Diesel-Oh/Chou Safari Dai-GaOh
Time for the second ToQger Megazord, Diesel-Oh. I couldn’t help thinking, putting this guy together for the first time, that it really was a shame they skipped this season for Power Rangers. I’m sure there’s a good reason they did, but I just can’t help thinking that kids love trains, and these are trains that you can pile together to make a giant robot. How could that possibly not be the best idea ever?
The Good: The highlight of Diesel-Oh for me is its transformation. Like I mentioned in the Safari GaOh review, it’s a very satisfying transformation. There’re very few motions to go through, but the ones it has are solid and have a great tactile feel to them. The arms in particular are my favorite part, and I didn’t know the chest piece was chromed when I first transformed him, so even though I’m not the biggest chrome fan, it was a dynamic reveal that really made the first time I transformed him stand out.
And having a Megazord that is maroon, light blue, and light orange, with none of the primaries we’re used to, is quaint, even if they’re colors we’re more used to post-Gokaiger.
The Bad: The bad actually comes down to the interplay. Car Carrier Ressha and Tanker Ressha’s weapon modes are very uninspired. They don’t transform like Shield or Police Ressha, and they don’t look weapon-like like Drill Ressha, so they don’t look very nice as arms. Also, Chou ToQ Dai-Oh/Chou Safari Dai-GaOH are really fat. They build outwards and no other direction making it look very dumpy, which really takes away from the impact of a combined mode. Speaking of...
The Ugly: Two words: feet extensions. There’s a reason almost all combined modes have feet extensions. The ToQger Megazords don’t get feet extensions until their Q3 combination, which is a combination of 3 Megazords, which means the impact is actually really lacking. I could deal with the fatness if it got a little taller, but the add-ons to the legs build the legs outward like the rest of the body instead of upwards, and it’s probably the biggest reason the Chou/Dai combination looks off.
Overall, this is a surprisingly fun individual toy. I wish its interplay with the rest of the line was a little better, but as a standalone piece is was a pleasant surprise. Makes it even better than I picked up a near-mint Diesel Ressha for ¥400.
Also, this is, like, the skinniest Megazord ever:
