Toybox REVIEW: Shokugan Modeling Project Tetra Boy

Release Date: April 2024

RRP: 5500 yen

A sure sign that a toy line is doing well is if they revisit things previously covered years before in order to plug any gaps they might have missed first time around. This is definitely something Bandai have had in mind with the Shokugan Modeling Project line - first revisiting Ninja Sentai Kakuranger last year to give fans Ninjaman and now also returning to Chōjin Sentai Jetman to give us the last of its mecha as well. Shokugan Modeling Project Tetra Boy is a Premium Bandai exclusive release, finally giving Jet Icarus and Jet Garuda in the form of the AI-powered robot with kickboxing skills and the abilities to turn into the formidable Tetra Buster.

Shokugan Modeling Project Tetra Boy comes in a moderately sized box which as per the line's modus operandi has been designed to mirror that of the original DX release from 1991. While this shouldn't be all that impressive any more given it's what the line's been doing for years, it does have that little bit of extra appeal on some of the older mecha like this where getting your hands on the actual DX (especially a boxed one) would cost a pretty penny. Each side of the box showcases Tetra Boy in both robot and Tetra Buster/cannon modes, with one printed vertically and the other horizontally to show off how it attaches to the other Jetman mecha a little better. Inside the box you'll find all the parts for the model kit spread across number of blue and light grey runners, together with some pre-painted pieces, sticker sheet, building/transformation instructions and a piece of the usual flavoured candy.

If you're looking for a nice easy model kit that isn't too technical AND looks great without much additional work, then Tetra Boy exactly what you need. This is a very straightforward build that doesn't even require shaving parts down, something which has become more common in newer SMP releases. The sticker count is fairly minimal and what is required are mostly large ones that aren't too hard to apply. Granted these kits always look better with a bit of silver paint over that factory-fresh light grey plastic, but even without this it's a very solid looking kit. With Jetman being the last time Super Sentai toyed around with classic boxy mecha designs before getting a bit more creative in Zyuranger, Tetra Boy almost feels like the end of an era. A very basic looking robot, which despite not having much in the way of unique shaping carries a ton of retro charm. The piston-like arms and legs are a highlight though, particularly in the legs where they're surrounded by that blue cage-like structure.

The SMP line has always delivered impressive articulation and Tetra Boy is certainly no exception - in fact as it isn't a kit made up of various components it might even be a little more stable than usual in certain places. Altogether Tetra Boy features;

- Ball jointed head and wrists

- Swivel hinge shoulders, hips and ankles

- Butterfly joint shoulders

- Hinged elbows and knees

- Bicep, thigh and waist swivels

The skirt pieces around Tetra Boy's waist are also hinged to give the hips additional movement. Getting the full movement out of the legs involves unpegging the upper leg pieces from the crotch (as is shown in the instructions), similar to how many of the SMP kits have different connections depending on whether you want a more articulated build or something more akin the original DX toys. That said the leg articulation is still a little clunky, not only from how the upper leg guard looks when posed (as it is attached to the lower leg piece rather than the moveable cylindrical piece behind it) but also the fact that the legs do sometimes pop off the little peg that holds the pieces together though. Everything else is very good though, particularly the butterfly movement from the shoulders which isn't completely on show the way it is with a lot of combination kits. Considering it's a one-piece robot with very little in the way of features and even less in the way of accessories, Tetra Boy is a lot of fun to pose.

Rather than combining with the other Jetman mecha Tetra Boy can instead transform into a giant four-barrelled cannon which can be used by them as a weapon - the Tetra Buster. Transforming the model into this mode is a relatively straightforward process, which involves a lot of clipping parts together and/or folding them over each other. It's also worth noting that one step in the transformation provides a place for the fists to peg into the leg cavities, ensuring that there are no loose parts left at the end of it. The Tetra Buster is an incredibly boxy-looking cannon, which in modern Super Sentai mecha design terms may not seem all that impressive but fits with the overall Jetman aesthetic nicely.

The Tetra Buster can be wielded by Jet Icarus, Jet Garuda and Great Icarus - either as a shoulder-mounted cannon or as a held firearm. Both of these are primarily supported by a clear plastic articulated display arm which plugs into both the Tetra Buster and your chosen mecha, sturdy enough to comfortably hold the cannon in place without impacting on the larger robot's articulation. Holding Tetra Buster in gun mode also requires attaching an additional grip piece stored inside the robot mode skirt, which then gives the larger robot something to hold onto. Both the hands of Jet Icarus and Jet Garuda will grip onto the handle comfortably, but most of the support is still coming from that clear plastic arm piece. Adding the Tetra Buster to any of these combinations gives the Jetman mecha some real firepower, though given the sheer size of it the cannon arguably looks a lot better in the hands of Jet Garuda or Great Icarus.

Five years after the release of Jet Garuda I don't think many people had a Shokugan Modeling Project Tetra Boy on their bingo card, but there's no doubt the Chōjin Sentai Jetman range is all the better for having it. Tetra Boy might not have the complexity or the appeal of the other Jetman SMP kits but what you do have here is a fun little build with a function that's quite unique among the mecha in the Super Sentai SMP range thus far. Though the robot might not be deemed essential enough to grace everyone's collection, between its playability and affordability (especially for a Premium Bandai release) Tetra Boy proves just as impressive as any other SMP kit.