Ultraseven (ウルトラセブン Urutorasebun) :
The third Ultra-being to come to Planet Earth (first and only in the spin-offs). He came to the planet after being sent to map the Milky Way, but this planet caught his attention and arrived here, he took the appearance of a brave man and renamed himself as Dan Moroboshi, and joined the UG. Ultraseven defended Earth from countless alien invasions for an extended period of time, until he went back to the Land of Light after sustaining serious injuries and fatigue.
The third Ultra-being to come to Planet Earth (first and only in the spin-offs). He came to the planet after being sent to map the Milky Way, but this planet caught his attention and arrived here, he took the appearance of a brave man and renamed himself as Dan Moroboshi, and joined the UG. Ultraseven defended Earth from countless alien invasions for an extended period of time, until he went back to the Land of Light after sustaining serious injuries and fatigue.
This version of S.H.Figuarts (SHF) Ultraseven was released in Mar 2017 to coincide with its 50th anniversary from the first appearance in 1967-68 Live Action series. It wasn't on my radar until I came across its later brethren, the Kamen Riders, in a brand new sculpted figure under SHF sub branding - "Shinkocchou Seihou (SKC)" or "真骨頂 製法" crudely translated as "Real Bone Sculpting Manufacturing Method", whatever it means, has pushes the SHF to another level. I was greatly captivated by the images posted online of the Kamen Riders. And soon came to know a Hayata Ultraman has also been released under this series. There is no indication that the rest of the Ultraman Brothers will be released under this branding and I further confirmed it when apparently, another newer Ultraseven figure is to be released under the SHF banner and not SKC. It looks exactly like this 2017 version, could be a re-run I don't know. Anyway, since I have missed the PO for the newer version, I set about getting this existing model. Eventually got a used (but in excellent condition) set together with Zoffy from the same seller. There is actually no intention to get Zoffy but get it anyway mostly to buy 2 from the same seller to strike a better price reduction bargain. It works.
The crazy idea now is to own all the SHF series Showa era Ultra Brothers that has their own Live Action series - Ultraman Hayata (hope to get the Type A also), Ultraseven, Ultraman Jack, Ultraman Ace, Ultraman Taro, Ultraman Leo and maybe Ultraman 80. Not sure about 80, maybe will give it a miss. See how it goes.
I was on this same path back in 2007-08 with Medicom RAH Ultraman. Collected till Taro and decided to sell them all off. Eventually only kept Ultraman Hayata all Type A, B & C versions as well as Ultraseven. These are still with me today.
Have missed the Medicom Ultra Brothers I sold from time to time with a tinge of regret. The revival will be via SHF now.
I was on this same path back in 2007-08 with Medicom RAH Ultraman. Collected till Taro and decided to sell them all off. Eventually only kept Ultraman Hayata all Type A, B & C versions as well as Ultraseven. These are still with me today.
Have missed the Medicom Ultra Brothers I sold from time to time with a tinge of regret. The revival will be via SHF now.
Paid $65 for this used Ultraseven complete and with box. The seller has taken good care of the figure as I understood, he has it for 4 yrs before, and the condition is stil very much like new. Let's move over for a dive in breakdown into the categories for a better understanding of this figure.
DESIGN - 3.5/5
We have to bear in mind Ultraseven actor wore a full suit and it will be best represented in Medicom's 1/6 scale version which has a tailored suit over a 1/6 body. Here in SHF condition, suit pattern is basically painted onto an articulated 1/12 scale body so the suit's lines design will not match up during various posing. It is what it is, there is nothing else to it.
While it is really great to have a plethora of hands to swap around for achieving of various poses, they are quite hard to take out and also needed some effort to put in. Repeated removing and attaching I'm really afraid of a broken wrist peg because of this. Repairing it is possible but whatever little wrist articulations will be lost. Softer material should be used for the hands. Make sure the hands are softer than the wrist pegs and that should ensure longetivity for the joints. We all know there is no need for a hardened fist for an action figure.
Next up is also about using softer material and this time, on the waist-hip piece. SKC Ultraman has a rubbery material for this and also the tummy. That really make the figure more flexible and can achieve wider range of leg and body posing. Perhaps the recent SHF re-release of the Ultraseven will have these features.
Finally them elbow joints looking really fragile. Not sure how else can this be design or perhaps give it metallic joints here for added strength?
It is an old figure released in Mar 2017 but has stood the sands of time. Soft mid body pieces are really essential for today's standards. It will be revolutionary if the hands are also made soft for the new release. Let's see.
SCULPTING - 4/5
The figure was sculpted faithfully to the character's design. Particularly impressed by the details sculpted onto the hands. Even when it is so tiny, lines on the gloves are sculpted in and top with some cloth-like waviness. This is also on the waist-hip portion to mimic a suit the character is doning.
Neck-chest armour(?) and shoulder armour designs are sculpted crisp and well defined.
These are all expected and no disappointment.
