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Magnet Change Kamerock Gallery
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We've returned with another retro gallery from one of my favorites toylines ever, that of Tetsuwan Tantei Robotack! You may recall that last December the inaugural gallery in this series was the shows' lead character Robotack, well today we're taking a look at his companion and equally awesome super robot, Magnet Change Kamerock!
** For a broader explanation of the series itself, feel free to read through my previous Robotack gallery linked to above. Packaging Basically we have the exact same style box & styrofoam tray that Robotack did. The only difference for Kamerock are the release number, colors, and stock photos. Just superficial stuff really. Differing from the Kabutack releases of the previous year, Magnet Change figures are larger and heftier. So the heavy duty styrofoam is welcome to support the weight. Kamerock (like all other releases in this line) comes packaged in his Super Mode. We'll take him back to Normal Mode first to get the review underway though. I should mention that also a small label sheet meant to accessorize the figure is included, though I've never actually used them. i've been waiting to have repros made for years, eventually I'll get around to it. A flyer advertising the Land Tool mail away exclusive is also included (a figure which I have). These were the good old days of toku toys though. When you collected points to mail away for new figures. Lastly a toy catalog, is included. It features contemporary toku releases from Seiju Sentai Gingaman, Tetsuwan Tantei Robotack, Ultraman Dyna, & Godzilla. Main Figure Basically this line is almost identical across the board. If you checked out my last gallery then you know that all of these figures featured a revolutionary transformation system called Magnet Change/ジシャックチェンジ. You begin with 7 components, legs arms head tail & torso. Each of the sockets on the central body has a port with a magnetic plate in it. The corresponding limbs likewise have a magnet of the opposite polarity. But to get started we'll need to remove the Super Mode head and collapse the turtle shell together. Now each of the limbs can be plugged in normally. But make sure to collapse the legs and rotate the feet the proper direction first, as well as rotating the arms. Kamerock is an upright turtle so he needs to be angled properly. His appropriately, and incredibly named gun, the Kamerazooka, will fold up to form a tail of sorts in one shoulder socket while the combo Normal/Super head will go in the other for this modes head. Kamerock Normal Mode is a short squat robot known as a Wonder Turtle type in the shows terminology. A fun and cute design that definitely played well with children in the 90's. In this form he can't do much other than rotate his arms. Which have I mentioned is incredible? There are grooves on the limbs and sockets that hold the cylinder in the shoulder in a locked position but the arms can rotate on an axis on the end. It's just a genius design. I also have to mention this figure is HEAVY. A majority of the torso is solid painted diecast metal. Imagine the difference between early G1 Transformers and current lines like Titans Return. Then you'll understand just how radically different the construction of this toyline is in comparison. To get Kamerock into Super Mode detach everything again and start fresh. Unlike Robotack the transformation isn't quite as complex, but still very fun. The legs just need to be unlocked & extended fully up. Then the toes need to be rotated pointing out the same direction as the knee pad, then just plug them into the bottom of the torso. Next pull apart the halves of the turtle shell upand diagonally until they lock securely in place. The arms can just plugged into the shoulder sockets as they don't really transform. Then attach the turtle head to the center of the back and rotate the robot mode head down into the neck cavity. Arm him with the Kamerazooka and that's Kamerock Super Mode! In this form Kamerock stands significantly taller and has some really chunky proportions, unlike Robotack, who looks generally more heroic. As with all of the other figures in this line he towers over many more modern figures and even his contemporaries. The previous years' Kabutack line was overall much smaller. But Kamerock Super Mode just looks awesome. Find me a better more awesome looking turtle robot, I challenge you! But seriously this is the figures' strongest form. Unlike Robotack who's honestly quite good in either mode, Kamerack has a mostly forgettable Normal Mode but a very nice looking Super Mode. Articulation is basically non-existent though, being limited to the elbows and some minor use in the knees. Really he's a brick, but a gorgeous, hefty, sturdy brick. Another of my favorite vintage pieces. The Magnet Change gimmick of the line also winds up on full display with these figures in their Super Modes as everyone can interchange limbs freely. I've included some shots of Kamerock's budy Robotack below to showcase how the 2 look when magnet changed. The Magnet Change gimmick is a brilliant precursor to the types of form switching that abound in tokusatsu toys today, and for me it's sorely missed. However it also doesn't work very well in any of the characters Normal Modes as you'll see below. Accessories Technically there aren't really any accessories included with Kamerock. All of his "parts" are integral to both modes. But the Kamerazooka can technically be considered one. While it's not a terribly powerful looking sidearm, it's befitting of Kamerock's Super Mode. It kind of looks like a bubble gun to me honestly. None of these figures really have true accessories but there is an accessory set with Mimeena and the Power Arms which includes weapons that can be used by any compatible figure. Final Thoughts The toyline of Tetsuwan Tantei Robotack is still one of my all time favorites. The engineering of Magnet Change gimmick still blows me away. And while Kamerock may not be as complex or satisfying as the figure that started the line, he's more than deserving of a spot in your collection. This line is fantastic. |
This is adorable. I love it.
