From what I can gather, over the years, Getter Robo has had many re-incarnations. So many that I get quite lost wondering how everything may connect or even if the stories do connect. With all that being said, I will just talk about the toy I am reviewing today and not its background......

Growing up in the US makes my knowledge of the Getter Robo franchise limited. My only real knowledge of Getter Robo is Getter Robo G which was brought to us in the USA as Starvengers, Part of Jim Terry's Force Five TV series.

From what I can gather, over the years, Getter Robo has had many re-incarnations. So many that I get quite lost wondering how everything may connect or even if the stories do connect. With all that being said, I will just talk about the toy I am reviewing today and not its background.

So, sparing you any further verbal diarrhea, I present to you Aoshima's New Getter Robo (weathered version) which incidentally was provided by Aoshima's website, Hobby World Japan

Lets start off with the packaging. Aoshima always seems to hit the mark with the way they present their toys. I don't care which figure you buy from them, you can always expect great artwork or illustration of the figure within the box in a cool dynamic pose. As you can see below, New Getter Robo is not exception.

Upon opening the box, you are greeted with every chogokin collectors dream... A big chunk of metal entombed in Styrofoam. Aoshima was even kind enough to include tissue wrapping the figure. I guess the tissue paper is for those of us who may get to excited opening the box.

So, enough with the jokes, what's inside the box already!

• New Getter Robo
• One pair of weapon holding fists
• Open right hand (detailed backhand)
• Open right hand (detailed palm)
• Three pairs of back wings (1 set of small/closed, 1 set of open/down, 1 set open/extended
• Two axes

You can clearly see in the photo below, all that is mentioned above. This version of New Getter Robo is called a weathered version. This basically means that the paint has shading added to give it a more realistic appearance. Let me just say that the paint job is stunning. The figure stands approximately 7.5" tall and is comprised of almost 90% die-cast metal as well as other quality materials. The large die-cast content really gives the figure nice heft and quality feel when you hold it. Something about a toy that weighs over 1 pound (1 lb. 3 oz. to be exact) really makes you feel like your money was well spent.

You can see below that this figure has great articulation allowing it to do some cool poses with the 2 axes that are included. Clicking ratchet joints are used in combination with tight friction joints. The combination of the 2 mentioned joints enable you to pose the figure as you choose.

Here is where the toy kinda fails for me. I really wish that some caps were included for the screw holes. I think the exposed screw holes really take away from the realistic look of the figure.

Enough about the exposed screw hole shortcoming. Heck, just turn the figure around and look at it from the front. You have to admit, this New Getter Robo looks quite fierce wielding his spiked battle ax. Also note the added shading on the axes adding to the weathered look.

The detailing on this figure is really nice, look at the translucent green chest panels that reveal the mechanics underneath. Note how well the green on the face matches up with the translucent chest pieces.

Be careful, those forearm spikes are kinda sharp! You don't want to let the young-ins to get a hold of this one folks!

Moving right along, yes I am turning the figure around again. I am doing this to show the 3 sets of wings that I mentioned earlier in the review. The pictures go like this, 1 set of small/closed, 1 set of open/down, 1 set open/extended. The open extended wings are my personal favorite.

Here is something that kinda bothers me a little. Look at how odd the elbow joints appear when the arms are bent. Most Aoshima figures have this style elbow joint. I really wish Aoshima would come up with a more aesthetically pleasing joint.

Joint aesthetics aside, New Getter Robo is very well balanced figure. Just check out the photo below of him unleashing an ass whipping on CollectionDX's Nor-Easter Vegitius. No tricks, New Getter Robo is actually holding that pose!

So in conclusion, I love this toy. It is a big sturdy hunk of die-cast Chogokin goodness! Aoshima has once again produced a quality modern chogokin. The formula is simple, great materials and craftsmanship in conjunction with a uncomplicated design is always going to be a winner in my book. You can grab one of these metal beauties at Aoshima's website, Hobby World Japan.

The Space Battleship Yamato craze of the late 70's spawned alot of very interesting toys. Aoshima's Gattai Yamato has to be one of the most unusual I've ever encountered......

The Space Battleship Yamato craze of the late 70's spawned alot of very interesting toys. Aoshima's 1976 release of Gattai Kyokan Yamato has to be one of the most unusual I've ever encountered. Recently, Aoshima's website, Hobby World Japan, sent me a re-issue of the 1976 release to review. Before I get to the review I would quickly like to explain a few things. "Gattai" is the Japanese word for "Combine" and "Kyokan" means "Giant Ship." Hence the name Gattai Kyokan Yamato. Basically in English would translate to Combining Giant Ship Yamato.

Aoshima's Gattai Kyokan Yamato is composed of four smaller vehicles that combine into one Space Battleship Yamato-esque like battleship with a Super robot called Gattai Robot Musashi, in place of a bridge tower. All of these four vehicles has its own name and purpose.

