Goodbye 1980's

As an afterword to the 80's I feel I must add to the UK's Anime & Manga history a few words on the Robot invasion to our shores from FASA Corporation's franchise “BattleTech” its gritty interpretation of the fare future, in which the Succession Wars are set in the 31st century several hundred years after the fall of the Star League when humanity had colonised the stars, now feudal lords continuously war for more territory across the stars, planet by planet. It's not a shiny future as most, if not all of the manufacturing technology and know-how has been destroyed by conflict, this thoughtfully fleshed-out universe could easily be compared to the political back-drop from frank herbert's Dune.

What makes this far flung future so engrossing is the men and women who pilot the war machines used in these conflicts, called Mechs, the constant repair, and decay, the scavenging for parts, even the danger of the machine over heating and shutting-down was as much a risk of battle than the enemy! These Mechs bipedal 30ft to 50ft. Tall human-like war machines were categorised as; Light; Medium; Heavy; Assault, and LAMs and organised in to a Lance, a squad of 4 Mechs to suit the theatre of battle and there mission objectives.

BATTLEFORCE (back of BOX art).

BATTLEFORCE Rule book.

CITYTECH (Front BOX art).

[Note: I had a copy of the 'Technical Readout: 3025' published in 1986\1987, it had 55 'Mechs, 15 aerospace fighters, 3 LAMs, 4 DropShips and 12 combat vehicles, and all background details for the BattleTech universe, and their properties in the game.]

[Note: What the 'Technical Readout: 3025' showed was original Mechanical Designs faithfully copied from Japanese Anime TV shows (but no details given of their origins) "Fang of the Sun Dougram" from Sunrise Studios, and Studio Nue's "Crusher Joe" & "Super Dimension Fortress Macross". These designs stood out far beyond the home-grown American Mechs designs, and in many cases had been seen as model kits either imported original kits or re-badged kits by Revell.]

Now BattleTech also re-badged these robot model kits, it was a great time for Science Fiction model making hobbyists, and another opportunity to find out more about the Japanese cartoon shows, leading to Amine & Manga!

[Note: BattleTech\FASA Corporation had unbeknown to us at the time, had a few licensing legal issues with other American companies, most notably 'Harmony Gold' who thought that it owned the Intellectual Property of “Macross” and any of its images and thus merchandise! Hence BattleTech of the late 80's & early 90's is referred 'Classic BattleTech', and many Mech designs are now known as the "unseen!"]

I will leave you the reader to explore and search for knowledge on "Crusher Joe", "Super Dimension Fortress Macross" & "Fang of the Sun Dougram", enjoy. 

[you do have the Internet and its search-engines NOW!]

The Robot invaders.

First there was the was the reconnaissance force (testing the water, so to speak) that landed in British toy shops and Model shops from about 1984 , what was so amazing and revolutionary was the design of these scale model kits, and thus a new Science Fiction toy came branded and packaged from America.

Pictured is the 1/72 scale CONDAR - Robotech Defenders 

(The Bushman from Fang of the Sun Dougram).

Combat Armor Bushman - SOLTIC H-102 from Fang of the Sun, Dougram 

1/72 Scale model kit, imported by AMERANG (1984), Made by DOYUSHA

SUNRISE 1981-1983 ©

BULD THE WORLD'S MOST ADVANCED DEFENSE SYSTEM."

"You've built the deadliest aircraft.  The most awesome tanks.  And the mightiest warships.  

Now, maybe, you're ready for Robotech Force TM.  

Super-powered robots equipped with radar-directed, rapid fire lasers.  And powerful computerized brains, programmed to seek and destroy all enemies.  So protect the world from attack.  Put yourself in command of the most awesome defense system that the world has ever known.  

Robotech Force TM.

Revell a model kit manufacturer had struck a distribution deal with the Japanese, they hand picked Model kits that tied-in to Japanese cartoon shows in the likes of, Fang of the Sun Dougram, Super Dimension Century Orguss,  Super Dimension Fortress Macross, under the new trademarks of “Robotech Defenders” and “Robotech Changers”, these enormous mecha (Mechanised walking war machines) had never been seen on our shores before, and came as if out of nowhere, with a previously unimagined realism, for a Science Fiction scale model kit, or toy that depicted a militarised future combat on a grand scale!

So we have re-branded, and re-packaged Japanese model kits imported from the United States of America (Revell ) to the United Kingdom.  In a wide range of scales 1/48, 1/72, 1/100, 1/144, 1/170.

Under the collective name ROBOTECH, you will find model kits from 3 different Anime TV shows, from the early 1980's;

Super Dimension Century Orguss

Fang of the Sun Dougram

Super Dimension Century Macross

ROBOTECH CHANGERS AND ROBOTECH DEFENDERS (1984)

"Introducing the most advanced weapons in the model kit world.  ROBOTECH Defenders.  These human driven robots have everything it takes to take over.

