Iron Kong

The Iron Kong is a type of Zoid, a race of mechanical lifeforms from the fictional series Zoids.

Iron Kong Stats
EZ-015 Gorilla Type
Crew	2
Weight	187 tons
Depth	11.5 m
Height	17.7 m
Width	13.1 m
Maximum Speed	150 km/h
Weapons	Equipment: Anti-Zoid Six-Shot Missile Launcher, Composite Sensor Unit, Ten-Shot Self-Guided Rocket Bomb Launcher, Iron Hammer Knuckles x2, TVM Two-Shot Tactical SSM Launcher

Overview

The Iron Kong is a Gorilla-type Zoid, created by the Zenebas Empire, and used during the various wars on Zi.

The Iron Kong was the second large Zoid created by the Zenebas Empire, after the Redhorn. The Iron Kong was created specifically to counter and defeat the Helic Republic’s Gojulas. The Iron Kong featured super-thick armour that most of the Gojulas’ weaponry couldn’t penetrate. Additionally, the Iron Kong’s load of long-range missiles allowed it to attack from outside the range of most of its opponent’s weapons.

While relatively slow (but still twice as fast as the Gojulas), the Iron Kong is quite incredibly agile due to its construction. Additionally, the gorilla-like form and fully functional hands gives it the ability to climb and grasp objects, as well as pick up and throw things. Additionally, the Iron Kong can deliver devastating punches.

Battle story appearances

The Iron Kong was first deployed in battle by the Zenebas Empire in ZAC 2030. The empire sent a force of the first 150 Iron Kongs to strike at the Republic, penetrating deep into their territory. For the next few years, until the introduction of the Ultrasaurus, the Iron Kong would prove to be a severe threat to the Hellic Forces. The Iron Kong and its derivatives stayed in service until the fall of the Zenebas Empire in ZAC 2049, with the survivors being incorporated into the Guylos Empire’s army.

In ZAC 2035, the Empire introduced a new model of Iron Kong, the Iron Kong Mk II. This model featured a thruster backpack that allowed it to make rocket assisted leaps, as well as expanded weaponry. This model proved to be too expensive for mass production, however, and so only a few were produced. A slightly downgraded version that removed the new weapons, but retained the thruster pack entered mass production as the Iron Kong Mk II.

At some stage after ZAC 2056, the Guylos Empire began mass production of a new model Iron Kong, based on the original version without the Mk II’s thruster pack. Iron Kongs served with the Guylos forces during their invasion of the Western Continent.

The Prozen Knights, private army of Guylos regent Gunter Prozen used their own version of the Iron Kong designated as the Iron Kong PK. The Knights launched a coup in the Guylos Capital in ZAC 2101, and were successful in defeating the Guylos Forces there. However, the bulk of the Prozen Knights were wiped out when Prozen’s Deathsaurer exploded.

Media appearances

Anime

The Iron Kong first appeared in Chaotic Century, and was initially used by high-ranking Guylos officers, but Rosso also later acquired one to replace his Redhorn. Colonel Karl Schwarz used an Iron Kong that sported a unique colour scheme as well as a CP-03 Beam Gattling cannon in pace of its usual shoulder missile launcher.

Despite the Iron Kong’s capabilities, the Zoids were often rather easily disposed of. A cliché emerged, especially in Guardian Force, that the average Iron Kong pilot was both an incompetent pilot and an incompetent leader, with Schwarz proving to be the only exception.

In New Century Zero, Harry Champ and his team use Iron Kong PKs in several battles. No explanation was offered in the show as to what “PK” stood for however.

Iron Kongs appeared on several occasions in Zoids Fuzors. Interestingly enough, all the examples in Fuzors sported the same unique colour scheme and weapons configuration as Karl Schwarz’ Zoid.

Iron Kongs are yet to appear in Zoids Genesis, however a related Zoid, the Deadly Kong has appeared.

UK Zoids Comic

In the UK Zoids comic, Gore the Lord Protector was created by the Blue Zoids automated factories to counter the growing threat of the Red Mutant Army. Gore was assigned to work alongside Zoidzilla, but the later tended to see him as something of a Rival. While somewhat slow witted, Gore was firm in his resolve that the Red Mutant army should be destroyed. Unlike Zoidzilla, who tended to work on his own, Gore was more of a leader to the Blue Zoids.

Gore was very effective in battle against the Red Mutants. However, against Silverman and the Black Zoid, he was less successful, being decapitated in a single blow.

