One of the earliest Zoids is Malder, the Snail type Zoid created by Zenebas. Also known as the Robostrux Slithor, or OER Slime, Malder is a classic unit in both appearance and movement. Built as a heavily armored support Zoid, Malder houses a secret compartment with an extendable Beam Cannon, a (working) Tactical Missile launcher, and a pair of Electromagnetic Beam canons that take the appearance of  the snails antennae. With no close combat weapons, and a focus on artillery,  Malder was used along with Zoids like Molga as an auxiliary powerhouse.

First released back in 1983, I firmly believe that Malder remains one of the most innovative wind-ups of it's time. It packs a ton of features for such a small unit, and it's motion is so realistic, it's impressive. Malder has been re-issued and given the Dark Zoid make-over. One can see how Guylos could have easily considered this unit a great candidate for dark goodness. With the addition of  Deochalcum, the Dark Version of Malder would have had nothing short of incredible armor, and marked improvement on it's dexterity and agility. Available in limited quantities, let's take an in depth look at Dark Malder.

Dark Malder consists of:

3 Sprues

2 Body halves

3 Cockpit pieces

6 Caps

1 Pilot

1 Small wind up motor

1 Instruction sheet

1 Sticker sheet

The first step in construction is building the complex frame work of this small wind up Zoid. The motor is centered in two halves, in which a small wheel is centered.

Next, two large wheels and a clip to hold the frame together are placed.

The cockpit is then built.

Two neck pieces, along with the second small wheel and cockpit are attached to the frame.

The missile launching unit is then built. Three pieces plus a spring combine to form a working unit. I think we lost the beauty of actual toy goodness when this type of accessory was banned in the US, effectively ending the Golden Era of 1980's toys.

Next, the framework - complete with neck - is affixed to one shell body half. The missile launcher is then held in place via three caps.

The second body half is then attached via three caps, along with the unhidden side cannon.

The center shell, or secret cockpit, is then assembled. This cockpit features an extendable gun that folds up, enabling the closure of the hatch and concealment of the weapon.

The center shell cockpit is then inserted into the main shell and the missile launcher is loaded.

The unit is now ready for stickers.

There is some distortion on the customary "Danger and Arrow" sticker, but the variety of the sticker sheet is nice. An extra Guylos label is provided, as well as some additional stickers. After the sticker process the unit is ready for display.

Dark Malder is a welcome addition to the new Dark Zoid's line up. To the dismay of my wallet, I certainly hope we'll see a Dark version of Iron Kong and Death Saurer. If you have never witnessed Malder work, it definitely is a sight to behold. To make this review totally complete, I was compelled to make a short video of Malder in action. In closing, Malder is a worthy addition to any collection. The limited nature of the piece may increase the expected expense of such a small unit, yet it is simply a must for any Dark Zoid collection.   

This has been a Zoid.US production. No image may be used without permission. � 2008 -WIKD