S.H. Figuarts Vul Eagle Gallery
 

Follow the sun! TokuNation has indeed caught the sun with this gallery from Taiyou Sentai Sun Vulcan! In this installment we're taking a look at the team leader of Sun Vulcan, S.H. Figuarts Vul Eagle! And so begins yet another new subline of Sentai Figuarts!

Worthy of mention is the fact that this figure can represent either of the two Vul Eagles! Vul Eagle I Ryusuke Oowashi, OR Vul Eagle II Takayuki Hiba. Vul Eagle I was planned to be written out of the show from the start because of actor Ryusuke Kawasaki's intentionally limited contract. His singing career was huge at the time. Plans were in place to replace the actor & character thus Vul Eagle I exited the show, and Vul Eagle II entered! Vul Eagle II, Takayuki Hiba, wore exactly the same costume the original did. But the differentiating factor between the 2 was that Vul Eagle II's Vulcan Stick could transform into a Katana! Read on to see how this figure allows you to display either version!

Packaging
As I mentioned before, Vul Eagle is the first release in the Sun Vulcan line of S.H. Figuarts. As such this is a brand new basic figure and packaging. The box itself really strives for that appropriate Showa feel. And it does it very well. I don't know if it's the darker muted colors, the awesome Sun graphic that stretches from the box across the bubble, or what. But this box knocks it out of the park. Oddly it opens on the top or bottom flaps and doesn't open to the slide like a majority of S.H. Figuarts.

Main Figure
S.H. Figuarts Vul Eagle is by far one of my favorite sentai Figuarts. I dare say it's the nicest one I own even. This figure is solid on every level. For starters the sculpt is magical. For a suit that really looked baggy in the show, they've carried some of that over here but streamlined it so it doesn't look cheesy at all. Honestly the Figuart makes the suit look 30 years more recenet than it is. But where this thing is completely knocked out of the park is the headsculpt. The beautiful profile, the gorgeously done Eagle crest. It's perfection. Oh and the emblem on his belt, just absolutely nailed it.

This figure also happens to feature wonderful articulation! It's pretty standard stuff for non-armored figures such as this one, but Vul Eagle can move in all the right ways to get the job done. I've yet to discover any real flaws with my Vul Eagle either, and I own 2 of him. The paint is crisp, the joints tight (albeit a slightly too tight in the hips) and the parts are formed properly. I haven't had a figuart this issue free in a long time.

It should be noted that yes, Vul Eagle is about the same height as S.H. Figuarts Akaranger. It would seem at first glance that these Showa sentai figures are a bit taller than their Heisei counterparts. But honestly when I've got them all lined up together the differences aren't as apparent. Where Akaranger felt large bulky and towering because of his sculpt, Vul Eagle is much less so. Though he clearly stands above his sentai brothers and sisters a little bit, he's not the sore thumb in the crowd that is Akaranger.

Accessories
Vul Eagle is a near perfect figuart for me, and the accessories help contribute to that as well. The nice thing about them is that one of them can even let you display Vul Eagle II!

5.5 - Additional hand sets. Seriously this is Gokaiger figuarts levels of extra hands. I LOVE it. You can get so much out of the selection here.

1 - Vulcan Stick (retracted mode). The Vulcan Stick is the signature sidearm of all 3 members of Sun Vulcan. It's packaged in the standard "retracted" mode which is how it always looks while in the hip holster. Though it separates above the handle to use another included part.

1 - Vulcan Stick Blade. The Vulcan Stick itself separates just above the handle for 2 reasons. One, to let you swap out the default end for the Blade. The second is that it let's you slide the handle up through the bottom of a holding weapon fist and then reattach it. Ensuring you don't have to bend the fingers out to try an cram the handle in their.

1 - Katana. Now THIS is what makes the figure for me. A simple bonus inclusion one might initially look over. Until you realize that it's inclusion allows you to display either of the TWO different versions of this hero! Vul Eagle I & Vul Eagle II are separated by one trait. The ability of Vul Eagle II's Vulcan Stick to transform into this very Katana! For that reason alone I purchased 2 S.H. Figuarts Vul Eagles, with the intent of being able to display both of these heroes side by side!

