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After picking up a Robot Spirits Billbine I looked for a Dunbine thread to post some pics and could not find one.

So here can be all things Aura Battler Dunbine if anyone has anything to add (after all these years).

I've watched episodes 1-9 and am really enjoying it. I LOVE the horses and medieval world mixed with the Battler Machines, its a great contrast.

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aura_Battler_Dunbine

For those not familiar with the series --- an earthling (from the future?) is pulled into Byston Well to make sophisticated machines for warring kingdoms. The new Aura Battlers are run best by those from 'upper earth' because they have strong aura energy to make them go. They are partly made from creatures of this world, using living muscle and other pieces. The main character is pulled into this alternate dimension and into the adventure.

ANYHOW -

Here is a quick take on Bandai's Robot Spirits Billbine.

• Its GREAT

• Although its my first Billbine toy, I believe I can say its likely the best to date

• Having a few L-Gaim RSs - this is better. Joints are tighter, quality better and they even panel lined some parts to bring it alive

• The sword SWOOSH effect is fantastic! Really like the trend of including thruster and weapons effects with these collectables

• Recommended...

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Its in some ways a typical Tomino show - an incredibly well realised world (whatever you may think of him as a director of anime, Tomino certainly knows how to build a world), with some very ahead-of-its-time ideas (as you mention, the semi-organic Aura Battlers), but from a modern perspective can be a bit wearying to watch (all the characterisation seems to happen inbetween fight scenes). Of course, as always with older series, they were never meant to be watched in mutli-episode blocks but once-a-week "treats"; I know at the age the series was probably aimed at I would have been disappointed if there hadn't been a lot of action each week...! :)

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I liked it, although it was not until around episode 14 I started to get into it. The ovas also aren't anywhere near as bad as people make them out to be.

Wings of Rean maybe, MAYBE just might not be that bad, but Garzey's Wing is a horrible pile of monkey crap that deserves the revulsion it gets and should only exist on this earth to be mocked and derided.

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Like so many others, some so-called sequels should not even be acknowledged.

There is only Terminator 1 & 2 - no others. Alien and Aliens only.

I mean - is Jar Jar Binks really part of Star Wars? Not my Star Wars.

SO - With Dunbine, only the original series and the 3 part 'Sirbine' Neo Byston Well OVA are considered.

I've seen some clips of the ones you speak of but I have already blocked them out...

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Garzey's Wing is a horrible pile of monkey crap that deserves the revulsion it gets and should only exist on this earth to be mocked and derided.

I enjoyed it. I will admit that after Victory Gundam Tomino lost hist touch, his stuff just wasn't as good as his previous stuff. I don't know, maybe he and Kunio Okawara were just an awesome pair.

Like so many others, some so-called sequels should not even be acknowledged.

There is only Terminator 1 & 2 - no others. Alien and Aliens only.

I mean - is Jar Jar Binks really part of Star Wars? Not my Star Wars.

And to those people I'd like to introduce some steel-toed boots. (hur, just joking)

SO - With Dunbine, only the original series and the 3 part 'Sirbine' Neo Byston Well OVA are considered.

Well you can sort of say that since Garzey's Wing and Wings of Rean are not canon. Edited by DuelGundam2099
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  • 1 month later...

The Dunbine FOU coming out at the end of this month. I have it pre-ordered.

My number 1 wish for ARCADIA?

Something unique from the original Macross TV series that we've never seen before - like this gutsy Dunbine release from Bandai.

It includes a classic diorama scene, support ships and an appeal fans just have to have.

ARCADIA - How about? -- 1/60 Phalanx with Ghost ship, support vehicles set and tarmac diorama, with smoke missile launch effect?

The pre-orders would be sold out - just like this one is:

http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/product.aspx?product=BAN15170&mode=retail

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  • 2 weeks later...

Dear darrin6649,

I sent your order goods yesterday.
However, since the size of the box was alike, different goods may have been put in.

Please check a JAN code before opening goods.

Please contact me, if you recognize a mistake. I exchange your goods.

Correct answer
Wing Caliber foe
JAN code: 4543112831279

Incorrect answers
DX Chogokin RVF-25 Messiah Valkyrie Luca Angers Super Parts set
JAN code: 4543112831200

Thanks,
HIRO



- de-culture-japan
------- OF COURSE IT WAS THE SUPER PARTS . . .
Edited by DarrinG
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  • 1 month later...

