{"id":1637,"date":"2023-08-22T05:25:24","date_gmt":"2023-08-22T12:25:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault\/?p=1637"},"modified":"2023-09-14T23:44:22","modified_gmt":"2023-09-15T06:44:22","slug":"209","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault\/209\/","title":{"rendered":"Redhawk Yamato<\/em>: More Than Meets the Eye"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Created by model and toymaker Aoshima, the Redhawk<\/em> line is worthy of respect for sheer volume if nothing else. As silly or eccentric as they may look, they were wildly inventive to the point where they quickly moved past the source material that inspired them. See the entire almost-but-not-quite Yamato<\/em> lineup here.<\/p>\n

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NOTE: This article was originally posted in 2008. It has been significantly updated here with many new discoveries.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

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\nMagazine ad (1978) absolutely meant to capitalize on “Yamato Part II” mania<\/em><\/p>\n

Animation fans of all ages think of just one line of Japanese mecha when they see that catchphrase, but it applies equally well to something else that existed several years before any semi-truck even considered changing into a robot: The Redhawk<\/em> model kits. Space Battleship Yamato<\/em> fans who occasionally trip over one of these kits may be tempted to laugh it off as yet another lame attempt to leech some excess fame, but a deeper look into the Redhawk<\/em> line reveals quite a lot more going on.<\/p>\n

Created by Japanese model and toymaker Aoshima (which is still in business Visit Aoshima’s home page today<\/a>) the Redhawk<\/em> line was one of many sub-groups in the “Gattai Machine” series. “Gattai” means “Combine,” and the gimmick was that you’d assemble different vehicles (usually four) and then combine them into a bigger one. As you can guess, that means the number of models to be chased down was simply staggering, certainly an indictor of strong support from the Japanese children they were aimed at.<\/p>\n

Though Aoshima was clearly riding the coattails of Space Battleship Yamato,<\/em> the first of their Redhawk<\/em> models rolled out in 1976. At that time, the first Yamato<\/em> TV series was not yet in the mainstream, and few suspected that it would achieve blockbuster status just a year later. With all that in mind, let’s give Aoshima the benefit of a doubt and have a look at the single most successful faux-Yamato<\/em> anyone ever invented…<\/p>\n

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Gattai Kyokan Yamato<\/em> (1976)<\/h3>\n

The gimmick: it was composed of four smaller mecha that combined into one battleship with a giant robot (called the Gattai Robot Musashi)<\/em> in place of a bridge tower. Each of the four sections had its own name and purpose, which will be revealed below. Two boxes are shown here, the original 1976 version (left) and a 1980 reissue (right). Note: “Gattai Kyokan” means “Combine Giant Ship.”<\/p>\n

Click the box art image at right to see an enlargement.<\/p>\n

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This photo chart gives you a good idea of the crazy variability built into these models. The largest ones not only broke up into four main segments, each of those segments could be further broken down to form a fleet of support vehicles. What’s more, most of them were offered in smaller scales. Many years before the invention of Pokemon<\/em>, that “gotta catch ’em all” impulse was already a driving force.<\/p>\n

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Giant Carrier Redhawk (1977)<\/h3>\n

The second (and even more colorful) ship in the line, this carrier was also designed to split into four subsections numbered R1 to R4. When divided up, they had their own names: the R1 Derrick Machine,<\/em> R2 Parabola Machine,<\/em> R3 Commander Machine,<\/em> and R4 Cosmos Machine.<\/em> This was in addition to numerous smaller mecha that could launch from various attachment points. As a unit, the carrier and its vehicles were referred to as Red Cosmic<\/em>. The boxes shown above are from the first release in 1977 and a reissue in 1979.<\/p>\n

Click on the art at right to see an enlargement<\/p>\n

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Advertising for the Giant Carrier Redhawk<\/em>: one for the model kit and one for a motorized version (keep reading).<\/p>\n

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Gattai Redhawk Yamato<\/em> (1978)<\/h3>\n

The third warship was the one actually called Yamato,<\/em> and it’s no coincidence that it bears a much stronger resemblance to the anime Yamato<\/em> than either the Gattai Kyokan<\/em> or the Red Cosmic<\/em>(which, incidentally, can both be seen in the background on the box art). 1978 was the year of Farewell to Yamato<\/em> and anything even slightly similar to the real thing was guaranteed to capture a fan’s attention. The box at left was for the original release. At right is the 1981 reissue.<\/p>\n

