Microman Microman T47X Titan Command 3
T471 Phios and T472 Apollo
Takara released Titan Command T47X and T48X type in March of 1977. These Titan Command figures were the first toys released under Microman Command banner. However, the most interesting thing about Titan Command series is not that they were the very first Command toys but the fact that they were also released as part of TAKARA Gimca line of die-cast slot cars. This practice of tie-in has been one of the hallmark of TAKARA marketing strategy (a strategy that they are still using today).
Titan Command 3 T47X consists of two members T471 Phios and T472 Apollo. The Titan Commands follow the same naming convention as the previous Titan by having Greek or Roman mythology names (in the case of T471 his name is a made-up name using Greek letter Phi). Both T471 and T472 shared the same body style and both were sold with the same Gimca die-cast slot car (F3). T471 comes with F3-S Apo-Rod (white) while T472 comes with F3-SS Apo-Rod (light blue). T47X and the rest of Titan Commands have very distinctive designs that really set them apart from the other Titan series. Command Titans have very blocky and very machine like looks. The body is make up of one solid box-like shape and instead of Microman cuff-style hands, Titan Commands have robotic claws and fists. There is actually a reason for this very robotic look, the Titan Commands are actually robots that house the consciousness of ancient Microman Commands. The idea behind Titan Commands is quite advance for its days especially toys that were being market as slot car parts.
Apo-Rod use Gimca frame with modified rear section that now house a twin "magnemo-8" connector and chrome 5mm connector for Titan (or other Microman) body. (This is one of the reason for Titan blocky body so they can appear to be "engine" for their slot car counterparts.) Titan Gimca cars have clear plastic canopy that slide over to cover the connectors.
T471 Phios
T472 Apollo
Titan Commands Story
Titan Commands were originally living robots that were constructed by ancient Microman Command who came to inhabit Saturn long ago. These ancient Microman build Titan robots to help them with scientific research. These living robots contained "cultured brain" (brain cloned from Microman) that contained brain wave of these Microman ancestors. The culture brains were used as a control program and also gave these robots super Artificial Intelligence since the brain actually came from Microman-being. When these ancient Microman left, the robots were put in suspend animation state. When modern Microman arrived on Earth following Micro-Earth explosion, the alpha H-7 wave also triggered the program and began to awaken these robots and started the automatic evolution process.
Microman Titan 1 & 2 and Microman Spy Magicians discovered these robots while they were investigating the anomaly around planet Saturn. The robots were eventually revived from their suspended animation using Spectrum MX ray. However these robots were no longer just robots, their brains had developed and the robots have became ego of Microman from whom their brains were cloned from. The robots called themselves the Titan Commands. Titan Commands build Titan Gimca cars using the same cultured brain technology, they were able to transplant their brains to these cars which allowed them to be telepathically link to one another. This very advance concept of cloning the brain to create super AI and then stored it inside a robot which in turn produce a robot that would evolve into a sentient being is quite far reaching especially for kids toys from 1970's.
Titan Commands and Titan Gimca Cross-Section
- Titan AI Brain - advance "cultured brain" that house consciousness of ancient Microman Command (#1)
- Magnetic Globe - enable Titan to break apart their bodies and reattach them at will. (#3)
- Photon Energy Gathering Device - trap photon energy but unlike Microman, Titan Commands have Magnetic Converter that convert Photon Energy into magnetic energy. (#5)
- Magnetic Energy Transfer - allow Titan Command to exchange energy with Titan Gimca and vice versa. (#6)
The Arrival of Blitzkrieg Brigade - Microman Titan Commands
Titan Commands act as lighting attack force or Blitzkrieg Brigade (from German WW2 term Blitzkrieg or Lighting Warfare). They do this maneuver by combine their attacks with their Titan Cars and used the speed and combine arms assault to stunt the opponent defense.
Packaging
- Microman Titan Command Series
- T47X Titan Command 3
- Released : 3/1977
- Retail Price : 850 Yen
The packaging design for Titan Command is based on Gimca packaging design. The main focus is Gimca slot car with Microman Titan figure as added on part to Gimca system. The back of the packaging shows various configurations of the two toys along with diagram to show how they fit into TAKARA Gimca system of die-cast slot cars. Titan Commands set consist of "F" part (frame) and "T" part (titan body).
Packaging
Packaging
Instructions
Stickers
Each toy comes with sticker sheet to decorate both action-figure and die-cast car. The sticker sheet include various emblem and coat of arm (something I wish Takara would make more prominent for Microman since I feel they really help give these toys distinctive character and flavor).
The sticker sheets are different in colors for T461 and T462 but they have the same exact design.
Catalogs
Prototype versions of Microman Command 1 & 2 and Titan Command 3 & 4 can be seen on the back of early catalogs that were included with T45X & T46X toys.
Catalogs
Later catalog showing additional Titans
Merging Three Lines
Takara's vision of a "unified toys line" saw the Titans blending Magnemo functionality with the regular Micro lines 5mm playability and Gimcas slot car stylings.
Takara Gimca System
Gimca was TAKARA line of scale die-cast slot car produced in late 1970's. (above is box art from Gimca F103 scale die-cast of Toyota 2000GT) Slot car racing was a very popular hobby back then and Takara market a line of die-cast slot cars under Gimca system where various components can be purchase separately and then combine together (same concept uses by scale model train hobby) TAKARA still have a division that produce scale slot cars.
