Gairyuki

Zoids
Zoid_name = Gairyuki
ImageName = Gairyuki.jpg
Caption = "Fuzors" Gairyuki Shin (in Gairyuki form)
Model_number = RZ-070
Faction = Helic Republic
Zoid_type = Tyrannosaurus
Crew = 1
Weight = 118
Length = 23.8
Height = 12.6
Speed = 290 km/h
Weapons = Electron Bite Fangs, Killer Claw (4, both the hands and feet), Strike Smash Tail, Ray-Absorbing Charged Particle Cannon, Machineguns (4), (Gairyuki Shin only: AZ Beam Cannon, Quadro-barrelled Beam Cannon)
Equipment = Blox-CAS, Ion Boosters (2), Ray-Absorbing Verniers (12), Blox hardpoints (19), Magnesser WingsThe Gairyuki is a Tyrannosaurus-type Zoid, one of over 200 species of biomechanical lifeforms depicted by TOMY's "Zoids" model, toy, and media franchise.

Based on the Berserk Führer, the Gairyuki was first released in 2005, and was both the first redesigned, non-limited Zoid to be based on a "New Japanese Release" design, and the first redesigned, non-limited Zoid to change factions. In the Battle Story, the Zoid is the product of a collaboration between three of the major powers in the storyline; the Helic Republic, the Guylos Empire, and the ZOITEC Corporation. The Gairyuki also appears in the "Zoids Fuzors" anime, as the Zoid piloted by the main antagonist, Blake, for the second half of the series.

Overview

The Gairyuki is a Tyrannosaurus-type Zoid, created after the Helic Republic's army was wiped out by the Neo-Zenebas Empire. The events that caused the retreat of the Helic Republic to the Eastern Continent resulted in the greatest collaborative event yet seen on Zi

The Gairyuki is the end result of the co-operation of three major factions. The Helic Republic supplied the technology and the resources to put the Zoid into mass production. Scientists from the defeated and exiled Guylos Empire supplied the base Zoid, the same Wild Zoid that had been the basis of the Berserk Führer. The ZOITEC Corporation, a major player on the Eastern Continent but at the time unknown to the greater world, designed the Blox-CAS amour used on the Gairyuki, and produced the Zoid for the Republican army.

One of the main developments to come out of the project was the Ray-Absorbing Charged Particle Cannon. Instead of relying on intake vents to collect and energise the vast amount of matter needed to power the Charged Particle Cannon, the Gairyuki used a system of twelve 'ray-absorbing verniers' positioned across the body of the Zoid. These were capable of collecting and storing the energy from enemy beam weapons, which would then be used to power the CPC. In extreme circumstances, these verniers could be used to collect energy from sunlight, although the charging process would take longer to complete.

upport Blox

The second major innovation of the Gairyuki project was the development of the 'Blox Changing Armour System'. The armour of the Gairyuki was made up of the components of two unmanned Blox Zoids, which could separate and operate independently of the Gairyuki.

* Hien: A Swallow-type Blox Zoid, Hien is capable of flight, and is often used as a reconnaissance force for Gairyuki-equipped units.
* Gekkou: A Horseshoe Crab-type Blox Zoid, Gekkou is armed with four Vulcan cannons. This unmanned Blox Zoid is used to provide additional firepower in support of a Gairyuki when detached. Unfortunately, it robs the Gairyuki of its lone means of ranged weaponry other than the CPC, which probably is itself impaired from the lack of Ray-Absorbing Verniers. In the anime, it also serves as mobile E-Shield that, while arguably more powerful than regular E-Shields (it easily blocked the Liger Zero Phoenix's laser claw), can still overload from a prolonged and continuous attack.
* Raiden: When the Gairyuki Shin variant was developed by ZOITEC in ZAC 2230, the designers incorporated a third unmanned Blox Zoid into Gairyuki's armor. A Warthog-type Blox Zoid, Raiden is built primarily around the additional weapons the Shin variant added to the Gairyuki design.