Click on the box art at right to see an enlargement.<\/p>\n

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In keeping with the gimmick, Redhawk Yamato<\/em> could break up into four subsections that functioned as independent vehicles. Promoted at 1\/500 scale, this whopper of a kit stretched to almost 21 inches when completed, easily nosing past Bandai’s 1\/500 Yamato<\/em> released in the same year. Because of its well-timed release in 1978, this kit became Aoshima’s biggest seller and is thus the one most remembered by Japanese fans who were lucky enough to be there. <\/p>\n

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Now that the introductions are out of the way, we can examine the next part of the lineup: a complex series of smaller models that “Gattai” (Combine) to either form or support the three capital ships shown above. They were released in rapid succession and reissued with different numbering, which must have made them a challenge to collect. Get out your scorecard, it’s quite a family tree…<\/p>\n

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Gattai Kyokan Yamato<\/em>, Gattai Machines 1-4 (1976)<\/h3>\n

These four mecha combine to form another version of the 1976 Gattai Kyokan Yamato.<\/em> In order, they are the A1 Zero Sen Machine<\/em> which stays airborne, the A2 Tiger Machine<\/em> with treads that turn it into a mobile fortress, the A3 Bridge Machine<\/em> which takes to sea with the Musashi Robot, and the A4 Turbo Machine<\/em> which races along at super speed (that’s a race car attached to its front). If all that weren’t complicated enough, the Musashi<\/em> Robot borrows parts from all four units to gain its full humanoid shape and become yet another independent component. It’s visible in the background on each box.<\/p>\n

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Red Cosmic<\/em> Mini Gattai Machines 1-4 (1977)<\/h3>\n

These were the Red Cosmic<\/em> support vehicles, called the R1 Mini Jet Machine,<\/em> R2 Mini Glide Machine,<\/em> R3 Mini Carrier Machine,<\/em> and R4 Mini Pulsar Machine. <\/em> Presumably, they were scaled to match the Giant Carrier Redhawk.<\/em><\/p>\n

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Space Carrier Redhawk<\/em> Gattai machines 1-4 (1977)<\/h3>\n

These kits combined into the Carrier. The scale is unclear; it’s likely they were simply the large model divided up into four boxes to make it more affordable.<\/p>\n

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One by one, they were the R1 Derrick Machine, <\/em>R2 Parabola Machine,<\/em> R3 Commander Machine,<\/em> and R4 Cosmos Machine.<\/em><\/p>\n

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Mini Models (1978)<\/h3>\n

These four units combined into a “Red Hawk Robot” that could also be configured as a “Red Hawk Space Battleship.” In the order shown, they were: (1) Red Wing<\/em>, (2) Red Chaser<\/em>, (3) Red Panther<\/em> and (4) Red Bird<\/em>.<\/p>\n

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Redhawk Gattai Machines 5-8 (1978)<\/h3>\n

The next four kits in the “Gattai Machine” sequence were subsections of the 1978 Redhawk Yamato<\/em>: the R5 Sparrow Machine<\/em> (bow section), R6 Titan Machine <\/em>(belly section), R7 Shuttle Machine<\/em> (bridge section) and R8 Falcon Machine <\/em>(stern section). All four combined to form the Redhawk Yamato<\/em>. It’s tempting to imagine kids getting these one at a time and salivating at the thought of eventually piecing the entire ship together.<\/p>\n

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Redhawk<\/em> Mini Gattai Machines 9-12 (1978)<\/h3>\n

As we saw above, the 1976 Gattai Kyokan Yamato<\/em> was divided into four sections. The first of these was the A-1 Zero Sen Machine.<\/em> As it turned out, the Zero Sen<\/em> also divided into four sections, each of which had its own name and function. In order, they were the R9 Kamikaze Machine,<\/em> the R10 Raiden Machine<\/em>, the R11 Shiden Machine,<\/em> and the R12 Hayate Machine.<\/em> All four of these kits could combine to form a complete Zero Sen Machine.<\/em><\/p>\n

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Redhawk Yamato<\/em> Mini Gattai Machines 13-16 (1978)<\/h3>\n

This set consisted of the same four machines as 5-8, now scaled down to a miniature size.<\/p>\n

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Mini Gattai Machines 17-20<\/h3>\n

