S.I.C. Vol. 42 Kamen Rider Den-O Sword Form & Momotaros Imagin Part 11 [Final]

Enemy and friend
As previewed in the previous posting, a comparison between S.I.C. Vol. 42 Kamen Rider Den-O Sword Form & Momotaros Imagin and Vol. 48 Kamen Rider Gaoh & Kintaros Imagin is set to be the closing topic of this review series. ^^




A gathering of the two Kamen Riders and two Imagins.
A look at the two sets' boxes:


The same design template is used for the package design of the two sets. ^^


Identical "Den-O" banners on the two front covers.


Rear view of the boxes.



Side views of the boxes.
A closer examination on the differences between the two sets:


With all the weapons, hand units, and Kamen Rider Den-O's Plat Form parts excluded, Vol. 48 far outnumbers Vol. 42 in terms of accessory list.
If only the "just-for-show" parts are to be taken into consideration, Momotaros Imagin's option forehead would need to be excluded as well, leaving just the coffee cup and saucer set, and Kamen Rider Den-O Sword Form's Rider Pass. ^^


Kamen Rider Gaoh from Vol. 48, and Kamen Rider Den-O Sword Form.






They look so different, but they do share many similarities.
Closeups on the details:




[Upper body]







[Helmet]




[Back]



[Shoulder armors]






[Belt]





[Swords]
GaohGasher in sword mode looks intimidatingly larger than its DenGasher counterpart. ^^



Besides having blades with different sizes under their guards, GaohGasher and DenGasher look completely identical with one another, down to the most minute paint details. ^^



The blade portion is the real difference between the two swords.
The radical design difference allows one to tell them apart with no problem at all. ^^


GaohGasher in sword mode wins the length contest by exactly 1cm it seems. XD




[Rider Pass]


Kamen Rider Gaoh versus Kamen Rider Den-O Sword Form!







With Kamen Rider Den-O Sword Form supported using Soul Stage Act 5 Action Support Type for Mechanics Clear Ver.










Kamen Rider Den-O in Plat Form reveals more similarities between the base figures of the two S.I.C. sets:












The arms, bracelets, most of the belts, thigh panels, and legs are completely the same between the two. ^^ Then again, the paint scheme, including the colors used for the line details on all the parts are so different that it's hard linking the two in a straightforward manner. ^^ The armor design of Kamen Rider Den-O is so flamboyantly different from that on Kamen Rider Den-O Sword Form, it almost "hides" all the other design similarities between the two figures. That visual "distortion" works in the same way as his sword in my opinion. ^^

Comparison between Kintaros Imagin from Vol. 48, and Momotaros Imagin:


Front view







Left side view




Left rear view


Rear view





Right rear view





Right side view





While Kintaros Imagin is just slightly taller than Momotaros Imagin, he is definitely bulkier. ^^
Being completely different characters, there's obviously no direct similarity between Kintaros Imagin and Momotaros Imagin. The joints are obviously out of that comparison, since they are just generic features. The two Imagin figures do share a common design theme though: clear armor parts for the shoulders and thighs. That's actually a shared feature on all S.I.C. incarnations of the Den-Liner Imagins. However, the clear parts were incorporated onto different components that are most visually prominent on the figures.

Interestingly enough, if you look at the figure design and link it with the characters' connection, I find it amusing that Kamen Rider Gaoh is so much closer to Kamen Rider Den-O Sword Form, as compared to Kintaros Imagin and Momotaros Imagin, who are supposedly fellow passengers on Den-Liner. ^^

Suddenly, a comparison between two sets of Japanese action figures can be connected to the movie "The Godfather Part II" (1974), through the famous quote from that movie, "... keep your friends close but your enemies closer." ^^

Technically, there is one common item between Kintaros Imagin and Momotaros Imagin: their coffee sets. ^^


Kintaros Imagin's set is on the left.




The line detailing on Momotaros Imagin's set is slightly thicker, but the two sets are just equally beautiful. ^^



With gold and clear yellow, and metallic red and clear red as their respective color scheme, the two figures look really good together. ^^
The arrival of Kintaros Imagin is not exactly a good news for Kamen Rider Den-O in Plat Form. ^^;


Kintaros's special training regime, on physical strength.



"My training has made you cry"


On a separate note, Kamen Rider Den-O's movable front foot proves to be mighty useful in special poses such as this one. ^^


"This is how a real man lift his barbell!" XD




The barbell pose is quite deceptive really. With Kamen Rider Den-O Plat Form, it looks heavy, but with Kintaros Imagin, it's featherweight. XD As with all the option parts, it's very lightweight, but the convincing appearance of it being a barbell is most helpful to deceive viewers into believing Kintaros Imagin's strength. ^^

Just the original set of Kamen Rider Den-O Sword Form and Momotaros Imagin is quite fun, as evidenced by this 11-part review series, the longest one I had for quite a while. ^^ Both figures are very beautifully sculpted and detailed, but they are amazingly fun to play with, especially Momotaros Imagin. Also, the addition of Vol. 48 Kamen Rider Gaoh & Kintaros Imagin really ramps up the fun, as you can see in this final posting. ^^

All reviews on S.I.C. Vol. 42 Kamen Rider Den-O Sword Form & Momotaros Imagin:
Part 1: Two figures, three forms
Part 2: A surprisingly short list for two figures
Part 3: Don't forget the "grunt" details
Part 4: Glossy red, fiery red
Part 5: Two of a kind
Part 6: Red + red
Part 7: Orange and banana
Part 8: Thumbs-up? I do thumbs-up for nobody
Part 9: Armored Plat Form
Part 10: Kamen Rider abuse!
Part 11 [Final]: Enemy and friend

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S.I.C. Vol. 42 Kamen Rider Den-O Sword Form & Momotaros Imagin