WING SABER TOYZ SPECIAL: TRANSFORMERS =RAID3N 'RACING CAR BOT" = REPLICA FOR PLAY & DISPLAY INSTEAD OF ORIGINAL TOYS?!

12:31 AM in Cheap Plastic, China, JUST BOUGHT, KNOCK OFF, Non-Official, Raiden, Replica

Hi there boys and girls! WSX here once again delivering a minor blog post on something which I personally find  intriguing to say the least. For the past couple of days, after having chanced upon some ubiquitous made in China plastic toys-- (which, under all possible circumstances, I would tend to avoid buying--and not set my priority on), I happen to come across something I thought Id never see in all those years of collecting Transformers. Specifically told myself  I had nothing to loose, ESPECIALLY if these so called "cheap"  slightly up market plastic (non-die cast) versions happen to come in the shape of the most desirable set of the Headmasters Trainbots aka RAIDEN! Well I'll be dammed. 

I DON'T USUALLY CONDONE REPLICAS....(BUT)

The beef is not to slate or be a morally correct person, by telling all collecting fans that essentially Knock Off toys are just plain uncool and non-condoned. Sometimes, these cheaper alternatives can spring a pleasant surprise or two...or in my case half a dozen plastic  train / robot goodness which, in  all honesty and admittedly, whose originals wont and most likely get to see the light of day being taken out of their boxed status. Taking the individual Knock Off plastic trains naturally feels slightly 'cheap', and parts seem to not click into place and are mostly wobbly and loose-- but once you figure out the correct method of getting all the bits into place, it holds pretty sturdily. My only minor gripe is that the China made replicas did not include their individual guns, and a darned instruction sheet, instead of relying on very minute and a very squint-worthy scaled down version of the transformation into Raiden.  Oh well, at least it still looks great combined!! LOL. Colours on some of the trains are questionable--really? NEON green?! Dude..what the heck is up with that?!  No matter....

FINAL WORD:




A decent replacement, even-though it lacks the panache and obvious class of the original release. This is for those hardcore Mint In Box collectors such as myself and others to fiddle and combine without the risk of feeling like you might break the fragile originals. A great display piece! Try and grab one today, but be forewarned, that thre are other KO's of much poorer quality out there, but this version posted in this post definitely takes the cake of being the best choice. Expect to pay a small sum of between 40-50 USD max. Now if you'll excuse me, there is a combined toy I need to tend to! B-

Raiden &  Trainbots:  Copyright TAKARA 1980/1987. 


Disclaimer*
No part of this KO release may be endorsed as an official Transformer product. User is at own risk for downloading pictures and material off this blog. WingSaberToyz would not be held accountable. 

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WING SABER TOYZ SPECIAL! = HEAVY SERIES-LINKED GESTALT WARRIOR: ライデン（雷電） C-131 RAIDEN (Giftset) !! GOD OF THUNDER!

10:13 AM in 1988 Headmaster, JUST BOUGHT, Multi-Gelstat Warrior, Raiden, Rare, Takara, Train Robots, Vintage

RAIDEN IS ONE OF A KIND!

A VERY WARM AND GOOD MONTH ONCE AGAIN TO THOSE WHO FOLLOW MY BLOG FROM AROUND THE WORLD! This blog post is truly and really outstanding if you are a fellow Transformer Vintage collector who is planning on really 'kicking up' a gear when it comes to adding a truly one-of- a kind piece of rare Giftset to be ever made to your burgeoning collection, especially those made in Japan exclusives that were released sometime in the late 80's . Once again, to my 'detractors' and jealous nonsensical individuals who are opposed or not really interested in following my blog-- please for your own sake-- turn away at once! -- least you turn even more green with envy with my latest coup' de' grace of finally-- (I say that in reference to waiting a whole SIX MONTHS) -- obtaining the current ''crowning piece'' in my humble and growing collection of Vintages gems: The Heavy Linked Gestalt Autobot/Cybertron Warrior: C-131 Raiden ( ライデン) !!  I got some ;street-dork' cred for managing to own this awesome giftset! Haha, not to brag, just an so stoked that my good patience and great help from a friend pulled through. 

TECH SPECS

Transports the Cybertron warriors. Destroys any who get in his way. Personality: Always punctual. Hates Devastator and wants to beat Predaking.

Strength:	10
Intelligence:	4
Speed:	10
Endurance:	7
Rank:	4
Courage:	8
Firepower:	6
Skill:	5
Total:	54

Toys

The Headmasters

Six Set of Trains that merge into a Super-Gestalt Warrior?! Awesome!

• Raiden (Trainbot, 1987, 1990)
  
  
  • Japanese ID number: C-131
  • Accessories: Left & right fists, chestplate, waist armor, back armor, 2 "Leg Beams", 2 "Wing Lasers", "Train Bazooka" rifle

Raiden began life as the Diaclone "Trainbot", released as part of the "Real and Robo" sub-line. One of the few Diaclone toys not initially ported over for release in Hasbro's Transformers line, the Trainbots eventually found their way into the Transformers universe a few years later when they were released by Takara, with the addition of waist and back armor panels for their combined mode, as part of the Headmasters line, available only in Japan.

The six Trainbots who form Raiden were available both individually and together in a giftset. Like his fellow Diaclone-born combiner Devastator, each of Raiden's components becomes a specific party of his body; they are not interchangeable, like the later-designed "Scramble City" combiners were. Raiden requires several additional parts to complete his combination, beyond the usual extremities-and-chestplate accessories of most other combiners, which take the form of various unique weapons: his shoulder-mounted "Wing Lasers", ankle-mounted "Leg Beams" and hand-held "Train Bazooka" gun, none of which are wielded by any of the smaller Trainbots. The Trainbots were later re-released in 1990 as part of the Zone toyline, but only in individual packaging, never as a giftset.