Mini machines 13-16 resurfaced in a 1979 renewal lineup with revised numbers: the R17 Sparrow Machine,<\/em> R18 Titan Machine, <\/em>R19 Shuttle Machine<\/em> and R20 Falcon Machine.<\/em> As before, they combined to form a smaller version of the Redhawk Yamato.<\/em><\/p>\n

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Gattai Kyokan Yamato<\/em> Mini Gattai Machines 21-24<\/h3>\n

Following the lead of kits 13-16, this set could be combined into a smaller version of the 1976 Gattai Kyokan Yamato<\/em>. They followed the same sequence as ‘A’ kits 1-4: kit 21 was a Mini Zero Sen Machine,<\/em> 22 was a Mini Tiger Machine,<\/em> 23 was a Mini Bridge Machine<\/em> and 24 was a Mini Turbo Machine.<\/em><\/p>\n

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Gattai Kyokan Yamato<\/em> Mini Gattai Machines 25-28<\/h3>\n

The same four kits (21-24) reissued in yet another revised lineup, now with higher numbers. <\/p>\n

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And if all these pictures make you dizzy, imagine trying to chase them down in stores. Aoshima obviously didn’t go broke by capitalizing on the tenacity of young boys fueled by imagination.<\/p>\n

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Motorized Kits (1978)<\/h3>\n

As if everything above wasn’t enough, kids also burned for these impressive battery-powered models, of which there were six. Each kit included a bumper wire up front to avoid fatal, plastic-mangling collisions.<\/p>\n


\nNo. 1 Space Carrier Redhawk<\/em> (also known as the Red Cosmic<\/em>)<\/p>\n

No. 2 (not shown): Red Panther<\/em><\/p>\n


\nNo. 3 Red Hawk Yamato<\/em><\/p>\n


\nNo. 4 Zero-Sen Yamato<\/em><\/p>\n


\nNo. 5 Turbo Yamato<\/em><\/p>\n


\nRH-8 Eagle Yamato<\/em><\/p>\n

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Oyako Machines (1979)<\/h2>\n

This branch of the Redhawk<\/em> family tree was broken into two subgroups. The first consisted of twelve kits in the “RH” series. The “RH” simply stood for Redhawk,<\/em> and these were a triumph of creative repackaging. They were 3-in-1 kits; each box contained the same mecha in three different scales (full size, mini, and “mini mini”) and the smaller ones could fit inside the larger one.<\/p>\n


\nRH-1 Red Wing<\/em><\/p>\n

Not pictured: RH-2 Red Chaser<\/em>, RH-3 Red Panther<\/em>, RH-4 Red Bird<\/em><\/p>\n


\nRH-5 Red Hawk Yamato<\/em><\/p>\n


\nRH-6 Eagle Yamato<\/em><\/p>\n


\nRH-7 Tiger Yamato<\/em><\/p>\n


\nRH-8 Zero-Sen Yamato<\/em><\/p>\n

Not pictured: RH-9 Red Stang<\/em>, RH-10 Red Wolf<\/em>, RH-11 Red Shark<\/em>, and RH-12 Red Fox<\/em><\/p>\n

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The second Oyako Machine<\/em> subgroup was made up of four enormous playsets with a ship and a support base. The Super Destroyer<\/em> (above) was no. 2 in the line; it was actually the RH5 Redhawk Yamato<\/em> set repackaged with a dome-shaped satellite base.<\/p>\n

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See photos of this unusual kit in action here.<\/a> <\/p>\n

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Kit number 3 in this group was called the Zero Wing<\/em>, which came with its own base to launch from.
\nThe others were (1) Eagle Fighter<\/em> and (4) Tiger Crusher.<\/em><\/p>\n

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<\/br><\/br>
\nBringing up the rear was an oddly-out-of-place (even for Aoshima) race car\/spaceship hybrid called the Ginga (Galaxy) Machine 3 Procyon.<\/em> This would suggest the existence of Ginga Machines 1 and 2, and possibly higher numbers, but this is the only one to have surfaced. The only visible connection to the Redhawk<\/em> family is the background ship on this box art, which is all a loyal fan would have to see.<\/p>\n

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We’re not done yet! The next spinoff was the “Space Carrier Series,” which consisted of eight “Space Gattai Machines” sold in two groups. The “A Pack” was made up of Red Hawk, Red Wing, Red Panther<\/em> and a new robot called RCMK2 (Mac)<\/em>.<\/p>\n

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The “B Pack” included Red Cosmic, Red Bird, Red Chaser<\/em> and everyone’s pal Boy Robo<\/em>.<\/p>\n