Well De-Culture Japan messed up my Fow pre-order and sent me a RS Dunbine Fig and Super Parts and Ghost set for RVF-25 Valkyrie instead.

After a few back and forths they refunded my money and let me keep the items.

FREE is always good.

So I have the RS Dunbine fig in hand now and some ghost parts to sell.

===================

I feel confident in saying the is the best Dunbine toy EVER. Mainly because I do not think there has ever even been any 'good' Dunbines, let alone great versions.

I had an old toy about 20 years ago that had die-cast metal feet, but it was primitive at best.

But Bandai blew away the line art and improved on the sculpt and proportions in every way.

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REMEMBER when we lamented that a toy company could not get close to the original line art? Now they are improving the designs. Very cool.

Its a great piece and comes with everything you'd want and more. I'll post a few pics here and some more later . . .

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  • 5 months later...
  • 2 weeks later...

That is because they had the lowest of low print runs on the last 2-3 DVDs. It was ridiculous to get them. I had a friend burn me a set since I could not find them at all.

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  • 1 month later...

Was not going to get any more RS, but my Dunbine and Billbine need a foe - and I'm a sucker for enemy mechs.

In this case enemy Battlers. Here is ZWARTH.

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Great sculpt, nice attention to detail and cool gimmicks -- as usual with this line.

And as usual all the joints should be tighter than this. Too fiddly and easily bumped out of place, or parts knocked off.

Hip and waist joints too loose. Making him stand upright and not tumble backwards due to his giant-jets is difficult.

Really like the use of gloss and matt blacks. The red organic muscle-like substance is a nice touch, but it could have been even better if they had used a translucent material like his wings. Imagine the chest and shield texture in a semi-clear red instead.

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Gimmick to open chest to see cockpit quite cool and complex - wish there were a pilot fig.

Ball cannons are just that -- ball cannons.

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There appears to be a flaw in the battler design itself too that is not realized until one holds the figure. The large shield spike would extend back into the fragile insect wings and rip them up just with casual movements - but hey - its pretend.

One of the best features is the flying mode, viewed from the back. Those very strange feet curled up and all the jets pointing backwards is very cool. The small circle vents on the side should have rotated so they could be aimed in the direction of flight - they do not.

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His pretty big - nice enemy to face Dunbine and the Fow in a diorama set-up . . .

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Edited by DarrinG
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  • 4 months later...
  • 2 weeks later...

Nice DarrinG. A fellow Robot Spirits DUNBINE Collector. ;)

Any plans on getting also Virunvee and the upcoming Botune? Once I got time, I will post mine as well here. ^_^

I wish Bandai will make a SHFiguarts of Shou Zama with Cham Huau. ;)

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  • 2 weeks later...

I just saw this post - sorry I missed it before.

I am done after the Drumlo I think. I really don't care much for the RS stuff, as far as the materials they use and the size of the figures. I'm thinking of selling my Billbine and Zwarth actually - let me know if you're interested. I would make it a sweet deal.

Only getting the Drumlo cuz its probably the last Drumlo figure we'll ever see, and its one of my favorites . . .

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  • 4 weeks later...
  • 3 weeks later...

I really don't like SD - and didn't own any - until now.

An eBay seller has a bunch of stuff at low prices - and they have this fig for 99 cents.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Megahouse-VA-Variable-Action-D-SPEC-Aura-Battler-Dunbine-Action-Figure-/331501670156?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4d2f0a0f0c

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Its listed most places for $60 to $90 Bucks.

The China Express mail lost it for a while but it finally arrived.

Its well made, and gives me hope that the Megahouse Orguss will be too.

The piece is very high quality, but all the joints make it fiddly - that is until you put it up on the really nice stand it comes with. Then you can adjust everything into place. Packaging is very nice.

The missile pods don't stick on the arms well enough, but otherwise its an impressive piece - if you into D-Stuff that is.

For less than $20, including the shipping, it does feel like a steal. One of my kids will get it soon . . .

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  • 2 months later...
  • 3 months later...

So the huge vinyl Dunbine is out for pre-order. Bit pricey to me.