To start off with, the box is freaking huge! Measuring in at 21" x 13" x 4". The box being this large is always a good sign that the end product will be big. Besides being a large box, it is also very well illustrated and is almost a near duplicate to the original 1976 release.

Upon opening the box I found several different colors were used in molding the different plastic parts (red, orange, green, black, light blue, white). Nothing is pre-painted, however, I like the funkiness and toy like qualities of the molded colors. With this in mind, I decided to build this model with limited paint detail so it would give the finished product more playability and make it less likely that I would be afraid to handle upon completion. Taking this course also allowed a novice builder, like myself, ease in the building process.

As you can see in the picture below, the 18" Aoshima Yamato dwarfs the 16" Taito Yamato.

Moving along through the pictures below, please take note: Not only is this toy loaded with turrets and such, this model/toy has actual firing gimmicks! Not just the Gattai separation gimmick. I mean take your eye out rocket launcher goodness!

In this next photo I will point out all the things that launch off this monstrosity. Starting at the bow, the green tip of the bow launches. Midway back above the roman numeral II you will see our second eye impaler. A little further back right behind the smoke stack you will see the white harpoon type gun. Oh, and I am not done! between the rear wings is a launching escape pod!

Check out the stern, It almost looks like car taillights and a bumper! Funky huh? Plus, check out all the wheels and tank treads. Even more Funk-a-delic!

Here is a good view of the bridge which doubles as the Super Robot Gattai Musashi. Shown below are pictures of Robot Musashi combined into it's robot form.

Now lets check out the ship separated into its 4 individual components. Starting from the stern, working our way forward to the bow.

As you can see below the stern has sort of a Formula One motif. This part is aptly named A4 Turbo Machine. You can see the turrets that become Robot Musashi's feet mounted on the front car like portion. You will also get a better view of the launching escape pod above the giant hood scoop, between the rear wings. take note that Robot Musashi's legs just hang off each side when in this mode. I know that's kinda lame but, it really adds to the charm of this toy.

The next vehicle forward is A3 Bridge Machine. You can see how Musashi Robot's torso and head are used as the command bridge. You will also see the harpoon type gun I had mentioned earlier.

Moving along we come to my favorite piece, A2 Tiger Machine. I love this part, there is something about the tank treads and turrets that I love! Again, you will notice the red tipped launching missile and the arms that protrude from the front of it for no apparent reason.

Lastly, we have the very unusual A1 Zero Sen Machine. Now this to me is the strangest piece of the puzzle. Look at the WWII style Zero airplanes that are molded into the bow. They don't mention this in the directions, but you can take those off and make 2 planes from the included parts.

Overall, I would say that Aoshima makes a very fun kit/toy, along with being relatively easy to build. Even though for the most part it's easy, it still can be challenging at sometimes. Taking your time, Using patience, some quality glue and a X-acto knife will definitively make the build go easier!

The submarine Nautilus from "Nadia, Secret of the Blue Water" in diecast form from Aoshima

The submarine Nautilus from "Nadia, Secret of the Blue Water" in diecast form from Aoshima. Expect this to be similar in size and metal contact as the Gotengo. 1/500 scale, Diecast and Plastic. Expect electronics and moving parts, but what they are is TBD. Available in two versions - Diving Image (normal) and Flying Image (limited)

Due December 09 for 16,800 yen.

Seeing how people ate up the first version, Aoshima has released another 1/12 action figure of the famous T-800 Terminator......

Seeing how people ate up the first version, Aoshima has released another 1/12 action figure of the famous T-800 Terminator. This figure is the version we all know and love that has appearing in all Terminator films and the TV show.
.

Two versions of this figure have now been released by Aoshima. One being the standard silver/chrome version and the other being a much darker more menacing looking gunmetal colored version dubbed T-800 type 2.

Aoshima has graciously provided us with samples of both versions that can be purchased at their website here.

Today's review will focus on the standard T-800 that we are all familiar with.

First up is the quality window box packaging that allows you to clearly view the figure you are purchasing. In my opinion this type of box is the best because it leaves alot of the guess work out when you think to yourself, "I wonder what this figure looks like in the box?" and "how tall is the figure?".

Moving along, on the back of the box you have a clear illustration of the easy to assemble figure that requires zero translation to understand.

Upon removing the figure from the box a doing the very minor assembly you are quickly rewarded with what is a great looking Terminator Endoskeleton.

The figure is made of high quality PVC and stands approximately 7 inches tall. The figure also is highly articulated with as far as I can tell, no less that 16 points of articulation! The figure also includes an extra hand used for holding the two guns that are included. One being a plasma gun and the other being what appears to be a stockless pump shotgun (not shown).

As you can see in the photo's below the figure is very well balanced and the articulation allows some cool poses. Also, take note on the highly detailed surfaces, pistons, and hoses that give this figure a certain realism not found in many PVC figures at the 2580 yen price point.

Both versions together! Notice the family resemblance?

The cool background in the photos was provided by our friends over at Action Figure Displays. You can get this background as well as many others at their site.

