiju Series was really nothing more than a way for Bandai to reissue old Bullmark kits.

This Godzilla model was originally a Bullmark "Unipuzzle" kit that did not need glue, but was all held together by a central key. It also has spring loaded fists.

このキットは1978年に解放されるべきバンダイ一連のモデルの第1だった。かいじゅうシリーズは実際に何もバンダイのための方法より多くブルマァクの古いキットを再発行するでなかった。ゴジラこのモデルは最初に接着剤を必要としなかったが、中央キーによって完全にまとめられたブルマァク「ユニパズル」のキット。それにまたバネ付きの握りこぶしがある。

日東科学重版走る大巨獣ガッパ - Nitto Kagaku Second Edition Rolling Great Giant Monster Gappa

2007-04-06T19:17:00.000-07:00

日東科学重版走る冷大巨獣ガッパ

Nitto Kagaku Second Edition Rolling Great Giant Monster Gappa

Art No. 228-200

Another vibrant painting by Komatsuzaki! Notice the "Sunflower Maru" from "Godzilla vs. Mecha Godzilla" in the foreground. That ship seemed to make a real "splash" in Japanese popular culture in the early seventies. I have seen model kits of it for sale, but I have to draw the line somewhere : )

小松崎さんは,著別の活気に満ちた絵画!

日東科学重版走る冷凍怪獣バルゴン - Nitto Kagaku Second Edition Rolling Freezing Monster Barugon

2007-04-05T19:35:00.000-07:00

日東科学重版走る冷凍怪獣バルゴン

Nitto Kagaku Second Edition Rolling Freezing Monster Barugon

Art No. 227-200

Great artwork by Komatsuzaki! But why did they put the Daiei sticker right on Barugon's nose?!

小松崎さん著大きいアートワーク! しかし大映のステッカーが位置付けか? 悪いです。

日東科学重版走る超音波怪獣ギャオス - Nitto Kagaku Second Edition Rolling Supersonic Knife Monster Gyaos

2007-04-03T19:55:00.000-07:00

日東科学重版走る超音波怪獣ギャオス
Nitto Kagaku Second Edition Rolling Supersonic Knife Monster Gyaos
Art No. 226-200

More fine artwork by Komatsuzaki. At some point, you end up collecting model kits more for the box art than the models inside. The biggest changes to the actual model kits during these reissues were how they were arranged on the sprue trees inside the box. The dimensions of this box were larger than the previous kit, so the parts are a little farther apart on the "sprue" trees. Other than that, no changes at all.

小松崎さんの良いアートワーク。いつか、箱の芸術のためのモデルキットをモデルよりもっと集めることを中終える。これらの再発行の間の実際のモデルキットへの最も大きい変更は箱の中の部品の木でいかに整理されたかだった。この箱の次元は前のキットより大きかった、従って部品は部品の木の離れて少しより遠い。それ以外、変更無し全然。

日東科学重版走る火炎怪獣ガメラ - Nitto Kagaku Second Edition Rolling Blazing Monster Gamera

2007-04-01T18:57:00.000-07:00

日東科学重版走る火炎怪獣ガメラ
Nitto Kagaku Second Edition Rolling Blazing Monster Gamera
Art No. 225-200

In 1974, Nitto reissued the rolling Gamera with this stunning painting by Shigeru Komatsuzaki. The model kit and instructions were exactly as they were in the first edition. Aside from the box art, the only thing that changed were the actual dimensions of the box. Very smart marketing on Nitto's part. They changed just enough to make it marketable all over again!

昭和49年に、日東は小松崎さまによってこの思いがけない絵画との圧延ガメラを再発行した。初版にあったと同時にモデルキットおよび指示は丁度あった。箱の芸術は別として、変わった唯一の事は箱の実際の次元だった。日東のパートの非常にスマートなマーケティング。それらはそれを市場向きにまた改めてするためにちょうど必要なだけ変わった!

日東科学初版走る深海怪獣ジグラ - Nitto Kagaku First Edition Rolling Deep Sea Monster Zigra

2007-03-31T17:43:00.000-07:00

日東科学初版走る深海怪獣ジグラ

Nitto Kagaku First Edition Rolling Deep Sea Monster Zigra

Art No. 346-200

The Nitto Rolling Zigra shares a unique feature with the Walking Gappa - it is the only other Gamera series monster model kit that has an option. You can either mount bent or straight fins to Zigra's body.

