1983
The Dunbine "Jumbo Machine," made by Clover, stands apart from his other Machinder compadres. Unlike nearly every other giant polyethylene robot toy, it's a portrayal of an early-eighties "real robot" instead of a 70's-style "super robot." Toys for characters like this are usually done in styrene plastic and in a small size so as to capture the maximum amount of articulation and detail, but this particular piece is an exception to the rule.

There's actually a lot of fine detail: the claws are tipped with white rubber, and it's got an opening cockpit -- a first (and last) in the world of Machinder toys. A 3 3/4 inch, fully articulated figure of Sho Zama, the protaganist of the Aura Battler Dunbine series, can be inserted and removed from the transparent plastic cockpit-hatch.

There are a few minor problems with the toy, though. The heavy vinyl insect-wings on the back are held on by nothing more than silver stickers, making them prone to ripping off, and the hinge unit of the single-piece cockpit canopy is really fragile as well.

Although bashed-up and loose specimens of this toy are pretty common in Japanese toy shops, it's almost never seen here in the 'States. All in all, it's a really underrated piece, with a distinct feel that sets it apart from the Popy Machinders.

-Matt Alt