Takatoku Gerwalk Ishkick Robot 1983-1984
(G.E.R.W.A.L.K -- Ground Effective Reinforcement of Winged Armorment with Locamotive Knee Joint)
 Chalk it up to age and time, but Orguss toys have aged well; that is, they have aged well if they haven't been broken. Fate had me take extra photos of Gerwalk Ishkick and almost sell it. Need I say, it didn't reach the auction block!
Right after Takatoku Toys developed the popular "Robotech" or "Macross" toys they had one last swan song-- Orguss toys. Ishkick represents one small, unknown, yet well thought out toy from Japan. Below are pictures of the millitary themed Gerwalk Ishkick MGB-21D-2 toy by Takatoku.
80's J-toy fans may already recognize the intent of this line-- for model building. Not too many collectors got around to painting and detailing; it was an already impressive toy ready to go. Inside the Valkyrie like box is a massive sticker sheet and detailed instruction sheet. Cardboard box outsides feel just like Macross toy boxes with a "moon skin" leather like dimples.
Inside one of the baggies is a driver, missiles, add on guns, and extra parts. You can add on a cannon and missile pod as well is smaller waist guns. Each gun and and add on rotates; you can even flip up shoulder compartments for yet another round of missiles.
Part of the reason this toy line doesn't get much press is that there are darned few Orguss toy still around. Countless Orguss toys were trashed after they broke in shippment. The line used plastic tabs, svlette pegs, and thin joints. This is fine for a model, but definately not like the older sturdy forefathers.
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Here is a quick synopsis of the TV series for you anime buffs:
"The year is 2065. The world is at war. The two Superpowers clash over the Space Elevator. Far more dangerous than bio, atomic, and chemical weapons are Dimensional weapons such as the the Time-Space Oscillation Bomb. Despite the tremendous power of this bomb, it must be armed on-site by a team of Engineers.
 Desperately, the Freedom Space Corps launch an offensive to plant a Space/Time Oscillation Bomb and destroy the Space Elevator. During this attack, the engineers are forced to abort the mission and destroy the bomb before it can be properly armed. Enraged at the decision to abort and feeling that his comrades have died in vain, brash fighter pilot Kei Katsuragi haphazardly arms the bomb with severe repercussions.
The explosion transports Kei and his Bronco 2 Variable fighter to another world. There he pursued for unknown reasons by the millitaristic Chilam (Chiram or Terram, depending on translation) and aided by the Gypsie-like Emaan. Both sides have some unknown interest in Kei referring to him as “Tokuiten” (lit. Singular Point, also loosely translated/made up as Differentiated Idioblast)."
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Back to the toy history-- let us not forget this line came out as Takatoku went bankrupt. I can only surmise that the production run was cut short. Quite a few "new old stock" cases of Orguss toys came through a New Jersey dealer. Was this windfall due to the bankruptcy? Even these "new" toys had issues and many were broken.
Regardless, Japanese robot fans have got to love the incredible box graphics and meticulious engineering. Details are crisp, joints have many axis of movement, and even the cockpit converts to a plane. You can rotate jets on the cockpit to make a plane. Gerwalk Ishkick has countless points of articulation.
As time has martched on, I've recognized how unique the Gerwalk Ishkick design is. The 80's had so very many designs and robot styles; MGB-21D-2 has aged well. Good things come in small packages.
Ed
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