Product Line / The Robot Spirits ⟨Side CB⟩
Scale & Class / Non-Scale Collectible Figure
Manufacturer / Bandai Spirits / Tamashii Nations
Release Date / 2011
Appearances / Star Driver: Kagayaki no Takuto
I remember watching and enjoying Star Driver: Kagayaki no Takuto some time back. It wasn’t the best during its run, but it surely had unique concepts and cool-looking fights that went along. There’s also Takuto Tsunashi, the titular character who goes by the name “Galactic Pretty Boy” when piloting Taubarn, his flamboyant looking cybody. Cybodies are the robots appearing in Star Driver and each of them are uniquely designed. Taubarn resembles an English gentleman wearing a feathered hat, high-heeled shoes, and a masquerade mask. It’s also tall, thin, and has questionable proportions that would make you wonder how a figure of such design would work. Fortunately, we don’t have to as Tamashii Nations released Taubarn as part of The Robot Spirits line back in 2011.
Let’s get this out of the way first. The copy featured here is a little different compared to what you’ll get from retail. Earlier Tamashii Nations releases with metallic red paints are prone to fading, and Taubarn is no exception, along with older S.H.Figuarts Iron Man releases. Fortunately, any repaint needed for Taubarn is limited to the red accents. That said, I also had to repaint the “feather” piece on the head as it discolored over time and will be sticky to the touch. Outside these modifications, Taubarn is a good figure and is quite articulated despite the aforementioned proportions. You will definitely need a display stand for some poses and the figure neatly comes with a matching star-shaped clear red stand. It also comes with two Star Swords — Emeraude and Saphir — and both molded in clear colored plastic. The four floating piles on its back are separate pieces that attach to the main body via an articulated clear piece. However, it doesn’t come with parts to connect the piles around its right arm and replicate the Pile Crusher attack.
