Humble Goggle Dump props up the oft ignored Godaikin Goggle V. Yes, not many have a place in their heart for a non-sexy dump truck robot. But look beyond this mundane label and Goggle V represents one of the most solid Godaikins ever and a super-sturdy design.
Note too that this was ahead of its time with there being No stick on parts body parts. I’ll call this a true transformer that doesn’t require add on wings, arms, jet packs, etc. This was a big accomplishment.
G.V comes packaged in the prestigious gloss-box brief-case handled Godaikin box. Parts are nestled in the traditional white Styrofoam along with a glossy instruction manual and uber-Japanese villain cards. The strangeness and Japanese Kanji always confounded me as a kid. Why the heck were these cards included in a U.S. toy? Later I came to appreciate the entire package.
Goggle Jet is a model of simplicity. Rotate the head around 180 degrees, pull out tabs on the two front wings, fold down the rear landing gear, and then unfold the fins and ailerons. Done. The plastic nose cone keeps the toy from chipping up, but most all of the glossy outer skin is thick diecast. This is one solid toy.
Behind red number one is sparkly blue Goggle Tank. Nope let us not worry about imaginative names, because this IS a tank. Open up the clam shell design and unfold the wheels to start. Then the missile launcher, which kicks arse by the way, folds up for launching action. Again, 80% if not more of this vehicle is diecast. The chunky vehicle and metal hinge make it a true kid’s toy.
Good old dump truck Goggle Dump rounds out the triumvirate. The toy is about 90% diecast with a chromed out truck bed, it rotates on pegs to go from a topper to a bed liner, and a chromed set of scoopers. The scoopers expand out under what later become robot thighs.
Many of the stickers on this toy use a metallic sticker. Note the chest, leg, and arm stickers. They are probably the same material used in Popy robot belt stickers, like those used on Mazinga.
To Gatti goggle you just separate the truck and fold out the feet, rotate the jet head and hid the fins, then unhinge the Goggle Tank to unstore the arms and hide the tank wheels. It is pure simplicity and quite elegant.
Robot fists launch, the tank launcher can still fire, and you can add on numerous accessories. The toy comes with four fists and size yellow missiles, also the chrome sword, laser gun, mace & chain, and shield. Let us not forget the Goggle Spin, a dradle like spinning top. This guy is set up like a medieval knight, possibly a Jew ;).
Trivia
Note that in the late 80’s a Goggle Cesar (the base) was released. Each of the three toys loads up into wheeled cargo containers. Then these containers store inside a jet ship-carrier. The base is quite rare and compliments the set well. The bigger boxed vehicles like this didn’t store as well and most were used.
The toy was imported into the U.S. from Bandai America in 1983 for the first Godaikin release. Catalogs still show Goggle as being released into the mid 80s. To me that indicates that it sold well and probably had few defects. It could be displayed reasonably easy (it wasn’t a shelf hog) and didn’t have as many production problems (like broken parts).
Great Squadron Goggle V was the sixth installment in Toei Company's Super Sentai series of tokusatsu television dramas (special photographic effects and often live actors in suits). It aired on TV Asahi from February 6, 1982 to January 21, 1983, with a total of 50 episodes. It was the most-watched Super Sentai series in Japan as of 2000. It reached Indonesia, the Philippines, Brazil, and Italy.
Note too that only the first year’s toy had the glossy box and briefcase style packaging. Later around 1984 Bandai America switched to a window box display. This way kids could see what they were getting and it lowered production costs. I imagine that Transformers window boxes influence on this decision too.
Bad guys were known as Synthetic Beasts. The Synthetic Beasts (Mozoos) are the combinations of metal atoms and animal genetics. Evil sprouted in the form the likes of super-silly Mice, Tapir, Octopus, Bird, Shell (gak), bee, catfish, geckos, spiders, Coelacanth, and cactus to name a few of the 40 odd incarnations. Later these guys were superseded by Super Synthetic Beasts made of Neometa; of course.
Summary
So the Deluxe Goggle V many not be super rare or on many toy collectors wish lists. The yellow paint may not be super sexy and the design may not be super complex. But G.V is one skull splitting chogo-brick-heavy of a toy. It has a very refined design, beauty in simplicity, and absolutely is fun to transform. Then this is about the most popular Sentai series of all time. History makes this an important character. In the Godaikin line of touchy museum pieces this is one of the sleepers that deserves more respect and a good play session. Break out the Mozoo cards too.