In conclusion, I feel that Aoshima has succeeded in pulling off a reasonably price quality action figure that is detailed, poseable, and fun. Who could ask for anything more?

If you didn't expect this, then you don't know Aoshima very well..

What? A repaint from Aoshima?

Seriously though, this is actually a different Gotengo than the one reviewed here, although it does share common components. It looks like the hull is the same but the turrets and top decoration are different.

It is decorated here as it is seen fighting Manda in the beginning of Godzilla Final Wars.

Due September 2009 for 18,000 yen about 188.64 USD

Hot on the heels of this past May's premiere of the fourth Terminator film, aptly named Terminator Salvation, Aoshima has released a 1/12 action figure of the famous T-800 Terminator character from the Second Terminator film.......

Hot on the heels of this past May's premiere of the fourth Terminator film, aptly named Terminator Salvation, Aoshima has released a 1/12 action figure of the famous T-800 Terminator character from the Second Terminator film, Judgment Day.

Two versions of this character have been released. One being the standard silver/chrome version that we all know and love and the other being a much darker more menacing looking gunmetal colored version dubbed T-800 type 2.

Aoshima has graciously provided us with samples of both versions that can be purchased at their website here.

Today's review will focus on the later T-800 type 2.

First up is the quality window box packaging that allows you to clearly view the figure you are purchasing. In my opinion this type of box is the best because it leaves alot of the guess work out when you think to yourself, "I wonder what this figure looks like in the box?" and "how tall is the figure?".

Moving along, on the back of the box you have a clear illustration of the easy to assemble figure that requires zero translation to understand.

Upon removing the figure from the box a doing the very minor assembly you are quickly rewarded with what is in my opinion, a very menacing looking Terminator action figure. Something about this darker color offset with the red eyes really makes this figure look a bit more war torn and creepier that the standard shiny version.

The figure is made of high quality PVC and stands approximately 7 inches tall. The figure also is highly articulated with as far as I can tell, no less that 16 points of articulation! The figure also includes an extra hand used for holding the two guns that are included. One being a plasma gun and the other being what appears to be an M-16 rifle with a scope.

As you can see in the photo's below the figure is very well balanced and the articulation allows some cool poses. Also, take note on the highly detailed surfaces, pistons, and hoses that give this figure a certain realism not found in many PVC figures at the 2580 yen price point.

both versions together! Who would you bet your money on?

The cool background in the photos was provided by our friends over at Action Figure Displays. You can get this background as well as many others at their site.

In conclusion, I feel that Aoshima has succeeded in pulling off a reasonably price quality action figure that is detailed, poseable, and playable. Who could ask for anything more?

I have a confession, I do not know a thing about Getter Robo and the Getter franchise but I do know a nice piece of chogokin when I handle one and the New Getter Robo Renewal (Black Version) fits the bill!

This review sample provided by Aoshima.

Yeah, you read that right. I don't know squat about Getter Robo. Anything I know I learned from the dozens of reviews of Getter variants over the years here at CDX. It's nothing personal against the Getter franchise, I just haven't gotten to it yet. So why am I reviewing this? Because Aoshima was nice enough to send a huge box of stuff over to CDX HQ and apparently all the resident Getter fans have filled their collecting quota and I do like a classic style gokin so I figured I'd give it a crack.

So here's what I do know – The box called this Shin Getter One. I shot the video review first and the Getter fans on YouTube where sure to let me know I got the style of Getter wrong. So I reached out to our fellow writers and fans and they say this is New Getter Robo (So if I still have the details royally screwed up please send the hate mail to Sanjeev. Thank You.) It's a black repaint of the renewal release by Aoshima. The renewal release features new elbow joints and the clear chest parts. Now, on to the toy...

The package this dynamo comes in is as old-school as it's diecast content. 4 color artwork decorates the front and sides. Photos of the original color scheme are on the back with only a sticker on the front to indicate this is a black repaint.

Inside the box is a Styrofoam tray with the parts and robot carefully wrapped in tissue paper. It's been a while since I've gotten a nice piece of diecast in Styrofoam and I forgot how nice an un-boxing experience that can be.

Inside the box:

• New Getter (with a pair of closed fists attached)
• One pair of weapon holding fists
• Open right hand (detailed backhand)
• Open right hand (detailed palm)
• Three pairs of back wings (1 set of small/closed, 1 set of open/down, 1 set open/extended
• Two axes

Assembly just requires you picking out a pair of wings you like and putting them on and adding the little “belt buckle beam thingy” cover to the robots waist.

The figure itself is a beauty of cool metal weighing in at close to 2 pounds. Yep it's all quality metal with the exceptions being the head, the clear chest pieces, the axe's ball and blades, wings, back plate and hands. With most of that being ABS plastic and the hands and axe ends made of a softer PVC.

Articulation is good. The head turns, arms move at the shoulder and bend at the elbow with the hands (swappable) able to rotate. The knees have a limited range of motion but do click when moved.

