Second time around

I didn't quite like the pose of my Max Fac Mazinkaiser when I first took a shot at it (pardon the pun), so I did another take and decided to do a couple of quick solos while I was shooting at my platoon of Mazingers three nights ago.

There. 'Kaiser's stance is a lot better now. ^_^

Bad.Ass.

My holy grail... what used to be.

Collectors often have their "holy grails." In my case, it is, or was, Max Factory's Mazinkaiser.

Since Max Fac issued 'Kaiser years ago, it became my ultimate collectible. As time went by, the more its price went up (sometimes 4x as much as the original retail)... the more I drooled for the baddest-ass version of Maz.

That was until I got hold of it last weekend, courtesy of GreatToys. I'm not taking anything away from the awesome fig, nor from Max Factory. I'm just saying that with the second issue, it isn't my holy grail anymore. I guess it isn't that rare anymore to be considered holy.

Can you say "big box?"

Anyway, as I've said, the Max Gokin/Alloy Mazinkaiser is still a wicked-as-hell collectible and it was definitely worth the years of waiting.

Wickedly-awesome fig!

I couldn't resist making a NelMan's Way version. ^_^

More pics to follow... for sure!

Want some Koji?

I currently too lazy to play around with words right now. So, I'll just let the photos do the talking.

My GX-45 Mazinger Z (Shin Mazinger)

Want some Koji?

I couldn't wait for the GX-49 Mazinger Z, which is the same as this one except it would include the God Scrander... I'm not that big into taking photos of Maz with his Scranders anyway. Well, maybe someday, I would. ^_^

Click here for the full set of my SOC GX-45 photos in Flickr.

My third... and second.

I drove for about 45 minutes in order to pick the SOC GX-45 up from the store just moments before their closing time last night.

I know that this is just another SOC Mazinger Z, but the sheer articulation of this figure is reason enough to justify the purchase. ^_^

Oh, about this post's title? The GX-45 is my third SOC, and it is my second SOC Maz.

Now I really, really want to get that GX-45A Mazinger Z Atami Night Version. :)

Voltes V

The culmination.

Although he's not necessarily my favorite super-robot (Mazinger Z is), Voltes V's Respect for the Volt-in Box version, GX-31V, is by far my favorite SOC.

He looks good up close, but I didn't realize how photogenic he is until I saw the result of my photoshoot. Damn, he looks great! ^_^

You can view the complete set of pics (including the individual photos of Volt vehicles) here.

Volt Lander

The final component of Voltes V -- Jamie's Volt Lander. ^_^

From Wiki --

Jamie Robinson (Megumi Oka) is a kunoichi (female ninja) and the 18th heir of the Kōga-ryū ninja. Young, slim, and beautiful, Megumi received special training during her childhood. By the age of 13, she already possessed extraordinary skills and lightning reflexes. She also learned the gentle arts from her mother. Through her mother's guidance, Megumi became a person with a calm yet alert disposition. Joining the Voltes V Team, she was the voice of reason among the male members, especially whenever Ken'ichi and Ippei were about to clash during personal conflicts. Her cool demeanor and uncanny skills qualified Megumi as the fifth (and only female) member of the Voltes V team. Her uniform was yellow with pink accents. Voiced by Miyuki Ueda, who also played as the voice of Chizuru Nanbara in Combattler V, as Erika in the Daimos series, and as Marie Antoinette in Rose of Versailles; the latter was another series which Nagahama, the creator of Voltes V, was one of the contributing directors. She pilots the Volt Lander (Feet).

Volt Panzer

The next Volt vehicle is as big as its pilot, Big Bert, himself -- the Volt Panzer.

Even the structure of the Volt Panzer would remind you of Big Bert's profile. ^_^

The cockpit slides in when the volt-in procedure happens to allow the Frigate to dock.

This is the side where the Volt Bomber docks.

I forgot to make the left claw flush with the body. ^_^

The most viewed angle of the Volt Panzer -- Voltes V's chest. :)

From Wiki --

Robert "Big Bert" Armstrong (Daijirō Gō) is the defense tactician. He was once a playful child but Daijirō's outlook in life suddenly changed when his father disappeared. Alarmed by this change in his personality, Mrs. Gō sent him to live in the country where a martial arts master taught him different fighting styles and forms of meditation. Upon rejoining his brothers, Daijirō was already a master of different hand-to-hand fighting styles. The naginata (fighting staff) became his favorite weapon. Together with Ken'ichi and Hiyoshi, Daijirō started training as a member of the Voltes V Team. Unlike in the group portrait above his uniform was dark green, not brown. Voiced by Tesshou Genda in the original Voltes V. He pilots the Volt Panzer (Body Chest).

Volt Bomber

Here's number 2 among the Volt vehicles, Mark Gordon's Volt Bomber.

From Wiki -

Mark Gordon (Ippei Mine) is a rodeo champion. He was orphaned while still a young boy. His mother died trying to save him from a pack of wolves. After his mother's death, he grew bitter, aloof, but cool under crisis. He learned how to live in the streets and perform odd jobs. This kind of life strengthened his personality. Upon joining the rodeo, he learned to ride horses and how to use a whip. He found his greatest friend in a white stallion known as Aiful ("Alpha"). The two, man and beast, became inseparable. He won two rodeo championship contests with Aiful as his horse. Then one day, The Earth International Defense Force asked Ippeo to join the team. When he refused, he was taken forcibly, so for the first time, Ippei and Aiful where separated. Dr. Hamaguchi has Aiful brought to Big Falcon early in the series. His uniform was blue. Voiced by Kazuyuki Sogabe in the original Voltes V series. He pilots the Volt Bomber (Arms).

SOC virgin

Yes, I am one... well, was one.

I got the Soul of Chogokin version of my favorite super-robot of all time, finally.

Just some test shots as I just opened up the box last night. I was too giddy at the moment and was too lazy to set up the proper lights. ^_^

SOC GX-01R Mazinger Z

If I hadn't watched the replay of LA's win over Orlando at the tube, I would've gotten to play with Maz a little bit more and would've gotten more shots off.