UFO Commander 7
As a kid, my grandparents gifted me a Jeek Tunneln for Christmas, on that side of the family I was one of eight, so I always ended up with surprising gifts I initially would question and later treasure, none so much as this toy.
The vehicle had no backstory but me being inspired heavily by daily doses of “Star Blazers” had a crew and a full story arc that summer.
I was shocked to discover that Japanese toy maker Shinsei actually did an elaborate comic book for each vehicle, describing the back story and what everything did. I didn’t see this as a kid but would have enjoyed it.
I think I have a new obsession.
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No denying the glory of Star Blazers, but this line does kind of look like a bunch of leftover robot parts randomly stuck together. Brain III appears to be part pencil sharpener.
This Anon can't wait until our host secures the Blue Silver ship from the comic. It looks very, VERY much like the uncompleted "escape ship" in "The Thing".
Blair's been busy out here all by himself…
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Even back then, one quick trip with Dad to the hardware store and one can of dark green Krylon later, it would have made a dandy Gamilon fighter.
I am trying to find out if the Valcan robot’s buzzsaw arm was used on a similar diecast robot toy from the late 70’s as I distinctly remember that buzzsaw arm but on another robot. Any clues?
Repto, the dinosaur / lizard / winged crocodile man from Micronauts had a pretty cool buzzsaw hand around the same time. I remember getting mine from a shelf over the magazine counter at my neighbourhood corner store and being completely mesmerized by the card artwork and zany concept of the toy itself.
I was a tad too young for Ufo Commander 7 but those guys feel so evocative and grand by their sheer design, with or without comic I know for sure a kid imagination can flare up by merely glancing at those metallic wonders. Saw a bunch of them at a toy show last weekend and my 8 years old son mind sure got interested!