The arms feature the renewal style of engineering. Basically to keep the anime look they have hidden the joint for the elbow, you must extend the lower arm to reveal the joint. When bent you really can't tell the arm is extended. It's very well thought out actually.

The paint application is flawlessly applied and done in a flat, matte finish. I think the repaint would have been a little sharper if they had extended the gold to trim the legs a bit.

Precision crafted with excellent fit and finish. Honestly just a real nice, quality piece of gokin all around. My only complaint (and the reason I have no picture's of a duel axe-wielding Getter) is the left weapon holding hand pretty much separated the first time I put the weapon in his hand. Not a big deal, a little dab of super-glue should fix that. Sadly I had none on hand that wasn't dried out to a brick at the time of this review.

Well I must say this piece really makes me wish they had more franchise that I personally collect because this Getter here is everything a modern and dare-I-say vintage gokin collector looks for in a hunk of metal robot goodness. Now if only it had some firing fists or something...

You can get yourself this sexy piece of cool die cast directly from Aoshima.

Super Sexy (Improperly titled 'cause I'm to lazy to reencode it...) HD Video Review for your entertainment embedded below.

Even though this display set is being released under the “Rebuild of Evangelion” banner in 2009, it is more-or-less identical to the one seen in the earlier TV series & sequel films.

Video review included!

This item appears here courtesy of Aoshima.

In 2015, Earth is under attack from mysterious, powerful beings called Angels. Their origins and goals are unknown, but the focus of their attacks are on the post-apocalyptic, high-tech metropolis of Tokyo-3- a city designed to be a hidden fortress for the secret headquarters of the United Nations special organization NERV. What makes the Angels such an imposing threat is their ability to project and manipulate AT Fields- natural, invisible, omni-directional defensive shields which cannot be penetrated by any physical attack or weapon, including the most powerful N2 bomb. Learning of the Angels’ existence years earlier, NERV constructed a small group of advanced biomechanical robots called Evangelions to fight the Angels. However, only 14 year old children are capable of merging their minds on a near-spiritual level with the 700’-tall armored humanoids. Shinji Ikari is only one of a select handful who has been able to accomplish this. ...But he does not care. He has been push aside and ignored ever since his father abandoned him when he was four years old. And he does not care if he dies or lives, or if humanity dies or lives. Together with two female pilots in their own EVA Units- the confident, confusing redhead Asuka Langley Shikinami; and the curiously silent, red-eyed, blue-haired Rei Ayanami- the abandoned son of NERV’s Supreme-Commander must face his inner demons and find the courage to go on protecting humanity while fighting to preserve what little is left of his own!

A full twelve years after its debut in 1995, the anime series “Neon Genesis Evangelion” has remained a staple in Japan as one of the most dramatic and controversial; its fan-base ever vigilant for debate, answers, and new material. 26 episodes for the original series ended with pains after behind-the-scenes difficulties forced it in a different-than-planned direction, and so two films- “Evangelion: Death and Rebirth” and “The End of Evangelion” (both 1997)- sought to fix the deflated final episodes, but succeeded only in adding fuel to the fire. And so, in 2006, Studio Khara- founded by Evangelion’s creator, Hideaki Anno- took on the challenge of refreshing the work that had been started by Studio Gainax over a decade earlier, and bringing it to full blossom on the big screen. No longer restricted by a limited TV budget, the four films collectively known as “Rebuild of Evangelion” cover the length of the entire series- inviting new viewers, pleasing previous fans, and expanding & trimming all 26 episodes into four bite-sized chunks. Additionally, acting as a type of reboot for the franchise, “Rebuild of Evangelion” seeks to rewrite the ending of the original series and further expand what was not possible before- including new special effects-sequences, more-detailed scenes, and generally grow from both the mistakes of its namesake & long-standing fan input.

. . .

The Entry Plug is the control center for the pilot of an Evangelion. They are inserted diagonally under an armored section on the back, directly between the shoulders and lock deep into the upper torso. Each one is a hardened cylinder over 60’ (20m) long and about 10’ (2.3m) in diameter, and only allows for one occupant at a time. When piloting an EVA, the Children are completely immersed in, and breath, the LCL manufactured at NERV Headquarters in Tokyo-3. This liquid serves two functions: to protect the Children against high-G forces when maneuvering, and provide a clearer mental & spiritual Synchronization between EVA and pilot. Within the confined space of the Entry Plug is a sled-like dark gray pilot’s seat with two joysticks that allow the Children to manipulate the EVA’s arms and hands more deftly than they could with their standard A10 nerve receptor headsets. Around the pilot’s seat is a full 360° projection of the outside environment transmitted from both cameras and the EVA’s own eyes. On the wrap-around screen, any number of heads-up display (HUD) operational & tactical information and visual communication channels can be shown. (Under natural lighting, LCL is light orange-toned, but when the projection is on, it becomes clear.)

