Destroid Defender

It was great walking right into stores like Target and Toys R Us and buying a die-cast Macross toy right off the shelf for a few dollars. Matchbox did a great job importing and remanufacturing these former Takutoku toys abroad as Robotech Collector Die-Cast Series.

Like most toy manufactures, Matchbox wanted to get the most from its investment, not only did they released the standard anime correct colors, but re-colored versions of the Destroids as well.

Destroid Defender was renamed Raider X for both Matchbox releases and issued in both its standard anime dark tan color and this light grey urban camouflage colored version.

Matchbox Destroid Defender / Raider X includes: 1X Destroid Defender / Raider X, 1x Instruction sheet, 1x sticker sheet. Die-cast content includes the body and feet with the rest in solid sturdy plastic. Articulation includes gun arms, twistable antenna, and waist. I received this Destroid Defender for Christmas back in the 1980s.

I do enjoy the artwork of the box, which pictures the Destroid Defender locked in combat in an urban landscape. I believe the grey colors of this release compliment the figure well and does not stray too far from the real robot military realism.

What can I say? This is a great and inexpensive pickup for the Macross collection that will compliment your Destroid display with its simple but effective recolor.

©2010 Article and pictures by Leonardo Flores and CollectionDX.