Like Gamera, Gyaos and Gappa, Zigra looks good in this format. The picture of the assembled kit is from the included instructions.

日東の圧延ジグラは歩くガッパと独特な特徴を共有する-唯一選択がある他のガメラシリーズモンスターモデルキットである。ジグラのボディに台紙の曲げられるか、またはまっすぐなひれできる。ガメラ、ギャオスおよびガッパのように、ジグラはこのフォーマットでよく見る。組み立てられたキットの映像は含まれた指示からある。

日東科学初版走る大巨獣ガッパ - Nitto Kagaku Rolling Giant Monster Gappa

2007-03-30T21:38:00.000-07:00

日東科学初版走る大巨獣ガッパ
Nitto Kagaku Rolling Giant Monster Gappa
Art No. 228-100

I love Gappa. It was a great movie, and while the execution of the special effects were less than Tsubaraya's standards, no one can deny that the intricate city scapes and the monster suits themselves were extrodinary for the time.

Gappa was a popular Nitto subject to be sure. There was a replica made in every format that Nitto produced. Standard, medium and mini vinyls, and every model kit format.

The rolling Gappa is plain cool. There are only two instances of Gappa where its wings are spread and this is one of them. The sculpt is one of the better Nitto Gappas of any series!

ガッパは普及した日東に応じてである確実だった。日東が作り出したあらゆるフォーマットでなされたレプリカがあった。標準、中型および小型ビニールおよびあらゆるモデルキットのフォーマット。圧延ガッパは明白冷却するである。翼が広がるこれがそれらの1つであるガッパのたった2つの例があり。彫刻はあらゆるシリーズのよりよい日東ガッパの一つである!

日東科学初版走る冷凍怪獣バルゴン - Nitto Kagaku First Edition Rolling Refrigiration Monster Barugon

2007-03-29T18:29:00.000-07:00

日東科学初版走る冷凍怪獣バルゴン
Nitto Kagaku First Edition
Rolling Refrigiration Monster Barugon
Art No. 227-100

My favorite Gamera film was my first, War of the Monsters. Now more universally known as Gamera vs. Barugon. Barugon was a very simple design that housed extrordiary ability. The deep freeze vapor, the rainbow ray, even the chameleon tounge made it a very formidable foe for Gamera.

Nitto's rolling Barugon is just plain goofy. Fortunately, the box art is fantastic. But I must always remember that these kits, especially from this series were more about play value than realisim. Check out the picture below!

好みのガメラの私のフィルムは私の一番のWar Of The Monsters 「ガメラ対バルゴン」。バルゴンは凄い能力を収容した非常にシンプルな設計だった。深い氷結の蒸気、虹光線は、カメレオンの舌それにガメラのための非常に手強い敵をした。日東の圧延バルゴンはちょうど明白な間抜けである。幸いにも、箱の芸術は素晴らしい。しかし私は常になるこのシリーズからのこれらのキットが、特にリアルより演劇の価値についての詳細だったことを覚えなさい。映像を次に点検しなさい!

日東科学初版走る超音波怪獣ギャオス - Nitto Kagaku First Edition Rolling Supersonic Knife Monster Gyaos

2007-03-28T20:20:00.000-07:00

日東科学初版走る超音波怪獣ギャオス
Nitto Kagaku First Edition
Rolling Supersonic Knife Monster Gyaos
Art No. 226-100

There were a few monsters that really looked good in this series. Gyaos was one of the best. It made sense afterall, since it was made to look like it was flying. In fact the only two monsters that really don't seem to fit in this series are Barugon and Jaiger, but we will get to those later.

こちらは怪獣モデル良いです。ギャオスは最もよいのの一つだった。それは飛んでいたように見ることをなしたので、感覚のでもを作った。実際は実際にであるバルゴンおよびジャイガーこのシリーズで合わないような唯一の二物のモンスター、私達はあとでそれらに得るが。

日東科学初版走る火炎怪獣ガメラ - First Edition Rolling Gamera

2007-03-27T17:27:00.000-07:00

日東科学初版走る火炎怪獣ガメラ

First Editon Rolling Gamera

Art No. 225-100

This is one of my favorites! Great illustraition of Gamera and Viras.