As the survival of the Children is paramount to the defense of the world, Entry Plugs also act as escape pods. At the back end of each Entry Plug is a set of small solid-fuel rocket motors which are designed blast it hundreds of feet into the air away from an incapacitated EVA. Once clear of the combat zone, a white cap above the rockets separates, and a set of parachutes deploy to bring it slowly to the ground, and then rescue teams are dispatched for recovery. While a long sliding door across the top of an Entry Plug is usually used to enter & exit it, a small emergency exit hatch also exists forward of the pilot’s seat which has a fold-out manual handle.

This is the Entry Plug which is placed inside of Evangelion Unit-01, and is piloted by Shinji Ikari. Even though this display set is being released under the “Rebuild of Evangelion” banner in 2009, it is more-or-less identical to the one seen in the earlier TV series & sequel films. Other than the two-part display stand, it requires no assembly. For the special lighting effect, three AAA batteries (not included) are required. (There are no sound effects in this display set, only lights.)

Exterior

The Entry Plug is 20¼” (51.5cm) long and 2 3/16” (5.5cm) in diameter... which makes this thing huge, and it really helps give you an idea of how big the EVAs are! (Not to mention how little space there is inside...) As a static display piece, its base white coloring with smaller red, gold, black, orange, and gray highlights may not gain much attention compared to its physical size, but the bland coloring does lend it credit for not being a toy-like gimmick- this is a practical function-before-form emergency vehicle and should not draw unwanted attention to itself as much as possible except to dispatched human teams.

For surface details, it’s nothing particularly elaborate. Perhaps the most intricate you’re gonna get is the small non-functioning emergency hatch on the left side, the red effects activation button at the back, and some vent-like holes along the front. Though it will obviously never emit smoke or light-up, the rocket vents along the back are shallow (as they should be) but have no hole(s) for the propellant to appear from, and I thought this was the only sticking point on the whole set. Printed details include the large identifying “EVA-01” across the upper left side, very tiny lettering on the emergency hatch, and a panel across the main hatch. To Aoshima’s credit, there are no visible seam lines or screws anywhere on this set except along the colored bands!

Interior

To access the cockpit, the main access hatch needs to be removed. The hatch has a thin metal strip running along the underside, and is held in place magnetically at both the front and back. (Be aware that the hatch does not snap or lock into place, so it will fall off if the Entry Plug is turned upside-down!) The walls of the cockpit section- unlike in all of the animated versions- is mirror-silver ABS plastic rather than light brown or dark orange; this specifically to emphasize the light-up feature. The curvy sled-like 6” (15cm)-long pilot’s seat is fixed to the inside and cannot be removed.

As in all of its on-screen appearances, the main hatch slides backwards across the top of the Entry Plug when access is needed to the inside. As when fixing the hatch to cover the hole, an additional magnet rests inside the rocket nozzle section on the top to which the cover can be placed. (I decided that it is fair for Aoshima to use a magnetic set-up rather than a mechanical one which may have been difficult to organize & execute without potential QA complaints from customers. It may not be anime-accurate in that regard, but it’s close enough.)

Unit-01’s Entry Plug seat is different from all of the others in one way: it has a lap belt-like extension coming from the central panel which cross over Shinji’s hips. To recreate this, a small removable piece fits into a hole between the slots for Shinji’s legs. Then, when the figure is placed inside, the lap-belt fits over his legs the same was.

Figure and Display Stand

It would have been unreasonable to produce an Entry Plug of this size and not include a figure of the Children. Thus a 2” (5.5cm) vinyl representation of Shinji Ikari reclined in his standard blue-&-white Plug Suit appears here. (I think the final size of the set was really dictated by how big the figure inside would be. I mean, if the set were half this size, he wouldn’t have even been an inch long!) The non-poseable figure is pose laying in a seated position with his arms reaching out for the control joysticks. (Ironically, when placed inside, his hands only barely touch said joysticks! Manufacturing error? I don’t know, but it's funny.) For its size, the figure is appropriately detailed and proportionate (though I will say his feet are angled downward kinda painfully).

As mentioned earlier, the display stand is made of three ABS plastic parts- a clear support arm, cradle, and a transparent-orange base which is meant to emulate the octagonal appearance of an AT Field being hit. (Ch-- c’mon... what Evangelion single-figure or bust hasn’t used an imitated AT Field for its base!? Oh, well- can’t argue with tradition, I suppose.) Along the inside of the cradle are two small raised circles which fit with two indents along the bottom of the Entry Plug. When put on display, the Entry Plug will sit comfortably in the cradle, but be aware that it does not snap into place; if you bump it in just a way, it will slide out or fall over! However, if not disturbed, the Entry Plug is carefully balance and will sit soundly in place.

Light-up Feature

While the elaborate light show and images that the Children see inside the Entry Plug cannot be recreated, some of the general lighting can be. Inside the cockpit section are four LEDs- two of them are clear, and the other two are orange. (The clear ones are just for the sake of showing off the interior of this display piece, while the orange represents the LCL liquid that the pilots breath and are surrounded by at all times.) These are placed alternately at the front and back of the inside. When the red activation button along the back cap of the Entry Plug is pressed once, the clear LEDs inside will slowly turn on. Then, after about 15 seconds, they will dim slowly, and the orange LEDs will switch on automatically. The set will then switch back and fourth in this manner until you press the red activation button again. (Thinking that it may turn itself off after a short time, I let it run to see what would happen. After twelve minutes, it kept on going, so I’m assuming that it will go forever until the batteries run out.)

