1981 New Microman Series

Micro Gander-3 Magma Gander, Air Gander & Cosmo Gander (c.1981)

MicroGander3

Microman Series

1974

Microman Zone
First year included the Founder Microman, Micro Kit Machines and the Conning Tower.

1975

Project Victory
Second year saw more Microman and several new sub series such as the Acroyears, Titans and Victory series.

1976

Spy Magician

The line finally came into its own during the third year with new figures and the classic Microman Transfer Fortress.

1977

Command
A watershed year for Microman series, this year saw some of the best toys for the line. 

1978

Police Keeper

Takara tried new design and direction for the series with the released of Hoodman and Arden. 

1979

Rescue Team
Takara "rescue" attempt for the line with the Rescue Team Microman.  This year also saw updated of the old favorite like the New Tower Base.

1980

Punch & Blizzard Man
The last year of the original series saw the shift in the line to more robot like look and larger figures.

New Microman Series

1981

New Microman
Takara reset the line and relaunch the series under the New Microman banner.

1982

Micro Robot
Micro Robot series became the main focus of the new line.  Takara also tried to cash in on the "pla-mo" popularity with Real Type and Micro Borg.

1983

Micro Change
The "transformation" for Microman series began with the Micro Change series.

1984

Transformers

Takara continued with the successful Micro Change series but the changing of the guard was inevitable.

Micro Gander 3 & Microman M006

Gunder 3 & Magma Driver - M006 Kamui

Micro Gander-3 Box Set includes New Microman M006 Kamui. The figure is a yellow and black version of Microman Police Keeper M23X type from the original series. This is the only version of M006 released during New Microman. The same figure was also included with Magma Gander vehicle set. 

Air Driver - M007 Kiruku

Air Gander vehicle was sold with New Microman M007 Kiruku. He is a white and blue version of Rescue Team Microman M25X Type from the original series. This was the only variant released during New Microman line. He was also sold individually in the belt-clip style capsule. 

Cosmo Driver - M008 Cleo

Cosmo Gander came with New Microman M008 Cleo. He is also recolor version of Rescue Team Microman M26X Type from the original Microman series. The figure also available individually. There was also a blue color variant of Cleo that was sold as pack-in figure for Cosmic Fighter vehicle. 

(Note: the figures that came with the box set and vehicle do not have the chest sticker, the chest sticker only came with the figures that were sold individually).

Takara released Micro Gander 3 box set in April of 1981. The box set was retail for 2900 Yen. Micro Gander 3 along with Micro Robot 1-2-3 were the the very first toys in the New Microman series. Microman figures and the single vehicle pack of Micro Gander series were released a month after. Micro Gander 3 is the first "combiner" robot for Microman. (Acroyear side has Giant Acroyear). The robot is form from three vehicle (hence the "3" in the name). The combination is not completely self-contain however the left over parts from the vehicles can be combine together to form Drill Tank vehicle. The combine robot form is not very large and stands only about twice the height of Microman figure. The robot design is clearly similar to the previous year Microman Punch Robo and Death King and the new Diaclone line. Gander is mostly dark blue with yellow chest cannon and wing. He has several spring-load shooting features, a chest cannon, two fist-missiles and two launchers in his feet.

Gander "Drill Tank"

In vehicle mode, Micro Gander 3 splits into three separate vehicle - Magma Gander, Air Gander and Cosmo Gander. Magma Gander is the body and head section and combine with the drill part. The cannon section fold up to reveal 5mm port and double as a seat for Microman figure. Air Gander is the arms section combine with the two wing sections to form a jet. The yellow wing is mount to a fold out section and provide 5mm port seat for Microman figure. The last vehicle, Cosmo Gander, is the pelvic and legs section combines with the cockpit part from the Drill Tank. Microman figure is then seat inside the cockpit. When in vehicle mode, the missiles firing mechanism are all still functioning.  Takara includes three set of missiles, one set for each of the vehicle.

Magma Gander & M006

Air Gander & M007

Cosmo Gander & M008

Micro Robot 1-2-3 Connection

If one were to look at the vehicle mode of Micro Gander, one might notice a strange empty space on each of the vehicles. The spaces are actually there for a reason, Micro Gander-3 are designed to also interact with Micro Robot 1-2-3 figures. M3 Flash (naturally the one with drill parts) can be mount onto the front section of Magma Gander and provide even more drills. M2 Galac attach to the nose section of Air Gander. M1 Gordon can be attach to the rear of Cosmo Gander and give the vehicle rear fins. The blue and red versions of Micro Robots are better match to Gander color scheme but even the green one fit on nicely and the Micro Robots appear to have been design from the beginning to be part of Micro Gander-3.

Micro Robot 1-2-3 (L-R: Galac, Gordon & Flash)

Magma Flash

Air Galac

Cosmo Gordon