Super cheap VOTOMS and its gone again.

[YPU]

Still not sure but the idea of using gundam wing Leo colours for this is beginning to take hold. For those not in the know that would basically be a more muted version of the current colours, military green with grey detailing and some red on the head. I think that of all the options it would make them the most versatile since it would allow them to fit into most periods easily enough.

[eilif]

Mine came in today.  Much faster shipping than I had expected!

I can't seem to find my camera, but if I can't find it later today I'll put up some pics from my really-sub-par cell phone camera.

In the meantime, here's a few measurements and factoids.

-The mech measures 87mm from sole to top of head, 90mm if measured to the top of the exhaust.  That makes it bigger even than the CMG hardsuit.
-As best as I can figure, if standing, the pilot would be 25mm from sole to eye. He's very thin and is probably about a true 25mm fig.
-The plastic appears to be glueable with plastic cement
-Poseability is kind of amazing. All the expected joints and rotations of a mecha toy.  Additionally, the head swivels and even the "eye" can be individually adjustable.
-Comes with options for open or closed hands and a right hand closed on a gun handle

As for the driver, I think the fig may be a smidge to small for a head swap, but I'll give it a try later. If it doesn't work out, there's probably enough room in the cockpit if I remove the seat (appears to be a separate bit) to put in a Denizen minis (27mm) grav bike rider figure as I've done with a different mech. Of course I may just end up dispensing with a pilot all together.

All this to say I'm very pleased with this kit. It's shockingly cheap, being less expensive than an average 28mm figure, but also being of very high quality.  Though ostensibly a toy, it seems just as well done as a wargaming model. This is THE answer for someone who wants to put hardsuits on their 28mm battlefield but doesn't have alot of scratch.  I was briefly thinking that I might end up selling some of these, but now I'm glad to have gotten so many.

Thanks again to YPU for the heads up on these.  For those interested, stock is now reading "low" so get them now before they're gone!

[eilif]

No luck with the camera.  Here's the cell phone pics.
-Compared to a 29mm (sole to eyeline) Sedition wars Vangaurd trooper
-Same trooper compared to the unimpressive pilot figure
-The sprue of accessories included along with the two loose open hands that come in the box.

In addition to instructions, the box also has a tiny cardboard label stand meant to be displayed alongside it. There is also a full color card (all in Japanese) perforated for inclusion in some kind of mini-binder. I assume this was part of a series, but I don't know anything about the others.  My guess is that since this is dated to 2006, whatever set of figures it was part of never took off and/or are long since discontinued.  Either way it's clear this is some kind of old stock or over-production.

[YPU]

Your picture reminds me I promised a dissection report of the separated parts. Really should get round to that.

[eilif]

Your picture reminds me I promised a dissection report of the separated parts. Really should get round to that.

That'd be cool. I won't have much time to disassemble mechs for the next few days.

I was looking closer at the brochure in the package and it looks like there were 4 other models in this "Arctic gear" series.
-Brutishdog
-Scopedog
-Berserga
-Scopedog turbo custom

I looked up the others on line and when you can find them they seem to go for between $35 and $60!  As someone intending these for generic sci-fi I'm really glad this is the one that wound up on-sale.  Compared to the others the Fatty is by far the most generic and basic-military looking of the batch.  I don't know much about the series, but from what I read it appears to be the "faceless bad guy" unit.

The weapon has grown on me a bit, but if I do keep any of them they will need a barrel extension. Luckily the gun muzzle and frame are separate pieces.  Also, there are separate handle and handle in hand pieces so it would be especially easy to stick a different gun on there. Maybe next week I'll have time to dig out the tau parts.

Lastly, based on the pics on Necromundicon, it looks like these would scale pretty well (maybe a few mm taller) with the Gashapon figs that he uses for gaming Votoms and are still available in a few places for not unreasonable sums of money. http://www.ironhands.com/votomsminis.htm

His Votoms campaign reports are some of the best looking narrative/pictorial AAR's I've ever seen.

[mrgrigson]

There are WAY more than 4 other models in the line. Heck, there's three different Fatty designs alone. The trucks are incredible terrain, and the AT-Transporters (http://www.ebay.com/itm/TAKARA-TOMY-Votoms-1-48-AT-TRANSPORTER-/321935121899, not my sale but about what I've paid for mine) are great. Worth noting that the wheels are only pegged on for easy removal for painting, so if you don't plan on painting them you might want to glue them in place so you don't lose them. The helicopters are a little boxy for my tastes, and I wonder how birds that small could really carry suits so big (anime logic, I know).