Also, be aware that when you try to turn it off, it will not immediately go out; instead it will wait for the current coloring cycle to finish and then power down, so don’t be impatient!

This is unquestionably a collector’s piece. Why do I say that? Well, other than its size and the built-in LEDs this is an important if unglamorous component of an Evangelion Unit that, until now, was never represented physically any larger than one-and-a-half inches long! They would come in a model or poseable figure or glimpsed in a static display, and would be very simple, very tiny, and would often get lost. (Hell- they give ya three of ‘em in Bandai’s Soul of Chogokin sets because they would literally spring out of their sockets!) And so to get a large and accurately-detailed representation of the EVA’s cockpit & escape pod is a welcome addition. Perhaps the only negative side to these is their size, and maybe that there’s no scenery on the walls inside (though the latter can be explained away in favor of reflectivity for the LEDs). This is definitely a piece for the absolute-hardcore EVA fan out there. And while priced just-shy of $90, it is because we have never had a larger-sized representation of them that makes it worth it, and I find the internal sculpts to be of sufficient quality as well. And so, I recommend getting the EVA-01 Entry Plug set; it is very much worth it.

The exterior of Unit-00’s Entry Plug in the “Rebuild of Evangelion” movies is slightly different from how it appears in the earlier TV series & sequel movies, though its functions & interior remain the same.

Video review included!

This item appears here courtesy of Aoshima.

In 2015, Earth is under attack from mysterious, powerful beings called Angels. Their origins and goals are unknown, but the focus of their attacks are on the post-apocalyptic, high-tech metropolis of Tokyo-3- a city designed to be a hidden fortress for the secret headquarters of the United Nations special organization NERV. What makes the Angels such an imposing threat is their ability to project and manipulate AT Fields- natural, invisible, omni-directional defensive shields which cannot be penetrated by any physical attack or weapon, including the most powerful N2 bomb. Learning of the Angels’ existence years earlier, NERV constructed a small group of advanced biomechanical robots called Evangelions to fight the Angels. However, only 14 year old children are capable of merging their minds on a near-spiritual level with the 700’-tall armored humanoids. Shinji Ikari is only one of a select handful who has been able to accomplish this. ...But he does not care. He has been push aside and ignored ever since his father abandoned him when he was four years old. And he does not care if he dies or lives, or if humanity dies or lives. Together with two female pilots in their own EVA Units- the confident, confusing redhead Asuka Langley Shikinami; and the curiously silent, red-eyed, blue-haired Rei Ayanami- the abandoned son of NERV’s Supreme-Commander must face his inner demons and find the courage to go on protecting humanity while fighting to preserve what little is left of his own!

A full twelve years after its debut in 1995, the anime series “Neon Genesis Evangelion” has remained a staple in Japan as one of the most dramatic and controversial; its fan-base ever vigilant for debate, answers, and new material. 26 episodes for the original series ended with pains after behind-the-scenes difficulties forced it in a different-than-planned direction, and so two films- “Evangelion: Death and Rebirth” and “The End of Evangelion” (both 1997)- sought to fix the deflated final episodes, but succeeded only in adding fuel to the fire. And so, in 2006, Studio Khara- founded by Evangelion’s creator, Hideaki Anno- took on the challenge of refreshing the work that had been started by Studio Gainax over a decade earlier, and bringing it to full blossom on the big screen. No longer restricted by a limited TV budget, the four films collectively known as “Rebuild of Evangelion” cover the length of the entire series- inviting new viewers, pleasing previous fans, and expanding & trimming all 26 episodes into four bite-sized chunks. Additionally, acting as a type of reboot for the franchise, “Rebuild of Evangelion” seeks to rewrite the ending of the original series and further expand what was not possible before- including new special effects-sequences, more-detailed scenes, and generally grow from both the mistakes of its namesake & long-standing fan input.

. . .

The Entry Plug is the control center for the pilot of an Evangelion. They are inserted diagonally under an armored section on the back, directly between the shoulders and lock deep into the upper torso. Each one is a hardened cylinder over 60’ (20m) long and about 10’ (2.3m) in diameter, and only allows for one occupant at a time. When piloting an EVA, the Children are completely immersed in, and breath, the LCL manufactured at NERV Headquarters in Tokyo-3. This liquid serves two functions: to protect the Children against high-G forces when maneuvering, and provide a clearer mental & spiritual Synchronization between EVA and pilot. Within the confined space of the Entry Plug is a sled-like dark gray pilot’s seat with two joysticks that allow the Children to manipulate the EVA’s arms and hands more deftly than they could with their standard A10 nerve receptor headsets. Around the pilot’s seat is a full 360° projection of the outside environment transmitted from both cameras and the EVA’s own eyes. On the wrap-around screen, any number of heads-up display (HUD) operational & tactical information and visual communication channels can be shown. (Under natural lighting, LCL is light orange-toned, but when the projection is on, it becomes clear.)

