VINTAGE POPY GOLION KO - TAIWAN'S LIONBOT

This is the fourth time I bought a Lionbot.

The first time I got it real cheap (RM150, approx USD36) during the late 90s. I wasn't into collecting robot at that time but I wanted a Voltron. Was very happy initially but later disappointed as the belt have a V shape instead of a star. The Yellow lion cheeks doesn't open, (I forced it and it broke) There are no instructions booklet as the instructions are printed on the box cover. Sold it for the price I paid. Really regret now as the V-shape belt Voltron is a rare variant and quite expensive despite being a KO toy.

In 2011 I bought my second Lionbot, this time with a star belt. Then I sold it for a profit.

I bought another Lionbot to keep. Kept it for quite some time until I have to sell again as I was clearing an old house for rental. This was all before I started my obsession with vintage robot toys.

After completing my collection of the original Popy Golion, Godaikin Golion, Matchbox Voltron and Trendmasters Voltron, I decided to get Lionbot which uses the same mold as the original, basically to 'play' with it. Price has gone up to about 100% from what I paid last time. The quality of the latest Lionbot is horrendous!

Nothing much have changed in the packaging. The left leg is red instead of yellow. It has an inner cardboard just like the vintage 1980s Japanese robot toys.

When I got my Lionbot I discovered that the Black Lion is broken. It's actually a factory defect as they have forgotten to install three screws on the Black Lion. Luckily the seller in Taiwan is willing to make an exchange, but I have to return the broken Lion to them which incurred additional cost to me.

Before I sent it back to Taiwan, I formed Lionbot to snap some pictures. It looks good from far.

Pic below - the broken Black Lion. The face was painted nicely. But the emblem sticker is slanted down.

Pic below - this is the replacement Black Lion. The face is painted sloppily. The emblem sticker is straight.

Pic below - the upper teeth is not painted.

The joints of the wings are extremely tight. Tried to get them open but it's stiff as iron rod. Didn't want to force it as it may break.

The Yellow Lion's cheek can be open. There are no firing features unfortunately.

But it can't close properly as you can see in the pic below, it leaves a big ugly gap.

The Blue Lion - look at the sloppy paint job. I thought the Trendmaster's Voltron quality was bad, this is even worse.

The Red Lion's head color is different from the body. Again the paint job sucks on both the Red and Green Lions.

Besides the horrendous paint job and quality, there's some good in this toy. First it retain most of the missile firing gimmick and weapons of the original. Secondly it still looks good on the shelf in Voltron mode. Third - this is a much cheaper alternative to getting an original Popy Golion. I guess the crappy paint job will not be an issue if you are a modeler and can easily repaint it to make it nicer.

There's one more KO Voltron that uses this mold and that is the Korean Kangnam Voltron. Based on Youtube reviews, it is made entirely of plastic and it's very expensive in the secondary market. Probably will not buy that.

24 Aug 2020 - Found out there is yet another KO toy that uses this mold, that is the Jaguarbot from Italy.