New from Star Case - Scum Hunter

Scum Hunter is the latest figure in Star Case's line of sofubi figures. A couple of versions have been released already.

The unpainted white "prototype color" version set for release this month. It will be the third release of the figure.

Box.

Previous release with super cool box based on the vintage ESB Star Wars Popy boxes.

Also, if you haven't caught it yet, here's Jason Ho's latest Star Case video:

New from Star Case (June, 2013)

 New pics and info from Star Case.

Some of the recent releases

This mixed part Harlock came in a box. Really cool version.

 More after the jump:

New Star Case figure: Harlock

This month, Star Case is releasing the first version of the newest figure in its Space Convoy line. This Mock Hamill figure is called Harlock, and it pushes the envelope with what Star Case is doing with the line.

The first thing to note about Harlock is it is SUPER poseable and is made up of 11 parts (well, 13 including the visor and scarf). There is articulation at the neck, waist, arms, elbows, legs, and feet.

More shots of the Jedi master doing tantric Tatooine yoga:

This is a paint sample, which was done using Tamiya paints.

 

 More after the jump:

New from Star Case: Super limited GID set

Next month, Star Case will be releasing a very limited number of GID Garumaya + Dester Commando sets. These sets were originally released in uber tiny quantities at the recent Star Wars celebration in Orlando.

 

Star Case knows fans have been clamoring for the sets, so they're going to do a very small release (exact numbers not revealed, but Mr. Star Case emphasized to me that the quantity is really small).

The figures are sold together as a packaged bundle.

Vader rocking the red cape VC style! Now if I could only stumble upon a stash of VC Jawas....MOC please.

 The sale will be held lottery style, with the winners having the chance to purchase a set.

 Dester Commando comes with two extra heads.

Star Case - Star Wars Celebration VI Exclusive set

 

At this week's Star Wars Celebration VI in Orlando, a very, very limited set of Star Case sofubi figures will be released at booth 1121/ 1123. Each $150 set will contain unpainted GID versions of Governor Garumaya and Dester Commando, replete with extra goodies.

Check out Garumaya's vinyl cape.

Nice sticker with an old school Kenner nod!

Dester Commando

Extra heads

New from Star Case

New images from Star Case central:

Test shots

Original Dester Commando sculpt

Dester Commando second release. As Katagiri-san put it to me today, this release combines elements of Japanese pop culture (Kikaider - not to mention some really cool pipecleaners a'la early 70s toys) with elements of US pop culture (Star Wars). All adds up to a pretty amazing release - one of my favorites of the series so far.

Star Case Governor General Garumaya Final Release

The other day, Star Case put up a pre-order for the latest Governor General Garumaya (or is it Galaxy Black Robo Viceroy Gulmeyer? The mystery persists!), the first figure in its Space Black Robot series. The release, which was made to order, is the third and final version of he who shall be not be named...pretty much because we haven't figured out what that should be.

The figure is being released unpainted and unassembled, and it will come in a large box reminiscent of the ARII plastic model kits on which the series is based. It also comes with instructions showing you how to put it together.

So with this version, Star Case has made a sofubi style version of the original plastic model kits. Brilliant homage!

Here are pics which I snapped at Star Case yesterday:

Box

Box contents- laid out plastic model style

Instructions

Assembled figure

 Finally I've got to repost this amazing video made by some friends of Star Case:

More about Star Case sofubi figures

I've learned more about the new line of sofubi figures from Star Case. Click here for my first write up.

First, the naming of things. The series name is "Uchu Buraku Robo," which translates to the "Space Black Robot" series. I thought that was kind of weird, since it says "Space Convoy Series" at the top of the header, but anyway just passing on what I was told first-hand. So the Space Black Robot series it is.

The first figure, Vader, is "Garumaya Soutoku," which translates to "Governor General Garumaya." Since "Garumaya" is presumably a name, it could be "Galmayer" in English. Plus, that is the spelling used in the recent Japanese magazine article that covered the series. But until I've got that nailed down 100%, I'll stick with Governor General Garumaya.

So there are a couple of mysteries (mostly) solved. Whew.

Original GGG prototype sculpt

Next, some behind the scenes info. Above is the original sculpt for GG Garumaya. It was made with Fando, a self-drying modeling clay. That's the same material used by Grody Shogun and a lot of other toy makers.

Now, more about the making of things. A team of five people are involved in the project. As I wrote in my last report, the series is based on ARII's plastic model kits from 1980. ARII no longer exists under that name, but the Star Case team has received permission to make a sofubi series based on the ARII line.

Onto the numbering of things. I told Star Case that there is demand for the figures from overseas sofubi collectors. It's been a long time since I've hung out at Rebelscum, so I'm not sure if Star Wars collectors know about the series. Once they do, I'm sure some SW bootleg fiends will also be into the line.

Anyway, one reason for the low run numbers is that the assembly, packaging, shipping, etc, is all done by one person. Considering the number of parts that each figure has, as well as everything that goes into handling each order, it isn't surprising that the numbers are what they are.

Well, that's all for now. I'm putting together a third report about the series, and that will go up in a few days.

Star Case "Space Black Robot" Series

This is one of the newest sofubi lines, but it has a long and fascinating provenance. The figures are made and sold by Star Case, a shop in Tokyo which specializes in everything Star Wars. The shop's information and location are on my Tokyo toy shop map, which you can find here.

Recently, they started selling a line of sofubi figures. The top line reads "Space Convoy Series" (but that's not the series' name). The first figure in the line is a Vader knockoff. The largest line on the header, with red and white lettering, reads "Space Black Robot," which is in fact the series name. (Aren't bootlegs fun!) The green line reads "Garumaya Army." The white line next to that one reads "Garumaya Governor General."

In terms of faux Vaader's (anyone remember Luuke? no? ok) English name, it doesn't appear on the figure's card or on Star Case's website, but it's written as "General Galmayer" in the magazine that covered the figure (see below). I'll check with Star Case down the line to check on this. EDIT: I've since confirmed from Star Case that the figure's Japanese name is "Garumaya Soutoku," making it "Governor General Garumaya" (or perhaps Galmayer) in English.

Here are the first and second releases:

At first glance, they look like knockoff Star Wars toys. In fact, the figures are based on vintage bootleg Star Wars plastic model kits made by ARII in 1980. But the original ARII figures were just a couple of inches tall, so the Star Case line requires new, much larger sculpts.

Unpainted figures and test shots:

More after the jump: