[Den-O]

Today we've got a really special throwback gallery to share with the community. In the world of Power Rangers & Super Sentai collectors the special edition repaint is a staple. Though often items in this category can become increasingly rare & exorbitantly expensive, one release has dogged many collectors for years. Mostly because of it's extremely limited release venue. Today we have a rare opportunity to share with you a full gallery of the Deluxe 14K Gold Plated Galaxy Megazord! On top of this not only will we be showcasing this entire set in all it's glory, but we will also be doing a side by side comparison to it's closest Japanese counterpart, the DX Black GingaiOh!

So what do we know about it? As far as anyone knows an extremely limited number of Gold Galaxy Megazords were produced. In similar fashion to Lucky Draw releases from Bandai Japan, this set exists only in double digit numbers. Originally thought to have only been manufactured in a run of less than 10, in recent years it's come to light that as many as 15+ of these gorgeous sets were produced. Originally sold as FAO Schwartz exclusives each Gold Galaxy Megazord included a Certificate for the buyer as "proof" of their ownership of the set. The one included with my Megazord is luckily still blank. After the initial FAO Schwartz run a handful of these Megazords were given away some years later as prizes.

These sets rarely turn up for sale and often for staggering prices. Though there aren't many of them left in circulation, prices can range anywhere from about the $500 mark to upwards of $1500 and beyond in some earlier documented sales. I simply lucked into finding this set for an absurdly good deal. And I could not pass up the opportunity to share an incredible piece of Power Rangers & toy collecting history with the community. So here we are! Below you'll find a quick overview of each component and the combined form with photo comparisons to Black GingaiOh for reference. I hope you enjoy it!

Packaging
As with most special color releases in toy lines, the Gold Galaxy Megazord comes packaged in the same box as the original release, though with significantly altered colors. The entire packaging is done up in black & gray with gold accents. The stock images of the toys show them in their true black & gold colors but everything else is muted. Including the cross-sells for the Stratoforce & Centaurus Megazords on the side.

The inner packaging is the exact same styrofoam tray as the normal Galaxy Megazord. The packaging as a whole is of course totally different from either of the original Japanese GingaiOh releases. The box and styrofoam were re-designed to be a few inches shorter and more compact for US store shelves.

I have to mention that it's a little difficult to determine exactly which surfaces are true 14K Gold or vacuum metalized gold chrome. While undoubtedly the actual diecast components that are gold have the 14K plating, that my not necessarily be true for the rest of everything. Regardless the gold looks identical on nearly every surface where it's present.

Components
Gorilla
We'll kick the review proper off with the Gorilla Galactabeast. In this rendition of the figure, nearly every visible surface is golden. The only portions of this figure not covered in gold in one form or another are the forearm and the top of the shoulder area. Even the underside of the feet where the Megazord fists are stored is golden. Now of course this presents a fairly wide spread fingerprint issue. LOL. Once transformed for its part of the Megazord combination you can see the exposed thighs are actually black as well as the small hinges the Gorilla arms rotate on. As you can see the Black Starbeast Gingarilla has a radically different color scheme with a much more vibrant gold, though much less of it. As with all the figures in these 2 sets, this pair couldn't be more different. Down to an including the shade of gold used.

Condor
Perhaps the most bland member of this team is the Condor Galactabeast. With no paint applications whatsoever this figure can look rather boring. The Gold applications are limited to the wing hinges, as well as the back plate and the underside of the bird beneath the black diecast chest plate. This gold is only visible when the Condor is used for it's crossbow mode. Between these two figures, the Black Starbeast Gingalcon is the clear winner with the additional paint apps, though it lacks somewhat in gold. At least on these two the gold chrome appears to be nearly the same color.

Lion
The Lion Galactabeast has a nice liberal gold chrome application applied to the section that becomes the Galaxy Megazord head as well as it's chest/shoulders. Because of the where the gold is located it can be difficult to transform the lion without getting a number of finger prints on it. Interestingly when transforming it to the chest component the chunk that slides forward to fill out the gap left by the head is mostly black with gold trim. More interesting is that the head features the only paint app in the entire set, the Galaxy Megazords' eyes are painted blue! Likely to make them distinguishable in the sea of gold chrome. The Lion itself could have benefited from some eye paint apps. Again the contrast between this piece and its' Black Starbeast Gingaleon counterpart is striking.

