Shinkansen Robo

Shinkansen Robo (新幹線ロボ), sometimes known as Bullet Train Robo, is a Machine Robo from Romulos.

He is 24.9m tall in robot mode, weights 600 tons and capable of travelling at 420kmph in vehicle mode. Shinkansen Robo is also armed with Solar Reflector and Ionoid Atomo Cleaner.

Fiction

Machine Robo packaging

Shinkansen Robo was undertaking a railway journey when a Dogra attacker rose up through the ground ahead of him. Shinkansen Robo converted to robot mode and tore the monster in half.Shinkansen Robo instructions

Toys

Blue trim version.

Machine Robo

Machine Robo Series

• Shinkansen Robo (1983)
  • ID number: MR-12
  • Accessories: coupling hook

Shinkansen Robo was the 12th figure in Popy's Machine Robo Series and transforms from robot to 0 Series Shinkansen bullet train in five steps. It was initially advertised in Popy catalogues, so was likely designed by them before the line was transferred to Bandai. The figure follows exactly the same transformation as Highway Robo, despite sharing no parts. This does have the side-effect of making Shinkansen Robo one of the few toys from the range to have a turning head, while the arms can move at the shoulders. Uniquely the figure was issued simultaneously in two colour schemes - one with a blue secondary colour (representing the trains of the Tōkaidō route), the other green (for the Tōhoku route), with the box updated accordingly. The idea was for children to buy one of each and couple them up. Initial batches of both versions included chromed thighs; these were later removed as a running change, possibly due to the conversion causing wear. While most of the toy is made up of painted plastic, the white painted metal parts sadly yellow easily, a problem shared with spiritual successor New Shinkansen Robo. The toy also included a sticker sheet featuring logos for the Hikari train service that don't really fit on the toy well at all.

• The figure was never released outside of Japan, likely as bullet trains weren't well-known in other parts of the world at the time. However, it was later repurposed as the Guardian Bullet by Fun Publications.

• Find out more about Shinkansen Robo at The-Liberator.Net

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  Blue version box

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  Green version

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  Toy instructions

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  Sticker sheet

Merchandise

A painted version of the kit, as per the brochure included with the figures.

Machine Robo Series Gashapon

• Shinkansen Robo (1985)
  • ID number: 5
  • Accessories: none

A plastic model kit version of Shinkansen Robo was issued by Bandai in 1985 as part of their Machine Robo Series line of Gashapon. Shinkansen Robo was part of the first series and retained his ability to transform. The model very closely followed the transformation of the Machine Robo Series version; while it included some stickers for detail the kit itself was cast in a single colour of green plastic and would require extensive painting to look anything like the picture included on the leaflet.

• The Gashapon figures were never issued outside of Japan.

• Find out more about the first series of Machine Robo Series Gashapon at The-Liberator.Net