HI-METAL R XABUNGLE is back as the 40th Anniv.!! It has undergone a major renewal with 70% of the parts changed to new parts. This time, Koji Igarashi, an animation researcher who has been a fan of "BLUE GALE XABUNGLE" for 40 years, will deliver it!

* The image is a photograph of a product sample that is very close to the actual product. It may differ from the actual product.
*The HI-METAL R XABUNGLE released in 2017 (on the right side of the image in the article) is sold separately.

――― What is “BLUE GALE XABUNGLE”?

"BLUE GALE XABUNGLE" was broadcast in 1982, when the atmosphere of the times began to switch to real robots. So, XABUNGLE has a taste of super robot with built-in transformation and coalescence. However, even in such a situation, the whole body blue coloring, the invincible goggles face, the mouth as it is the intake, the asymmetrical chest, etc."This robot is a bit different."I can hear your claim. HI-METAL R is the finished product of XABUNGLE.

And based on HI-METAL R, 70% of the parts were newly created to introduce "40th Anniv." Now, I would like you to see its appeal by comparing it with the HI-METAL R (hereafter referred to as the 2017 version).

HI-METAL R XABUNGLE 40th Anniv.

HI-METAL R XABUNGLE 40th Anniv. package. The illustrations are drawn by Naochika Morishita. You can see that this HI-METAL R is faithfully illustrated, not the XABUNGLE in the image. Jiron is also drawn at the feet of XABUNGLE.

After opening the package, XABUNGLE packed in a blister pack will appear from inside. The right wing and the part with the wrist were stacked under the left blister pack to make it compact. Since the 2017 version had a vertical package layout, the shape of the blister pack is also completely different. Therefore, it can be calculated that 40th Anniv. Will be 70% or more new including the package and blister pack.

From the left, 40th Anniv., 2017 edition. Looking at it from a bird's-eye view like this, it seems that it has not changed much except for the coloring. The reason is that the proportions of the 2017 version are originally high, and it is clearer when you put them side by side.

Rear view of whole body comparison. Seen from this angle, the tires and back canopy are shaped differently, making it easier to see the differences in modeling. Personally, the coloring of the 2017 version is close to images and toys, and I feel that 40th Anniv. Is close to the image of plastic models and SOUL OF CHOGOKIN.

I replaced it with a 40th Anniv. Giron machine and tried it side by side with the 2017 version. In the first place, two XABUNGLE have appeared, so if you have the 2017 version, you can rather reproduce the atmosphere of the image.

Looking at the whole body comparison so far, it seems that XABUNGLE has not changed much except for the coloring, but that is not the case !! Please take a look at the comparison of each part.

From here, the left is the 40th Anniv. And the right is the 2017 version. Let's compare the heads. The head is newly shaped, and you can see the differences such as the forehead parts, the vertical width of the goggles, and the strength of the cheek line.

The shoulder parts are new and the division has been changed. There are no parting lines on the sides, and the whole is sharper.

The tires on the arm have been changed for each mounting base so that they are in closer contact with the forearm. In addition, the rotation of the tires has changed the overall shape.

Forearm when replaced with a Giron machine. In the 2017 version, the joint was out as it was, but 40th Anniv. Has attached new parts to bring the shape closer to the image.

Waist tires. After all, the tires started to rotate, so the shape was completely changed.

The right ankle has a rib that joins the left and right feet in case it turns into a bungle skipper. The ribs of 40th Anniv. Are retractable to improve the appearance.

Rear view of the legs. The tires on the heels have also been remodeled and changed to rotary type. In short, all the tires rotate !! (The front wheels of the skipper are molded products, so they do not rotate.)

We had you see change part of each part. To be honest, I made a lot of details. If you look at the difference in modeling between the 40th Anniv. And the 2017 version as the difference in the manufacturing time as a walker machine, the delusion of the history of mechanic development will spread and it will be fun. Next, let's go to the transformation that is the biggest feature of XABUNGLE!!

The head is retracted to the chest. 40th Anniv. Has a new chest remodeling that allows it to go deeper. Also, for 2017, after putting the head in, it was necessary to tilt the head back along the groove. This is to increase the movement space of the arm, but 40th Anniv can move the shoulder by pulling the head deeply and then tilting only the antenna.

When you pull in the head of the 40th Anniv, the engine appears from the body. The 2017 version prioritized mobility, so the engine was attached when the figure transformed. This is a major difference in ver. A.N.I.M.E. of the two models.

The arm in the middle of transformation. ver. A.N.I.M.E. of rotating the base of the wrist to reveal the front of the Bungle Skipper is the same, but the 40th Anniv has a new forearm and hatch. This means there is no need to remove the cover like in the 2017 version.

The front of the Bungle Skipper. Both the shape of the front and the tires have changed. The 40th Anniv is closer to the image in the front part.

Bungle skipper comparison. In addition to the front shape, tires and engine, the driver's seat is also new. The molding color of the wings has also been changed.

Bungle Rover comparison. The impression has changed greatly just because the coloring is different. The molding color of the canopy is also different.

So, what do you think of XABUNGLE 's transformation and combination? The 2017 version was focused on mobility, but the 40th Anniv version focuses on ver. A.N.I.M.E., and I noticed that they tried to reduce excess parts as much as possible. Both are interpretations at the time, and I don't feel that they are superior or inferior. That's because there is only the appeal of the walker machine called XABUNGLE.

Last but not least, important new modeling parts. It's the main character, Jiron Amos. Compared to the fully equipped XABUNGLE, you can feel its size and fineness of painting.

Orders for HI-METAL R XABUNGLE 40th Anniv. are available at Tamashii web shop!! The deadline is July 3rd.
Everyone, hurry up !!

>> Click here for Tamashii web shop order page

[Composition / Writing] Koji Igarashi
Animation researcher. He is the representative director of the editing production "Tarkus". He has worked on many video works and toy books, and in 2022 he will be in charge of the commentary for "Mobile Suit Gundam Seed HD Remaster Complete Blu-ray BOX". He is the author of "Robot Animation Business Evolution Theory" (Kobunsha Shinsho).

The mook "HI-METAL R 2015-2022", which follows the seven-year trajectory of HI-METAL R-METAL R, is currently under production!!An introduction to the original HI-METAL from the Showa period and interviews with Kunio Okawara, Kazutaka Miyatake, and Shoji Kawamori will also be posted. Released by Hobby Japan on June 30th (scheduled).

©創通・サンライズ

* The image is a photograph of a product sample that is very close to the actual product. It may differ from the actual product.
*The HI-METAL R XABUNGLE released in 2017 (on the right side of the image in the article) is sold separately.