Sofubi Toys!
 

Before S.H. MonsterArts and Ultra-Act, years before Bandai, your only hope for giant monsters in toy form was vinyl. Five points of articulation if you were lucky, and only swivel joints, and incredibly light for the size, but fun and bright colors and certainly durable. The variety was nearly endless between all the classic film and television monsters out there!

http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/8279/67712341l.jpg

Over time, the vinyl got smaller, but more detailed and show-accurate. This was the new era of giant monster love, an explosion in the 80s led by Popy and Bandai; Ultraman begat the return of Godzilla, and so the others followed.

http://img193.imageshack.us/img193/6...e8c03be4cd.jpg

Just after this new era began, the children of the 70s grew up still loving their monsters of old and you had big figures again... and with price tags to match. These are the cream of the crop, the ridiculously expensive, but masterpieces in their own right.

http://img856.imageshack.us/img856/2589/xmeg2.jpg

Whether it's an original Hawaiian Bullmark Hedorah costing more than your student loans or the latest 6" Bandai Ultra Monster Series toy for 840 yen, all discussion of sofubi (soft vinyl) toys goes here!

I for one still love vinyl toys. I have a decent collection of Goji series monsters in that form and have been looking into picking up a few Ultra monsters as well.

I also a nice little set of SDs both for Goji and Gamera daikaiju, which I am crazy about. I totally dig those cute little guys!

Currently I am looking to buy an Ultra Series Bemular. Possibly as a treat to myself since I am working at a project site and working 7 days a week this month! :)

A question: do you leave the tags on your Bandai vinyls or remove them? All of the ones I have still have their tags if they had them when I bought them. But lately I have been consideirng cutting them off because from what I can tell there's not much of a secondary market for most of these figs and the tags interfere with display.

Thoughts?

Personally, I used to have some awesome vinyl figures, but many of them were sold off over time. Still have a couple of the old X-Plus Gameras, several Godzilla figures in 6" and 8", and a metric buttload of Ultraman figures.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/10...aijuBattle.jpg

I remove every single tag from my figures because I'm not planning on running a museum with them as my centerpieces. The people with the truly fat wallets and rooms they can fill to the brim with toys can do all that if they like. The key I've found is to heat up the figure where the tag is injected (a blow dryer works best) and when the vinyl is hot and most malleable, pull it out by the hook. You remove the tag this way, but the plastic hook isn't broken, you don't have bits of plastic rattling around inside your toy, and you can repeat the process to retag the figure later if you prefer. Win-win!

I will try that with the hair dryer. Good call!

I am trying to remember exactly which vinyls I have. I know I have Burning G, MOGUERA, G2000, G94, Destoroyah, Bandai Creation Gigan, and the large Bandai Creation Millenium Gigan. I think I am forgetting one. As for the SDs I have bunches of them, heh. G63, Rodan 56, G94, Gigan, Barugon, Viras, MOGUERA, Space Godzilla, and some others as well.

Ultra Kaiju Bemular is all sorts of awesome. I've got my eye on Melba and Tyrant, and I've love a Jamila, but he is very pricey...

That Megalon is freaking sexy.
Vinyl toys aren't my thing, and I've never been interested, but they do look damn good.

Japan does love it's capsule monsters.

You know what I just found out? That the Bandai vinyl monsters are sold on pegs, which is why their cards are attached with the little hooks.

It seems SO DANG OBVIOUS but I never put two and two together until I saw a picture online of a Japanese Toys R Us.

(Reminds me of a funny story. A few years back, the project I was working on had a Japanese client. A big Japanese client. As in their name starts with "to" and ends with "shiba." Anyway, we had meetings at the office, and we were taking the clients back to their hotel to get ready for dinner. Across the street from my office is a Toys R Us. The two clients asked to go in so they could pick something up for their kids, so we obliged. It was amazing watching these guys pore over the "import toys" that were for sale, and talk about how their kids would love this or that because "you can't get that back home." It's always funny to remember that "import" and "domestic" are a matter of perspective! :lol)

I'm torn right now.

I was playing around on eBay and found some decent prices for the Ultra-Acts of both Seven and Ace. And Leo can be found relativey easily as well. So I am champing at the bit, ready to buy them.