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Another item of note: an Aoshima model from a completely different category called a Cosmo Falcon<\/em>, decades before we would see the name in Yamato 2199<\/em>.<\/p>\n

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Aoshima Comics manga<\/h3>\n

Naturally, there was a manga series. As the “Redhawk” world grew with each new model, it practically exploded with each new manga volume, inventing characters to operate the ever-expanding fleet. The series began in 1978 with writing credited to numbered “Aoshima Groups,” which is as good an indication as any that this was a story written by committee. A total of six such committees created all the manga stories, which eventually filled sixteen action-packed volumes. See cover art for volumes 1-5 here.<\/a><\/p>\n

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Aoshima Comics Series Model Kits<\/h3>\n

As new vehicles were devised in the comics, Aoshima released plastic versions to keep up with them. There was no interconnectivity with these, but their numbers climbed just as quickly with a total of 16 (vehicles and robots).<\/p>\n

Whether you love it, hate it, or simply laugh at it, it’s hard to write off Aoshima’s Redhawk Yamato <\/em>series as a mere knockoff when all the above is considered. It would be just as easy to peg it as a pastiche of the many giant robots of the 70s with their multiple combining vehicles. But multiple machines that combined into a giant flying battleship were at least as original a concept, and it’s easy to imagine the hours of excitement that could be had from a toy that you had to build from the ground up.<\/p>\n

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And if you were ready to buy fully into Aoshima’s vision, an even larger fleet<\/a> was ready to sweep you away.<\/p>\n

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However, if you’re still not prepared to cut the Redhawk Yamato<\/em> some slack, there’s one more angle to the story. And of all things, it was to be found on a dining room table.<\/p>\n

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Can a knockoff still be considered a knockoff when it, in turn, spawns a knockoff? That’s exactly what happened when the Takara Company released this dishware upon an unsuspecting public. They were unashamedly labeled Battleship Yamato,<\/em> and for whatever reason sported a Cold-War era jet fighter alternately colored green or blue. But right there on every piece was a flying vessel that could only have been clumsily copied from the Redhawk<\/em> box art, the subsections renumbered so as not to make it actionable.<\/p>\n

Or maybe it was all just one big coincidence…<\/p>\n

The End<\/h3>\n

Find Youtube videos featuring the Redhawk<\/em> models here<\/a><\/p>\n

See amateur animated videos here: First<\/a> | Second<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/br><\/p>\n

For further reading…<\/h3>\n

<\/p>\n

\n

Nostalgic Original SF Plamo Compendium, Superb Plamo Road<\/em><\/h3>\n

\u61d0\u304b\u3057\u306e\u30aa\u30ea\u30b8\u30ca\u30eb\uff33\uff26\u30d7\u30e9\u30e2\u30c7\u30eb\u5927\u5168 ~ \u8d85\u7d76\u30d7\u30e9\u30e2\u9053<\/p>\n

Color, 208 pages<\/em>
\nMay 2000, Takeshobo<\/em><\/p>\n

Wherever a huge, profitable trend arises, there will be shadowy players in the corners. Bandai and Takara were leading the charge in anime models, but small, scrappy manufacturers made their own niches even if they couldn’t afford a major licensing deal. This fascinating book rounds up all of their 70s and 80s products, which looked just enough like the “real thing” to catch the eye, but not quite enough to be actionable. What they lacked in authenticity they more than made up for in creativity.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Superb Plamo Road 2
\nThe world of Aoshima Plamo<\/em><\/h3>\n

\u8d85\u7d76\u30d7\u30e9\u30e2\u9053\u30082\u3009\u30a2\u30aa\u30b7\u30de\u30d7\u30e9\u30e2\u306e\u4e16\u754c<\/p>\n

Color, 224 pages<\/em>
\nNov 2001, Takeshobo<\/em><\/p>\n

From humble beginnings in 1929, Aoshima became one of the most successful model companies, always offering an interesting blend of both original and licensed products. This book examines their broad output from the time they began making plastic models in the 60s. Both of these books devote lots of pages to the Redhawk<\/em> model kits with photo coverage that goes beyond what is presented above. Without them, it would have been nearly impossible to decode this enormous product line. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[50],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1637","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-merchandising-1974-1983"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1637","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1637"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1637\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":35196,"href":"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1637\/revisions\/35196"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1637"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1637"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1637"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}