Articulation  Removeable weapons.  Accessories.  And scaled human figures.  They've even got their own DC Comic Book series.  Collect all 14 Robotech Defenders.  You'll never assemble a defenseless fighting force, again."

ROBOTECH Defenders,

ROBOTECH Changers,

ROBOTECH Factory.

ROBOTECH CHANGERS - TRIGON

ORGOSS Scale 1/48  model kit.

(DRIFAND DAL made by ARII )

ROBOTECH DEFENDERS - EXAXES

ORGOSS Scale 1/48  model kit.

(ISHFORN GERWALK made by ARII )

ROBOTECH DFEENDERS - ROBOT RECOVERY UNIT

Fang of the Sun Dougram Scale 1/72 model kit. 

(Trailer Truck Bromry-Eyevan DT-2 made by Takara) 

ROBOTECH DFEENDERS - AQUALO

Fang of the Sun Dougram Scale 1/72 model kit. 

(Combat Armor Soltic H404S Mackerel made by Takara) 

ROBOTECH DFEENDERS - ASSAULT SQUAD

Fang of the Sun Dougram Scale 1/72 model kit. 

(Blizzard Gunner & ARMC Instead)

ROBOTECH DFEENDERS - DROMEDIN

Fang of the Sun Dougram Scale 1/72 model kit. 

(Crab Gunner)

ROBOTECH DFEENDERS - ICE ROVER

Fang of the Sun Dougram Scale 1/72 model kit, & Scale 1/48 model kit.

TWO (Air Cushion Vehicles).

ROBOTECH DFEENDERS - TERRATTACKER

Fang of the Sun Dougram Scale 1/72 model kit. 

(JRS Native Dancer)

ROBOTECH FACTORY; Modular pod bays, connect Vertically and Horizontally.

With Macross 1/170 Scale model kits.

Bay-Pod ONE; Armored Veritech in Battloid Mode

With Macross 1/170 Scale model kits.

(Armored Valkyrie VF-1J in Battroid Mode)

Bay-Pod TWO; Veritech in Fighter Mode

With Macross 1/170 Scale model kits.

(Valkyrie VF-1A in Fighter Mode - Vermillion Squadron).

Bay-Pod THREE; Veritech in Battloid Mode

With Macross 1/170 Scale model kits.

( Valkyrie VF-  Battloid Mode ).

Bay-Pod  FOUR; with Veritech in Guardian Mode

With Macross 1/170 Scale model kits.

(Valkyrie VF-1J Gerwalk Mode)

"The complete Robotech Factory series."

"Collect all the 1/170 scale Robotech Factory modules (each sold separately)." 

"The terrestrial service unit for keeping the active aircraft and robots in fighting shape.

These futuristic modules reflect the life in another world and time.  This model kit is the first step into this fantastic world - from service module to complete service station.

This model kit is the first step into the fantastic world of the Robotech robot series."

[UPDATE: in late 2022, I was able to buy scale model kits that were made in the 1980's from e-Bay, either the American imports, or the Japanese Originals.  Adding to the Archive of branding, and marketing from 1984 to 1986.]

The ROBOTECH FACTORY, & The MACROSS Armored Factory 1/100 Scale model kits;

with Tomahawk Destroid, & Armored Valkyrie VF-1A Batlriod 1/100 Scale model kits.

[Some 30 years apart in the making, and both brought in late 2022 - DVD is for box scale]

[In the 70's and 80's the hobby of building scale models from kits was an acceptable pass-time for a boy and adolescent alike].

In the United Kingdom, 'TAYLOR & MC KENNA' would directly import SF plastic scale model kits from Japan, from a number of series;

Super Dimension Century Macross

IMAI's SF Animation character plastic model kits

Super Dimension Century Macross

IMAI's SF Animation character plastic model kits

Super Dimensional Century Orguss

IMAI's SF plastic model kits.

Fang of the Sun Dougram  -  Ryosuke-Takahashi SUNRISE 1981-1983 ©

DOYUSHA plastic model kits.

[Printed in error 24/06/2013 :- Crusher Joe kits were not released under Revell's Robotech line.  Thank you Bryan Powell (12\09\2015), I must have been thinking of the Battletech page I was soon to write on the 27\06\2013]

[Amendment.  Crusher Joe Mecha as Battletech model Kits:- the “Galleon” Tank  (kept its name for Battletech); the robot scout walker “Ostall” (scaled-up and renamed the Locust for Battletech); the “Harpy” space fighter (Battletech Samurai Aerospace Fighter); and the “Siren” space fighter (Battletech Corsair Aerospace Fighter).]