If you're looking for generic military in the future, I recommend keeping an eye open for scopedogs and red shoulder units. Those seem to be the most broadly used ones in the series. The latter tend to be more heavily armed versions of the former. Marshydogs look similar, but keep in mind that there's flotation devices at the hips to deal with.

[Elbows]

He means in that toy range.

My favourite has always been the Tortoise:

Something wonderfully utilitarian about it

[YPU]

I know for a fact there are also two versions of Fatty ground types in the series, (A and B version) Which are done in desert tan and have over the shoulder launchers.

I agree the tortoise has a good look, I like grunt type mecha for some reason, more so then hero types.

The fatty model we all ended up with (I make no apologies) has two "exhausts" sticking out over the shoulder. These are, IIRC, sideways thrusters, what with the type of fatty we have being a space type. (you'll note they lack the alternative movement system so iconic for VOTOMS) in any case I think these parts make great mounts for over the shoulder weapons. One of the reasons mecha are unrealistic is the lack of top mounted weapons, they need to expose half their hull to shoot, meaning there is no decent hull down cover to be taken. Now if these fatties were to have some shoulder weapons and low profile head actually combine to address this kinda nicely.
I have already attempted to print some weapons but my printer issues are far from over with anything larger then a few mm I'm afraid, so I might start sourcing them elsewhere as well. My first thought was the mecha bits from CMG http://www.criticalmassgames.com/default.asp?category=mecha but tau bits might also work.

[YPU]

Here we go with the parts:

Overview, note the thrusters on the back of the backpack do come loose on some, but were to tight on this one. The hip ball joints are also rather tight so I didn't pop them loose. About 65 pieces in total, plus the weapon on the sprue.




Torso




Legs




Arms




Additional components, hands, pilot and weapon sprue.

[Rhoderic]

Lastly, based on the pics on Necromundicon, it looks like these would scale pretty well (maybe a few mm taller) with the Gashapon figs that he uses for gaming Votoms and are still available in a few places for not unreasonable sums of money. http://www.ironhands.com/votomsminis.htm

His Votoms campaign reports are some of the best looking narrative/pictorial AAR's I've ever seen.

Wow, thanks for the Necronomicon heads-up! He's really captured the look and feel of the VOTOMS universe.

[eilif]

Thanks YPU,
        Good to see that the seat is separate. If I take it out I should have more than enough space to put a Denizen pilot in there!

Mrgrigson,
     Thanks for the info. That AT transporter is a cool model.  A bit rich for my cheapo blood, but I'll be looking out for one now.


One question I have is the rest of the "1/48" line as equivalently mis-scaled as the Fatty?  Based on the size of the mech and the pilot, it's pretty clear that it's much closer to 1/64.   It's still a great model and looks good alongside 28mm (1/56) figs, but it's pretty far from 1/48.

[Elbows]

That transporter is seriously cool...

Like most mecha-heads I often hop on amazon or ebay just to see if there is anything crazy cool VOTOMS out.  I'd love to game it...as you almost could with the right scale.  Shame all of the gashapon seem pretty awful.  I had a beautiful 1/48(?) Votoms a bit ago, a couple actually and I used them for parts unfortunately.  It'd be fun to create a "super" anime game, which you could keep confined because of the comparative lack of speed vs. other anime universes.

Each player controlling a single VOTOMS or some such.

This "Big Carry" showed up on Amazon...

[YPU]

Elbows, its kinds of ironic that a anime where the mechs almost all have skates or hover plates for faster movement is still slower then most. 

[Rhoderic]

Shame all of the gashapon seem pretty awful.

What, specifically, are the shortcomings of the gashapon models? I ask because Japanese model collecting isn't my scene and I'd like to know what flaws or problems to look for.

(Not that I'm definitely getting into 28mm VOTOMS. Yet.)

[eilif]

That Big Carry is awesome.  I've got a 1/35 Dragon Wagon kit from some time ago that I've been meaning to convert into a mech retrieval unit, but the Big Carry looks purpose built for the job.

That transporter is seriously cool...

Like most mecha-heads I often hop on amazon or ebay just to see if there is anything crazy cool VOTOMS out.  I'd love to game it...as you almost could with the right scale.  Shame all of the gashapon seem pretty awful.  I had a beautiful 1/48(?) Votoms a bit ago, a couple actually and I used them for parts unfortunately.  It'd be fun to create a "super" anime game, which you could keep confined because of the comparative lack of speed vs. other anime universes.

Each player controlling a single VOTOMS or some such.

This "Big Carry" showed up on Amazon...