A Harmony of Robot invaders.

It was about 1986 onwards that a new force of merchandise hit the UK shops, not only toy and hobby shops, but comic book stores and the video shelf on high street stores. This too was a re-branding under the trademark “Robotech” now in agreement with 'Revell' the scale model manufactuer that had a range of kits under the title "ROBOTECH DEFENDERS", and the media company 'Harmony Gold' that had acquired the rights to 3 Japanese cartoon shows, 'Super Dimension Fortress Macross', 'Dimensioal Cavalry Southern Cross', and 'Genesis Climber Mospeada'. 

 [More about what happened to these 3 shows, will follow later, Robotech part 1 & Robotech part 2.].                                                                                                        

Printed and released in America;

MACROSS #1, December 1984,

ROBOTECH MASTERS #1, July 1985,

ROBOTECH THE NEW GENERATION #1, July 1985

                                                                                                                        

Living in a village with its Hobby\toy shop and News Agent, I needed to spread the search further afield, to my two nearest cities which where Leicester and Nottingham (in the East Midlands of England) to find more of what looked like Japanese Imports!

[Searching was done on foot, to find printed matter for the information, phone books, Yellow pages, comic books, magazines, fanzines, toy catalogs! Nobody had a smart-phone or mobile\cell phone, there was NO all knowing oracle called Google or Wiki! If you wanted to find something out YOU did the detective work.]

“How to find Japanese Animation Items” back in August 1988!

“ The Magic of Palladium Books” the “Unabashed House Organ” for Robotech Role Playing Games, had these few pages in issue #2.  

An other British Magazine, this time in 1987;

(White Dwarf magazine, March 1987).

(White Dwarf magazine, March 1987).

Review of Mekton (ONE) Rules, and Roadstriker (Expantion Rules),

by Phil Fances.

(White Dwarf magazine, March 1987).

Review of Mekton (ONE) RPG\Wargame Rules,

by Phil Fances.

(White Dwarf magazine, March 1987).

Review of Roadstriker - Mekton (ONE) Expantion Rules,

by Phil Fances.

(White Dwarf magazine, March 1987).

Virgin Mega Store's Games Centre (White Dwarf magazine, March 1987).

'Battletech' table-top game, and Graphic Novel.

[NOTES: In March of 1987 the reviewer Phil Fances, in that month's issue of 'White Dwarf Magazine, does use the Word "Anime", but in keeping with a lightharted tone, refers to it as "what the Japanese call their giant robot cartoons", and in both the reviews of 'MEKTON' and its Expantion rule set 'Roadstriker', you can note the phrase "in the best possible taste", that to my mind brings up a 'catch-phrase from comedian Kenny Everett.]   

[NOTES: That the 1980's the Retail and mail order Company 'GAMES WORKSHOP' was quite differant than its post 2000 counterpart, and was a haven for Role playing games, Novels, and War games, of Science Fiction, and Fantasy, and other well known IPs, not just its own games and minitures!]

[NOTES: So far I have not found any more writings, or advertisements in regards to Anime, or the American games of Battletech or Mekton in the 1980's issues of White Dwarf Magazine]

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).]