Part 4: the Sustained Explosion

The arrival of Yamato 2 on television in October 1978 extended the explosive success of Farewell to Yamato over a six-month period and kept fans primed for new model kits that populated both versions of the story. This was also the birthing period for the next Bandai revolution, the smaller-scale Mecha Collection kits that retailed for only 100yen (about a dollar) and ignited a modelmaking fever like none before it.

1/500 Space Battleship Yamato “Cosmic Model” (Nov. 1978)

Bandai had turned many heads a month earlier with the release of the 1/700 cutaway Yamato, and with this one they topped themselves the only way possible: in size. Measuring over 20.5 inches long, it set a new record that would stand until 1980.

The features were already becoming standard with rotating turrets and removable wings, but this one sweetened the deal with a bonus Analyzer kit.

Zordar’s Super-Giant Battleship (Nov. 1978)

Bandai wasn’t kidding around when they selected their first Comet Empire kit. Estimated at 1/3071 scale, it was another “panel model” with supporting wires that threaded through a heavy cardboard display panel.

1: Space Battleship Yamato

Mecha Collection Kits 1-8 (Jan. 1979)

Bandai’s simultaneous rollout of the first eight kits in the miniaturized “Mecha Collection” series were like a thunderclap that turned every head. In one move, the dual barriers of skill level and affordability were removed. Now you could buy a Yamato model for just 100 yen (think of it as a dollar) and you didn’t need to be an expert builder. If you messed up, so what? Just go get another one. They’re cheap.

2: Cosmo Tiger II

3: EDF Battleship

This was an ideal way to lure in young children and newbies alike, and it worked wonders for Bandai, pushing them to the front of the line in the competitive world of modelmaking. Between Yamato and Mobile Suit Gundam, 1979 was the year that changed the company’s fortunes forever.

4: EDF Flagship Andromeda

5: Dessler’s Battleship

Here’s more from Bandai Character Plastic Model Chronicle (Gakken, 2007):

In order to secure the low cost of 100 yen each (about $1 US), Bandai decided from the beginning on the size of the box, including the runner size that would fit into it, even if the kits themselves didn’t have a unified scale. They also took other cost-cutting measures to keep the price down. They printed the instructions inside the box cover to save on paper. The box was made from recycled cardboard and used only three ink colors instead of the standard four (red, blue, yellow and black). Experts these days notice the missing black, but back then it’s highly doubtful anybody had a clue.

6: White Comet Empire Super-Giant Battleship

7: Baruze’s Comet Empire Twin-Deck Carrier

Regularly, mecha for the supporting characters was not manufactured at all, but the Yamato series added them to the lineup. These smaller kits appealed to various groups of people, from the anime fans who became plamodelers, to kids who barely had enough allowance to buy their favorite kits, to even the experienced scale modelers, all of whom were a part of this boom.

8: Naska’s Comet Empire Single-Deck Carrier

In the past, many models were built, played with, got broken and that was it. The newer ones could be collected and displayed. This special line of kits continued until June of 1981 with 30 different items.

Read more from Plastic Model Chronicle here

Goland’s Comet Empire Missile Ship (Feb. 1979)

Bandai flooded the zone with the first eight Mecha Collection models in January, and they weren’t about to let anyone forget it in February. Three more kits came out that month, starting with the large-scale Goland ship shown above.

Mecha Collection No. 9: Dessler task force, Comet Empire Destroyer (Feb. 1979)

Hot on its heels were the next two mini-kits: the often-overlooked destroyer…

Mecha Collection No. 10: Goland Missile Ship (Feb. 1979)

…and the smaller version of Goland’s ship. That made it the first ship in the lineup to be released twice in the same month.

Okita monument statue (March 1978)

Bandai took the month of March off from standard model kits, but quietly released this unusual and nearly-forgotten figure instead.

Issued in a plain white box, it stood about 3″ high on a wooden pedestal. It was given a bronze finish, but could be painted at the modeler’s discretion. It’s extremely rare today, having never gotten a reissue.

Mecha Collection Space Panorama set 1: Earth Defense Fleet (April 1979)

With ten Mecha Collection mini-models in the lineup, Bandai’s next move was to find ways to repackage them. The “Space Panorama” concept did just that, bundling five kits in a single box with cardboard backdrops and mounting arms to create your own space scenes.

The first set contained Yamato, Andromeda, an EDF Battleship, and a Cosmo Tiger squaring off against a single, hapless Baruze carrier.

Mecha Collection Space Panorama set 2: White Comet Empire Army (April 1979)

The second set balanced the scales with five enemy ships: Comet Empire destroyer, Naska’s carrier, Goland’s missile ship, Dessler’s battleship, and Zordar’s Super Giant Battleship.

These were successful enough to spawn three more Space Panorama sets, which would be released in August after five more Mecha Collection models could be added to the mix. All five sets were reissued exactly thirty years later in 2009.

Mecha Collection model kit 11: EDF Frigate (May 1979)

Bandai’s mini-kit lineup was still growing with two new releases that filled out the ranks of the 2201 EDF fleet (gone, but not forgotten).

Since the frigate was a smaller vessel, Bandai generously provided two pressings in a single box.

Mecha Collection model kit 12: EDF Destroyer (May 1979)

They did the same with the Destroyer, which was about the same size as the frigate. They used the same stand, so builders could mix and match them to their little heart’s content.

EDF Battleship (July 1979)

This was the first model from Bandai to include bonus kits, the Comet Empire “Deathvatator” and “Eater II” fighters.

1/700 EDF Patrol Cruiser (July 1979)

Included a medical shuttle bonus kit.

Mecha Collection model 13: EDF Patrol Cruiser with mini Cosmo Tiger II (July 1979)

Mecha Collection model 14: Comet Empire Battleship (July 1979)

This one earned a notorious reputation for being very difficult to build; so much so that when Writer Harutoshi Fukui started work on Yamato 2202, he made sure to put it in the first episode hoping it would motivate Bandai to make an easier one. (They did.)

Mecha Collection model 15: Gamilas destroyer with Comet Empire space submarine (July 1979)

This was the first kit in the Mecha Collection series to jump backward to Series 1. It would not be the last.

1/700 EDF Flagship Andromeda (Aug. 1979)

Debuting a full year after Farewell opened, this was actually the fourth Andromeda model you could buy (after the first two from Nomura and the Mecha Collection version from Bandai), but it completely reset the standard. Over 15 inches long, it required almost no painting and came with lights for the engine that could be activated by the sliding Kodai-and-Yuki-shaped switch on the stand. It also touched off a new wave of advertising from Bandai, which can be seen at the end of this page.

If the sight of it makes you hungry for more info, click here to explore All Things Andromeda.

Mecha Collection Space Panorama set 3: The Rival (Aug. 1979)

After adding five more models to the Mecha Collection, three more sets followed.

This one pitted Yamato and a Cosmo Tiger against Dessler’s Battleship, a Gamilas Destroyer, and a Comet Empire Destroyer.

Mecha Collection Space Panorama set 4: Decisive Battle at Saturn (Aug. 1979)

Andromeda and EDF Destroyers vs. Comet Empire Battleship, Missile Ship, and Naska’s Carrier.

Mecha Collection Space Panorama set 5: Fierce Battle of the City Empire (Aug 1979)

EDF Battleship, Patrol Cruiser, and Frigate vs. Baruze’s Carrier and Zordar’s Super Giant Battleship.

Continue to part 5

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