I’ve a tough time believing that Shinkalion is over a decade outdated. It looks like simply yesterday that I first noticed a dwell go well with actor performing as a practice robotic at an occasion as a precursor to the anime. However final 12 months, the Soul of Chogokin toyline launched its model of the Shinkalion E5 Hayabusa to commemorate the franchise’s tenth anniversary, so there’s certainly proof. And now I’ve this bodily manifestation of practice advertising and marketing for myself.
Solely 10 years to get a Soul of Chogokin rendition is remarkably quick for any mecha collection; some have wanted 40 or 50, if no more. Whereas Shinkansen Henkei Robo Shinkalion isn’t probably the most wonderful anime ever, it’s enjoyable and tries to carry collectively viewers younger and outdated. Additionally, the design is fairly cool total, and I’m glad they tackled a comparatively fashionable mecha. That stated, one in all my criticisms of Shinkalion has at all times been that just about all of the robots throughout a number of collection remodel in a lot the identical means and look largely comparable, so it may well get a bit repetitive. Only one SoC is sufficient, I imagine.
The determine is available in shinkansen mode as two separate trains, that are then bent and contorted to develop into the higher and decrease halves of the Shinkalion’s physique. The top product makes fairly a putting impression, although I would like to say that reworking it’s each a figurative and considerably) literal ache.
Upon trying on the directions, one factor stands out: the quantity of warnings about notches, pegs, and slots that may simply break off or get worn down if you happen to’re not cautious. There are additionally many areas which have to hitch collectively in simply the appropriate means, or else issues simply begin falling off or danger snapping. And since the design of the Shinkalion is so spindly, there are pointy edges all over the place, and I might really feel them stabbing into my thighs once I was making an attempt to get two items to attach. Now that I’ve it as an entire robotic, I most likely received’t ever change it again to coach mode.
I don’t personal and have by no means touched the higher-quality figures from the unique Shinkalion toyline, so I can’t make a firsthand comparability, however based mostly on the movies I’ve watched, the SoC determine sacrifices a great deal of the playability when it comes to reworking it backwards and forwards in favor of getting nearer to how the E5 Hayabusa appears within the anime. For instance, the double-layered pauldrons recreate how the shoulders come collectively within the present’s transformation sequence, however this additionally means the arms must be hooked up to the physique in a extra finicky means. Even posing it may be tough, as pushing too onerous in a single path or one other can simply make a limb fall off. A fragile contact appears obligatory.
Nonetheless, I can’t deny that the top outcome appears each actually glossy in a means that ought to be acquainted to Shinkalion followers. It’s simply an aesthetically pleasing robotic, a minimum of from the entrance. The rear view reveals rather a lot much less element, however that’s simply a part of the mecha itself from its supply materials. I discover that goofy and charming in its personal means.
I additionally get pleasure from how the decrease half is generally only one hefty piece stuffed with diecast steel, particularly within the hip joints, because it makes for a secure and poseable determine total. The big items that connect to the legs assist give the determine a extra pleasing silhouette.
I do have one different small criticism, which is that the instruction guide is unusually sparse. All of its area is devoted to instructing the way to remodel the Shinkalion, whereas different SoC figures’ booklets could have issues like a historical past of the unique present, early drafts of the mecha design, older toys, and so forth. Whereas Shinkalion is a comparatively younger franchise, there ought to nonetheless be some sort of materials value together with. I’m left to surprise if this has something to do with both the size of the directions offered, or maybe some sort of copyright difficulty.
After I take a look at the SoC Shinkalion E5 Hayabusa, one factor I take into consideration is the actual fact that there have been youngsters who grew up with Shinkalion, who got here to it due to a love of trains and even realized to like trains due to Shinkalion. Maybe this determine is a take a look at of their maturity 10 years down the highway—can they deal with this determine now that they’re youngsters and adults? Properly, offered that they’ve the cash to purchase it, in fact. This factor continues to be a premium determine on the finish of the day, and we would want one other few years for these youngsters to have the disposable earnings to make a purchase order like this.
