Viking Robot

Viking (full name: “Viking Robot: The Predator Of Space”) is a toy that was made in Hong Kong for the Italian market in 1979. It is part of a set of toys called “Guerra Nella Galassia” (“War In The Galaxy”) along with another called “Goodrock”. Both toys come in the same box and are shown battling one another on the front. The top and bottom sides of the box show the heads of both toys with the name of each next to it and a check mark in the appropriate box so that you know which toy you are buying.

At only 10″ tall, these are the smallest of the “Junior Machinders” made in Italy. Even though the bodies are smaller, they share the same firing fists as the larger sized toys. Viking’s body is cast entirely in blue polyethylene with a myriad of stickers for detail. The stickers are just random colors and patterns, though there is a Great Mazinger like “V” on the chest.

The head is molded out of soft vinyl and has a very feline appearance. The fists are thin yellow polyethylene and the left one has a hole in it for holding Viking’s hatchet accessory. It’s only other weapon is a missile launcher in the belly. Two missiles are included, one with a white shaft and red tip, the other with those colors swapped. These are stored on the shoulders, but be careful of the tabs that hold them. They are not that strong and one of mine has cracked. In addition to sharing the same box, both Viking and Goodrock have the same arms and fists, though the arms are molded in different colors.

This is a pretty silly looking toy and only of interest to the most hardcore Machinder collectors. It is among the easiest and cheapest Junior Machinders to get though. It shows up frequently and only costs about $40 or so.