This particular kit was released prior to the Japan "Safety Toy" designation. Plus the Daiei logo sticker is foil instead of paper, which I have only seen on older kits.

これは私の好みのである! ガメラおよびバイラスの大きい画。この特定のキットは日本「ST」の指定前に解放された。大映のロゴとステッカーは私がより古いキットだけで見たペーパーの代りにホイルである。

宇宙大怪獣ギララ - 「ザ・ウルトラクイーン」Girara Model Kit Reissue

2007-03-26T21:53:00.000-07:00

What were they thinking? When Doyusha reissued the Midori windup Girara kit, they came up with the silliest name, "The Ultra Queen." I guess it sounded cool? "The Ultra King" in this series was a generic monster Midori had around for years. It looks like a Tyrannosaurus with an antennae growing out of the middle of its head.

This model kit was hard to get for a while, since it was in Yuji Nishimura's book. But now they are surfacing for reasonable prices. The artist did a good job of layering the painting of Girara over a photo of the power plant he is attacking.

彼らは何を考えていたか。ドユシャがミドリの結末のギララのキットを再発行したときに、彼らは最も愚かな名前を超思い付いた、「女王」。私はそれが涼しく聞こえたことを推測するか。このシリーズの「超王」はミドリが幾年もの間持っていた一般的なモンスターだった。それによっては頭部の中間から育つアンテナがを持つティラノザウルスのように見える。このモデルキットは西村湯地の本にあったのでしばらく得にくかった。しかし今それらは適正価格のために浮上している。芸術家は彼が攻撃している発電所の写真上のギララの絵画を層にすることのよい仕事をした。

2007-03-24T10:08:00.000-07:00

Midori "Astro Boat" Kit No. KSN-200-5

Midori's reissue of their "Atomic Astro Boat" model from "The X From Outer Space."

Its a fairly detailed kit for its size. Midori rigged this version with a hook and rubber band propeller so that it can be used in water. Hence the outlandish illustration of AABGama skimming the surf! Midori also made model kits of Gerry Anderson's "Stingray," which this illustration seems to take a great deal of inspiration from.

Original release kits of this model are fairly rare, so I was happy to find this, even though its a second edition. This kit has been since reissued as a part of the Girara DVD set that came out a few years ago.

そのサイズのためのかなり詳しいキット。ミドリは水で使用することができるようにホックそして輪ゴムのプロペラとのこの版を装備した。波をすくい取るAABGama『アトミック・アストロ・ボート』のそれ故に風変りな実例! ミドリはまたGerry Anderson「Stingrayのこの実例が大量のインスピレーシヨンを取るようであるモデルキットを」、作った。このモデルの元の解放のキットはかなり稀である、従って私はこれを見つけて幸せだった。

Rare! Second Edition Nitto Walking Wanigon! レア！重版歩くワニゴン!

2007-03-13T19:45:00.000-07:00

Nitto Walking Wanigon - Art No. 499-300.

Well here it is, Number 4 in the second edition walking series. Nitto's own Deep Sea Monster Wanigon.

First of all, it is very, VERY obvious what Nitto was thinking here. Wanigon "kinda sorta" looks like Barugon. So why pay royalties to Daiei to reissue the Barugon kit when Wanigon was close enough? The reason Wanigon and Barugon are so close is not coincidental. Nitto's prototype of Barugon WAS Wanigon. However, Nitto's President wanted to make a standing Barugon so that it would be more fun for the kids to fight the walking Gamera against a walking Barugon. As it is, Wanigon kind of crawls across the floor, but not very menacingly, so I think Nitto made the right call.

While this version of Wanigon is rare, it is not the rarest. The rarest version is the "Swimming" Wanigon! It was just like any other Wanigon kit, except it had a rail on its tummy to mount one of those red and white submarine hobby motors. If I am able to find a picture of Swimming Wanigon, I'll certainly post it here. Another unique feature: Swimming Wanigon was molded in bright orange!

So that is the story...Nitto didn't replace Barugon with a cheap jack "Pachi" version, but in fact used Wanigon for its original purpose, to be Barugon. I'm sure Nitto's idea to make full margin on at least one kit was one of the reasons too.

