The Energon Pub

[ZeldaTheSwordsman]

Raiden = Thunder and Lightning. Could double as a possibly-bilingual portmanteau pun. Rai(lway?) + Densha ("Densha" being the Japanese word for an electric train)

Problem is he was superseded as predakings rival in the headmasters as Raiden took that role. So a titan sky lynx (which I think was an idea when we were pondering who could be made in the class all those years ago) would be a hard sell to Japan. Much as a titan Raiden would be a hard sell to the rest of the world. Also the supreme class is gone, and unless hasbro does a complete one eighty, isn't coming back. Best make peace or forever be disappointed. If worse came to worse, I could see hasbro consolidating to just leader Class for a while.

I say that you're comparing apples to oranges there.
While Raiden is obscure to more casual US fans because he was exclusive to The Headmasters, the reverse is not true for Sky Lynx. Japanese fans saw Season 3 - where Sky Lynx was introduced and featured heavily - just like the US did, so they know fully well who he is. And they even finally got his toy courtesy of the Encore line. And heck, even the comparatively dinky Combiner Wars version got a Unite Warriors import. While it's true that only Japanophile US fans would care about Raiden, Sky Lynx seems to have wide appeal on both sides of the Pacific.

Also, when I mentioned Supreme-size... What other size class name would you apply to the CW/PotP-style combiners? Compared to contemporary Leader-class figures, they would seem to be Supreme size in terms of height and mass.

[Hellscream9999]

I'd be down for $100 combiners if they were to revisit devs, predaking and raiden and do them right, I actually love raiden (along with most collectors probably), and I think that a smaller production run set could work for collectors...

[Sabrblade]

Raiden = Thunder and Lightning. Could double as a possibly-bilingual portmanteau pun. Rai(lway?) + Densha ("Densha" being the Japanese word for an electric train)

Not when the "Rai" part of his name is pronounced like "Rye" instead of "Ray".

It's not said like "Ray-den", nor do the Japanese pronounce the English words "rail", "railway", "railroad", etc. as "ryle", "ryle-way", "ryle-road", etc.

It's more like "Ridin'", like "I'm ridin' a train."

[ThunderThruster]

Someone was after pics of Siege Sideswipe with some older CHUG deluxes. I hope these are sufficient:

w/ Wheeljack

w/ deluxe 2pk Megatron

w/ RTS Jazz

[Wolfman Jake]

Someone was after pics of Siege Sideswipe with some older CHUG deluxes. I hope these are sufficient:

20181121_214410[1].jpg

20181121_214430[1].jpg

20181121_214923[1].jpg

Nice! Thanks for taking those. Looks like Siege Sideswipe is a bit taller than Generations Wheeljack, but much shorter than Reveal the Shield Jazz, which isn't unexpected, as RtS Jazz is a BIG Deluxe. I'd like to see Siege Sideswipe next to Universe Hound, Combiner Wars Sunstreaker, or Power of the Primes Jazz if you're able.

[Galvatronian]

I imagine raiden could be great for hasbro in the west. I know he was in the japanese cartoon and not the american. Don't kids in america like trains? I don't want a Raiden because I'm into the japanese cartoons, I've never seen them, I want them because transforming trains is an awesome concept. I have loads of cars and planes that transform, but only one train, and referring to TR astrotrain as a train seems almost wrong anyway.

[starrhero]

A few people have said that this line doesn't lend itself well to combiners. All the micromasters so far combine to make weapons. Skytread,

It was pretty heavily implied we were discussing large combiner teams, I know anything made up of "parts that combine" can be considered a combiner, but lets just use some common sense.

I said I realised people were refering to scramble city type, and just wanted to point out that other combiners like the duo-cons are perfect for this line.

On another note, the idea that hasbro would find it hard to sell Raiden in the american market seems odd to me. I know he was in the japanese caretoon and not the american. Don't kids in america like trains? I don't want a Raiden because I'm into the japanese cartoons, I've never seen them, I want them because transforming trains is an awesome concept. I have loads of cars and planes that transform, but only one train, and referring to TR astrotrain as a train seems almost wrong anyway.

Young kids, yeah. And once upon a time, kids of all ages did. I loved toy trains, and they still have a special place in my heart, but most current kids could care less about transforming robot trains, let alone the idea of a group of them, even if they could combine. Only kids currently who would like toy trains are those in the age range of, say, Thomas the Tank Engine.

Now, as for scale with a potential Raiden, I do have a new idea. Studio Series is going to have its first combiner in the form of RotF Devastator. They way they plan to do it is releasing the 6 figures for it over the 3(?) waves it's supposed to be a part of. Similar to that of how Combiner Wars was done. The big difference is that Devastator is going to consist of multiple Voyagers and Deluxes. So why not do that with Raiden? Make him a combiner that has its components span out the waves of a line in the WfC trilogy and consist of Voyagers and Deluxes, maybe even a leader class? That way, Raiden doesn't take up a Titan slot and isn't just a standard combiner. He could even potentially be the size of Devastator and Predaking.

Granted, the only other time this was done was with Timelines Nexus Prime, and there's no telling whether or not Devastator will be successful, so...

[Galvatronian]

My original post suggested Raiden as leader class, that would be great to me. Is there a reason no-one mentions Unicron as a possible Titan class? All the last chug types have been re-paints of an armada toy from 2003, and it bugs me he's smaller than my trypticon. Oh dear, I kicked off another size debate. Maybe they could make a planet class for him, and have him be the size of a 1/32 planet?

