Adding chomp to Dekalt Dragon

This is how make a good Zoid even better.

In 2004 I was very excited to see that Tomy would release Deathraser and Parablade, which together would form Dekalt Dragon. I was able to get my own copies and in December 2005 I put one together. As other reviewers had noted, Deathraser's mouth opens and closes, but since Dekalt Dragon adds a neck section, the mouth for Dekalt Dragon just hangs open.

Pieces and Pushrod

I was determined to make Dekalt Dragon chomp as he walked. So after a bit of thought, I decided to make my own pushrod. First I glued together some spare black Blox, then added material to one end of the Blox. The added material ensures a good head/neck alignment yet enables the Dekalt Dragon cockpit to open. I then fabricated a pushrod and guide out of CD case liner (CDCL). The pushrod was thinned slightly to ensure free movement. The pushrod thickness was doubled at one end to ensure good contact with the existing jaw actuator mechanism.

Pushrod Guide

Mounting the guide to hold the pushrod is very simple. The guide must retain the rod and keep it reasonably straight, yet also allow free sliding. I first attached the guide without the pushrod, using as little glue as possible. Once the glue was dry, I inserted the rod, then attached the Blox onto the main body.

Underneath it all

I then mounted the head. This picture shows the pushrod and how it transfers the motion from the motor housing to the jaw of Dekalt Dragon. Very simple. I'm not sure why Tomy didn't do something like this for Dekalt Dragon, instead they just left his jaw hanging....

Chomp, chomp...

These pictures show the pushrod opening and closing Dekalt Dragon's mouth. (Neck armor removed to show more detail.)

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