(maybe the destroid monster is not far behind)

One thing that's a bit confusing, you have to remove the head to see the pilot?

Why not just have the cockpit doors open on hinges?

http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/product.aspx?product=XPL10173&mode=retail

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$279.99? Ouch. I'm guessing the Destroid will cost like $399? But to be honest, I like how anime accurate the look of this Dunbine. Yeah, it's too bad that you have to remove the head to see the pilot. :wacko:

Btw, DarrinG, are you still completing the Dunbine Robot Spirits line? I got a notification that the Leprechaun will be available this month. Looking forward to it. ;)

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Sold my Zwarth because he could not stand up - and his joints were overall too loose. Sold my Billbine too.

Really like high-end collectables, and while the RS have nice sculpts, their size and quality are sub-par IMO.

So I'm sticking with just the Dunbine, FOW and standard Drumlo in the RS line. And I wish those were SPEC versions - with Die-cast.

The Bandai SPEC Dragonar and Layzner figs are small but outstanding, wish Dunbine had been done that way...

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Sold my Zwarth because he could not stand up - and his joints were overall too loose. Sold my Billbine too.

Really like high-end collectables, and while the RS have nice sculpts, their size and quality are sub-par IMO.

So I'm sticking with just the Dunbine, FOW and standard Drumlo in the RS line. And I wish those were SPEC versions - with Die-cast.

The Bandai SPEC Dragonar and Layzner figs are small but outstanding, wish Dunbine had been done that way...

Yeah. We have the same problem with Zwarth. I can't figure out on how to open the waist joint so that I could fix the loose joints by adding nail polish or future into it.

Regarding the SPEC line, I'm planning on buying the L-Gaim before hoping that they will release the MKII too. But when they announced the RS line for L-Gaims, I'm just glad that I didn't bought the SPEC one. Though I do have the OffShoots version of L-Gaim and Dunbines as well. I'm just saving it for my son when he's ready. ;)

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RS are usually not definitive version toys like Soul of Chogokin and Metal Builds. However, with Dunbine being an 80s nostalgia character along with Dragonar, Vifam and L Gaim, their Robot Damashiis tend to be of higher quality with more attention to sculpt and are applied with a matte finish. Therefore, for these character they are the definitive version toys and there is nowhere to go from there. Other RDs, especially Mobile Suits, don't feel definitive since they have other model kits and 1/100 scales to compare, whereas nostalgic characters don't have other modern merchandise to compare with.

Niche Mobile Suits from the Ka Signature line don't seem to have substitutes either.

I personal own all Dunbine RDs, Lord of Bystonwell and Megahouse statues. Lord of Bystonwell has good sculpt but fail fitting which makes Vol.1 and Vol.2 absolute junk but Vol.3 and Vol.4 are okay. Megahouse statues are hard to find now.

I actually have the Tamashii Spec L Gaim and Megahouse Batshu before the RD line came out. If I were to start the RD line now, I'll have to get all of them. I guess I should be happy with my 17-18cm versions. I also have the MG L Gaim Mk-II.

Edited by calubin_175
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I had the SPEC L-Gaim - and it was a very nice piece. Outstanding packaging, and all the plastic and die-cast were great. Made the whole thing feel high-end. With the SPECs, its not just the metal, its the PLASTICS THEY CHOSE. Much nicer than RS.

I got out of L-Gaim so I sold him and the RS I had in the line.

What baffles me now with the Dragonar RSs coming out, the RS Falguan for example is going for MORE than NEW SPECS!

My goodness people confused.

The SPEC Falguen is perfect - total, full die-cast endo-skeleton with all high quality materials. Funny.

Folks are doing just what Bandai hoped; Buy the MUCH cheaper to make RS and doubling their profits.

As I said - If the Dunbine and Drumlo had SPEC versions I would be all over them . . .

Edited by DarrinG
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I got Tamashii Spec Dragonar OP ver, Falguen, Dragonar Custom and Layzner before 2014. I bought the 3 Dragonars for RD so I could display a team of three in Obari proportions. Seriously, they must have reused the CAD data from the Tamashii Spec, it is essentially a down scaled Tamashii Spec Dragonar 1 Custom.

80s Sunrise mecha are hard to find.

The RD Vifam seems to have the best articulation of most RDs out there.

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  • 3 weeks later...

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