Status: DON'T EVEN BOTHER ASKING
Last Modified: 2013-08-28
First Posted: 2008-05-31
The Mechabonica (“mechanical bones”) line was launched in 1981 as a “test balloon”. They didn’t do so well, so they got shipped off to America, as the OAR many of us old farts grew up with. In 1983, Tomy tried again, and I think you know the rest of the story.
Through some miracle I managed to find an MIB Mechatoros on Yahoo Japan, and I didn’t even have to give up any organs for it! No way in hell I’m opening this one. See OAR bird for a built one.
I’ve wanted to try this on my Holotech Spinosapper’s saws forever, but was afraid of messing up. Then I found a backup. I think I did ok, even though it doesn’t look so hot up close. At least the effect was as cool looking as I had hoped. To add some contrast to the Hammer Rock, I borrowed part of a red clamshell cockpit.
Due to a lucky find from a US shop, the inflated prices of Rebirth zoids, the horrible exchange rate, and shipping costs, I somehow managed to get this LIMITED version for about as much as the regular version would have cost me. This was supposed to be one of those “faction switch” limiteds, but it came with the regular sticker sheet, so it’s still an Empire model despite its bright Republic color scheme.
In other news, Valga reminds me of an updated Robocaterpilas.
I decided to use some of my fire sale profits to restore my NJR Zabat that gave up its life in a parts swap. This one is from Academy, which released Zoids in Korea. (The kit’s colors are identical to the NJR, and so is the packaging—except for Korean text instead of Japanese.)
This was a reissue that brought much joy, since the OER Zore and OJR Hammer Rock have always been hard to come by. These are almost the Zore colors, except that the grey bits here actually have a faint tint to them, and the caps and canopy are different. I decided to go buck wild with the panel lining and detailing on this one. I also made a “head light”, like the larger Kongs all have, using a piece of a spare canopy.
This Gator was a custom order. We didn’t think they’d be able to chrome the head, but they managed. Recently I got a set of shiny Zenebas stickers from Reprolabels.com, which were perfect for this guy. Then I raided my spare parts for a red canopy and some matching caps.
Originally I painted the legs gloss black, which I then realized was not the best idea (next time: semi-gloss!). I also stole a clear orange visor from a spare Zillon, when I had this idea of a chrome army—silver, black, with orange glass.
I was interested in Bio Ptera since it came out (clear blue!), but didn’t want to pay $20 (plus shipping!) for such a tiny model. Enter ebay user akitoys, with their $6.50 buy it now. Last four pics show the display stand I stole from a Marvel Legends figure, because it allows for much better flight poses.
Zabat was originally introduced in the NJR, but the colors didn’t grab me like these do. Zabat’s not motorized, but there’s a fussy button you can press to flap the wings, and there is a cruise missile with a pullback motor to deploy. There are two different heads you can use: one that is more bat-like, for automated drone mode, and one that can fit a pilot, which I prefer. There is also a handy stand for hanging upside down when not in use. (Take the pilot out first, for his sake!)
Some versions of this zoid came with a black head, and others came with a grey one. Both of mine came with grey, lucky me. So I borrowed a black one from Zillon, for illustrative purposes. Before I got a Zillon, I wanted something black, so I used the head from a Clawgut (which is actually a Starrior). Pic #4 shows the alternate weapon, for suicidal pilots. The last pic shows the garish stickers that come with all Zoids2 kits, that I choose not to apply.
Hello from the future! At long last there are some pics! It’ll still be a while before I get a full on review, so here’s the short-ish one:
VERY FEW COMPLAINTS, IF ANY.
This is from Kotobukiya’s M.S.G. (Modeling Support Goods) line of weapons and parts. While M.S.G. stuff is made for Giant Human Like Battle Robots, this one can (probably) be used on Zoids, so I’m including it here. Also, I have no other outlet for non-Zoid models. For now, check out the build review and this awesome vidya (which means it’s not mine).
Reissued by Wave, and nearly identical to the OJR, but much much cheaper (at least when it first came out). This one is near impossible to shoot, as you can tell. I’ll try to get the lighting up action sometime soon. Watch out for sunlight, as this one likes to turn yellow (GRRR).
Mint in Box! I never thought I’d get this one, but somehow it was totally ignored on ebay and I got it for $36! See OER Hydrazoid for a built one.