davemerrill: (Default)
davemerrill ([personal profile] davemerrill) wrote2010-02-17 11:37 am
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they're back with a question!

Apparently they're bringing back Shogun Warriors!!

http://www.collectiondx.com/article/nytf_2010_toynami

They're starting off with Voltron robots, but waiting in the bullpen are names like Combattler and Voltes V. I will drop $200 on a Jumbo Machinder Voltes V, easy.

Speaking of toys, here's a fix-it question for all the toy experts out there. Last Xmas I picked up a Godaikin "Guardian" (or "Gordian" or "Garbin", whatevah) at an antique mall for a really low price.

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Low price was because it's missing some pieces and because the legs are broken just below the knees. I like to think this Guardian owed some gentlemen some money.

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It's a relatively clean break. If you stick the lower leg part to the knee part, it all fits.
It reveals a weakness in the robot's design- a weakness that could one day be exploited by Gordian's many enemies - but for now it's merely a repair job.

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So my question is, what's the best way to stick this thing back together? Superglue? Some exotic epoxy concoction? Elmer's school glue in the big easy to grasp bottle for little hands? Library paste? That cold-weld stuff you use on car radiators? Inquiring minds of all the little guys shoved inside Garbin like so many Russian nesting dolls need to know!!

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[identity profile] davemerrill.livejournal.com 2010-02-17 08:03 pm (UTC)(link)
Off the top of my head I wanna say in the $30 to $40 range. Also comic books were 35 cents and movies were two-fifty and gasoline was 69 cents a gallon. And we walked to school ten miles in the snow uphill both ways!

Seriously, I got no clue.

Robots by the Foot

(Anonymous) 2010-02-17 10:00 pm (UTC)(link)
Seriously if it's the toys I'm thinking of, didn't they sell them by the foot?

RWG (damn things were huge!)

[identity profile] davemerrill.livejournal.com 2010-02-17 10:07 pm (UTC)(link)
Wow, according to Toybox DX the original MSRP on the Shogun Warriors Dragun was $13.97!

Of course in 1979 my allowance was fifty cents a week.

1979 Minimum wage was $2.90. So, you had to work about 5 hours to get your Dragun. Now, in 2010, minimum wage is $7.90 - for your new-style Shogun Warrior Voltron at $200 you'll have to work 25 hours! Which is how many weeks I'd have to save up to buy a Dragun with my allowance in 1979.


Naturally we must take into consideration that Mattel was able to market Draguns fairly cheaply - $14 is cheap even by 1979 standards - due to economy of scale, and that these new 2010 Shogun Warriors are better toys, more articulated, and generally more awesome in every way, and are aimed at a more affluent market. So it all evens out, kinda sorta.
Edited 2010-02-17 22:08 (UTC)

[identity profile] animejump.livejournal.com 2010-02-18 02:57 am (UTC)(link)
So it all evens out, kinda sorta.

No, I don't think it does. According to the inflationary scale I pulled from google, today's $200 is 1979's $60. So they should rightfully be charging $35 or so... if they were trying to sell these to kids. I realize the adult toy market is a little more conservative, but still, I'm getting sticker shock here.

In any case, though, I wish them luck, and will be happy to buy these bad boys when/if they hit the clearance bin.

[identity profile] davemerrill.livejournal.com 2010-02-18 03:07 am (UTC)(link)
I was just struck by the coincidence - if you're nine in 1979, 25 weeks allowance for one Shougun Warrior. If in 2010 you're getting minimum wage, it's 25 hours pay for one New Breed Shogun Warrior With Special Sauce. Of course if you were nine in 1979 and are working now, and are just getting minimum wage, you probably should be thinking about getting a better job before you buy $200 toys.