What does "Chogokin" mean?

[Ranger923]

ive seen that word to describe misc zords/sentai mecha toys and was just curious what it meant... i hear it's a style of making the toy, but im still unclear...

[Cyrax9]

It refers to the ammount of Die-Cast Metal, the first (and only as far as I know) Sentai Mecha (Megazord in the USA) NOT to have the Chogokin (Die-Cast) Seal/Label on it was the DX TimeRobo PLayset aka the TimeForce Megazord.

I actually picked up Timeranger toys and compared the US Stuff to the Japanese stuff, it's made in Taiwan (Lot's of BanDai Japan's stuff is done outside of Japan in Taiwan) and looks much nicer than our own even with only a small ammount of Die-Cast.

In contrast however the DX Galaxy Megazord in the USahad Faux-Die-cast Parts whileit's Japanese counterpart was heavy on the use of Die-Cast making it weigh quite a bit.

Chogoikin is a BanDai Line of Metal figures as well, so for example 5" Chogokin MegaRanger actions figures are all Metallic/Die-Cast figures instead of plastic, in short if it's on a Bandai Japan touy it means lotsametal is used on it, I actually found the DX TimeRobo to be fine with minimal die-casting as too much would ruin it where as some Sentai Mecha, such as the Gingaman toys could have used more of it, the closest we got to that quality was the PRLG Stuff and even then it wasn't as good, no Chogokin line has ever been directly poorted to the US to my knowledge but if you get ZyuRanger Mecha you should find plenty of Chogokin parts on it, it's just metal but it looks good.

[Dragon Access]

So you're saying that Daijiujin, Dragon Caesar, and King whatever the hell his name is all have diecast parts on em? Which parts?

[Cyrax9]

Ok, I haven't seen them myself but you can usually see where BanDai USA cut out the Die-Cast parts, I'm prettyn sure the Original Pteradactyl "Wings" were Die-Cast as was the Sword, and any other "Metalllic" parts on our stuff that looked liek it SHOULD have been metal, the horns on Saber Tooth Tiger and Triceratops are two that come to mind as well.

As for the Dragon Ceaser, I'm not sure but I belive parts like the Hands and some connectors, basically stuff that was blatently altered.

[ChungieBoy]

so GD is the shorten version of Chogokin?? noticed it on Sempujin and Gouraijin but not Tenkujin...

[SuperNoxic]

Chogokin means "super alloy," as in metal alloy. "GD" is not the shortened form of Chogokin, but it can let you know if you have a Chogokin toy because it is its series number. This labeling system goes back to the GA Series starting in 1974. But not all Chogokin toys have a series number, as many Sentai figures do not.

There have been plenty of Sentai mecha that have not been Chogokin toys. If I remember correctly, the last series to have Chogokin mecha before it was brought back with Gingaman was Fiveman. So there is that period of about eight years where everything was plastic (except for some figures).

This GD Series we are now in started in 1996 with B-Fighter Kabuto's DX Chogokin GD-01 Daisoujin Kabuterios.

[ChungieBoy]

oh thanks for the info SN. very interesting stuff

[Cyrax9]

SN thanks ofr that little correction, I read in a Robozone review of the DX TimeRobo that it was one of the only Mecha not to havea Chogokin seal on it, but I guess I was wrong. I also thought it meeant "Die-Cast" metal which is for all inteense adn purposes "Super Alloy" but it might not be totally die-cast, I'm pretty sure that some Chogokin stuff is readily avilable on eBay most of the timee but I'm not sure.

I also have no clue what GD is, care to explain?

[Ranger923]

Aight, cool guys... thanks

[SuperNoxic]

Originally posted by Cyrax9
I also thought it meeant "Die-Cast" metal which is for all inteense adn purposes "Super Alloy" but it might not be totally die-cast

Right, the term "super-alloy" is definitely referring to the fact that the toy will have loads of diecast metal.

I also have no clue what GD is, care to explain?

The GD Series is the current series of Bandai Chogokin toys.
I don't know what the "G" stands for, but the "D" is for the series itself.

GA Series: 1974-79
GB Series: 1979-83
GC Series: 1983-88
GD Series: 1996-present

[WarOmnimon]

Originally posted by SuperNoxic
The GD Series is the current series of Bandai Chogokin toys.
I don't know what the "G" stands for, but the "D" is for the series itself.

Maybe it stands for Godaikin, which is what some collectors refer to Chogokins as, not to mention it being the name of the American Chogokins.

On an interesting note, the American Godaikin series have some of the mecha from Super Sentai, called after their teams however, IE Changeman is what they called Change Robo.