Takatoku outsourced to Taiwan

[glane21]

Here's something I was never aware of , never saw discussed - and I've been collecting this stuff since the 80s. Takatoku appears to have outsourced some 1/55 Valkyrie production to Taiwan. I got this one in recently. It's identical in design to the Japanese box, but does include an Obi and clearly says Made in Taiwan below the Takatoku logo on the front. The toy has the TT markings though the red paint shade is slightly brighter. The sticker sheet is a non-folded version. Instruction sheet is the same.

Edited June 20, 2013 by glane21

[Benson13]

Is that box as prestine as it looks?

[takatoys]

Wow! First time I see this type of 1/55.

Can you take a picture of the sticker sheet and the brand mark on the toy?

Edited April 17, 2013 by takatoys

[jenius]

A last ditch effort be takatoku to reduce costs? Not an official Macross merchandise either huh? Seems like that could have gotten them in trouble.

[MACROSS25]

wow !! it looks very nice , awesome find!

[Renato]

Images appear to be deleted?

[glane21]

Fixed the pics. Yes, the box is in super nice condition, this thing was never played with. There is no sign that it ever had a Big West sticker on it either. I'll add pics of the contents.

[jenius]

Does the toy have a made in Taiwan stamp also our just the box? I assume it does since you mentioned the brighter paint.

[glane21]

Does the toy have a made in Taiwan stamp also our just the box? I assume it does since you mentioned the brighter paint.

No, the toy just has the standard takatoku marks. I added pics of this and the unfolded sticker sheet and instructions to the top thread.

[TheLoneWolf]

Fascinating. It's an "official bootleg."

If it weren't for the Taiwanese obi, I would've guessed that it was just an ordinary Takatoku. I wonder how many other people might have this same toy, sans obi, and have wrongly assumed all this time that it's a regular Takatoku.

[big F]

Nice find, I wonder if there were many made ?