This story is just beginning...The second generation series would last only three years. In 1978, Barugon was re-introduced to the line-up, and Wanigon was once again retired for another five years, to re appear in the Huge River Beast series...stay tuned.

ワニゴンのこの版は稀な間、最も稀でない。最も稀な版は「水泳」ワニゴンである! それはワニゴンの他のどのキットのようもそれらの赤および白の海底趣味モーターの1つを取付けるおなかの柵があった以外、ちょうどだった。水泳ワニゴンの映像を咳をできれば私は確かにそれをここに掲示する。別の独特な特徴: 水泳ワニゴンは明るいオレンジ「色」で形成された! 実際は物語があるように日東は安いジャッキの「パチ」版とバルゴン、バルゴンである元の目的のための使用されたワニゴンを、取り替えなかった。私は少なくとも1つのキットで完全な差益を作る日東が考え理由の1だったことをもことを確かめる。この物語は公正な初めシリーズが3年だけ持続させる第二世代である。 1978年に、バルゴンは整列に再導入され、ワニゴンはシリーズが引続き注目する巨大な川の獣でレニウムへのもう5年の間もう一度、現われる退職した。

Rare! Second Edition Nitto Walking Gyoas! レア！重版歩くギャオス！

2007-03-10T11:05:00.000-08:00

Nitto Walking Gyaos - Art No. 498-300

This was number three in the "yellow box" series. The Nitto Walking Series Kits are normally identified by their boxes, much like Aurora model kit collectors categorize different kits. The first edition Nitto kits are alternately referred to as the "long box" or "white box" series (1966-1971). Followed by this "yellow box"(1975-1977), the "blue box"(1978-1979) and finally the "red box"(1980) series. In the early eighties, there was one more release. More on that release later. Well the fourth and most controversial kit in this series is next. What is it? What can it be? Keep checking back!

これは「黄色い箱」シリーズの第3だった。日東歩くシリーズキットはオーロラモデルキットのコレクターと同じように箱によって普通、分類する異なったキットを識別される。初版の日東のキットは「長い箱」または「ホワイトボックス」シリーズ(1966-1971年)と互い違いに言われる。この「黄色い箱」 (1975-1977年),「ブルーボックス」 (1978-1979年)および最終的に「赤い箱」 (1980年の)シリーズ続かれる。第4湧き出、このシリーズのほとんどの論争の的になるキットは次である。それは何であるか。それは何である場合もあるか。点検するたくわえ!

Rare! Second Edition Nitto Walking Gappa! レア！重版歩くガッパ！

2007-03-08T20:26:00.000-08:00

Nitto Walking Gappa - Art No. 497-300

Number 2 in the second issue walking series features one of Komatsuzaki sensei's best paintings in the series.

The walking Gappa kit was the only kit in the entire walking series that had an "option." You have the choice of either the male or female Gappa heads to mount on the body. Pretty cool when you think about the complete lack of options in most model kits of any kind during that time. Was it a clever plan by Nitto to lure consumers into buying two of the same model kit? I would guess that had a lot to do with it.

歩くシリーズの第2はシリーズ. 小松崎せんせいで最もよい絵画の1枚を特色にする。ガッパの歩くキットは「選択が」。あった全体のシリーズに唯一のキットだったガッパの男性か女性の頭部の選択をボディに取付けるべき有する。その間種類のほとんどのモデルキットの選択の完全な欠乏について考える時かなり涼しい。それは同じモデルキットの2つの購入に消費者を魅惑する日東によって利発な計画行ったか。私はそれがそれとするためにたくさん持っていたことを推測する。

RARE! Second Edition Nitto Walking Gamera! レア！重版歩くガメラ！

2007-02-28T21:11:00.000-08:00

Nitto Walking Gamera - 496-300

In my years of experience collecting Nitto Gamera series kits, there are some unlikely kits that are impossible to find. The following series will highlight those kits. No better place to start than the second edition waking Gamera.

While the first edition "long box" Nitto kits are rare and highly desirable, with patience and luck they can be found. I have purchased them in Japan, on Yahoo Japan and even in the US from other collectors. But the only place I have found the second edition kits is in Japan. And I have only seen them twice! And both times I did not walk away until they were mine! In fact, the only one I have seen featured in a magazine is the Gappa kit, which will be next as it is number 2 in this series.

