Runabout

I always loved Starriors, but never really had any. Maybe I just loved the IDEA of Starriors, the kindred cousins of Zoids. But as a collector you have to draw lines sometimes, and I decided that as cool as Starriors were, I was not going to collect them.

But as I grew as a collector, you learn that it doesn’t have to be all or nothing. Just buy what you like and don’t let it get out of hand. With lines such as Soul of Chogokin, the numbering system sort of trains you to not have gaps in the collection. Have GX-44 and GX-46? Well damn, I guess I’m getting GX-45, regardless if I like the damn thing. But i’ve grown to be able to just buy what I like and not worry about having them all.

It’s with this mentality that I picked up a loose Runabout from the line. Most of the Starriors are segmented humanoid warriors with wind up features, but there were also a few with rip-cord functionality. Runabout is one of that line.

Interestingly, while Zoids was a Japanese line first, Starriors was made by Tomy for the US market. Runabout was initially planned to be a Zoid, but was re-tooled as a finished toy and brought into the Starriors line. He would eventually be released in Japan under the Japanese Starriors line as BIGMANKS, in two different color schemes. The Japanese version also had additional cannons on the sides of the tail, and a sparking action on the big wheel.

My version of Runabout is loose, with no ripcord.

Runabout has three modes, lets start with the “Four legged motorized explorer”. The two pegs on the tail are where the additional guns are mounted on the Japanese version.

The rip cord still works in this mode, causing the legs to move in a walking motion.

This next mode is creatively named “upside-down hauler”. It has an elephantine look to it and the walking mechanism still works here.

The third mode is “two-wheeled speed craft”. Pull the rip cord and the heavy wheel acts as a gyroscope keeping the toy upright as it zooms across the room.

If the rip-cord action seems familiar, it’s because Tomy had used it a few years earlier for their TRON Light cycles. The feel of these toys is very similar to those.