{"id":1628,"date":"2016-04-06T16:26:16","date_gmt":"2016-04-06T16:26:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/anymoon.com\/blog\/2007\/08\/12\/matchbox-robotech-battle-pod-regult\/"},"modified":"2018-01-19T06:55:55","modified_gmt":"2018-01-19T06:55:55","slug":"matchbox-robotech-battle-pod-regult","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/anymoon.com\/blog\/?p=1628","title":{"rendered":"Matchbox Battle Pod (Regult)"},"content":{"rendered":"

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REVIEW(Updated): They don\u2019t come in peace<\/p>\n

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Packaging & Extras<\/strong>: (2\/5)
\nWhen the styrofoam tray is replaced by the cardboard cut-out to keep toys safe on the inside of the box then the box itself becomes inherently less stable and more prone to being crumpled, torn, and otherwise beat.\u00a0 Such is the case with the Battlepod\u2019s box and why it’s hard to find really pristine boxes in your search for this collectible.\u00a0 The toy comes partially assembled.\u00a0 Easy to read instructions tell you how to get it together and all stickered up; there’s a fairly standard sticker sheet which does dress the toy up nicely, and the toy also came with an invitation to join the RDF Fan Club.\u00a0 To summarize: you get a cheap box with poor integrity, cardboard tray, extremely limited extras (no pilot)\u00a0and the toy itself isn’t even fully assembled.<\/p>\n

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Charm & Collectibility<\/strong>: (3.5\/5)
\nOriginally when I reviewed this toy the Matchbox still had no serious competition in the Battlepod (AKA Regult) market.\u00a0 That changed when Kaiyodo released their Revoltech Regult and then Toynami\u00a0released their roughly 1\/100 scale vinyl collection Battlepod. \u00a0Yamato then produced a plastic resin 1\/60 version Regult (AKA Reguld) as a model kit (essentially a model that should have a toy’s durability).\u00a0 The Yamato version features a detailed cockpit that accommodates a theoretical 1\/60 scale Zentran pilot at a price tag that would probably run you close to $500 (and more now that Yamato has folded). \u00a0Even more recently Bandai has produced the Hi-Metal R Regult which is approximately the same size as the Toynami vinyl figure. Has any of this hurt the original Matchbox toy’s collectability?\u00a0 It may be too soon to say but there are clearly three separate markets being serviced by the available toys so I wouldn’t be surprised to see some collector’s still seeking these toys out.\u00a0 After all, the Battlepod was the most prolific enemy in the Macross universe.\u00a0 The lack of metal, transformation, and scarcity keep this Matchbox toy from really generating any fervor.\u00a0 Like many Robotech toys, this toy has at least three variations as pictured below.\u00a0 I don’t believe any particular variant is more desired than the others.<\/p>\n

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Sculpt, Detail, and Paint<\/strong>: (6\/10)
\nAs mentioned previously, some versions of this toy have different appearances from others.\u00a0 The representation is fair although not perfect.\u00a0 Some detail is present, the decals help a lot, but more could have been included and the modern toys feature more slick painted on detail.\u00a0 I’ve included a picture below to compare the Battlepod to the original line art but the rigid hips of the toy made getting the proper angle difficult.\u00a0 As you might expect from a mid-80s toy, the cockpit detail is extremely sparse.\u00a0 In terms of line art accuracy, if it weren’t for the bulge on the top, the window for the pilot figure, and the thick legs this really isn’t a bad representation at all, especially when compared to Matchbox’s various other efforts.<\/p>\n

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Design:<\/strong> (7\/10)
\nIt\u2019s an average score for an average design.\u00a0 The toy can be a bit gangly and awkward at times.\u00a0 Other than fitting an action figure within its opening cockpit there really isn\u2019t much in the way of frills here.\u00a0 Below is a picture of how that mechanism works and a glimpse at the detail inside for the 3 3\/4″ action figure.\u00a0 I probably don’t have to mention this but the scale is all wrong, a Rick Hunter action figure should appear tiny inside a Battle Pod, he should not look like a Battle Pod’s natural pilot.\u00a0 I did some measurements and while it’s very difficult to come up with an accurate scale for this toy (due to conflicting Macross vs. Robotech canon sizes and it being unknown where the height was measured to and what angle the legs were at) it seems fair to say this toy is somewhere between 1\/50 and 1\/60 scale.<\/p>\n

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Durability & Build:<\/strong> (7\/10)
\nAnother average score here as the toy has some parts that can be broken with play but nothing that seems prone to breaking from simple accident.\u00a0 The plastic feels thin but the toy is essentially an egg with legs so nothing stands out precariously.\u00a0 Obviously you’ll want to take special care with all the little tabs that lock things like the rings for the big guns down.<\/p>\n

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Articulation:<\/strong> (5\/10)
\nHow poseable should an egg with legs be?\u00a0 Well, let\u2019s just say it exposes the weakness of the legs pretty quickly.\u00a0 The system used is the same as the one employed on the Officer\u2019s Pod which means it would also benefit from being able to achieve a wide stance and incorporating ankles.\u00a0\u00a0 It does feature a toe that allows you to mix things up ever so slightly.\u00a0 A big let down here is that the little antennae and guns all move slightly but never enough where you could actually point them somewhere the toy might be looking.\u00a0 The little adjustable \u201cshoulder\u201d jets are a nice but nearly useless touch.\u00a0\u00a0 The extremely limited leg mobility is going to make it so you can’t achieve all the most desirable Battlepod poses which is a real shame.
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