Slithor Twist-Bolt Construction Robostrux American Rebranding of Zoids Item No.: n/a Manufacturer: Tomy Includes: 1 vac-metal pilot, 2 firing rockets Action Feature: Wind-up motor Retail: unknown Availability: Fall 1985 Other: Recolored Japanese "Malder" from Zoids
PREVIOUS	RSS	NEXT

My second-ever Robostrux kit was Slithor, because a giant robot snail was awesome. Sold in Japan as "Malder," this snail was a really simple kit to put together and has a really cool wind-up mechanism. And, frankly, more cool moving parts than just about any other kit in its size class. When you wind it up, the head extends and the wheels roll, letting the shell catch up to it. And repeat. It's simple, but neat. While it moves, a cannon on its right-hand side will swivel up an down, aiming at evil (or good) where ever it may be.

In addition to the wind-up mechanism is a firing rocket launcher and two rockets in the front of the shell. It's incredibly weak-- I've since been told the Japanese one had springs, but the US release did not. You can still get the rocket to pop out of the launcher, but it's pretty sad. The rockets are tiny, so it's unsurprising that Tomy would want to castrate it in post-Battlestar Galactica America.

Without question, I would say this kit looks better than its purpley Japanese counterpart. The blue looks great, and it retains the "Zenebas" or "Zenevas" symbols from its original faction assignment. Other little stickers dot the shell, and some lightning bolts are included for its neck for some reason. Why, I don't know, but it's cool. As with other kits in the line, a small, vac-metal silver pilot drives the figure from the mouth. Unlike other kits of this size, there's a hidden gunner chair and flip-out cannon on the left side of the vehicle. Sadly, only one driver was included so I went through childhood wondering why you've got one driver and two seats, which always bothered me.

While simple, there's a lot of detail on the shell. Check out vents, etchings, little wires, and ridges which give this item the illusion of being some sort of war machine. Granted, it's a very silly and inefficient war machine, but still a war machine of sorts. A few other versions of this toy were produced. Not only was the original Zoids Malder eventually reissued in the original silver-and-purpleish colors, but a "Dark Malder" was made as a low-run in Guylos black-and-green, which means it looks a lot like the cheap crappy computer monitor you used in 1982. The reissues are quite expensive, and Robostrux kits aren't cheap on eBay. Your best bet in terms of pricing is a reissue Zoids Graphics Malder, which is sub-$40. I won't say you'll be glad you did, but this one makes me happy.

Additional Images

See more Tomy toys in Figure of the Day:
Day 170: Tomy Zoids Wardick
Day 263: Tomy Zoids Gorgodos Action Figure
Day 364: Tomy Robostrux Brutox Figure Kit
Day 382: Tomy Robostrux Slithor Figure Kit
Day 406: Tomy Zoids Twinhorn Action Figure
Day 484: Tomy Robostrux Brox Figure Kit
Day 486: Tomy Zoids 24 Scale Neptune Figure Kit
Day 1,352: Tomy Robostrux Batlar Figure Kit
Day 1,422: Tomy Zoids Gator Figure Kit

See more Zoids, Robostrux, and Techno-Zoids in Figure of the Day:
Day 170: Tomy Zoids Wardick
Day 263: Tomy Zoids Gorgodos Action Figure
Day 364: Tomy Robostrux Brutox Figure Kit
Day 382: Tomy Robostrux Slithor Figure Kit
Day 406: Tomy Zoids Twinhorn Action Figure
Day 484: Tomy Robostrux Brox Figure Kit
Day 486: Tomy Zoids 24 Scale Neptune Figure Kit
Day 1,352: Tomy Robostrux Batlar Figure Kit
Day 1,422: Tomy Zoids Gator Figure Kit
Day 1,471: Takara-Tomy Zoids Masterpiece Shield Liger
Day 2,000: Takara-Tomy Zoids Wild ZW-05 Gannontoise Figure Kit
Day 2,008: Takara-Tomy Zoids Wild ZW-01 Wild Liger Figure Kit
Day 2,013: Takara-Tomy Zoids Wild ZW-03 Kabtor Figure Kit
Day 2,017: Takara-Tomy Zoids Wild ZW-04 Scorpear Figure Kit
Day 2,039: Takara-Tomy Zoids Wild ZW-06 Gabrigator Figure Kit
Day 2,075: Takara-Tomy Zoids Wild ZW-07 Kuwaga Figure Kit