Oh and thats nothing compared to this listing.
Popy Golion? I think not.

You slap a Popy card over the styro and bingo, official popy golion.

If I'm not mistaken, under sharp inspection, this isn't even made in Japan, but Taiwan actually, and released by most likely a Matchbox set no less. How do I know? All the details match up with my 2 Taiwan voltron sets i have sitting up on my desk right now. Look and notice that the blue lion doesnt even have it's red plastic parts on its ears like they're supposed to. Instead, its all chrome.

Also, theres no yellow firing button located on black lion's shoulder. hmmm..

The yellow lion also has stickers replacing its ear disks. And a popy most certainly is supposed to have both red and green lion mid sections and tails, chromed (atleast the ones I've seen). The yellowish heads and jaws look more like typical taiwanese reproduction Voltron parts Matchbox released.

It's not the same yellow you'd see in a genuine japanese even after the sun ate it's colors. It's more translucent looking.

Also, the black lion has a seem that's intolerable for a popy toy. I'm not kidding when I say that original popy Golions are near flawless sets.

Well, hehe, I'm not here to insult sellers either. They're doing what most sellers on this planet, do. Try to sell an item at all costs.
And if someone thinks they can probably break 1000.00 dollars by tossing a simple vintage card over the styro, then that's what theyre going to do.

That's why, it's up to you as a buyer to make sure that what you're getting is exactly what you want. And buying on ebay, is already difficult enough. So it's always good to study these items. Especially Voltron.

The guys running this board weren't kidding. Theres so many variations, it can be difficult to distinguish one from another.

Whether this is a real popy or not, its definitely not one of the nicer one's. And if it truly is a matchbox from Taiwan... poor buyer.

Yea...i saw that fake Popy set a long time ago and didn't even bother "watching it." It looked fishy to me. And looking twice at it now, I see how foolish that poor buyer really is. Oh well...seller wins that one!

I think this one is real though. It's got the chromed tails, midsections, etc. What do you think? http://cgi.ebay.com/POPY-GB-36-GOLION-DX-VOLTRON-BANDAI...QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Also, what do you think about the Matchbox GB-36s (mint in box, etc) selling for $180ish? Do you think the price will drop sometime? Or has the value has gone up permanently? Again, my goal is $150...is that unrealistic?

Yup, that is the king of the crop right there. Not in mint but its pretty ok looking.

Every year that passes by, the price range on these items would naturally go up. But because they pop up everyday on ebay, people arent as tenacious when it comes to buying a complete set.

180 mint in box for a japan made voltron is a very good price. Hell, even for 200 IF it is MINT in box.

For one thats in good condition, near mint, 160.00 is a decent price. I bought a mint in box, never opened set for 160.00 myself. =)

You can get lucky and buy a set for 150 only if people arent bidding against ya haha.

Well...I learn something new everyday. So you think something like this is worth $200? Looks mint or near-mint:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageNam...=p3984.cWAT.m240.lVI

OR

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageNam...=p3984.cWAT.m240.lVI


If so, I need to work some overtime to save some more cash....

for the prices these both sold, very common and really, a good deal for a minty looking toy set made 20 years ago.

quote:

Also, the tails and mid sections of the red and green lion, are chromed in the popy toy.

Hey guys! Japanbot, you said the popy is supposed to have chromed mid sections and tails, the popy pic you posted duznt have those parts chromed, is there any kind of reason for that?

i think i mentioned the that supposed "Popy" in the link without the chromed mid sections and tails wasn't a popy to begin with.

And this time, I have recieved and email response where there seller asked me "what's the difference?"

http://cgi.ebay.com/1981-Godaikin-Voltron-GOLION-MIB-be....l1247QQcmdZViewItem

This should have partial chroming of the mid section right?

JapanBot's the expert here...but to me that looks fake. There is no chrome!

wow... guys, newbie here... i gotta say... reading this ONE thread alone has expanded my voltron knowledge by leaps and bounds... japanbot, your voltron toy knowledge and super keen eye is fascinating!...

reading the earlier posts... am i correct in understanding that the difference between the godaikin and popy is that only the middle bit of the hinges of the red and green godaikin version are chromed and the rest grey vs the popy version which has all chromed hinges?...

also, do u have pics of your original golion somewhere?... i'd love to have a look at it... cheers!...

quote:

Originally posted by Hunkster:
http://cgi.ebay.com/1981-Godaikin-Voltron-GOLION-MIB-be....l1247QQcmdZViewItem
This should have partial chroming of the mid section right?

The response I got from that seller was that this item was a far later make which never featured chromed mid sections and no sharp teeth as well.

I talked to a hobbie seller on Saturday and discussed the many variants of Golions and seems that indeed, all Godaikins are supposerd to have "some" chrome in the mid section on the arms (red and green lion).

Usually the middle piece found in the hinges, while the Popy version had full chrome on not just the mid sections of their body, but their tails as well.

And both definitely should have sharp teeth.

I learned that the Godaikin Golion were imported all around the world while the more rare Popy Golions were originally packaged to be released and sold in Japan only.
This seems to be the consensus so far.

In the end, whether there are some loose screws in the facts or not, if you or any anyone here wants to buy an original Godaikin Golion set or a Popy set (both made in Japan and both carry their gb-36 chrome stickers like the matchbox japan sets), make sure you get your dollars worth. Meaning, look for the chrome, look for the sharp teeth and all the firing buttons each of the lions is supposed to have. (ask sellers to reveal the inside of the yellow lion's ear flaps. Those should have working missle launchers as well.

It could be that only the arms on this set are matchbox japan while the rest are either godaikin or glion. Who knows. But theres definitely something not right whether it be a manufacturer manipulation or seller modification.

quote:

Originally posted by jubei:
wow... guys, newbie here... i gotta say... reading this ONE thread alone has expanded my voltron knowledge by leaps and bounds... japanbot, your voltron toy knowledge and super keen eye is fascinating!...

reading the earlier posts... am i correct in understanding that the difference between the godaikin and popy is that only the middle bit of the hinges of the red and green godaikin version are chromed and the rest grey vs the popy version which has all chromed hinges?...

also, do u have pics of your original golion somewhere?... i'd love to have a look at it... cheers!...

read my above post about the varied features for both sets. :] I never took pics of the beat up popy i own. At some point, years back, i nearly made a bad decision in taking it all apart and transfering all the firing mechanics to a japanese matchbox. But thats when I started learning about the major differences.
Its still tightly packed deep in my closet with my bad Trendmasters set which I sorta scrapped the idea of taking pics. Neither are in good enough shape for pics. Believe me.
Im talking to a chrome tech representative about the possibilties of having my set rechromed. Seems like its not going to be cheap.

PS. Welcome to the Voltron boards!!

One thing that stinks about wanting to collect something like vintage voltrons is the only place you know you can find them is on ebay, which isnt bad but you have to be careful. The point im trying to make is there isnt any other avenues for looking and having the ability to actually see the item in real life would make a huge difference, especially if its a $1000 Popy.

I know that depending on where you live, theres still hobbie shops that have collectibles but theyre few and far between. Here in racine, wi there was a handful of card/collectibles shops around town about ten years or so ago, now I only know of one and im pretty sure theyre exclusive to the comic book world only. It seems as if theyre a dying breed. The shops that are around seem to put there collectibles on ebay anyways so i guess it doesnt really matter.

It would just be nice to walk into a shop and find a mint matchbox/golion/popy voltron and be able to inspect it in person

I agree with you 100%

I also agree...the internet really changes things like that...