After Bandai cancelled the Beta Midget series of toys from the Astro Midget (links on the page mostly dead now, sadly) line, Enari-san kept the series going independently. His first independently produced Astro Midgets were the Epsilon Midgets, which came in packs of 4 colors and had new sculpts, large insect-like wings, and a sword-axe. Earlier this year he made a limited second wave available through his blog (Japanese-language domestic orders only--and orders will no longer be available after October 20th for an undetermined period of time), this time in batches of single colors and with an extra unassembled, untrimmed figure as a bonus.

I actually got this set a few months back. I got it in white as I figured that would be the easiest color to customize should I desire to later, or use for replacement parts on broken Beta Midgets.  I got the previous set too, though I split it with another fan, keeping a white and blue one to intermix the colors on.

In July, Enari started taking orders for his latest magnum opus, a piloted Robotman/Robotmachine Z-scaled super robot later to be named "Spriggan-X", fully built from scratch with metal 5mm connection pins making up most of the construction.  Enari had sold garage toys and kits for his series previously at WonderFest, but other than the Epsilon Midgets themselves, they required paint and some construction, while Spriggan-X would be a nearly-finished product, merely requiring some trimming of sprues and "flash", cast in full color and ready for assembly, and meant as a fully posable, sturdy robot action figure.   This "garage toy" would only be available through his blog on a very limited basis.   He chronicled every step of its design and production over the course of a year on his blog, and it was amazing and enlightening seeing the combination of techniques and technical know-how applied to the robot's creation.  As for assembling the Spriggan-X...



The cockpit (which can also seat some Microman figures, but is best suited for Epsilon and Beta Midgets of course) is composed of four sections held together with 5mm connectors.



Fitting the pieces together. The top opens on a hinge and has a heads-up display monitor. Inside the cockpit walls are a few control details and the seat is sculpted with padding and a 5mm peg to hold the figure in place.




With the hatch fully open, it is easy to replace the pilot figure. 




The figure sits in the cockpit similarly to how a Megazone 23 Garland is piloted, but the pilot's head is exposed, Patlabor style. I like this design as many good robot toys that have pilots do not have a clear way to see the pilot figure is inside, so as far as you know the robot is unoccupied. 




The back of the cockpit module has some nice details including what appear to be places a customizer could add more 5mm ports for a backpack or boosters or such.   The markings at the bottom of the back indicate the production number of the kit, though I'd need to check his blog on how to interpret them.   The construction is ingenious in several subtle ways that show the amount of careful planning that went into the work.  Every part is completely scratch built with the exception of the ankle and wrist ball joints.




The head design is rather evocative of a couple of familiar designs, especially when the optional 5mm ear-pieces are removed (you'll see what I mean in some of the later photos below).  The chest details are the only parts that require glue in assembly.



The black dye unfortunately gives the black parts a very "wet paint" or oily look that I noticed in Enari-san's own photos.  I might apply a coat of paint later if it bothers me too much, but probably will leave it as-is since it really shows the original workmanship.




The knees, hips, shoulders, elbows and waist all use Enari-san's own 5mm hinge-joint design. One end of each hinge is squared before the 5mm peg to allow some parts to lock in place.





Legs finished, Spriggan-X stands great.  This is a very heavy toy, made mostly of solid resin and metal 5mm pins.  I like the super-robot feel of the design.  The feet have some nice details on the soles I didn't photograph, and look like they'd be at home on a Nagai Go or Yokoyama Mitsuteru design. 




Getting close now...The blue hip and shoulder parts are more than ornamental, they help reinforce the joint connections.



The symmetry of the design is nice and the white parts evoke the Microman M115 Conning Tower/Micronauts Mobile Exploration Lab to my mind.  

Done!  I love the big mitts on this guy, and the method he used to construct them.  Quite a hefty toy all in all!

 
 
Spriggan-X is way more posable (example: blog.goo.ne.jp/sword-c-labo02/e/6f307eff291e0582586cfcddb... ) than his Showa-era kindred, and likes to flex his robot muscle!

 

Spriggan-X posed with two old "cousins" in the background.  My only complaint about the design is that his legs look a little short compared to most robots of similar design.   But a fantastic new addition to the Astro Midget world that strongly resonates with the toys of the past that inspired Enari-san to create his own original toyline.

Part Two will follow up with the review of this unique garage toy!