It is unclear if this damage “killed” Gore or if he could be rebuilt. A promotional mini-comic set after then end of the UK comic does feature Gore, but the canonicty of this comic is dubious.

Models and toys

Original model kit

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 Iron Kong kit comes on six frames, along with a battery-powered motor with light, a second battery box, canopy cover, thirty-two rubber caps, a small spring, a frame of six missiles, two small chromed pilots and label sheets. The Iron Kong is moulded in maroon and black, with grey weapons and a red canopy.

The Iron Kong’s construction is reasonably involved and complex, with the light unit being especially troublesome to thread through the other parts. The Iron Kong uses a pair of “AA” sized batteries for motion. Once activated, the Zoid walks forwards, its head tuning side to side, a missile launcher on the back rotating and the Zoid making a screeching noise. A second pair of “AA” Batteries are used to power a red light in the Iron Kong’s head.

The Iron Kong has a spring-loaded missile launcher on its right shoulder, while its left shoulder has a small launcher concealed under an armoured panel.

Like several other Zoids of the time, the Iron Kong could use a number of different optional weapons that were included in the Empire Customise Set. The Iron Kong was released in 1983, and was produced up until about 1986.

Several other versions of the Iron Kong have been produced. They are detailed below.

Original European release

The Iron Kong was released under the name Gore the Lord Protector in the UK and Europe in 1985-87. This version was a different colour scheme, with grey replacing the red. Additionally, the spring-loaded missile launcher was replaced with a different weapon.

Robostrux

The Iron Kong was released in the US as a part of the Robostrux line under the name Baddox. This version was a different colour scheme, with blue replacing the red. Baddox also had the same shoulder weapon as Gore, as well as including a chromed version of the weapons frame included with the Redhorn.

Iron Kong Mk II

In 1987, Tomy introduced a new version of the Iron Kong, replacing the existing one in production. This version had a new colour scheme, with orange replacing the red and the black armour being a more charcoal colour. It also featured new parts, with a large thruster backpack added to the back of the Zoid, and a new missile cover on the left shoulder.

The Iron Kong Mk II had a revised motor that used a single “C” cell battery in place of the two “AA” batteries. This improved the Zoid’s walking speed. This improvement was carried over to all subsequent versions of the Iron Kong.

Iron Kong Mk II Limited

A limited edition version of the Iron Kong Mk II was also released at the same time. This version sported a metallic red and dull grey colour scheme. In addition to the thruster pack from the Mk II, the Mk II Limited featured an extra frame of weapons.

Technozoids

Another version of the Iron Kong was released in the US and Canada as a part of the Technozoids line in the mid 90s. This version had a silver and yellow colour scheme, and lacked a spring for the missile launcher, but still had the missiles.

Zoids2

A version of the Iron Kong was also released as a part of the Zoids2 line. This version had a black, red and chrome gold colour scheme but was otherwise identical to previous versions. Like the Technozoid version, the Zoids2 version lacked a spring for its missile launcher.

New Japanese Release

The Iron Kong was re-released in Japan in 1999 as a part of the new Japanese Release. This version had a different colour scheme, being a dull metallic grey and dull red, with dull grey weapons, green eyes and blue pilots. There were no changes to the design however.

Tomy also released an upgrade kit for the Iron Kong, the CP-11 Manoeuvre Thuster. The CP-11 is identical to the thruster pack originally included in the Iron Kong Mk II.

Iron Kong PK

This version was released in Japan as a limited edition model in 2000. This version is identical to the Iron Kong Mk II Limited, but with a more salmon colour instead of the metallic red.

Iron Kong Yeti

This version was released in Japan as a limited edition model in 2003. This version is identical to the Iron Kong Mk II, but with a white and green colour scheme and green eyes.

New American release

The Iron Kong was released in the US in 2002 as a Toys R Us exclusive. This version was based on the NJR version, but with several changes. It lacked the spring and the missiles for the launcher, and had the different battery pack of the Technozoids version. However, it also included the extra weapons frame found on the Iron Kong PK and Mk II Limited. As a result, collectors were able to easily obtain a frame of normally hard to obtain parts.

TDP Iron Kong Mk II

In 2005, Toys Dream Project re-released the Iron Kong Mk II in a version that was identical to the original.

Additionally, a new model, the Deadly Kong is being released as a part of the Zoids Genesis line. This model reuses parts from the Iron Kong.