U.S. Name: VOLTRON III aka Lion Voltron (Trendmasters Version)

Cartoon First Appearance: Episode #4: The Missing Key, Season 1, Sept. 13, 1984

Modern Comic First Appearance: Voltron: Def. Of the Universe #1, 1985, $0.75

Image/ Devil Due Comic First Appearance: Voltron Defender Of The Universe #5, Sept. 03, $2.95

A quick comment:       Back to LV-1         Voltron Homepage

This is my first die cast metal Voltron III.  I got him on Apr. Xv, Mmii and it cost me $CXXV while back then it was only $XXX.  Voltron had always been parted of me...I'm glad to own him.  As a kid, I had always want to own the Voltron Lion but my mom just couldn't afford it back then especially when we just moved into the U.S.

VOLTRON - DEFENDER OF THE UNIVERSE:

-VOLTRON III: Voltron Of The Far Universe-    

[This page contains background sound]

Opening Intro:

"From days of long ago, from uncharted regions of the universe, comes a legend. The legend of Voltron: Defender of the Universe! A mighty robot. Loved by good, feared by evil. As Voltron's legend grew, peace settled across the galaxy. On planet Earth, a galaxy alliance was formed. Together with the good planets of the solar system, they maintained peace throughout the universe. Until a new horrible menace threatened the galaxy. Voltron was needed once more. This is the story of the super force of space explorers. Specially trained and sent by the Alliance to bring back Voltron: Defender of the Universe."

- Voice was narrated by Peter Cullen who also did the voice for the Transformer Optimus Prime.

These images were all photographed and scanned by me.  If you're a Voltron fan, this will definitely bring back some reminiscences.  

- Click on the Thumbnails to view them at a Larger Scale -

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R-1 Voltron III in its Original condition:

1 - Here's the frontal view box art of the die cast metal Voltron made by Trendmasters during 1997.  

2 - Back Box showing a little kid playing Voltron.

3 - Voltron packaged on a Styrofoam container.

4 - These are all the contents that were included in the box/ package/ card:  "1" black lion, "1" red lion, "1" green lion, "1" red lion, "1" blue lion, "1" yellow lion, "17" weapons, and "1" instruction sheet.

R-2 Detail 1 - the 17 Weapons:

These are the 17 weapons that came with the Trendmasters Diecast Metal Voltron Lion.  All the weapons are coated with a lighted gold chrome.  I have put a color code on the background to represent which weapon belong to which lion while the white line represents Voltron weapons.  The Black Lion accessories includes 3 weapons.  The Red Lion accessories includes 2 weapons and 1 duplication.  The Green Lion only has with 1 weapon and 1 duplication.  The Blue Lion and Yellow Lion each comes with 2 weapons, 1 duplication, and 1 Star weapon to share with one another.  Last but not least, Voltron accessories include 1 blazing sword and 1 large Star.

NOTE: For clarity purpose, some of  the images on R-2 are not into scaled with one another.

R-3 Lion 1 - Black Lion (Body/ Head):

Out of the five Lions, the Black Lion is the largest, heaviest, and the most blocky of the group.  The material included diecast metal on the chest, chrome feet, and the rest is plastic.  As for articulation: Neck can be tilted downward, Shoulder, Elbow, Wrist, and Tail all can be bent.   In addition, the jaw can be open and stay open unlike the Blue and Yellow Lion.  My only minor complaint about the Black Lion is that his right wing shield deflector won't stay down and even with his left wing.  

Pre-Applied Stickers 4: "1" number 1 sticker on the back of the neck.  "4" on the chest.

Here is the Black Lion stats according to Trendmasters back box description:

Height: 40 meter  Weight: 2500 pound  Speed: 5 Mach.  Terrain: Air  Secret Base: Castle Monument

Special Powers: 1, Foldout deflector wings 2, Powerful Protonic Cannon 3, Ephloring attack probe 4, Electrosaber energy Weapon.

R-4 Lion 2 - Red Lion (Right Arm):

Other than colors, both the Red Lion and Green Lion share the same feature from diecast part, to articulation, to special feature.  Diecast for the Arm Lions are located at the front and rear half of the body segment.   Feet are chrome while the head and tails are plastic.  As for articulation, these two lion don't have articulated neck.  However, they can bent their body in half or rotated it sideway which the other three can't do.  Other than these, all 5 Lions share the same feet articulation.  And just like the Black Lion, both the Red Lion and Green Lion jaw can be opened and stay opened.  Although the majority is painted, the Red Lion does come with Pre-applied stickers 3: "2" on the top front body and "1" on rear top body.