• More information on Raiden at TFU.info

Box art linked and credited to Heroic_Decepticon and Botchthecrab! 

MANDRAKE JAPAN: THE MOTHER OF ALL VINTAGE SHOPS!

If so ever one of you lucky folks have aver the opportunity to visit the Land of the Rising Sun aka Japan, please be very sure to take time off and effort to go about locating the most quintessential and most hard-core complex in the whole of the  toy hobby-mad country! It's literally a treasure trove of rows and floors upon floors of the most rare, sought after and DESIRABLE TOYS for as far as the limit can stretch! Prices for this super-rare set can sometimes reach ''astronomical'' value, of course depending on the state of the contents and the boxed specimen at hand. Generally, the uber-collector in some of you guys will want to find a COMPLETE paper-works/ stickers, individual guns/ weapon and those little 'green connector' pieces. Expect to pay a premium for an 'opened but unused' specimen say in the region of 90,000 Yen to a whopping  108,000 Yen! Talk about exorbitant! You might be even lucky to find a completely pristine and unopened set.  But of course, I shudder at the thought of just HOW much that set might be going for! LOL. 

Complex Mandarake

Transformers Takara G1 C-131 ( ライデン)

The box art is to say the least, very retro and nostalgic. The fact that there  is a huge character  art of Raiden in his combined mode on the front of the box makes it prominent and stand-out when one take a first glance. It's got the distinction one of the few if not only train-team combiner to grace the Transformers franchise. That's saying something, dontcha think?! . Heck, even these sets were pretty rare during my early childhood in the late 80's to  early 90's. I could  not for the life of me even remember seeing any or s sniff of the elusive Raiden set on those air-condition  Departmental Stores. Ever. I can only name only other ONE desirable toy, which do I have some very strong an vivid  memory of  is the other Autobot Gestalt Car team which was none other than Roadceaser. But that's it. No Trainbots or Raiden. 

' 

ONLY SIX TRAINS,  BUT WORTH EVERY PENNY!

The impressive Raiden combination consists of approximately 6 individually made toy trains and transformable robots, with their origins stretching back to their roots in the later part of the 1970's and early 80's. Any Vintage Transformer enthusiast out there worth his money will tell you that not only were these 'Trainbots' produced in limited quantity, they were and and are still considered to this day, truly rare and hard-to find, not least becoming one of the most sought after and much talked-about Combiner / Gestalt teams to ever grace the Transformers collecting fandom.  Be forewarned, that finding them will certainly cause some form of painstaking effort, more often than not a heavy toll on one's finances.  The fact that the transforming process for each of the individual train/ robot members are simplistic, beguiles the fact that when these six awesome toys merge into the mighty gestalt warrior Raiden,  the process is anything but! It requires some level of varying skill, to say the least!

The main function of the Trainbots is transport, but when an obstruction arises that prevents them from delivering their passengers, they won't hesitate to combine into the mighty Raiden (ライデン) to clear the tracks. And no obstacle is too big for Raiden's matchless ambition: he is, after all, the guy who maintains an active rivalry with Devastator, and plans on challenging Predaking next! Fittingly enough, his other great personality trait is his peerless punctuality. This is one Robot Train that always runs on time!

Raiden is the combined form of all six Trainbots: 

• Shōki (leader, torso)
• Getsuei (right leg)
• Kaen (pelvis)
• Seizan (right arm)
• Suiken (left arm)
• Yukikaze (left leg)

Raiden made his first brief appearance fighting alongside Superion and Defensor against the Decepticon combiners when the villains invaded Cybertron in 2011. They were very nearly crushed to death when Bruticus collapsed a building on them with his sonic stun-gun, but the tide of the fight was turned when the Autobot Headmasters arrived to join the battle. The Mystery of Planet Master. Pics of Raiden are linked and credited to Seibertron.com. / Mandrake Co.Jp./  

Any yes, I am only using 3 to 5 shots! So be it!

THE NAME IS BODHAR2000!

Okay folks, time for a confession: I would not have managed to obtain this super-rare piece of vintage toys if it were not for the high and huge generosity of a really cool and understanding seller and internet buddy, the one and only: Bodhar2000! Seriously, man this blog post is dedicated to your cool arrangements for payments and of course your willingness to let me bide my time to receive this beautiful box. MAJOR UPDATE! : THE PACKAGE ARRIVED SAFELY AND SOUNDLY ON 7th October 2010,  AND IT CAME IN WRAPPED TIGHT WITH BUBBLE-WRAP TO MINIMIZE THE DAMAGE FROM THE AIR TRAVEL.  If you guys are thinking of getting anything super- rare or hard to find Transformers, I can't recommend this super seller enough! 

FINAL THOUGHTS: 

Raiden and it's individual Trainbots are a true defining piece in Transformers collection history. I challenge those detractors and harsh critics of mine to obtain them if you can or if you are able to! As for my loyal and committed followers, I told you guys and have promised not to mentioned delivered when it matters the most. Last but not least, here is a small treat as to what yours truly looks like! LOL. Haters tot he left, please! The proof is in the pudding, so the saying goes! This is Wing_Saber-X signing off for the time-being! Peace! 

Raiden, Shōki / Getsuei / Kaen  / Seizan  / Suiken  & Yukikaze are all Copyright 1989 Takara Japan. 

MEET THE MEMBERS OF TEAM RAIDEN!

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