Chogokin Drossel by Bandai

One of the figures that I wanted to purchase at the beginning of the year but I gave up because I was short of money was the Chogokin Drossel by Bandai. Once I got money, it was massively overpriced, but I managed to get one from Archonia at more or less the suggested retail price (8,000 yen).

Chogokin Drossel is very similar to the Figma counterpart (both are jointed figures based from the same jointed character, after all) but much bigger (18 cm) and with the inner frame (and some of the external parts as well) made of metal.

Comparison shot with the Figma version.

They have other little differences, some of them because of the much larger scale of the Chogokin Drossel (the written labels and the black paint in the hands), but some of them structural, like the extra points of articulation in the stomach and in the toes.
The base is a single piece of plastic with a single peg to firm the figure, simulating the flooring of the Tempest Tower.

The other main difference between the Chogokin version and the Figma version is the face, much rounder in the Chogokin version. This face is supposed to be more faithful to the original design because the original character designer Fukuchi Hitoshi, was consulted for the production of the Chogokin version, but I prefer the Figma face.
Since the default face contains internal lighting for the eyes, it lacks that cool shinny blue effect, and a noticeable gap between the forehead faceplate (that is removable) and the nose and mouth faceplate.

The light-up eyes are activated via a switch hidden in the forehead faceplate.

The other two faces included have a better eye color, and because the forehead faceplate are not detachable they don't have any intrusive seam-lines. Here is the Obruchev face...

And this is the Belinda face.

Sadly, in some angles even the non light-up eyes are a bit ugly. Compare the eyes in this pose with the figma version.

Like the Figma version, the fingers are not movable but includes 6 pairs of hands, some of them usable only for specific poses from the series.

I don't like to "play" with my articulated figures, but this version is really a blessing for those who want to. The joints are sturdy and since are made of metal there is no risk to break them easily in the process.

The Obruchev unit, includes parts to put it in flight mode.

Back shot.

And in a related note, a second season of Fireball was announced for the 2011, and for now a single image was shown:

A robot that clearly is not Drossel, or she had a massive face-lift...