27 replies to this topic

[djblizzard]

Hey everybody!

So, years ago I got into Romando's Kinnikuman figures (for those who might not know what they are, they're 7" scale Kinnikuman figures made only in Japan). Because of their scarcity in the US, I had to dig through LRG trade threads, search eBay regularly and buy up any new figures that came through the LRG store. I managed to build up a nice, mid-sized collection...then I ended up in a time/money crunch and had to sell them all off on LRG.

Flash forward a few years, to when I graduated college and got a full-time job. I always regretted selling off my entire Romando collection, as there were definitely a few I wish I had kept (Akuma Shogun, Sunshine). I started digging around in trade threads again, and slowly started picking up a few figures here and there. This time, however, I had a contact in Japan and now had access to Yahoo! Auctions Japan…and the ball gradually started rolling and didn't stop until I simply ran out of figures to collect.

Through LRG, Kinnikumart, Yahoo! Auctions, eBay and online stores like Mandarake and Kaikodo.net, I was able to amass the collection I dreamt of when I first started years ago. Thanks Johnny, Sherrie and everybody else who helped me get all these figures!

Now, here are some pics:





















Some team/group shots:





KINNIKUMAN NISEI






SURVIVOR MATCH FOR THE KINNIKU THRONE:

TEAM KINNIKU


TEAM SUPER PHOENIX



TEAM SOLDIER



TEAM ZEBRA



TEAM MARIPOSA[/i]




TEAM BIG BODY



OTHER




SEVEN DEVIL KNIGHTS


SIX DEVIL KNIGHTS




KAIKODO.NET EXCLUSIVES




These are the Kaikodo.net exclusives, which were limited to about 100 pieces each. I'm only missing Puyo Puyo, who never shows up on Yahoo! Auctions and would be ridiculously expensive if he did.

---------------------------------

I plan on taking photos of each figure individually, but that might take a little while. I might even start reviewing these guys, as there isn't too much information on them here in the US. I plan on taking scale shots too, as you can't get a good idea of how HUGE some of the bigger figures are from pictures.

If anybody wants to see more photos of specific characters or different group shots, don't hesitate to ask.

Hope you guys enjoyed looking at my collection!

[TheWatcher]

Those look incredible. That is a fantastic achievement! I hope to pick up some of these one day. Only my favorites tho. Have any advice? A good place to start?

[Rubberhammer]

That is an awesome collection, man! The Monsieur Cheeks fig is hillarious! I didn't even know that they had made one!

Edited by Rubberhammer, 05 December 2011 - 02:27 PM.

[djblizzard]

Thanks guys!

Monsieur Cheeks is pretty awesome...I laughed as soon as I opened the box he came in...

TheWatcher...your favorites would be a good place to start. My overall favorite figures are Akuma Shogun and Sunshine (the articulated version). After them, I'd recommend King 100T, Buffaloman, Satan Cross and Wally Tusket (Seiuchin).

[NamaNiku]

Fantastic collection, and wonderful pics mate! I love buying from Kaikodo ~ sooo easy!

[stoneyface]

wow what an awesome collection!!!

[Skitz]

If only I knew where you lived I could steal those Ultimate Muscle figures...

SICK NASTY COLLECTION BRO!

[Ericnilla]

amazing, they look great together like that~! You need them in a sic display.

[doc_moore_j]

Damn dude, now that is an amazing collection.

[jkaris]

Incredible!

[djblizzard]

Thank you guys!

You know, doc_moore:
I didn't realize until now, but it was your Romando page that first made me aware of Romandos! If I had never seen that page, I might never have come across them...thanks!

Edited by djblizzard, 06 December 2011 - 01:23 PM.

[NamaNiku]

Makes me sad to know that Romando went out of business.

According to Endo at CCP, Romando produced expensive figures on a large scale, and could not make it once demand fell in the declining Japanese consumer economy. Their toys were regulars on shelving spaces at mega chain toy stores like TRU Japan.

Japanese companies that manufacture their toys in Japan are finding it more and more difficult to compete with the mass toy market where the majority of toys are made on the cheap in China.

CCP and Five Star Kinniku figures are expensive as well, but they are made in really small runs in Japan. Those companies sell them out every time, and keep on trucking to make more. They also operate on almost exclusive pre-order systems and hardcore fans will pay just about any price for limited figures.

Romando made some really great stuff, too bad they are gone for good. Not sure what happened, but they also lost all the manufacturing molds for those figures. CCP made an agreement with Romando where they can produce old Romando designs with a CCP twist, but they have to create new molds based off actual production figures…

Crazy.

[jkaris]

Romando made some really great stuff, too bad they are gone for good. Not sure what happened, but they also lost all the manufacturing molds for those figures. CCP made an agreement with Romando where they can produce old Romando designs with a CCP twist, but they have to create new molds based off actual production figures…

Crazy.

I know when they stopped making solid figures and went to less detailed rotocast figures, that is when I really lost interest. There were a handful of great rotocast figures, but most were just junk, I.M.O. And don't get me started on the quality of the GI Joe sized figures.

I am guessing it was a mix between that, the bad economy and the rising cost of materials. More expensive materials likely pushed them to switch to more hollow figures, which because of rising costs, were priced even higher and thus killed the market for them.

That's my theory anyways.

[ALLSPORTDVD]

Absolutely fantastic collection! Seeing my Muscle purchases have quitened due to being close to the master set, I think I'll have to chase these. How do I buy from kaikodo.net? It's all Japanese!

[NamaNiku]

I know when they stopped making solid figures and went to less detailed rotocast figures, that is when I really lost interest. There were a handful of great rotocast figures, but most were just junk, I.M.O. And don't get me started on the quality of the GI Joe sized figures.

I am guessing it was a mix between that, the bad economy and the rising cost of materials. More expensive materials likely pushed them to switch to more hollow figures, which because of rising costs, were priced even higher and thus killed the market for them.

That's my theory anyways.

I think you are right on the money. Those rotocast figures where ghetto to say the least as far as quality goes. I have a couple and they have all broken at one point or another. I think that was their last ditch effort to save things, and we all know where that got them...

How do I buy from kaikodo.net? It's all Japanese!

Instructions I typed up over on Nama: http://nama-niku.blo...kodo-go-go.html

I just bought a Romando Satancross from them online, and visited their store in Okegawa last month. Super nice peeps.

Tell 'em Nama Niku sent ya and you might get a small freebie or two.

Edited by uoozuman, 06 December 2011 - 04:16 PM.

[djblizzard]

I love Romandos, and admittedly, alot of the smaller rotocast figures aren't worth the marked up prices. If you stay patient and watch Yahoo! Auctions, though, you can find those figures for ridiculously cheap, especially in big lots of figures, which is how I got most of them. The large rotocast guys (like King 100t and Golem Man) are some of my favorites despite the lack of articulation. It really depends what you're into...if you're an articulation nut then you can't go wrong with the solid & articulated figures (Ashuraman, Ramenman Ex, etc). If you're just a fan of the characters, it's neat to have them. The collection as a whole is a pretty great sum of its parts, even if some parts aren't as great as others. Lining them up for these pictures was actually the first time I'd had them all together like that, and it was really cool for me.

[NamaNiku]

Really dig the pics of the teams in the scramble arc. Team Mariposa is my fav.

[djblizzard]

Really dig the pics of the teams in the scramble arc. Team Mariposa is my fav.

Thanks! Team Big Body's my favorite, even though they got owned.

[Bluenote]

Your collection is very very beautiful!!!!!!

[Ridureyu]

So many... so wonderful...

[djblizzard]

Thanks guys!

[DetectiveFork]

I just saw this thread for the first time and, oh man, I had to put my eyes back in my skull after they popped out of my head!

That is one AMAZING collection, DJBLIZZARD, and seeing them all in one place like that is overwhelmingly cool. I like that you even have rares in there like the Kaikodo exclusives and Monsieur Cheeks, who I've never even seen a toy of before. I have to wonder, are you able to keep these on display anywhere in your house? And also, do you collect one of each character or do you have a lot of the variants, too, just not pictured?

Kevin

[djblizzard]

Kevin - thanks! Currently I'm working on setting up a good display for them, although one day I hope to get some nice glass cases to put them all in.

Once I get my simple display set up I'll snap a few pics.

I had to draw a line somewhere so I decided against getting variants of characters...so I only have my preferred version of each character. Still no Puyo Puyo though...he's hard to track down.

[Bagface]

That is an amazing collection!!!

[SmokinGun]

Very... impressive.