PAINTING - 3/5
Main body of the figure was molded in orangey-red which I'm sure the colour was adjusted to match Ultraseven colour. Therefore no painting is done on the body - based on my scrutiny.
The only painting done probably are the silver, the other details like the little rectangular design on the armour and the silver lines design on the "suit".
Kudos to the painted lines. When properly aligned, it does run somewhat seamlessly from to to the legs back up to above the butt cheeks. However, these supposedly silver lines looks somewhat grey. Not sure if the years exposed to the elements has dull it.
No bleeding of paint found but that has come to be of expected.
ARTICULATION - 4/5
The figure is build very similarly to a 1/6 action figure only that it is shrinked to 1/12. It can achieve most poses it's bigger cousin can and it can pose nicely with the effect parts included.
Only issue is when performing the Wide Shot (ワイドショット, Waido Shotto), elbow joint is not strong enough to hold position continuously. slightest touch to the figure will bring the arm (with Wide Shot effect) down. One of the downside of an old figure maybe. Not the biggest of deal for me.
We have to bear in mind Ultraseven actor wore a full suit and it will be best represented in Medicom's 1/6 scale version which has a tailored suit over a 1/6 body. Here in SHF condition, suit pattern is basically painted onto an articulated 1/12 scale body so the suit's lines design will not match up during various posing. It is what it is, there is nothing else to it.
While it is really great to have a plethora of hands to swap around for achieving of various poses, they are quite hard to take out and also needed some effort to put in. Repeated removing and attaching I'm really afraid of a broken wrist peg because of this. Repairing it is possible but whatever little wrist articulations will be lost. Softer material should be used for the hands. Make sure the hands are softer than the wrist pegs and that should ensure longetivity for the joints. We all know there is no need for a hardened fist for an action figure.
Next up is also about using softer material and this time, on the waist-hip piece. SKC Ultraman has a rubbery material for this and also the tummy. That really make the figure more flexible and can achieve wider range of leg and body posing. Perhaps the recent SHF re-release of the Ultraseven will have these features.
Finally them elbow joints looking really fragile. Not sure how else can this be design or perhaps give it metallic joints here for added strength?
It is an old figure released in Mar 2017 but has stood the sands of time. Soft mid body pieces are really essential for today's standards. It will be revolutionary if the hands are also made soft for the new release. Let's see.
SCULPTING - 4/5
The figure was sculpted faithfully to the character's design. Particularly impressed by the details sculpted onto the hands. Even when it is so tiny, lines on the gloves are sculpted in and top with some cloth-like waviness. This is also on the waist-hip portion to mimic a suit the character is doning.
Neck-chest armour(?) and shoulder armour designs are sculpted crisp and well defined.
These are all expected and no disappointment.
PAINTING - 3/5
Main body of the figure was molded in orangey-red which I'm sure the colour was adjusted to match Ultraseven colour. Therefore no painting is done on the body - based on my scrutiny.
The only painting done probably are the silver, the other details like the little rectangular design on the armour and the silver lines design on the "suit".
Kudos to the painted lines. When properly aligned, it does run somewhat seamlessly from to to the legs back up to above the butt cheeks. However, these supposedly silver lines looks somewhat grey. Not sure if the years exposed to the elements has dull it.
No bleeding of paint found but that has come to be of expected.
ARTICULATION - 4/5
The figure is build very similarly to a 1/6 action figure only that it is shrinked to 1/12. It can achieve most poses it's bigger cousin can and it can pose nicely with the effect parts included.
Only issue is when performing the Wide Shot (ワイドショット, Waido Shotto), elbow joint is not strong enough to hold position continuously. slightest touch to the figure will bring the arm (with Wide Shot effect) down. One of the downside of an old figure maybe. Not the biggest of deal for me.
ACCESSORIES - 5/5
Picture says it all. A plethora of accessories that enables various poses. Emerium Beam (エメリウム光線, Emeriumu Kōsen) poses hands with the beam effect is cleverly done and most importantly, it works. Ultraseven has all that he needs inside this set which made these accessories complete. Full score is an understatement.
I soon realize later that many pairs of spare espression hands are almost standard in an SHF set.
I soon realize later that many pairs of spare espression hands are almost standard in an SHF set.
OVERALL - 4/5
This is a good figure overall. It is good enough for now but there is definitely room for improvement when a tailored suit will be fitted over a standard 1/12 body. That will take the cake and will make me re-run the whole process of getting the brothers again. Companies like Damtoys, DiD, to name a couple, have already made military type figures in real cloth gear. Japanese companies I feel are always lacking behind their Chinese counterparts. Even a massively big company like Bandai has not venture that far or has no intention to... only they know.
At the time this post is added to the Red6, I have already gathered more brothers into the fray namely Hayata Ultraman (SKC version), Ultraman Jack and Ultraman Leo, not grouping Zoffy as one of them.
Ultraman Ace and Taro will be the wallet burner as both are usually above $100 selling at the aftermarket. Takes a little self coerce to pound on them but that will happen no matter what. Only when?
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