Review: It starts without the Gluu Ger (pilot) figure
Packaging & Extras: (2/5)
The first release of the KitzConcept Battlepod comes packaged in a purple KitzConcept badged box (25.5 x 24 x 14.2 cm) made of thin cardboard housed within a sleeve that prominently shows off the Battlepod. Inside the box is a plastic tray containing the Battlepod and instructions. The top lasers are housed within a second tray behind the toy. If you would like to employ the light-up effects, you will need to separately acquire 12 LR626 batteries. This was the most basic release of the toy, not including a Gluu-Gerr pilot figure. While some smaller Regult/Battlepod toys like the HMR and Revoltech included display stands, this toy is very heavy and would have required something more substantial.
Charm & Collectability: (4/5)
Though this toy doesn’t transform and is of an enemy mecha (which are generally less collectable than protagonist toys), there’s ample reason to expect this toy to be sought after. First, this toy has metal content and weighs an impressive 742 grams (more than TWICE the weight of an old 1/55 Takatoku VF-1 or Jetfire toy) and is nice to handle, significantly heftier than the 172 grams of KC’s VF-1 toy. The toy is a popular scale at 1/72 or about 25 cm to the crown, which is roughly appropriate to the Robotech canon height of 17.4 meters. In Macross, the height is listed as only 15.12 meters which would make this toy 1/60 scale. That puts this toy right in the wheelhouse for a lot of collectors though some will find this jarring since the vehicle is often depicted as being MUCH larger in the show. If you remember Zentraedi pilots being similar in size to a VF-1 battroid (such as the guy who grabs Rick’s VF-1D or the uniform Max dons in his VF-1A), then you’re going to be perplexed by the notion that someone of that size could ever fit in this Battlepod.
KitzConcept’s first release may be controversial in that the preorder listing specified it would come with a pilot figure, but the toy shipped in September 2024 did not include one. I can’t find the original listing on the KitzConcept site today, but the first release was supposed to be a pilot figure and Battelpod bundle at $166.60 (before preorder discounts). The pilot figure was initially described as being articulated. I later heard that it would come with an articulated figure AND a smaller cockpit only figure. By shipping early adopters the version without the pilot, KC is in a situation where it will be obligated to ship everyone a ‘sold separately’ pilot at another date which doesn’t feel professional. KitzConcept is now selling the version without the pilot figure for the same $166.60 price. A two-pack version was sold briefly on the KC website that included the light and heavy armor attachments for the Battlepods (seemingly without pilots) at the same $166.60 price tag which seems like an incredible deal giving they’re now asking that amount for a single pilotless Battlepod without accessory weapons. Stay tuned for reviews of those Battlepods when they are available.
Sculpt, Detail, & Paint: (9.5/10)
I have only one nitpick about this toy, and it’s the same nitpick I would level at Bandai’s Hi-Metal R toy, the housing for the eye protrudes too far. I qualify that as a minor quibble because otherwise this toy is a very impressive recreation of the line art. If you’re very particular about the line art, you’ll also notice that the feet are large but the toy benefits from the big platform. Paint details are generous and well done. The mold captures the contours and panels as indicated in the art. The cockpit contains ample mechanical details and controls with many paint applications that bring everything to life. The beam weapons have hollow barrels to facilitate the light effects which is a huge improvement from the sometimes solid barrels on toys from the past. Some people will wish the paint had more of a matte finish but I’ve never been a stickler for that and, if you are, it can be viewed as an element that makes this mech more ‘alien’ than your other toys.
Design: (9.5/10)
If the cockpit of this toy can accommodate a 1/72 scale pilot figure, it will likely need to be a fixed-posed figure on the smaller side of the Zentraedi range. I was able to fit the classic Matchbox micronized Zentraedi figure but the ‘full height’ figure wasn’t get close. Features include:
Opening back bay door
Opening front door (maybe not canon but I don’t know that you’d ever be able to do a pilot figure without it)
Removable panel in the legs to show off interior detail
Light up effects in the side boosters, main turrets, eye, and cockpit (see video review for demonstration). Some people might complain about the required number of batteries. I wish the various switches were more easily accessible. If we were going for true perfection, the tops of the side boosters and the eye could be buttons that when pressed engage the lights. While I prefer accessible switches, I can appreciate that these switches are completely hidden.
Built with interchangeable weapons in mind (though those are sold separately)
Hidden joints with huge range of articulation
I’m very pleased with the features and they significantly add to the fun factor.
Unfortunately, I don’t see any forethought into how a display stand could work with these toys. There are no holes on the toy’s underside that would make for a good mounting point. The weight and curves of the legs will make using router style display stands challenging though I was able to get a good flying pose. A really dynamic display with the regult on one leg or off the ground will prove challenging.
Durability & Build: (8.5/10)
This is always a tough score to judge when a toy is new but my experience has been entirely positive so far and I haven’t found many people complaining about QC issues. Paint applications, and there are many, we very well done on my toy. The chin whiskers seem like the most likely weak spot in the event of rough handling or a fall. I’m hedging on this score a little initially because the toy has warnings about how to store it to prevent the joints from getting weak. Given how heavy this toy is, there seems to be a high likelihood joints (particularly the hidden knee joints) will soften over time. The hips have strong ratchets and the knees can remain in a compact position that might reduce the impact of looseness in the future. I will update this review as I handle this toy and subsequent releases more.
Articulation: (9/10)
The main turrets on the head can angle very far out and ALMOST strait forward. The back of the head turrets, which are fixed on the Bandai Hi-Metal R, have a nice circular range of motion. The boosters on either side of the toy have ratcheted joints (which seems gratuitous) and can rotate in a complete circle. The whisker guns are fixed. The hips are ratcheted and can move forward and back until they hit the body while also featuring an extension gimmick that lets them angle steeply away from center. Directly below the hip is a rotation point allowing the leg to twist outward nearly all the backward. There knee hides a pair of joints that extend away from the body. When fully extended, these knees allow very steep angles in the leg, including the iconic squatting pose. Within the foot housing is a joint that allows the foot to angle left or right or title forward and back. Below that is a ratcheted heel joint allowing the heel to move up or down while the big toe has several ratcheted positions. Given this toy doesn’t have arms, this is about as good a score as I can imagine giving this mecha.
Total Score: (42.5/50)
This toy has easily surpassed the very impressive Bandai Hi-Metal R as my favorite Regult toy. It’s a little a light on accessories and I’ll reiterate that I’m concerned there’s no obvious support for a future display stand. Beyond that, this is an amazing toy, even if you never intend to use the lights. If KitzConcept is going to bring this level of love and care to destroids and the Officer’s Pod, then the future for this 40+ year old show is very bright!