As the survival of the Children is paramount to the defense of the world, Entry Plugs also act as escape pods. At the back end of each Entry Plug is a set of small solid-fuel rocket motors which are designed blast it hundreds of feet into the air away from an incapacitated EVA. Once clear of the combat zone, a white cap above the rockets separates, and a set of parachutes deploy to bring it slowly to the ground, and then rescue teams are dispatched for recovery. While a long sliding door across the top of an Entry Plug is usually used to enter & exit it, a small emergency exit hatch also exists forward of the pilot’s seat which has a fold-out manual handle.

This is the Entry Plug which is placed inside of Evangelion Unit-00, and is piloted by Rei Ayanami. The exterior of Unit-00’s Entry Plug in the “Rebuild of Evangelion” movies is slightly different from how it appears in the earlier TV series & sequel movies, though its functions & interior remain the same. Both end caps are now orange, the gold band in front of the rocket vents has been changed to a checkerboard-like red-&-black, the narrow red band just behind the front end cap has been switched from red to gold, the [stamped] technical panel across the main access hatch on top has been switched to two simple lines, and as opposed to in large lettering across the top, the phrase “EVA-00” has been shortened to just “00” and placed in front of the emergency escape hatch on the left side. Other than the three-part display stand, it requires no assembly. For the special lighting effect, three AAA batteries (not included) are required. (There are no sound effects in this display set, only lights.)

Exterior

The Entry Plug is 20¼” (51.5cm) long and 2 3/16” (5.5cm) in diameter... which makes this thing huge, and it really helps give you an idea of how big the EVAs are! (Not to mention how little space there is inside...) As a static display piece, its base white coloring with smaller red, gold, black, orange, and gray highlights may not gain much attention compared to its physical size, but the bland coloring does lend it credit for not being a toy-like gimmick- this is a practical function-before-form emergency vehicle and should not draw unwanted attention to itself as much as possible except to dispatched human teams.

For surface details, it’s nothing particularly elaborate. Perhaps the most intricate you’re gonna get is the small non-functioning emergency hatch on the left side, the red effects activation button at the back, and some vent-like holes along the front. Though it will obviously never emit smoke or light-up, the rocket vents along the back are shallow (as they should be) but have no hole(s) for the propellant to appear from, and I thought this was the only sticking point on the whole set. Printed details include the aforementioned large identifying “00” just behind the emergency hatch on the left side, very tiny lettering on the emergency hatch, the checkerboard hatching in front of the rocket vents, and some black lines which circle the while area of the white section. To Aoshima’s credit, there are no visible seam lines or screws anywhere on this set except along the colored bands!

Interior

To access the cockpit, the main access hatch needs to be removed. The hatch has a thin metal strip running along the underside, and is held in place magnetically at both the front and back. (Be aware that the hatch does not snap or lock into place, so it will fall off if the Entry Plug is turned upside-down!) The walls of the cockpit section- unlike in all of the animated versions- is mirror-silver ABS plastic rather than light brown or dark orange; this specifically to emphasize the light-up feature. The curvy sled-like 6” (15cm)-long pilot’s seat is fixed to the inside and cannot be removed.

As in all of its on-screen appearances, the main hatch slides backwards across the top of the Entry Plug when access is needed to the inside. As when fixing the hatch to cover the hole, an additional magnet rests inside the rocket nozzle section on the top to which the cover can be placed. (I decided that it is fair for Aoshima to use a magnetic set-up rather than a mechanical one which may have been difficult to organize & execute without potential QA complaints from customers. It may not be anime-accurate in that regard, but it’s close enough.)

Figure and Display Stand

It would have been unreasonable to produce an Entry Plug of this size and not include a figure of the Children. Thus a 2 1/8” (5.35cm) PVC representation of Rei Ayanami reclined in her standard white-&-midnight blue Plug Suit appears here. (I think the final size of the set was really dictated by how big the figure inside would be. I mean, if the set were half this size, she wouldn’t have even been an inch long!) The non-poseable figure is set with her hands on the seat to either side, and her legs are bent as if she intends to get up For its size, the figure is appropriately detailed and proportionate (though I will say her feet are angled downward kinda painfully).

Though Rei is in a casual position, the figure does not rest very comfortably in the seat, and will shift around very easily. Set on a flat surface or angled on the display stand, either way she still moves around, so- emphasizing the need not to bump the Entry Plug when it’s on display! If it were not for the ‘lap-belt’ attachment piece across the Shinji figure’s legs on the EVA-01 Entry Plug set, I would have had the same issue there as well.

