Gilvader
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Gilvader is a type of Zoid, a race of mechanical lifeforms from the fictional Zoids universe.
| Gilvader | |
 Original Japanese Release Gilvader |
|
| DBOZ-17 Wyvern Type Guylos Empire |
|
| Crew | 1 |
| Weight | 333 tons |
| Depth | 43.2 m |
| Height | 16.7 m |
| Maximum Speed | 80 km/h, Mach 4.0 |
| Weapons | Plasma Charged Particle Cannon (4), Needle Gun (10), Gravity Cannon (4), Laser Energy Horn (2), Beam Smasher Saw (4), Rear Cutting Wing |
| Equipment | Radar Shield, Magnetic Vibration System, Fuel Tank |
Contents |
[edit] Overview
The Gilvader is a large Wyvern-type Zoid. The actual animal it is based on is unclear, as it has four legs, where Wyverns normally have two, and appears similar to a traditional Dragon.
The Gilvader is very large, being the third longest Zoid ever, and the widest, with a wingspan of 36.7 metres. It has a long tail that makes up nearly half its length, as well as a long neck. Its body has a unique styling found on no other Zoid, giving it an almost fantasy-like appearance, as opposed to the more 'mechanical' look of other Zoids.
Despite its sheer size, the Gilvader is the fastest flying Zoid ever created. It carries a devastating array of weapons, the most powerful of which are its quad Gravity Cannons, which generate a localised high-gravity field, destroying opponents by crushing them. These are not the limit of its arsenal; the Zoid mounts a staggering array of both ranged and melee weapons, including Plasma Particle Cannons and Maser Energy horns. The Zoid's most unusual weapons are its Beam Smashers, a quartet of energised buzzsaws mounted in the wings and back. In addition to cutting and tearing through armour, the saws can be used to project potent energy blasts.
The Gilvader also sports a trio of Power Connector Ports on its back. These ports allow the Zoid to mount additional weapons systems and equipment, further expanding its capabilities. Additionally, not only is the Zoid incredibly fast in the air, it is also capable of stratospheric, and possibly even exo-atmospheric, flight.
[edit] Battle Story appearances
The Gilvader made its debut in ZAC 2055, during the Helic Republic’s invasion of the Dark Continent of Nyx. The Republic had managed to end the eighteen-month stalemate in the Devil’s Maze with the aid of their new Salamander F2 air-combat Zoids. The Salamander F2 force had proceeded into the Devil’s Maze to support the Helic ground forces, when they were attacked and completely wiped out by a single powerful Zoid. That Zoid was a Gilvader, piloted by Störmer.
In desperation, the Republic sent their force of Madthunders into the Devil’s Maze in order to crush the Guylos forces. However, the Gilvader descended on the Madthunder force and destroyed them all.
A force of Gilvaders, lead by Störmer, were sent to attack the Helic Republic. The Gilvader force was initially unstoppable, until the Republic deployed their newest Zoid, the Orudios. A force of 500 Orudios attacked the Gilvaders, managing to destroy them, although they suffered considerable losses.
The remaining Gilvaders were all destroyed in ZAC 2056, when a meteor struck Zi’s moon, shattering it and bombarding the planet with meteors.
[edit] Zoids Genesis
In the Zoids Genesis battle story, the Gildragon is a powerful Zoid used by the Sky People, a group of humans who dwell in space above Zi. The Gildragon is capable of immense destruction, but despite this, it has not seen battle in many centuries. It appears to be a very rare Zoid, with the Sky People possessing only one.
Despite the Gilvader and Gildragon being, for all intents and purposes, the same model Zoid, the Gilvader does not exist in the Genesis Battle Story.
[edit] Media Appearances
[edit] Anime
The Gilvader's sole anime appearance is in Zoids: Genesis, in the form of the Gildragon. The Gildragon is an immense ancient Zoid created by the Sky People, a super-advanced race that existed before the Great Cataclysm. However, a second faction of the Sky People created the Gilvader, and used it to battle the Gildragon. The Gildragon was disabled, crashed to Zi, and was lost.
