Part 1: the Wind-up
This is the first part of a complete chronological history of all the Space Battleship Yamato model kits released by Bandai starting in 1974. Each article in this series ends with a link to the next part for continuity. We begin with the model kits released in conjunction with the first TV series, which was just a smattering in accordance with the risk of any new and untested program. In keeping with the Japanese penchant for hybrid words, “Mascomi” was short for “Mass Communication,” the local word for “publicity.”
All box art was by the legendary Shigeru Komatsuzaki, well known for model kit paintings that were often more exciting than the kits themselves.
Space Battleship Yamato with windup motor (Dec. 1974)
Bandai Mascomi Series 113, approx. 1/1000
The first Yamato model must have created mixed feelings in every fan of the TV series. Here, at last, was a real-life version of that beautiful ship that you could hold in your own hands. But flip it over, and there was a huge, blocky windup motor (called a “zenmai”) with wheels instead of a third bridge. To some, it would have felt like an insult, yet more fallout of the “cartoons are for kids” mentality.
On the other hand, it gave ambitious modelers some motivation to attempt their own modification. There’s some evidence that this model played an important role in the growth of Japan’s huge DIY modeling culture. We see the results every time a photo gallery gets added to a Cosmo DNA report.
Also included was a small Analyzer and a pair of mini-fightercraft that sort of resembled a Cosmo Tiger and a Type 100 Recon Plane.
See video clips of the model in action here and here
Cosmo Zero with windup motor (Dec. 1974)
Bandai Mascomi Series 112
Black Tiger with windup motor (Dec. 1974)
Bandai Mascomi Series 116
The Cosmo Zero and Black Tiger models were both about the same length as Yamato, and both came equipped with their own windup motors. But in these cases, it interfered far less with the overall structure and could be left out. The finished models bore a much better resemblance to their animated counterparts, whereas Yamato was based on preproduction art. It would take many years of experimentation to come up with a satisfying representation of the title ship.
See a photo gallery of all three models here
Analyzer Robot with windup motor (Jan. 1975)
Bandai Mas Comi Series 119, approx. 1/8 scale
Bandai released their fourth model kit with the same gimmick as the first three, a windup motor.
In this case, however, the motor powered feet instead of wheels, giving you a walking Analyzer to pass the time between episodes. Like the others, this kit would later be reissued without the motor.
These four kits were all Bandai produced for the entire first TV series. The low ratings and the Yomiuri Network’s reduction from 39 episodes to 26 drastically curtailed all such spinoff products, at least until the dramatic comeback three years later.
Bonus
Uncluttered box art
