Super High-Breed Model

C'mon, let's be people now, hybrids are for people now...

Super High-Breed Model (スーパー･ハイブリード･モデル Sūpā Haiburīdo Moderu, aka S・H・B・M) is a line of non-transforming vinyl figures produced by Takara. Aping Bandai's High Complete Model (ハイコンプリートモデル, aka H.C.M.) line of Gundam figures, the Super High-Breed Model figures stand about 8" tall and are articulated at the shoulders and neck, they were sculpted to resemble their Studio OX character models, with more anime-like proportions and details than were seen in the Western animation and merchandise.

• H-01 Rodimus Prime
• H-02 Galvatron
• H-03 Arcee

Release history

The Super High-Breed Models were first produced in 1987, but their intended release was canceled. Subsequently there were claims in the early years of the alt.toys.transformers newsgroup, as well as during Tony Preto's foreign toy panel at BotCon 1994, that this cancellation had been because much of the stock actually melted while being warehoused and Japanese toy shops refused to put in orders. Nevertheless, a small number were used as lottery prizes for magazines such as TV Magazine.^[1]

The only SHBM to get an official release was the Galvatron figure, which was made available as the exclusive at BotCon Japan 1997—both at the show and with several slightly different versions later sold through the convention website.

Through the years, a small handful of the Rodimus and Arcee figures, as well as 1987-edition Galvatrons, have trickled into the secondary market, where they command exorbitant prices.

Notes

• "High-Breed" (ハイブリード Haiburīdo) is usually interpreted by Western fans as "Hybrid", while the packaging romanizes it as "Highbred" (or "High-Bred"). Neither match the katakana given, though; "hybrid" is haiburiddo (ハイブリッド), while "highbred" would be haibureddo (ハイブレッド).
• The first four Autobot Headmasters (Chromedome, Hardhead, Highbrow, and Brainstorm), first three Decepticon Headmasters (Weirdwolf, Skullcruncher, Mindwipe), and Sixshot were also planned for the line had it continued.^[2]

References