Zoid
Models

[ Liger Zero | Elephander | Shield Liger | Berserk Fury ]
[Blade Liger | Shadow Fox | Pteramander ]

Before I bought my second model I talked to people about prices at different stores and got a good idea that Walmart is the cheapest place to go. The selection isn't great however. I went to Target too. They were more expensive. Emily reported that Toys R Us was more expensive but apparently had a better selection. I was poking around at walmart and they had two of the most complicated zoids in a random isle with GI Joe clothes and a Spongebob Squarepants style Mr. Potatohead. One was The Berserk Furher (Fury), a cool counterpart to the Liger Zero. I'll get into that later, if I get that model. The other one was The Elephander. The Elephander is just plain huge, I imagine you have understood that was the case based on it's elephantness. But anyhow I am being boring again.

Figure 1. The whole box

Figure 2. Odd comments, in various languages

Figure 3. The infamous green sky and yellow lightning

Figure 4. Action leg!

Figure 4. Secret Japanese writing in scary broken purple pieces.

Figure 5. Asterisk on the ® on the Hasbro logo

Figure 6. Poorly affixed sticker on model

Box Boite Caja

I am again amused by the box. It has the same color scheme as the Liger Zero. All the same types of things on it as before. I did notice that there were some boxes for other models that had a red sky. Initially I would have guessed that red was bad guys and green was good guys. I think its all a remnant from previous zoid good vs evil. As the elephander and liger zero are definitely not on the same sides now. Now lets take take a look in more detail at the box. I did lots of scanning.

Revisiting my the discussion of the other box, I thought I would show you up close. First there is the multilingual disclaimer. Most disclaimers come about as a need to keep the seller safe from lawsuits. Well maybe not most, but it definitely makes my story better. I wonder who's child cried due to a lack of lightning. Perhaps it was the fact that the sky failed to turn a beautiful kelly green, and the model did not progress to the stage of doing the hokie pokie (liger, #041 seems to be putting his left front leg in and out, elephander is a previous release #038 and is therefore shown at an earlier point in the song, right front leg in/out). In any case why must each comment be made in three languages? Perhaps it is based on the concept that the United States is becoming more linguistically diverse. Or maybe, they just ship these boxes everywhere. I really don't know.

Oh in the lightning picture you will note that this model takes a single AA battery. This is much more reasonable than the 2 AAA batteries required by the Liger Zero. In order to get 2 AAA batteries I bought myself a new phone with caller ID in it, and removed the batteries from my caller ID box.

Ok well lets talk briefly about the purple on purple writing. On the back of the box it says that this is from Rhode Island (as denoted from the asterisk on the ® on the Hasbro logo). I would think that something like this would be produced from Japan, like the rest of toys I see. Funny thing is, I really don't think i could see the writing until I scanned it in and took a look at it in high resolution. Either way, its an interesting addition to the variety of odd things that appear along the box. In on line searches I saw all Boxes with all Japanese writing. I would assume that the Graphics for each box were all the same and the removal of these characters or words ( I am to ignorant of Japanese to know which they are) would be too complicated. Funny thing about the Japanese boxes, they still said ZOIDS across the top, in a nice all caps letters from whatever alphabet it is that we use in english. You know, I should have said up front that I don't really know what Japanese writing looks like for sure. For all I know it could be 3 languages, akin to the trio it has all over the rest of the box.

I thought the sticker was pretty funny too. I looked back at the Liger Zero box most of the stickers look fine, but there is a spot where the little snap off piece wasn't snapped off too well. I will be sure to go back and point out different things on each box as I go through the models.

Progress

Snap

As the back of the box says, all the parts go together with an "Easy snap-together fit!" (in several languages) The only thing you really have to do is break of each piece from its designated plastic frame, and put it on the right spot. I like to shave off the little knobs left from the frame, just so it looks a little nicer. With the Elephander part H79 I accidentally broke one of the parts that does the connecting! OH NO!!! It turned out ok, as it was connected in two places, and I managed to secure it still by only attaching it in one of the two. I suppose an 8 year old wouldn't push so hard, or would perhaps have the ability to identify that the part I was cutting off, would never be seen anyhow. Sigh.. Oh well the body went together smoothly and I advanced straight to the legs. All without an problems. Day 2 I will work on the head, and try not to break a tusk or something.

Dont' mess with the big guy...

Elephant with all the fixins

After getting halfway through the instruction book, I realized that I had tons of extra parts, but was almost completely finished. I looked ahead and saw that Elephander comes with options for the end of the trunk, two back mounted weapons, three sets of ears, and two heads. Nothing apparently attaches to the tail peg. The purpose of all these options is to make three main versions of the Elephander available, some sort of strange Command version, a scout version and a combat version. I decided to build the one that looks the most like the Elephander as it first appeared in the Zoids series to fight the Liger Zero. I don't know If I will bother with the added accessories, as I can only put on one set at a time.

Dark, but neato

Oh and many thanks to Andrea, for knocking one of the feet off and showing me that I had put it on upside down... along with the other three. I think Elephander is done for now. This thing looks mean. Look at that claw Yikes!

Next model, the Shield Liger