The second edition kit boxes were illustrated by none other than Shigeru Komatsuzaki, the maestro of model kit box and sofubi header card art. These illustrations would continue to front the standard series for another two re-issues over a five year period.

This series of four kits featured the greatest "cheat" in all of Nitto Gamera history! One that would more or less dictate another complete reissue of the standard series three years later AND would bring Komatsuzaki sensei back to paint the kaiju he missed the first go around! What is it you ask? Keep checking back!

Nitto Walking Zigra - First Edition! - 日東歩く深海怪獣ジグラ - 初版!!

2007-02-23T22:02:00.000-08:00

Nitto Walking Zigra (Art No. 346-200)

(Ed. note - This is the Zigra post from Feb. 1st. I changed the order of kits to be presented so I am reposting this to keep the proper order).

The Nitto Zigra and Jaiger model kits are some of the rarest, mainly because they were only reissued once in the 25 year span of Nitto Gamera series kits. Which is too bad, since both kits were definitely more exciting than the kits that proceeded them.The Zigra kit is the most accurate Nitto model representation of a Gamera foe. Its in what looks like the same silver-grey color most airplane model kits were molded in.
As you can see from the instructions, this was not a difficult kit to assemble.
日東歩く-深海怪獣ジグラ-プラモ

Nitto Walking Gyaos - First Edition - 日東歩くギヤオス - 初版!!

2007-02-22T19:30:00.000-08:00

First Edition Walking Gyaos Art No. 78-200

Most Gamera fans vote Gyaos as their favorite Gamera foe. What's not to like? It flys and spews laser beams (from its tuning fork throat). Exhales (out of its chest) flame retardent and can regenerate parts of its body chomped off by Gamera!

Nitto's Gyaos is one of their better kits. It has an impressive wingspan and fairly decent detail. Like the other walking kits, it does a fairly good job of hiding the wind-up motor. The motor seems to strain under the weight of this kit...the heaviest and largest of all Nitto walking series kits.

ほとんどのガメラはガメラの好みの敵として投票ギヤオスにファンする。何にのようにないか。それは空飛ぶ、レーザ光線を吹き出し、(音さの喉から)。 (箱から ) 遅らす炎を吐き出し、噛み切るガメラによってボディの部分を再生できる! 日東のギヤオスはよりよいキットの1つである。それは印象的な翼面積およびかなり適当な細部を有する。他の歩くキットのように、それは結末モーターを隠すことのかなりよい仕事をする。モーターはこのキットの重みにすべての日東歩くシリーズキットの最も重くのそして最も大きいこすようである。

Nitto Walking Gamera - First Edition! - 日東歩くガメラ- 初版!

2007-02-13T22:52:00.000-08:00

First Edition Walking Gamera
Art No. 63-200

Yep, its mine! I purchased this a few years ago in Japan. I really did not expect to find this (or some of the other models I purchased) when I was there. This is one of the pinnacles of my Nitto model kit collection. This and the Barugon kit started the Ultra Kaiju Series!

Like most model kits from this era in Japan, it was more of a "build it yourself" toy than a model kit. The aruku kits were wind-up motor powered. So you would wind up Gamera and Barugon, point them towards each other and let them go! If they started straying to the left or right, simply take the "hand control" stick and move the tail of your monster left or right and keep them locked in mortal combat! The instructions above say it all : The Gamera vs. Barugon duel game is possible with hand control.

The instructions illustrate how simple this kit was to assemble. Later walking Gamera kits used a new wind up motor that did not require a lot of space for the untightened spring. As you can see in the first edition, a slot is cut in the bottom of Gamera's shell to allow the untightened spring to poke out. Otherwise, the spring most likely would split the shell in two!

Nitto Gamera vs. Gyaos Postcard - 日東ガメラ対ギャオス・ポストカード

2007-02-13T13:10:00.000-08:00

Like the Barugon card before it, on the back are stats for Gamera and Gyaos, etc. I like the fact that this card has the Nitto logo on it.

The tag line on the bottom of the postcard changed to read: Nitto's popular plastic models on sale now!

日東ロゴを含むため, いいですよ. そうですね?

Nitto Gamera vs. Barugon Postcard - 日東ガメラ対バルゴン・ポストカード

2007-02-11T21:09:00.000-08:00

I don't know any of the Nitto postcards were distributed. Maybe in the hobby shops? They were effective advertising though.