Wildcat
With the Wildat Galactabeast we come to the figure that relates most to it's Black GingaiOh counterpart, Black Starbeast Gingat. These two are practically inverses of one another. Where a part is golden on Wildcat, it's black or grey on Gingat. Tail, front hips, legs, head. It's just a really poignant comparison between these two. Wildcat indeed looks great with all that gold, it just needs a few paint apps to break things up. As is the only non-gold components at all are the toes, tail, and front hips. Even when you use the Gorilla's fist on it for combined mode those too are solid gold.

Wolf
The Wolf Galactabeast is basically identical to the Wildcat in design. And shares a similar type of inversion with it's Black Starbeast Gingaverick counterpart. This piece features gold and black applied in all the same places, has an identical transformation and fist as well as the aforementioned lack of paint apps.

Galaxy Megazord
When fully combined into the Gold Galaxy Megazord this set really shines. Literally. The black accents that do exist serve to break up the monotony of the color scheme decently enough and help unify the design more. Disappointingly the Galaxy Megazord Saber included with this set is only cast in an incredibly dull black plastic with no gold plating or paint at all. However this doesn't detract from the overall package which again is just striking. This set constitutes the most ornate & simultaneously expensive piece of Power Rangers merchandise ever released.

The Gold Galaxy Megazords' Japanese counterpart Black GingaiOh was not nearly as limited in number or release, and certainly doesn't fetch the same kind of prices, but it's a great compliment to this set. The two together on a shelf are just absolutely stunning. I attempted to get some side by side comparisons of them but the broad shoulders and Condor backpacks make it a little difficult to show them together properly. But I hope I've been able to accurately portray how different and great they are.

Final Thoughts
It's really kind of an honor to be able to review a piece like this. Something only a handful of collectors have ever had the privilege of owning. The Deluxe 14K Gold Plated Galaxy Megazord is one of the most sought after collectibles for Power Rangers fans for a reason. It's gorgeous, plated with actual real 14K Gold, and exists in fewer numbers than some endangered species! Should you ever have the opportunity to purchase this set at a somewhat affordable price I would highly recommend doing so. It's just beautiful & rewarding to own.

[Den-O]

Part 2!

Combination & Comparison

[Shoji]

I've been happily waiting for this since you posted in the hauls thread. You've truly done us a great service by providing the internet actual quality photos of this treasure.

I really enjoy that it's almost an inverse of the Black GingaiOh. I too would have jumped on the opportunity to own one.

[Thessair]

Wowser! Gorgeous Megazord and gorgeous photos!

[captain N]

Lost Galaxy. Grate Season. Grate story lines. Grate toy line. Grate Zords. Grate Rangers. Loved it all.

[AkibaSilver]

This thing is a piece of beauty.

[Matrixbeast]

While it is an impressive figure, I personally find the black and gold GingaiOh simply due to better color placement.
Still though, it looks pretty cool. Shame I don't have half a grand on me at any moment's notice~

[Switchblade]

It looks really neat, but I just can't wrap my head around the idea that someone decided this needed to exist.

[Jcee]

That's an impressive piece!

[Den-O]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shoji

I've been happily waiting for this since you posted in the hauls thread. You've truly done us a great service by providing the internet actual quality photos of this treasure.

I really enjoy that it's almost an inverse of the Black GingaiOh. I too would have jumped on the opportunity to own one.

I'm always shocked to see how these hugely significant releases rarely do have great photos. They're pieces of history for toku collectors but I almost never see high quality photos of rare pieces like this one.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thessair

Wowser! Gorgeous Megazord and gorgeous photos!

Thanks!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matrixbeast

While it is an impressive figure, I personally find the black and gold GingaiOh simply due to better color placement.
Still though, it looks pretty cool. Shame I don't have half a grand on me at any moment's notice~

Black GingaiOh is clearly the better looking set of the two to me as well. But that's because the placement of the gold is secondary for that set. Whereas with the Gold Galaxy Megazord's entire point is the gold. So while it's more gaudy, it really is charming.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Switchblade

It looks really neat, but I just can't wrap my head around the idea that someone decided this needed to exist.

Yeah I can't quite get my head around it either. As far as Bandai America Black/Gold/Special release Megazords go this thing had only been the 2nd one released. Black & Gold Megazord came out here in 1994 and Gold Galaxy came out in 1999, quickly followed by the Astro Galactic Megazord. It's weird that for just the 2nd special release ever they waited nearly 5 years, and went with Lost Galaxy, AND used real 14K gold for the set. It's just wacky.