Dorvack

Dorvack is the series from which the Deluxe Autobots Roadbuster and Whirl came. It had a 36 episode anime in Japan, which aired in 1983. The show wasn't really popular in Japan, but the mecha from the show are some of the coolest I know.

In the year 1999, the Earth is invaded by a gigantic colony-spaceship. The ship belongs to the Idelians, who have been wandering through space for over ten thousand years. Now, with their vessel almost out of energy, their final hope is to settle in our solar system. The Earth Defense Forces initiate a repulsion effort against the Idelians' sudden invasion in the Alps, but cannot stand against the enemy's powered armour. However, among the Defense Forces is a single unit that proves a match [for the invaders], though their battles are harsh. The team, under the command of Colonel Yôichi Takashiro, is a special unit comprised of three men and three robots, and centered around its human members: Makoto Mugen, Pierre Bonaparte and Louie Oberon. These three men board and do battle in their variable mecha: a jeep, tank, and helicopter, respectively, [machines] conceived for all-terrain combat which transform into robots....
(translation from the back of my Calibur box)

The mecha from Dorvack were designed by Shoji Kawamori and produced by Takatoku. They came in three different scales:
1 / 55 (transformable), 1 / 72 (not transformable) and 1/100 (transformable). Further more there were also two versions of the Powered Armor Nove (1/24), which are biosuits. Most of the toys were also sold in the US in their Japanese packages, in fairly large numbers, so they aren't very hard to come by. Besides the toys, there were also a large number of models, which also included mecha that were not released as toys, such as the Idelian mecha.These models were made by Gunze Sangyo.

1/55 scale toys

VV-54 AR Mugen Calibur
box, robot 1, robot, car 1, car 2

This is the Dorvack version of Roadbuster. It's colors are red, orange and grey. The box art of this toy is absolutely incredible, and so is the toy itself. It was one of the first pre-Transformers that I got, and it's still one of my most favourite.

VH-64 MR Ovelon Gazzette
box back 1, box back 2, robot 1, robot 2, helicopter 1, helicopter 2, helicopter 3, helicopter 4

The mold of Ovelon Gazette was used to produce Whirl. It's colored very light blue, where Whirl is dark blue, and dark blue where Whirl is light blue. The box art and Ovelon Gassette itself are very cool too, though I prefer the Calibur. Nonetheless it's still one of the coolest toys I have.

VT-61 LC Bonaparte Tulcas

Bonaparte Tulcas was never produced as a Transformer. It transforms from a twin barreled tank into a more gerwalk-like mode, instead of a more humanoid form. It's therefore not as great as the others, and the unfortunately isn't nearly as cool as the art, which you can see above.

1/72 scale toys

VV-54 AR Mugen Calibur
box inside, box back (scans by Roger Harkavy)

The 1/72 scale toys don't transform, like their larger versions. However, they were much more posable, with joints in their arms, legs etc.

VH-64 MR Ovelon Gazzette

I'm not 100% sure whether the 1/72 version of the Ovelon Gazzette exists. I've seen dozens of 1/72 scale Tulcas and Calibur toys, but never a 1/72 scale Ovelon Gazzette.

VT-61 LC Bonaparte Tulcas
box back

This is the 1/72 scale version of the Bonaparte Tulcas, which is one of the most common Dorvack toys, together with the 1/72 scale Mugen Calibur.

1/24 scale toys

PA-36HD Powered Armor Nove
box back (scans by Roger Harkavy)

This is the general version of the Nove. The noves are a type of armored biosuit.The toys come with a figure that can be inserted though the back by removing a hatch.

PA-36HD Powered Armor Nove Commander
box back (scans by Roger Harkavy)

This is the commander type Nove, which was used by Mugen in the series.

models

VV-54 AR Mugen Calibur (1/72)

This is a non-transformable model of the Mugen Calibur.

VH-64 MR Ovelon Gazzette (1/100)

This is a transformable model of the Ovelon Gazette.

VT-61 LC Bonaparte Tulcas (1 / 100)

This is a transformable model of the Bonaparte Tulcas

The catalog above came with my Mugen Calibur. The back of this catalog shows a Macross catalog and also pictures of Batrain, which can be seen on the Macross and Batrain page respectively. Ovelon Gazzette came with a catalog, which is the same, except that it shows an Orguss catalog on the back, instead of a Macross catalog.

There were also models made of the mecha. The catalogs above came with these models. The models came in different scales, some transformable and some non-transformable. There were also models of the alien mecha and of the biosuits, worn by the Dorvack soldiers.



VV-54 AR Mugen Calibur	VH-64 MR Ovelon Gazzette	VT-61 LC Bonaparte Tulcas