However, if the Gairyuki Shin uses all three Support Blox at the same time, it leaves the Zoid almost completely unarmored and unarmed (Gekkou takes the machine guns as its own artillery and the Raiden's body is the combination of the Shin variant's additional weapons), and prone to attack. The capabilities of the Ray-Absorbing CPC are also significantly reduced, as many of the Ray-Absorbing Verniers are located on components of the Blox Zoids. In fact, only three Ray-Absorbing Verniers will remain if Hien and Gekkou are used, one only if Raiden is used as well.

Fuzor

In addition to the Support Blox, the Gairyuki is capable of combining with additional Blox Zoids to increase its capabilities. Unfortunately, in either Fuzor configuration, the Gairyuki loses its ability to utilize the Support Blox. On the other hand, this is a good thing considering that the Fuzors allow the Zoid to attain more or less the same level of usefulness gained by using the Support Blox but without rendering the main unit itself nearly defenseless in the process. Two Fuzor Zoid combinations are known.
* Gairyuki Speed: This Fuzor combines the Gairyuki with the Evo Flyer, with Evo Flyer's AZ assault rifles, engines, and Ion Booster attaching to the Gairyuki's frame. This Fuzor significantly increases Gairyuki's maximum speed to 370 km/h, as well as giving it limited flight capabilities.
* Gairyuki Destroy: This Fuzor combines the Gairyuki with the Dispelow, with the Dispelow's weapons added to Gairyuki's frame. This significantly increasing the Gairyuki's firepower, but drastically decreasing its speed to 190 km/h. The anime also depicted the fusion to increase the Gairyuki's durability, since a herd of wild Iron Kong's attacking it couldn't even scratch. Also, the Gairyuki's package depicts it with the Buster Eagle's cannons. This combination is questionable as a Fuzor, as it makes use of no other parts from the Eagle.

Battle Story appearances

Following the fall of New Helic City in ZAC 2106 and the complete defeat of the Helic Republic by the Neo-Zenebas Empire and their Seismosauruses, the remnants of the Republic fled to the Eastern Continent. Upon the survivors' arrival on the continent, they were met by representatives of the ZOITEC Corporation, along with the remnants of the Guylos Empire.

ZOITEC was the primary producer of Zoids on the Eastern Continent, but the corporation's manufacturing ability was limited to the small-scale Blox Zoids. The Helic Republic offered ZOITEC the resources and technology to develop larger Zoids; in return ZOITEC was to rebuild the Helic Republic's military forces. In particular, the Republic wanted Zoids that could stand up to the Seismosaurus units that had routed them in the previous year. The Guylos Empire, seeking peace with the Republic, offered to contribute, providing the Wild Zoid that was used as the basis of the Berserk Führer.

The result of this combined effort was the Gairyuki. The Blox Zoids ZOITEC were skilled in producing were adapted to serve as combined armour and support units for the Zoid; the Blox-CAS adaptation so successful that it was used to upgrade the Republic's surviving Liger Zeroes on two occasions. Helic Republic's recently developed Ray-Absorbing Vernier system was integrated into the Zoid's armour, and was used to power the Zoid's upgraded Charged Particle Cannon, providing the needed punch against the Neo-Zenebas Empire.

Because of the role the Zoid was predicted to play in the Helic Republic's return to the Central Continent, the new Zoid type was named 凱龍輝 Gairyuki, which means "Shining Victory Dragon".

The Gairyuki was deployed en-masse during the Republic counter-invasion in ZAC 2109, supported by groups of Liger Zero Phoenixes. The Gairyuki units served with distinction until the end of hostilities with the Neo-Zenebas Empire.

In ZAC 2230, ZOITEC revisited the Gairyuki design, upgrading it with additional ranged weapons and incorporating a third Support Blox Zoid into the Blox-CAS. This variant design was known as the Gairyuki Shin. The kanji for Shin is 真, which stands for 'true', rendering the name as "True Shining Victory Dragon".

Media appearances

Anime

The Gairyuki only appears in the "Zoids Fuzors" anime. It is piloted by Blake (RD's rival) from Episode 14 onwards. The Gairyuki was constructed in secret by the Richter Scale Group, and upon its completion the Zoid was presented to Blake by Luke, who was later revealed to be under their control in episode 14. [cite episode |title=The Legendary Zoid |series=Zoids Fuzors|serieslink=Zoids Fuzors|number=24|minutes=12:00-12:40] [cite episode |title=Awakening of the Evil Dragon|series=Zoids Fuzors|serieslink=Zoids Fuzors|number=14] Gairyuki was meant to replace Blake's Berserk Führer and Luke's Buster Eagle following their destruction in the previous episode. Blake then used the Gairyuki to attack the Liger Zero Phoenix, killing the Fire Phoenix after the Zoid foiled his attempt to destroy RD and the Liger Zero. Blake fought RD again in episode 16, but was defeated by Jet Falcon when it fused with the Liger Zero.

Both Hien and Gekkou are capable of flight in the anime, and Gekkou possesses a powerful energy shield that can be used by the Blox Zoid to protect the Gairyuki. The Gairyuki is initially not a true Fuzor, as Hien and Gekkou are automated components, not individual Zoids. Gairyuki gains this status when Blake defeats Dispelow and Evo Flyer in episode 20, fusing for the first time with Dispelow that episode and the Evo Flyer in episode 21.

The Gairyuki is heavily damaged in episode 26, and is the second-last Zoid standing against the Seismosaurus. While Blake's effort to rescue Luke using Hien is successful, in the process the Berserk Seismo overloads Gekkou's E-Shield and takes out Gairyuki.

Oddly, the English language version refers to the Gairyuki as the Gairyuki Fury (pronounced more like "Guy Ricky"), and the Gairyuki Destroy as the Gairyuki Death-troy or Gairyuki Attack.

Models

New Japanese Release

*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 Gairyuki kit comes on fourteen frames, along with a battery-operated motor, eight plastic washers, eighteen rubber caps, two body sections, two jaw pieces, two cockpit pieces, a tail hinge, two Blox, a two-part display stand, and a pilot figure. The Gairyuki is moulded in blue, dark blue, light blue, blue-grey, grey, and black, with one of the sprues moulded completely in translucent orange. A large number of these components were previously used by the Berserk Führer.

The Gairyuki is one of the more complicated model kits in the Zoids line and is rather difficult to build. The model uses a pair of AAA batteries for motion, and is rare amongst Zoids that it has two motorised modes. In the first mode, once activated, the Zoid walks forwards with its arms waving and the tail sweeping side to side. In the second mode the Zoid stands still, but elevates the tail sections carrying Ray-Absorbing Verniers, while deploying its Charged Particle Cannon.

The Gairyuki was released in 2004, with production continuing until late 2005.

The Gairyuki was the first New Japanese Release Zoid to be 'retooled' and re-released as a standard model, and the first re-tooling in the NJR to change factions. The instructions were printed in full colour.

Fuzors

The Gairyuki was released as part of the "Fuzors" line, under the name Gairyuki Shin. No changes were made to the Gairyuki. However, the Gairyuki Shin included an additional frame of parts, an extra Blox, and an updated label sheet including Team Savage Hammer labels. The standard pilot figure was replaced with one of Blake, the Gairyuki's pilot in the "" anime. This figure was moulded in rubber, as opposed to the plastic normally used.

The additional components of the Zoid were used to form the basis of the Raiden Support Blox Zoid incorporated into the Gairyuki Shin's armour. This Blox Zoid also used components that were part of the original Gairyuki. However, while it was possible to create the Gairyuki's Fuzors with the Shin armaments equipped, it was not featured in the manual and there was a tendency for the weight imposed on the thigh armor to be too much for the pegs.

Despite its release in the "Fuzors" model line, the Gairyuki Shin variant is not seen in the anime.

Jet Black Gairyuki

A limited edition version of Gairyuki was also released in 2005, as a competition prize. This version was recoloured with black armour, metallic grey structure, and a light blue trim. An Evo Flyer in a similar colour scheme was also produced.

Related Zoids

The Gairyuki is a derivative of the Berserk Führer design. The core body of the two Zoid models is shared, and in the Battle Story the Gairyuki was based around the same wild Zoid.

In addition, the Gairyuki's primary Fuzor partners are the Dispelow and Evo Flyer. See their respective articles for more information on the combined Fuzor-Zoids.

References