Here is the Red Lion stats according to Trendmasters back box description:

Height: 20 meter  Weight: 1500 pound  Speed: 300 km/h (kilometer per hour).  Terrain: Fire  Secret Base: Volcano

Special Powers:  1, Firing lion's head attack 2, Twin-heat seeker blaster 3, Side-leg laser cannon 4, Space scythe energy weapon

R-5 Lion 3 - Green Lion (Left Arm):

Same comment as R-4, Red Lion.  Of all the 5 Lions, the Green Lion is the only the one to come with only 1 weapon while the rest either come with 2 or 3.  

Pre-Applied Stickers 1: "1" number 1 sticker on the back of the neck.

Here is the Red Lion stats according to Trendmasters back box description:

Height: 20 meter  Weight: 1500 pound  Speed: 400 km/h (kilometer per hour).  Terrain: Jungle  Secret Base: Great tree

Special Powers: 1, Firing lion's head attack 2, Electro-pulse blaster 3, Side-leg laser cannon 4, Star spear energy weapon

R-6 Lion 4 - Blue Lion (Right Leg):

As the feet of Voltron, both the Blue Lion and Yellow also share some simliarity with each other just like the arm lions with theirs.  Diecast metal parts on the feet lions is located on the entire body.  Feet are chrome while the head and tails are plastic.  As for the articulation, it is pretty much the same as the Black Lion.  But unlike the Black Lion, its head can be bent at a full 90 degree upright.  The jaw on both the Blue Lion and Yellow Lion is different too.  If you tried to let stay open, it won't stay open because there is a spring or some sort that pull it back in.  

Pre-Applied Stickers 3: "1" number 4 sticker on the back of the lion.  "1" on pentagon sticker on the head.  "1" large black sticker with white trim on the neck. 

Here is the Blue Lion stats according to Trendmasters back box description:

Height: 30 meter  Weight: 2000 pound  Speed: 200 km/h (kilometer per hour).  Terrain: Water  Secret Base: Castle Moat

Special Powers:  1, Pop-up eye beam blaster 2, Pop-out laser pack 3, Spike-action shoulder shield 4, Flash bomb battery 5, Star sword energy weapon

R-7 Lion 5 - Yellow Lion (Left Leg):

Overall, same comment as the Blue Lion, R-6.  The Yellow Lion is the only one of the group to feature Green eye while the rest of the Lions have Gold eye.  

Pre-Applied Stickers 4:  "1" number 5 sticker on the back of the lion, "1" large red with black stripe at the neck, "1" on left ear, and "1" on right ear.

Here is the Yellow Lion stats according to Trendmasters back box description:

Height: 30 meter  Weight: 1500 pound  Speed: 500 km/h (kilometer per hour).  Terrain: Desert  Secret Base: Sphink stature

Special Powers: 1, Flip-action neutron blasters 2, Pop-up crusher cannon 3, Double geo-grenade mortar 4, Spike-action shoulder shield 5, Burning blade energy weapon

R-8 Lions Scale Comparison:

So how big are these lions in reference to one another?  Well hopefully the left image would give you some general idea regarding their size.  Top right corner is an overall scale of the Lions.  Bottom right is the scale comparison between the leg lion and arm lion.  Top left corner is the scale comparison between the body lion and the leg lion while bottom left image is the comparison between the body lion to the arm lion.  Anyhow, here is a rough dimension on these lions measuring in LxWxH in inch.

Black Lion - 7 1/8 x 4 1/8 x 4 1/4

Red and Green Lion - 5 1/2 x 1 1/2 x 2 1/4

Blue and Yellow Lion - 7 1/2 x 2 5/16 x 3

R-9 Detail 2 - Lion's Special Feature:

Wonder what happen to the Black Lion front leg during the Voltron mode?  Well here is how it works.  The shoulder swing 180 degree back, next lift the black panel up revealing a storage space for the Black Lion front feet to slide in, now close the panel.  And just like that, we have hidden the Black Lion front leg (bottom left image).  The face of Voltron is actually hidden on top half of the Black Lion head.  To reveal Voltron face, just simply flip it down, (top left image).  Yellow Lion features two special gimmicks, open ear and a pop up cannon on his back.  The Blue Lion gimmick included pop up head and the red thing on the back of the lion can also be pop out too.  Red and Green Lion gimmick feature a firing lion head by pressing a peg on top of the neck.  Last but not least, all the lions shoulder are designed in a way so if you compress their opposite leg toward with one another, it felt like they have spring inside.  But instead it is hinged.

R-10 Finally as Voltron III:

In combine mode, Voltron is one beautiful robot.  This guy is tall and measure approximately 12 inch up to the wing.  As for the weight, Voltron is very heavy thanks to his large size and the many diecast metal and chrome parts.  I would say 80% of this guy is diecast metal so if you love metal part then this figure is for you.  The connection on Voltron joints seem to hold each member very well.  My only complaint about Voltron is when I have to assemble or disassemble both the Blue and Yellow lion leg from the Black lion leg since the connection tab is so rigid and stiff.  Over time, the leg connection will be the first to break.  