As mentioned earlier, the display stand is made of three ABS plastic parts- a clear support arm, cradle, and a transparent-orange base which is meant to emulate the octagonal appearance of an AT Field being hit. (Ch-- c’mon... what Evangelion single-figure or bust hasn’t used an imitated AT Field for its base!? Oh, well- can’t argue with tradition, I suppose.) Along the inside of the cradle are two small raised circles which fit with two indents along the bottom of the Entry Plug. When put on display, the Entry Plug will sit comfortably in the cradle, but be aware that it does not snap into place; if you bump it in just a way, it will slide out or fall over! However, if not disturbed, the Entry Plug is carefully balance and will sit soundly in place.

Light-up Feature

While the elaborate light show and images that the Children see inside the Entry Plug cannot be recreated, some of the general lighting can be. Inside the cockpit section are four LEDs- two of them are clear, and the other two are orange. (The clear ones are just for the sake of showing off the interior of this display piece, while the orange represents the LCL liquid that the pilots breath and are surrounded by at all times.) These are placed alternately at the front and back of the inside. When the red activation button along the back cap of the Entry Plug is pressed once, the clear LEDs inside will slowly turn on. Then, after about 15 seconds, they will dim slowly, and the orange LEDs will switch on automatically. The set will then switch back and fourth in this manner until you press the red activation button again. (Thinking that it may turn itself off after a short time, I let it run to see what would happen. After twelve minutes, it kept on going, so I’m assuming that it will go forever until the batteries run out.)

Also, be aware that when you try to turn it off, it will not immediately go out; instead it will wait for the current coloring cycle to finish and then power down, so don’t be impatient!

This is unquestionably a collector’s piece. Why do I say that? Well, other than its size and the built-in LEDs this is an important if unglamorous component of an Evangelion Unit that, until now, was never represented physically any larger than one-and-a-half inches long! They would come in a model or poseable figure or glimpsed in a static display, and would be very simple, very tiny, and would often get lost. (Hell- they give ya three of ‘em in Bandai’s Soul of Chogokin sets because they would literally spring out of their sockets!) And so to get a large and accurately-detailed representation of the EVA’s cockpit & escape pod is a welcome addition. Perhaps the only negative side to these is their size, and maybe that there’s no scenery on the walls inside (though the latter can be explained away in favor of reflectivity for the LEDs). This is definitely a piece for the absolute-hardcore EVA fan out there. And while priced just-shy of $90, it is because we have never had a larger-sized representation of them that makes it worth it, and I find the internal sculpts to be of sufficient quality as well. And so, I recommend getting the EVA-00 Entry Plug set; it is very much worth it.

The Battleship Arcadia was a popular cartoon series, captained by the Space Pirate Captain Harlock and ingrained in all our hearts.

The Battleship Arcadia was a popular cartoon series, captained by the Space Pirate Captain Harlock and ingrained in all our hearts. I started watching this series because at first Captain Harlock was supposed to be Kodai Susumu older brother lost in battle before the Yamato was reforged... to us USA people Derek Wildstar's older brother. That idea never was made cannon... just like a million origins for Wolverine & Sabertooth... but the cartoon does have that Starblazers feel I love and hence the reason I wanted this piece.

A review for the Arcadia TV Anime Version is already on here so I will just generally cover the chogokin and try to sell the Black version. Aoshima is a company that I enjoy buying from. You get a lot of diecast and they generally do not cost as much as other companies. The "yin" to that "yang" are often a couple of imperfections in figure or flaws in painting, but hey for around 100 USD instead of around 200+USD I can accept that. Mine had imperfect white marks on two areas near turrets (easy fix with touch up paint).

The Ship has a nice heft to it and the main fuselage is nearly all metal. Unlike other Aoshima Arcadia ships (the Blunt nose version?) that require flags and bottom fin being put on, this chogokin comes basically fully assembled out of box (I still have shell shock flashbacks to the insane Bandai Yamato assembly). The only thing you need to do is insert a dome (one solid or one clear yellow) and anchors.

A nice design not mentioned before is the turrets turn in unison and the barrels move in certain sequences depending on position.

Also a missile turret and bottom fighter flap opens, the "hanger bay door" is pretty small and useless but no big flaw to me.

The black version comes with glow-in-the-dark paint on the skulls and the front ship dagger is that cool white "glow" plastic. Charge it up, turn the room to pitch black and enjoy next to your black neo-getter, shin getter, and new getter.

The ship lights up like all the other versions (to my knowledge there are blk. ver, weathering ver., anime color ver., normal ver....are there more??). It also comes with a stand and this one has the front of the ship turn up at a more extreme angle than the others.

A very nice addition to the Black version that I believe does not come with the others is a larger version of the small fighter (not the bomber) that comes with all versions, of course it has the stand in the pictures, the fighter is all plastic but nice details...and lets not get greedy.

A nice heavy Chogokin, looks nice, and the versions I choose to have...yes, it is my favorite...and yes I loved the large fighter. It is displayed next to my Bandai SOP Yamato and eventually my insanely pricey Marmit Andromeda. Once again please read the other Acadia review for more descriptive phrases - I tried not to be redundant.