HL Pro Metaltech 05 GATTAIGER Uchuu Enban Daisensou
Aug 7, 2015 18:21:57 GMT
CFF and darkfriar like this
Post by TheMazingerZ on Aug 7, 2015 18:21:57 GMT
Here is my quick review of the anime color version HL Pro Metaltech 05 Gattaiger.
One thing before I start; I pre-ordered the HL Pro Metaltech 05 Gattaiger from Anime-Export exactly one year ago, under the guise that it would be released two or three months later. For whatever the reason, this HL Pro release took an entire year to become available at Anime-Export and Japan in general. I seen weird explanations on RJ from Tom/Gettershadow/Gone/Back about why it took so long for Japanese retailers to get it. Well I am not convinced, and after you see a couple of things I found on my Gattaiger, you may not be convinced either...
Now to the review!
The Box has beautiful graphics, no doubt about that.
Unfortunately, I can see this beautiful box wearing out heavily, as it is made of thin cardboard. Basically, exactly the same as the Bandai SOC boxes.
To be honest, Tom/Gettershadow/Gone/Back constant (blank) and bickering about this figure and HL Pro in general, turn me sour on it. I don't hate it, but I no longer like it very much. As such, I kept the pictures to only the important stuff. Please bear with me...
GATTAIGER:
Gattaiger is a very heavy chunk of die cast. It is so heavy, that it's even a little uncomfortable to fiddle with it. We all know that due to the sheer weight of the bottom half of the Gattaiger saucer, it can very easily detach and drop down - crushing anything it falls on, and very likely getting damaged as well. This is a great example of excessive use of die cast. But, it does look really good in attack form.
ROBOIZER:
There are enough reviews and pictures of Roboizer already, so mine will not focus on that. I do have to admit that this very obscure robot does look good in figure form. It has those simple lines that classic Super Robots are all about.
Articulation-wise, it is a little better than the older humanoid SOCs, but pales in comparison with the newer SOCs (GX-45 and later). Of course, it can't even be compared to the SRCs. However, it can still do the "failed" limbo...
Now, let's get to the stuff I really want to pass on about the Roboizer, shall we.
I love to find out exactly how these figures work. I enjoy taking them apart just as much as posing them. Well, I didn't have to take apart the Roboizer to see several fatal flaws in it:
The Ratchets:
Ratchets seem to be very popular among action figure collectors. I agree that when done right, ratchets can be totally awesome, and way better than the regular friction joints. However, HL Pro did NOT do the ratchets right! The Roboizer has ratchets in the elbows and the knees. First negative I saw was how HUGE the ratchet detents were! Horrible engineering!!!
Those ratcheted joints remind me of the cheap Chinese bootlegs found in Big Lots! Hey, HL Pro... this is a $160 (plus shipping) figure!
As I examined the ratchets more closely, I noticed they do not incorporate any sort of "spring" mechanism on the ratchet's tab. It is a "solid-to-solid" system.
The problem with a system like that is the fast wear and tear. Since there is no spring, the solid tab will be worn out by the solid detents. There is nothing to "give" to avoid it. The SRCs/SOCs incorporate the spring-loaded tabs in their designs, hence they last longer, AND feel a lot smoother when you move them.
The Hip Joints:
This is the GREATEST weakness of this figure! Why on Earth would HL Pro design something like they did is beyond my comprehension! It truly seems they wanted the Roboizer to break!!!
The Hip Joints are made of two parts (per leg). The top part (female side), moves side to side, while the bottom part (male side) moves front to back - with very limited back movement.
Here is the FATAL FLAW... the Hip Joint does NOT rotate at all! Nope, they don't rotate, not even one bit. Now, I'm sure everyone likes to pose their figures at least a little, right? So, here comes Tommy, opens up his Gattaiger Set, takes out the Roboizer and is ready to pose it in an action pose... SNAP! There goes the Hip Joint because he tried to turn the leg. Dumb Tommy! He should've read the instructions before posing the figure. He would've known that the leg only rotates at the knee and the ankle. Well, turns out the Knee Joint is sooo tight, that it puts an incredible mount of stress on the tiny, little, PLASTIC Hip Joint. The ankle Joint was tight as well, by the way.
Yeap, this is just a disaster waiting to happen. HL Pro, was it too much overhead to make those Hip Joints out of metal (not die cast)? I mean, it is a very expensive figure after all...
The Paint:
My Roboizer and Gattaiger were pretty much flawless as far a paint applications. They even put baggies on the arms so they wouldn't rub off on the thighs! Good Job, HL Pro! However, you can clearly see were the top of the Thighs rubbed off on the Hip/Crotch area of the Roboizer. This happened in transit I guess, since it was like that when I took it out of the styro-box.
Maybe, a little piece of plastic in between the legs and the crotch is not a bad idea, HL Pro.