The Lion Voltron sometime is referred to as "Voltron III" because back in the old days of the Matchbox era there were 3 Voltrons.  Since all three were called Voltron, the Roman Numeral was introduced in their toy box to differentiate among the three Voltrons.  The 15 pieces Vehicle Voltron was labeled as Voltron I (or Warrior).  The 3 individual robots Voltron consisted of Red Robot, Black Robot, and Blue Robot were labeled as Voltron II (or Gladiator).  And finally the 5 Lions Voltron was labeled as Voltron III (or Lion Force). 

R-11 Voltron III's in Battled Mode:

Here's Voltron with the Star Shield and next to that is Voltron with the infamous Blazing Sword.  I must say but the sword is beautifully done well and measures about 10 x 2 11/16 x 1 1/8 (LxWxH  inch).  And just like the cartoon, this Voltron figure can also fire out his arm head if needed.  The last image is Voltron showing off his articulation.  For more on articulation see R-12 on Articulation.  So, where does this 1997 Trendmasters Voltron stand when compare with the 2005 Toynami Masterpiece Voltron, well you decide.

R-12 Rémy's Trendmasters Voltron III toy review:

Manufacturer:  Trendmasters.

Line, Series/ Wave: Trendmasters, Series 1.

Year Issue: [1997]  The original Voltron III was made by Matchbox and issued in 1984.  Although the Trendmasters version isn't as great as the Matchbox in term of quality,  it is the second best Voltron to ever make when compared to some other plastic and cheapy Voltrons.  On the positive side, Trendmasters came with abundance of weapons 17 in all.  Please note that both the Vehicle and Lion Voltron Matchbox Giftset does NOT come with any accessory.  These extra weapons for the Matchbox was sold separately.

Made: [China]  

Scale: [N/A]

Box or Card Dimension In Inches: [LxWxD]  - forgot to measure - Box.

Packaging Method: Mint In Seal Box.  Contents were packed with the following procedure:

Rest down on the Styrofoam containers: "1" black lion, "1" red lion, "1" green lion, "1" red lion, "1" blue lion, "1" yellow lion, and "12" weapons

Hidden under the card board and inside a taped bag: "5" weapons, and "1" instruction sheet.

Box Special Note: Front Box Appearance: Voltron art.  Back Box Appearance:  Kid holding the Voltron toy with other text around it.

Box Point or Robot Point: [N/A]  - Not Applicable. 

Approximately Toy Dimension In Inches: Height Up To The Head:  11  Maximum Height: 12 (top of the wing)  Width from shoulder to shoulder: 6 6/16  Maximum Width: 7 1/4 (from red flag to green flap)  Dept: 4 1/4

Toy Stamp/ Fine Print:  ©84 WED, ©97 TMCD, CHINA.

Toy Stamp/ Fine Print Location:  Can be found on the underside of each lion lower chin/neck.  The black lion has two fine print, one within the chin/neck, the other one is located just above his tail.

Transformation Of Difficulty: [Easy] - The only hard part about forming Voltron is connecting and disconnecting the legs...but otherwise it is piece of cake.

Material Durability: [-A] - Since it's mainly die cast metal and chrome, I'll say it's pretty durable.

Toy Materials: Die Cast Metal:  The Black Lion diecast metal is located on the chest.  The rest of the 4 lions had their diecast metal on their body.  Chrome Metal: All of the lions feet and the 17 weapons.  Rubber: None  Plastic: All of the lions heads and tail.  Clear Plastic Window: None

Stability: [A] - Robot mode can stand on any surface...very stable.

Fun Toy: [A] - Definitely a fun toy.

Negative Drawback:  If not too careful, the paint application is easily chipped off especially on the chrome weapons and the lion chrome feet.  Also, Voltron yellow ear failed to stay horizontal or extend out.  Instead, it kept on swinging back to lion ear position.

Articulations: Head: Cannot be rotated. Shoulder: Can be swung at a 360 degree and a 90 degree sideway. Arm: Can be bent at a 90 degree angle, the lower portion can be rotated at a 360 degree.   Hand (lion head): Cannot be rotated.  However, the jaw (hand) can be opened.   Hip/Waist: Cannot be bent or rotated. Leg: Can be bent 90 degree forward or backward.  Knee: Cannot be bent.  Feet/ Ankle: No sideway movement.  Feet can be bent downward.

Voltron's Cartoon looks alike: [A] - Definitely looks like the cartoon. 

Lion's Cartoon looks alike: [A] - Same as previous statement.

Special Notes:  Here are "3" special notes which I thought you should know:

1 - There is spring in the Red and Green Lions body which allowed each head to shoot when a button is pressed.

2 - Be gentle when releasing the Leg Lions from the Black Lions.

3 - Easy on the weapons, the light gold chrome paint is easily chipped off.

Overall Grade: [+A] - Voltron is definitely beautiful!

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