![]() Although the figures were better produced than most USA toys at the time, Tonka’s quality was still more toy-like than Bandai’s SZ line. They were incompatible with Bandai’s SZ line and featured their own Tonka designed figures and real cloth sets. ![]() In 1987 Tonka licensed the Spiral Zone name and concept and manufactured their own line of Spiral Zone toys. In 1987, after only two years production and on the verge of releasing new figures and vehicles the line abruptly ended with only twelve Spiral Zone “Acts” and four other licensed Saint Seiya and Kamen Rider sets ever being released. Street Fighter figures were also produced using various components of the Spiral Zone figures such as the head and hands but the bodies were entirely different from the Spiral Zone figures.Īll this detail was at a huge cost, with the average DX set costing $25.00 in 1980’s money. Other SZ items included a set Gashapon Super-deformed figures, weapons and vehicles in both rubber and plastic, an Image vinyl LP record album and 45rpm single, posters, notebooks, a board game and various books. Three other licensed Saint Seiya and one Kamen Rider Black sets that also utilized the Spiral Zone Systeminjection figures were also produced. Other sets included two basic figures, four extra real cloth uniform sets, two weapon systems and the crown jewel and only vehicle of the line, Act 10 Monoseed Type III Monocycle. SZ detail balanced a fine line between toy and model kit and was aimed towards the high dollar toy and model kit collector market and were mostly advertised in model magazines such as Hobby Japan. The DX sets included a figure, real cloth uniform, rubber boots, plastic armor parts and weapons and detailed file cards. The figures' uniforms were equally innovative. ![]() The figure featured 30-point articulation in 1/12 scale, the memorable feature being the moveable trigger finger that could accurately be put on the trigger of the weapons that were provided. Spiral Zone was state of the art for toy manufacturing for its day, the most innovative feature being the SZ figure itself that utilized Bandai’s new Systeminjection molded manufacturing process that is still being used today. The releases were divided into “Acts” with only twelve Acts ever being produced and released. Veteran Gundam mecha designers Kunio Ookawara and Kazuhisa Kondo designed the Spiral Zone figures and their intricate uniforms and weapons. In 1985 Japanese toy and model kit manufacture Bandai released a line of 1/12 futuristic military action figures called SF Spiral Zone.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |