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

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

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!!!

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