Final Thoughts
As sentai figuarts go this is absolutely one of my favorites. S.H. Figuarts Vul Eagle includes every relevant accessory he possibly could (aside from a Vulcan Ball which may most likely come with his teammates). It even includes the accessory necessary to optionally display it as either Vul Eagle I or Vul Eagle II. The sculpt is gorgeous, the QC top tier, and the personality of the figure is boisterous. This is THE Figuart more sentai Figuarts should strive to be like. Bring on Vul Shark & Vul Panther Bandai!

And some more bonus shots!

I really like that suit design. It looks similar to the Jetman and the MMPR suits which is nice but being mostly red helps it stick out

That toy looks sharp. Not a big fan of the show (never made it past episode 3) but this figure looks really really good.

Sun Vulcan predates both Jetman and Zyuranger by quite a few years. If anything they look similar to it.

Really love how he looks. Hopefully they'll finish this team out as well.

I'll follow the sun alright. Hey, if I catch it, can I ride it?

On a more serious note, I really love how this figure looks. I really enjoy it!

I would love to have that Vul Eagle!

It's really a beautiful gallery! I'm not a huge Sentai fan overall, but those pics with all the Reds is a pretty moving image. I cannot wait until my box with him gets here! These classic Sentai figures are sweet and I look forward to seeing whatever else they decide to release.

I love that he has a katana,l like a realistic katana which given today's Sentai/ PR it almost feels out of place, almost in fact he looks real with his sword

It was amazing how the second half of Sun Vulcan, once they got Hiba, picked up exponentially.

The plot actually moved forward and everyone started getting some decent character development

Damn never realized how many Red Rangers were released till this day

Seeing the pic of all the Sentai reds makes me want a renewal GokaiRed. That helmet is so tiny... anyways, VulEagle appears to be a work of art, I may have to pick it up one of these days.

I felt the same way. :lol

I love the gold-to-yellow fade on the helmet, such a great-looking figure. If I wasn't so deep into gunpla right now, I'd totally pick one of these up.

Right?! The show was snooze worthy boring for it's first half but once Hiba came in it really picked up. I've recently thought about giving the entire series a rewatch.

Looks really slick, especially in that group shot...

Now THIS is a good looking red Sentai Figuart.

He definitely looks really cool.

These figures makes me wish Saban started earlier with adapting.

Great pics as always!

This is why the SHF Sentai line isn't even close to dead. Sun Vulcan has some of the best costumes and mecha of any Sentai show and is a favorite of mine, despite the weird/cheesy fight choreography.

I can't wait to get him.

Also, they'd better pack Vul Panther with that talking dog so he can be terrified of it on my shelf.

That's some great paintwork on detailing on an otherwise simple costume. Funny how he seems so much taller than other early Red Rangers when they're all lined up in these pics.

I've always enjoyed this design, this figuart is awesome.

That's pretty sweet

Great design indeed, this figure is sick.

I know next to nothing about Sun Vulcan, but I gotta say, those are some cool weapons.

Wow he looks really good. This review makes me want to buy him soon. Day one buy for me.

This makes me want to collect more figuarts but they are so expensive.... I'll probably just stick with the BOA 5" line but we will never get any of the older characters... Oh well.

Lord, I want that Vul-Eagle Figuart.

That thing looks so good, and I'm looking forward to complete the entire sun Vulcan team.

really digging Vul Eagle and can't wait to get mine in the mail

I've never even seen Sun Vulcan, yet I want this so bad. It just looks fantastic.

I love this figure, it's one of my favorites as well. The new body is really nice, and it makes me wish it had been introduced earlier. Hopefully all new teams will use it going forward- I don't mind them being a bit taller in exchange for a better looking figure. The crest on the helmet really seals the deal, it's beautifully painted and adds the high quality of the piece. Such a great release. Plus he has a legit katana, what a bad-ass.

Looks really nice. I haven't seen any Showa series, but this guy makes me want to watch some of them, at least to see some of the older designs.

Great figure. Getting his as soon as possible.

Funny how great that looks but it really REALLY makes Goaki Red look like complete shit.

Great gallery!

Hey! I think that's one of them new Power Rangers all the kids are in to these days.

One of the only Sentai Figuarts I'd want.

Fun fact: VulEagle was edited out of Levira's battle scene, replaced with MMPR Red. So you're almost right. Which is sad.

It's got a nice aesthetic to it but I can easily pass on this figure.

He looks nice but I never was a fan of Sun Vulcan. The suits aren't bad but I don't really like them as much as some other suits. I'm a sucker for a sentai team with scarves though.