ENTEX Liabe Star Cruiser - バンダイ・リアベ号

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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!