But then I think about it -- for the price of any one of those Ultra-Acts, I can get three vinyls, be they daikaiju or Ultra Heroes. Yeah, the Heroes won't be poseable, but the daikaiju are perfectly compatable (for the most part) with their Ultra-Act brethren.

So what's a fan to do?

These are the vinyls I am leaning towards.

Gomora:
http://hobby-japan.net/tmp/bandai/ul...3112488091.jpg

Red King:
http://i.ebayimg.com/t/Ultraman-Mons...YgQ~~60_57.JPG

Baltan:
http://i.ebayimg.com/t/Ultraman-Mons...bIg~~60_57.JPG

Windam:
http://i.ebayimg.com/t/Ultraman-Mons...+dw~~-1_12.JPG

Black King:
http://i.ebayimg.com/t/Ultraman-Mons...m9!~~60_57.JPG

Tyrant:
http://i.ebayimg.com/t/Ultraman-Mons...bp!~~-1_12.JPG


Eleking:
http://i.ebayimg.com/t/Ultraman-Mons...GoQ~~60_57.JPG

With Baltan, given his humanoid structure, I'm considering just getting him as Ultra-Act.

So, yeah. Hrrn. Maybe I'll buy a bunch of monsters and then get Ultras to fight them. Eleking or Windam for Ultraseven, Black King for Ace, Tyrant for Taro... heh.

Sounds good, but I would probably pair up Black King with Ultraman Jack, as I don't know that he ever actually faced Ace. For Ace, there's Ultra Act Ace killer, but if you want to go the vinyl route probably one of the Chouju (Velokron and Vakishim are both pretty easy to find) or even Giant Yapool.

It makes me happy to see this thread eventually get some love. Yaaaaaay.

How good a price are the Seven or Ace? That either seems very low, or the vinyls you're looking at are kinda expensive.

I don't understand your hesitation to get the kaiju in Ultra-Act, but it's more a moot point because Gomora, Golza and Eleking are so expensive now, and Red King kinda sucks. Not getting Baltan II though?!?! The hell is wrong with you! GET HIM.

Ace is like $75. Seven is a bit more. The vinyls are about 20 apiece shipped. What is the best place to buy vinyls?

All of the Ultra-Act kaiju I see are super expensive. Hence the vinyls, but yeah, I should get Baltan as an Ultra-Act.

I have a hard time spending Ultra-Act money on toys. Well, my wife has a hard time with me spending it...

Alright, I just poked around HLJ.com, and I am never buying another vinyl off of eBay again... *headslap*

Anybody know of a good place for getting vinyls of the Kamen Rider kaijin (beyond waiting for them to pop up on ebay)? Vinyls of the Godzilla and Ultraman Kaiju- as well as the Rider hero figures- are comparatively pretty easy to find, although that could be due to having more recent releases.

I'll keep an eye out, although I don't know that I have ever seen a kaijin vinyl. Any one in particular you are looking for?

Mostly Kaijin from the first series, like this but in stock. Shocker grunts too- I've seen pics of a Figuarts version but no info on when it'll be released.

printer, no luck on any Kaijin yet, but I did just place an order with HLJ for some Ultra Kaiju -- Red King, Eleking, Melba, Gomora, and EX Tyrant. Going to have to wait on the to come back in stock but that's alright. Just happy to get a much better price on these guys.

Recently picked up Gubira (newer version), and now that I have him I really want some more 4-legged kaiju. Also, prior to having the figure in hand I never realized his pattern was so deliberately asymmetrical.

Gubira always makes me think of Zigra, by which I mean I tend to visualize them in my head as their swimming models rather than the actual suits. Gubira at least has the decency of being a quadroped, like you said, heh.

Scylla is a good four legged monster. I like his gigantic mouth, of course! Reminds me of Audrey II a little bit.

If the Neronga vinyl was on all fours, I'd probably buy him, but standing on his hind legs, he looks a little plain. Kemular is alright, but he needs an update.

Of course the best 4 legged daikaiju is Anguirus! I need to get one of the Bandai Anji's. The Final Wars one has a nice sculpt, but the colors seem a little... off. I dunno. I guess they match his colors in the movie, but the spines seem too bright for my tastes.

printer, I did see that Bandai is going to be evidently doing at least some Phantoms from Kamen Rider Wizard in vinyl.

http://www.hlj.com/product/BAN980114

I don't know who else we'll be getting though...