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I didn't even know these existed but they do look pretty cool.
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Nice to see we're returning to old familiar territory. Kamerock looks adorable and is pretty cool as well.
The magnet switching gimmick for limbs is also pretty cool as well. It's nice to see some examples of it. |
Love these!
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Aside from that last gallery featuring them, I had no idea about these guys, but they do look really good. Love the whole magnet system.
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Like it reminds of and old school transformer
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Not too familiar with these guys tbh, but they look pretty adorable.
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The combining gimmick is pretty cute.
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I love transformable toys! I think that's why I love Super Sentai/Power Rangers so much!
These are sooo cute! <3 Adorable looking turtle that transforms into a strong looking robot not to be messed with! I love all of these galleries! I've discovered many shows and figures I didn't know anything about! It helps to expand my knowledge about Toku. |
I'm delighted to see another of these galleries! These figures seem nifty as heck. I was skeptical of the cute chibi forms...
...and then Kamen Rider Ex-Aid came along. The reminder of the Robotack is making me judge those Level 1 forms much more harshly. This gimmick just seems more sleek. (Although I assume the Level Up gimmick of Ex-Aid is directly inspired by this, so perhaps effort was put into not copying this line, but instead just riffing on it.) |
Man, Gamera looks a lot bluer and smaller than I remember. He does look nice though. Always a pleasure to see a vintage line get a good gallery done like this- there can't be many about, as opposed to newer items, where there are so many reviewers with cameras nowadays.
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Love these figures
I loved this line. Simple but fun.
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These look like really cute figures. I wonder if my dad's heard about this toku.
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I love these old toys, they’re so nice. I don’t know which gallery it was but after one of them you almost had me buying the figure. But I remembered that I have no place for it and buying toys just for the sake of it with no attachment to it isn’t my style so I didn’t do it in the end.
I still dig these retro toys a lot though, so I always look forward to seeing more pictures of them. I don’t like Kamerock as much as Robotack from a design standpoint but it’s still a fun looking figure. |
This dude looks pretty fucking rad. I love the normal mode (Though he does look rather weak without his eyes. I wish they weren't stickers). His super mode looks pretty sweet too, and I much prefer his head design, but overall, I think Robotack has the better looking super mode.
I really wish I had more to say, but it's a character's toy that I'll never be able to get from a show I've never seen, so there's not much I can say beyond "This dude looks pretty sweet." :lol |
Wow, the transformable gimmick seems to work really well. If I hadn't known that the Normal and Super modes were the same figure, you could've fooled me.
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The older gimmick toys had more charm than the ones made today.
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So a cute turtle robot turns into a neat looking robot?
I think whoever had this has some great memories of such a fun looking toy. |
Magnets? Cool, why dont more toys have that? This is the first time ive hear of a Transformer-esqe toy that used magnets to help hold pieces together. Cool designs too, I would like to see a reboot version (ala Ironmen in Fourze) or SIC (ala Akumaizer).
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Except they were played straight, being straight up demonic villains. http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/...20141206205314 Which do you prefer? Classic, SIC, or Movie Taisen Ultimatum? |
Those look pretty cool
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Looks like the love child of Micronauts and Transformers.
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That's kinda neat looking. I'll need to do some more research on this as I've seen a couple things on this recently. Now I'm curious.
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This looks so cute tbh hahaha. Reminded of Transformers lol I really like this type of toys and love that you can combine both robots.
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This is an interesting piece. Looks like a turtle with the head of a bird. Haha.
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Pretty cool toy, a heirloom in fact but a pity that the metal hero franchise ended with Robotack as last entry. :(
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I wish more modern toys would use magnets. They really allow for some nice gimmicks as these Robotack toys show. It's not too complex but it's a good enough transformation.
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I guess because pegs are simpler in construction? |
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wish I did not keep forgetting about this figure or else I would of kept an eye out for it. Just love transforming turtle bots
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Still not big on Robotack, but the toyline remains fascinating to me.
Also this one is fantastic because of the storage for the weapon. You may call that a tail, but to me that is a butt cannon. It's a buttzooka and that alone makes the toy worth it. |
That transformation gimmick is really cool, for something so simple it looks like a lot of fun.
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Adorable little thing, and very interesting, too
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I'm a real fan of the cute robot->cool robot aesthetic. If these were a recent release I'd be chasing these up.
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These are pretty dang cute. The magnets are a pretty neat way of interchangability, reminds me of thsoe old giant Halo guys Mega Bloks used to make with the magnetic ball joints.
Almost looks more like and Armadillo than a turtle to me, but whatever, point is it's adorable. :D |
Its cool to see there was so much ingenuity then too.
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I've never seen this series, but this is adorable
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Wow, these are money-grabbingly cute. Must resist... must resist...
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These look really playable. Magnets should be fun for the kids!
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