On the bottom line of the card it says (from left to right) Daiei Movie - Gamera vs. Barugon - Nitto's Walking Plastic Model on sale now!

Anyone familiar with Japanese trading cards (bromides) of the time can appreciate how vibrant the colors on this card are. The bromides from Gamera vs. Barugon, though rare and desirable, have bland, washed out color. On the back of the card, Gamera's and Barugon's individual statistics are listed (height, weight, speed, etc.)

当時は、日東の郵便はがきいかに配られるか？ガメラおよびバルゴンの個々の統計量はリストされている(高さ、重量、速、等),絵はがきの背面が.

Nitto "Homework" Card - 日東の宿題カード

2007-02-09T21:03:00.000-08:00

One of the main reasons I like to collect model kits are for the box art. The other is for promotional pieces like this one to the left.

This is a "Homework" card. So called because on the back is a schedule of six days divided by six hours each day. At the bottom it says "Now that homework is done, a Nitto plastic model please." The front proclaims "Nitto Ultra Kaiju Series on sale now!" and lists the stats of Gamaron and Wanigon.

So if a kid wanted a Wanigon kit, he would log his completed homework over a week, noting the actual time spent on study. Once completed, he would present to his parents for the payoff of a walking Wanigon or Gamaron. An ingenious method for scholastic motivation. It would have worked on me!

私は左にこのカードのような昇進の部分のと同様、箱の芸術のためである、モデルキットを集めるのを好む。これは「宿題」カードである。背部に毎日分けられる6日6時間のスケジュールがあるのでいわゆる。底でそれは宿題は終ったので言う「、日東プラスチックモデル」。そう子供はワニゴンのキットがほしいと思ったら、彼は調査に使われた実時間に注意する週にわたる彼の完了された宿題を記録する。完了されて、彼は歩くワニゴンまたはガマロンの給料支払いのための彼の親に示す。学校の刺激のための独創的な方法。それは私で動作しよう!

日本の読者: あなたの青年のこれらのカードの1枚に記入したか。どのモデルに得たか。

いらっしゃい nandemoplamo さん！

2007-02-07T15:02:00.000-08:00

参上は、どもありがとうございました。またね！

Nitto Mini Barugon

2007-02-07T14:51:00.000-08:00

Nitto Mini Barugon - (Art No. 331-50)

Box art from the first edition Nitto Mini Barugon. Like the preceding two kits shown here from the same series, the Barugon model mounts on a plastic rock that hides a tiny pull back motor.

The box art is downright amateurish. I think whoever painted the Nitto Mini Gappa box art did this one as well.

Note that this is the only Nitto Barugon kit where he is a quadraped. The two horns you glue on Barugon's head are practially microscopic!

Nitto Mini Gappa

2007-02-05T23:08:00.000-08:00

Nitto Mini Gappa - (Art No. 330-50)

The Nitto Mini Gappa has probably the crudest box art of the entire Nitto Gamera/Gappa series, with the exception of the header cards for the vinyls (I'll post those later).

The mini Gappa model was available for 10 years (1970-1980). Like the mini Gamera kit featured below, it was released initially with a friction gear (pull back) motor, but later would be released sans the motor.

This mini kit was the only Nitto Gappa model that had its wings extended. All other versions had the wings folded down.

Mokei Mania - モケイ・マニア！ Nitto Mini Gamera

2007-02-02T10:06:00.000-08:00

Nitto Mini Gamera
(Art No. 127-50)

This is the first mini Gamera kit that Nitto produced, back in 1967. This kit would be reborn numerous times with and without its friction gear (pull back) motor.

As you can see from the illustration below, the completed Gamera model stands on the rock with the friction gear in it. Pull it back and woo hoo, look at it go!

Around the mid-70s, Nitto stopped releasing these mini kits with the little friction gear motor. Inflation and the price of oil saw these models increase in price by 200% in a span of ten years.

You may think it is strange that on the front of the box is a picture from Gamera vs. Viras (1968), yet the back advertises Gamera vs. Gyaos (1967). So that puts this kits actual release somewhere towards the end of the fourth quarter in 1967. It was not uncommon for paste up publicity stills like the one on the box top to pop up prior to the release of a movie back then. The production on Gamera vs. Viras must have begun at least by November of 67.

