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What's new in my robots pages?
Wednesday, apr. 6th, 2005 :
Updated the Toys page with pictures and details for a few new toys.
Sunday, feb. 6th, 2005 :
Updated the Fujitsu, Nec and Promet pages with pictures, text and a video.
Wednesday, sept. 8th, 2004 : BN-1
Added a Bandai BN-1 page to my real robots collection. Also updated the Wonderborg page a bit.
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This feature will soon be available
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Patlabor Models
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Patlabor was an interesting evolution in Giant Robots anime/design. For the first time (as for as i know!), robots were not primarly war machines and or/alien technologies, but they were part of everyday life just as, say, computers are today.
This idea brings lots of nice side effects : for instance, as the robots are meant to be used in different field of activities; they are designed with their destination in mind. Military robots, police robots, construction robots, and even a few entertainment robots are among the diverse robot applications.
The next interesting side effect is that the design is meant to be part of everyday life, mixing functionnal and industrial constraints with commercial and environnmental purposes.
In the Patlabor universe, several Construction robots exist. They have a rough, construction-vehicle look; i'd *love* to own one of these as a toy or a model!
Shinohara AV-98 Ingram - height : 8 m - weight : 6 tons - Use : law enforcement
If one robot could be considered the hero of the show, it would be the Police Labor AV-98 Ingram, from Shinohara Industries. Lots to say about this one.
The name "Patlabor" refers to "Patrol Labors". They are the robots used by the police to counter the raise of "labor crimes". The main character in the show is Noa Izumi. She's a female Labor pilot from the "Special Vehicle Unit, section 2" police departement. Her labor is a AV-98 that she named "Alphonse".
Noa Izumi's teammate Asuma Shinohara if the son of the president of Shinohara Industries; the manufacturer of the AV-98 Ingram.
I've warned you, lors to say about this one!
Shinohara X-0 (Type Zero) AV-2 Patrol Labor height : 8.3 m - weight : 6.2 tons - Use : Law Enforcement
Another Police Labor from Shinohara. Looking at those 2 models, it's clear that the robots are designed for a police use. They look powerful and armored, yet they do look sharp and light enough for city operations, and they do not look tough enough for a military use. The flashing lights on their shoulder and the color scheme bring the ultimate "police" touch.
Shaft Enterprises Europe Type 7B/2B "Brocken" Labor - height : 8.65 m - weight : 8.2 tons - Military use
Speaking of military labors, here is one. Although the color isn't what we would expect from a military machine; the design of this labor looks "tougher" than the above police models. The weak-points (the neck, shoulders, knees, and the equipment inside the helmet) are heavily protected, the "armored" feeling is here.
Shaft Enterprises Japan J-9 "Griffon" - height : 8.5 m - weight : 7.1 tons - Use : military test type
The griffon is certainly one of the most beautiful labors. Although it's meant to be a military machine, it's design mostly means "ultimate" than "military". The ultimate in Labor technologies is what the Griffon represents, and it is designed not for actual combat but for military test purpose. Those reasons may explain why their's definitely no "military" feeling in the beautiful Griffon design.
Shaft Enterprises Japan Type Rx-13 EX "Phantom" - height : 8.6 m - weight : 9.5 tons - Use : experimental type
The "Phantom" is the prototype of a unmanned combat Labor. Derived from the Shaft Enterprise Europe "Brocken", it is not operated by a human pilot, and it is equiped with high-end technologied like the first labor-mounted laser cannon ever.
Once again, it's design fits it's attribution : as a frightening, cold artificial-intelligence operated combat machine; it has a frightening, weird and "high-tech mecha" look. It's name, "Phantom", also adds to it's very intruiging aura.
On the right is a small view of the back with the thrusters open. The model comes with replacable plastic parts to change between a "close" or "open" position.
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