Overall, the Metaltech 05 GATTAIGER Uchuu Enban Daisensou is not a bad purchase. However, be aware of those Hip Joints and Knee and Elbow ratchets, as they may not last as long as we wish.
Thanks for reading!
}D
One thing before I start; I pre-ordered the HL Pro Metaltech 05 Gattaiger from Anime-Export exactly one year ago, under the guise that it would be released two or three months later. For whatever the reason, this HL Pro release took an entire year to become available at Anime-Export and Japan in general. I seen weird explanations on RJ from Tom/Gettershadow/Gone/Back about why it took so long for Japanese retailers to get it. Well I am not convinced, and after you see a couple of things I found on my Gattaiger, you may not be convinced either...
Now to the review!
The Box has beautiful graphics, no doubt about that.
Unfortunately, I can see this beautiful box wearing out heavily, as it is made of thin cardboard. Basically, exactly the same as the Bandai SOC boxes.
To be honest, Tom/Gettershadow/Gone/Back constant (blank) and bickering about this figure and HL Pro in general, turn me sour on it. I don't hate it, but I no longer like it very much. As such, I kept the pictures to only the important stuff. Please bear with me...
GATTAIGER:
Gattaiger is a very heavy chunk of die cast. It is so heavy, that it's even a little uncomfortable to fiddle with it. We all know that due to the sheer weight of the bottom half of the Gattaiger saucer, it can very easily detach and drop down - crushing anything it falls on, and very likely getting damaged as well. This is a great example of excessive use of die cast. But, it does look really good in attack form.
ROBOIZER:
There are enough reviews and pictures of Roboizer already, so mine will not focus on that. I do have to admit that this very obscure robot does look good in figure form. It has those simple lines that classic Super Robots are all about.
Articulation-wise, it is a little better than the older humanoid SOCs, but pales in comparison with the newer SOCs (GX-45 and later). Of course, it can't even be compared to the SRCs. However, it can still do the "failed" limbo...
Now, let's get to the stuff I really want to pass on about the Roboizer, shall we.
I love to find out exactly how these figures work. I enjoy taking them apart just as much as posing them. Well, I didn't have to take apart the Roboizer to see several fatal flaws in it:
The Ratchets:
Ratchets seem to be very popular among action figure collectors. I agree that when done right, ratchets can be totally awesome, and way better than the regular friction joints. However, HL Pro did NOT do the ratchets right! The Roboizer has ratchets in the elbows and the knees. First negative I saw was how HUGE the ratchet detents were! Horrible engineering!!!
Those ratcheted joints remind me of the cheap Chinese bootlegs found in Big Lots! Hey, HL Pro... this is a $160 (plus shipping) figure!
As I examined the ratchets more closely, I noticed they do not incorporate any sort of "spring" mechanism on the ratchet's tab. It is a "solid-to-solid" system.
The problem with a system like that is the fast wear and tear. Since there is no spring, the solid tab will be worn out by the solid detents. There is nothing to "give" to avoid it. The SRCs/SOCs incorporate the spring-loaded tabs in their designs, hence they last longer, AND feel a lot smoother when you move them.
The Hip Joints:
This is the GREATEST weakness of this figure! Why on Earth would HL Pro design something like they did is beyond my comprehension! It truly seems they wanted the Roboizer to break!!!
The Hip Joints are made of two parts (per leg). The top part (female side), moves side to side, while the bottom part (male side) moves front to back - with very limited back movement.
Here is the FATAL FLAW... the Hip Joint does NOT rotate at all! Nope, they don't rotate, not even one bit. Now, I'm sure everyone likes to pose their figures at least a little, right? So, here comes Tommy, opens up his Gattaiger Set, takes out the Roboizer and is ready to pose it in an action pose... SNAP! There goes the Hip Joint because he tried to turn the leg. Dumb Tommy! He should've read the instructions before posing the figure. He would've known that the leg only rotates at the knee and the ankle. Well, turns out the Knee Joint is sooo tight, that it puts an incredible mount of stress on the tiny, little, PLASTIC Hip Joint. The ankle Joint was tight as well, by the way.
Yeap, this is just a disaster waiting to happen. HL Pro, was it too much overhead to make those Hip Joints out of metal (not die cast)? I mean, it is a very expensive figure after all...
The Paint:
My Roboizer and Gattaiger were pretty much flawless as far a paint applications. They even put baggies on the arms so they wouldn't rub off on the thighs! Good Job, HL Pro! However, you can clearly see were the top of the Thighs rubbed off on the Hip/Crotch area of the Roboizer. This happened in transit I guess, since it was like that when I took it out of the styro-box.
Maybe, a little piece of plastic in between the legs and the crotch is not a bad idea, HL Pro.
Overall, the Metaltech 05 GATTAIGER Uchuu Enban Daisensou is not a bad purchase. However, be aware of those Hip Joints and Knee and Elbow ratchets, as they may not last as long as we wish.
Thanks for reading!
}D
! Happy belated Birthday man!!! 