Pachi Kaiju - パチ怪獣 - Part I

2007-02-01T20:57:00.000-08:00

Its kind of funny that these are all the rage now in Japan. I have noticed a lot of interest in old Pachi-Kaiju (Pachi basically means a "cheap knockoff" or "imitation"). The Gamera and Gyaos to the left are good examples. They look like Gamera and Gyaos, but are not licensed by Daiei. They are just different enough that the argument could be made that they are not Gamera and Gyaos.

If you think about it, these are the distant ancestors of todays High Grade figure collections. Plastic Pachi Kaiju lasted through the 70s, only to be replaced by gomu (ゴム) or rubber figures. In the late eighties to early nineties, gomu figures really advanced in detail and were replaced by the HG, while gomu would be used primarily for super deformed figures.

But I digress...I look for every way possible to add to my Pachi Kaiju collection. Usually, the toys themselves are pretty cheap, since they don't have a copyright mark on them. The trick is to have someone see enough similarity with what they are supposed to be, to either end up on Yahoo Japan or at the stores.

Nitto Walking Zigra Model Kit

2007-02-01T11:37:00.000-08:00

Nitto Walking Zigra (Art No. 346-200)

The Nitto Zigra and Jaiger model kits are some of the rarest, mainly because they were only reissued once in the 25 year span of Nitto Gamera series kits. Which is too bad, since both kits were definitely more exciting than the kits that proceeded them.

The Zigra kit is the most accurate Nitto model representation of a Gamera foe. Its in what looks like the same silver-grey color most airplane model kits were molded in.

As you can see from the instructions, this was not a difficult kit to assemble.

日東歩く-深海怪獣ジグラ-プラモ

Nitto Ultra Kaiju Series Jaiger - Monster X - 大魔獣ジャイガー

2007-02-01T07:58:00.000-08:00

Of all the Nitto sofubi kaiju, the Ultra Kaiju Series Standard Jaiger is my clear favorite. Whoever sculpted it really got it right as far as Jaiger's expression and stance. I think the same artist probably did the Nitto Standard Zigra, Guiron and possibly Viras. These four out of the series feature the best detail and realisim.

If I were to pull on my statistical education and experience, I would postulate that there were more Jaigers produced than other kaijus in the Standard series. There are always some on Yahoo Japan, for at times half the cost of other similar vintage sofubi kaiju. Or it may just be that all the others are more popular. I have it on good authority that companies like Nitto and Bullmark did not keep records about production, so this will be nothing more than a theory.

Nitto's Ultra Kaiju Series had three sizes: Standard, Medium and Mini (also available as a Pendant...the same mini sofubi with an eyelet and a chain so that it could be worn). Unfortunately, Nitto did not make a middle size Jaiger, but the did make a mini (as seen above). I suspect the same sculptor that did the Standard Jaiger had his (or her) hand in this one as well.

In the beginning...

2007-01-31T20:18:00.000-08:00

When I think back to the genisis of my kaiju collecting, it had to be when I started purchasing 8MM and Super 8MM films from Ken Films.

Ken's catalogue had a number of AIP horror titles from the 50's and a few from the 60's. But in 1974, they added 12 AIP and AIP-TV films that I initally only knew about from reading Famous Monsters and The Monster Times.

Yongary was my favorite out of the whole series. Ken stitched together about 10 minutes of Yongary SPFX in the reel's 11 minute runtime. The box artwork is my favorite of the whole series. Dig those crazy colors. The 70s were somethin' else man...

Another favorite was Voyage Into Space. Yet another film that did not run on my local TV station, so this was my only access to it until years later. Unlike the other boxes in the series, the artwork wraps around the entire box lid, without the yellow boarder.

I am in the process of rescanning all of these film box covers to post here. Be on the lookout!

Gappa no angry now!

Welcome to the World of Puramo

2007-01-30T19:56:00.000-08:00

Good evening,

こんばんは,

There is an old Chinese saying "The journey of a million miles begins with the first step." Therefore, I begin this blog with the first post!

Up above is a Modern Toy Gamera
(モダン・トーイ・ガメラ). You will soon see that Gamera is a re-occuring, constant theme here at the World of Puramo.

New content daily...I promise!

Mark

マーク