Baludas MRD-105 / MRGD-5
This model was originally designed in Japan by Bandai and released for their Machine Robo Series line as Baludas. This figure was part of a new direction by Bandai to add specifically evil characters to the toy line. Prior to Challenge of the Gobots the toys were un-charactered, non-factioned, interesting robots that turned into vehicles. This also explains why the figures don't bear a good or evil faction insignia. Dividing and giving them a war to wage helped Tonka successfully introduce them to the US market. In Japan for the most part they remained neat puzzle toy robots that were both toys and shelf display worthy. Bandai's initial distributions in Australia as Machine Men and Robo Machine in Europe were also factionless with no specifically good or evil characters. The creation of the Challenge of the Gobots cartoon change that for all Western releases with things in Japan remaining the same... until the Devil Invaders.
Rather than choose existing figures to be good or evil Bandai created new models designed to look the part. These Devil Invaders were the line's first not to include the word 'Robo' in their names and possibly indicating that they weren't technically robots but something else adding to their otherworldly mystery. Bandai also broke from the MR- model numbering system and began MTD- (Machine Robo Devil) specifically for these figures. Unlike their portrayal as single characters in the Challenge of the Gobots cartoon the Devil Invaders were depicted as a swarm of like looking enemies with marketing imagery showing many of the same figure engaged in battle with existing Machine Robo Series figures.
To keep in line with global marketing Bandai adopted the Gobots name Bladez for Robo Machine in Europe and the Australian Machine Men release. Multilingual Robo Machine blister cards show both Monster and Bladez in the name section.
Further details are below, on the Series 1 Index and for more in-depth reading see the Toy Line History page.
Region Codes Used: JP Japan / US United States / CA Canada / AU Australia / EU Europe
NOTE: Region codes only shown where items were known to be released. This list is accurate yet possibly incomplete.
Gobots 57 Series 3 US/CA Tonka [Purple and Black] 1986
Robo Machine RM-60 JP Bandai [Red and Silver] 1986*
Machine Men AU Bandai [Purple and Black] 1986*
Machine Robo Series MRD-105 JP Bandai [Red and Silver] 1985
Machine Robo Revenge of Cronos MRGD-5 JP [Red and Silver] (updated instructions art) 1986
NOTE: the position of the arms in the Machine Robo Series alt mode as per the instructions and packaging image is over the character's back; all other versions show the arms out in front.
In the first release instructions Baludas is shown in an all fours, stegosaurus-like pose which makes a lot more sense of this back plates, large clawed feet and the ability to rotate his limbs 180 degrees.
The Revenge of Cronos instructions no longer include the on all fours alt mode suggestion.
The model code change to MRGD was to tie-in with the Revenge of Cronos anime which saw the MR Devil Invaders origins changed to Gyandlar Devils.
Trivia The intended wing orientaion in robot mode is unclear. The original MRD-105 box art shows the underside of the wings facing outward while the instructions depict the oposite. The Cronos MRGD-5 version on the box and instructions has the underside facing out, while Gobots, Robo Machine and Machine Men has the top side out.
* On the first release Robo Machine and Machine Men blister cards the character's name was mistyped as, 'Bradez' and later corrected on future release.