Ruuji and the other main characters learn of the existence of the Gildragon, and are instrumental in its rediscovery and reactivation.
After reactivating, the Gildragon is damaged in combat against the Digard forces and has one of its wings shot off. It spends the remainder of the series deactivated. Despite numerous appearances in flashbacks, the Gilvader never appeared in full in the series.
The Zoid's scale has been considerably exaggerated, in the same fashion as the Ultrasaurus from Guardian Force, and it appears to function in a similar role. The Decalto Dragon is dwarfed by the head of the Gildragon, and appears to be of similar length to one of Gildragon's horns, at the point where it meets the body. The Decalto Dragon is 24 metres long, which by comparison makes the anime Gildragon hundreds of metres long.
[edit] Video games
The Gilvader did appear in the Game Boy Advance game Zoids Saga II as an Easter egg that was only available through entering a code. The Zoid later reappeared in Zoids Saga III, as a part of the regular game.
Finally, it also makes an appearance as an end boss in the obscure Game Boy Color game Jashin Fukkatsu! Geno Breaker Hen (Evil God Revived! Geno Breaker Story) after defeating Professor Io's Geno Breaker.
[edit] Models and toys
[edit] Original Japanese Release - Grade Ups
- Assembly required. (Snap-together, no glue needed. Scissors or X-acto knife recommended for trimming off excess plastic bits.)
- The model's colours are moulded into the plastic, and it does not need any paint.
The Gilvader kit comes on eight frames, along with a battery-powered motor, a secondary pre-built gearing unit and battery pack, two coiled springs, three loose gears on axels, twenty rubber caps (two different sizes) a small chromed pilot and label sheets. The Gilvader is moulded in black, two different purples, and silver, with a translucent red canopy.
The Gilvader is a part of the Grade-Up Series. These models have spinning connectors that are powered by the Zoid’s motor. Optional weapons systems can be mounted on these connectors that have action features powered by the Zoid’s motor. Unlike other Grade-Up Zoids that only have a single power connection port, the Gilvader has three.
The model is quite complicated to build, both because of the large number of parts and the complexity of the design, and the sheer size of the kit, which makes manoeuvring it while building difficult. The Gilvader’s small tail blades are easily lost or broken.
The Gilvader uses two “AA” sized batteries for motion. Once activated, the Zoid walks forwards, its wings flapping, tail moving and jaws chomping, the four buzzsaws spinning and the power connection ports turning. A second pair of AA batteries power lights that illuminate the Zoid’s eyes and buzzsaws.
No specific extra weapons were made for the Gilvader, beyond the Grade-Up units that were used by all grade-up Zoids. Due to its design, the Zoid cannot use the GU-03 Eye Flasher, but is fully compatible with the others. The Drillgin unit from TOMY’s Scitex line is compatible with the Gilvader’s ports and has been used as an upgrade kit by fans.
The Gilvader was first released in 1989 and had a relatively short production run. The model has become very rare and highly sought after. Additionally, information from TOMY indicates that the original Gilvader mould may have been lost or irreparably damaged. Gilvaders have been known to go for hundreds of dollars for a complete, built example, and over $1000 for an unbuilt example.
[edit] Genesis
The Gilvader was re-released in 2005 as a part of the Genesis line. Interestingly enough, the name had been changed to Gildragon, supposedly to avoid any copyright problems with Lucasfilm over the "Vader" name.
The new version is primarily pearly white, with bronze, blue, and gold parts. The canopy and buzz saws are now clear blue, with matching lights. The motor has been altered to work off a single AA battery with no loss of power, and now has a screw-shut battery case cover. The Gildragon also comes with a pair of new horns, as well as the original Maser horns.
While the Gilvader's original mould was reported lost or destroyed, it appears that TOMY recreated the mould. The Zoid sports several minor (but clearly deliberate) moulding changes and some loss of detail, as well as smaller, blunter teeth, believed to be a side-effect of the mould recreation process.