I received EX Tyrant in the mail, he's so boss. I'll try to take some pictures to share. I also ordered an Alien Metron who is sitting in my Private Warehouse at HLJ, waiting for me to ship. I am also going to also pick up King Joe, but that one will be for my friend who also is a tokusatsu fan who's name is (you guessed it) Joe.

After all these years I finally am amassing the small army of vinyl monsters I have always wanted. :D

While I'm more interested in the Showa riders and their foes, those are pretty tempting- and far cheaper than any potential Figuarts of them might be.

Out of curiosity, which EX Tyrant did you get? Is it the 2008 one or the newer red-eye one? I have the red-eye version, and although I'm fairly certain that they're the same mold from pictures the 2008 release looks to have a better paint job. I don't know if it's enough of a difference to warrant tracking down another version of the same mold- the red-eye version is still pretty nice.

Mine has the red eyes, and his tag has him fighting Ultraman Zero so I am assuming it is the newer version. I like the paint job on my instance of Tyrant so I am happy with him. He scales really well with my Ultra Acts and given his fighting style (using his hand weapons), the poseability is not much of an issue in his case. :D

I'm right there with you on considering going vinyl over Figuarts, especially given that the baddies seem to be exclusives and thus pricier. For the Ultra Monsters (save Baltan, whom I will eventually get as a U-A) it just makes perfect sense from a dollars and cents standpoint. Even the older kaijin, just to ave a vinyl there for FA Kamen Rider to tangle with would be fantastic.

Modern kaijin are harder. I really like Master Phoenix, but it really becomes a question of a trade off of poseability versus cost with a character like him.

Well, my sofubi daikaiju were about to hit the 60 day limit at HLJ, so I put together a shipment. Coming my way are Red King, Gomora, Alien Metron, Eleking, and Melba. My monster army grows!

(King Joe is still backordered.)

Just received this guy from HLJ, it's much more detailed than I expected!

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7307/8...709f68cf_c.jpg
Sofubi Red King by Jcee_, on Flickr

Awesome! Can't wait to get mine!

Got my shipment from HLJ today!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...ps0b79686b.jpg
The rampaging army of monsters invades the futon!

Anyone heard of the Ultra Kaiju 500? From what I can tell, they are the new series of soft vinyl toys, 140 mm as normal, but cost 500 yen. 12 of them are up on Amiami right now. Might pick up some monsters I need, especially at the discounted price.

Well, of course I've heard of them, but that's me. Their figures are intended for use not only as the new vinyl series, but also as the Spark Dolls of the new Ultraman Ginga and the DX Ginga Spark. At 14cm, they're also nearly an inch shorter than the vinyls Bandai has made since 1983. It's how they can be so cheap.

Several of the twelve sold out on AmiAmi already, but HLJ still had all twelve for 400 yen last I checked. Thunder Darambia, as a new form of the kaiju, is the fastest-selling.

140 mm is not bad though, at least for a display if not a diorama.

For that price might pick some up. Still loving my latest wave of Ultra kaiju, so more is always welcome.

And considering that I was unable to get UA Ultra Seven, I am seriously considering getting an Ultra Seven vinyl just so I have a Seven.

Just got an email from HLJ, the first wave of Spark Dolls are In Stock and ready to ship. Which, considering that Ultraman Ginga starts in like a week, seems like good timing.

In addition, preorders are up for August and September Spark Doll releases, including Ultraman 80, Red King, Antlar, and (appropriately) Ultraman Nexus, and many others.

I got my first wave of Spark Dolls from HLJ yesterday: Ultraman Ginga, Ultraman, Thunder Daranbia, and Alien Godola. (I also got King Joe, but he is a gift for a friend of mine who is named... you guessed... Joe.) All of them have two tags on their peg hook, one of which is character specific, and the other of which details how to use the Ginga Spark with them. The Ginga Spark point is on each figure's left foot, and looks like a mix of a QR code and the standard Biohazard Warning symbol.

The two Ultra Heroes really look like regular Bandai sofubis which were shrunk down in the dryer. They're light, but are well detailed for the size. The paint apps are good. Ginga really looks nice, I hope we get an Ultra-Act or at least a full size vinyl of him in the near future.

The Ultra Kaiju are an interesting group. Thunder Daranbia looks cool, but I have not seen him in action yet. Interestingly, his tail is partly molded as part of his left leg. It looks like this is partly a compromise because of the size, but also I think to help him stand up. Details are very nice on him. A good looking monster.

I got Alien Godola because I have never seen him as a normal vinyl, and had just seen his Ultraseven episode. His slight figure makes him seem smaller than he is. Detail is pretty good, although his face could have been sharper. Still, a good likeness and well worth the money.

King Joe looks about the same as his larger counterpart except his arms are placed better, so he no longer has the "wave your hands in the air like you just don't care" pose going on.

Overall I was very impressed with these guys from a straight sofubi standpoint. So much so that I ordered about 10 more of them from the next two waves. Interesting point about the monsters -- I have to check this tonight but I think at 140mm they should be in scale to do battle with Super Robot Chogokins and Retrofire Megazords! :)

Can anyone help me with information on this series? I know that they're from Bandai or Banspasto (spelling?) and they have been in my collection for the longest time but I have no idea on them or if they are more kaijus?

I have Zetton, Baltan, Red King and the Dodongo (not pictured and somewhere in storage). Here are the pics:

http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l2...traman2043.jpg

http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l2...traman2039.jpg

http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l2...traman2041.jpg

The line's Soul of Sofubi Kaiju Specimen, a short-lived line of collector-oriented vinyls that never did particularly well. Bandai seemed to have the right idea with more detailed sculpts to maybe muscle in on what X-Plus was doing, but maybe because their size made them too superfluous or it seemed pointless alongside Ultra-Act, they didn't do so hot. HLJ stuck them on clearance all the time, or at least Dodongo, Red King and Zetton. I think Narse was number 4 in the line?

Oh wow! You really deserve to be known as the 'King of Ultras' collector dude! You are totally correct on the information. Kinda disappointed that there's only these 4 kaijus.

Sure they're abit larger than the average vinyl kaiju but the sculpt and paint on the figures are top notch. I really dig Zetton and Baltan! I actually prefer this Red King over the Ultra Act version.

There are five Kaiju Specimens, not four. Note how Baltan is 5.0?

http://www.hlj.com/product/ban958501/Sci

It's easy for most any Red King figure to beat the Ultra-Act, given the ugly designs choices all over that figure. So sad too, Red King should have been fantastic at hiding points of articulation with his segmented body!

Good call dude! But I have no idea who is the 'missing one'? I managed to find Narse but the selling was asking a high price for him so I passed it up

I also saw the new Ginga Ultraman toys and I was so disappointed by them. There was a Ragon - the Kaiju that looked like the creature from the black lagoon but he's underscaled.

Kinda cheesed off as he didn't appear in the larger (6 inch line)! :(

...Narse is. That's why I linked to it. It's 4.0.

All of the Ultra Hero 500 and Ultra Kaiju 500 figures are smaller than the older vinyls, but Ragon's humanoid design allows it to be one of the taller among the Spark Dolls. It's not really underscaled at all.

Personally, the slightly smaller size of the Spark Dolls just makes them easier to compulsive-buy! :D

The Ultra Kaiju Red King looks great on his own, especially for the price. Just need a big paper mache boulder and he'd be on like Donkey Kong.

Darn it! I forgot to compare him with the regular 6 inch figure! But I recall it looked 'off' to me - guess I was too stumped by the other smaller sized kaijus.

ljacone - I get what you mean with the impulse buy but I'm really limiting myself because my 'impluse' buys have proven costly to me in the past! LOL!

Yeah, I've gone a little overboard on the Ultra 500s, as I have all of the following either preordered or waiting to ship:

Ultraman Taro
Hanzagiran
Giant Yapool
Gan-Q
King Pandon
Snowgon
Gavadon B
Salamandora
Vakishim
Antlar
Black King
Alien Baltan
Alien Empera
Alien Valkie
Zoffy

Plus some full size vinyls...

Ultraman King
Father Of Ultra
Mother Of Ultra
Astra
Zoffy
King Joe
Kamen Rider Wizard Flame Style
Kamen Rider Wizard Land Style
Kamen Rider Wizard Land Dragon
Master Phoenix

...my wife is going to kill me...

EDIT: Cmon Bandai, where the hell is my Ultra 500 Bemular?!

When back to the import stores to check on Ragon but the size discrepancy is too obvious for me...sigh...

Check out the pic below:

http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l2...ps2930e670.jpg