[chuckdawg1999]

I don't care what size Raiden is, as long as it leads to an Encore release of the original toy.

[o.supreme]

Don't kids in america like trains?

Hasbro didn't seem to think so in the 1980's to the point that Raiden never received any release outside of Japan. In fact, I'd dare say if Astro Train weren't a triple changer, he probably wouldn't have been released either.

My father was a HUGE train enthusiast, so much so, that toy/model trains were a staple of my childhood growing up in the 80's. But I think next to buses, trains are still derided here in the US as an extremely inconvenient and outdated mode of transportation, and of course the value of freight trains is always overlooked.

I was frankly blown away when we actually got JRX (renamed Rail Racer for RiD) in 2001, though it was probably much easier, and less expensive to cross promote at the time, and of course Universe Rail Racer (a KB exclusive reissue of Micromster Sixtrain).

Hopefully however, the lack of enthusiasm about trains by kids in the U.S. would not prevent a modernization so desperately needed.

[wilcosu35]

Hopefully however, the lack of enthusiasm about trains by kids in the U.S. would not prevent a modernization so desperately needed.

Which is probably also the reason Power Rangers never did an adaptation of Ressha Sentai Toqger, because it's entirely train-based.

[ZeroWolf]

Hopefully however, the lack of enthusiasm about trains by kids in the U.S. would not prevent a modernization so desperately needed.

Which is probably also the reason Power Rangers never did an adaptation of Ressha Sentai Toqger, because it's entirely train-based.

That and the designs are not pretty...at all.

There was talk of a unicron being maybe a has lab toy, but since the jabbas sail barge toy collapsed due to lack of interest, that's all gone quiet. I suppose we could add Primus and Unicron to a possible list but I would want the toyline to revolve around them.

[blackeyedprime]

The sail barge got funded tho, not sure if they had to open to European backers to get it done but it doesnt look like it (not sure where some one I know has on pre-order)

Hope their is an encore Raiden at some point, same with star sabre. As for Titans, Raiden would be great but I'm still hoping for a Metro Titan and then maybe the Siege Six Gun can get a repaint to go with it. Kicking myself for not getting one of the KO encore reissues at the time as they ddin't stay around for long.

[ZeldaTheSwordsman]

Kids in the US still like trains, and toy trains are always a popular sell. Kids still get into model trains even, although at a smaller rate because the makers have forgotten about the whole "basic train set as customer-hooking loss-leader" idea and the lack of budget models on the primary market and.. Ahem. Anyway, kids do still get really into trains but I don't know that they'd like them enough to go for a Titan-class Raiden. Smaller, maybe.
Hasbro thought kids liked trains enough in the eighties to do that licensed train set with Tyco!

Raiden = Thunder and Lightning. Could double as a possibly-bilingual portmanteau pun. Rai(lway?) + Densha ("Densha" being the Japanese word for an electric train)

Not when the "Rai" part of his name is pronounced like "Rye" instead of "Ray".

It's not said like "Ray-den", nor do the Japanese pronounce the English words "rail", "railway", "railroad", etc. as "ryle", "ryle-way", "ryle-road", etc.

It's more like "Ridin'", like "I'm ridin' a train."

Yes, I know the pronunciation. Okay, but that only eliminates the "possibly bilingual" part. It could still be Rai+densha.

Someone was after pics of Siege Sideswipe with some older CHUG deluxes. I hope these are sufficient:

20181121_214410[1].jpg

20181121_214430[1].jpg

20181121_214923[1].jpg

Thank you! Would also appreciate shots of Siege Optimus amongst the same. And also with Prime Wars deluxes.

[Skritz]

Hopefully however, the lack of enthusiasm about trains by kids in the U.S. would not prevent a modernization so desperately needed.

Which is probably also the reason Power Rangers never did an adaptation of Ressha Sentai Toqger, because it's entirely train-based.

One thing to keep in mind when it come Asia/Europe vs North America: trains are much more common and essential in the former, whereas the US (and by extension Canada) is much more centered around car networks.

[ThunderThruster]

Someone was after pics of Siege Sideswipe with some older CHUG deluxes. I hope these are sufficient:

The attachment 20181121_214410[1].jpg is no longer available

The attachment 20181121_214430[1].jpg is no longer available

The attachment 20181121_214923[1].jpg is no longer available

Thank you! Would also appreciate shots of Siege Optimus amongst the same. And also with Prime Wars deluxes.

I'm not getting Siege OP, I'm quite happy with the original '06 Classics OP, other wise I'd have been happy to take some shots for you.

Nice! Thanks for taking those. Looks like Siege Sideswipe is a bit taller than Generations Wheeljack, but much shorter than Reveal the Shield Jazz, which isn't unexpected, as RtS Jazz is a BIG Deluxe. I'd like to see Siege Sideswipe next to Universe Hound, Combiner Wars Sunstreaker, or Power of the Primes Jazz if you're able.

Universe Hound is a figure I really like, so it was nice to see him at side of Siege Sideswipe.

w/ Uni Hound

[Sabrblade]

Yes, I know the pronunciation. Okay, but that only eliminates the "possibly bilingual" part. It could still be Rai+densha.

Thing is, while the "den" 電 part of both "Raiden" 雷電 and "Densha" 電車 are indeed the same, it only refers to "lightning"/"electricity", as it's the "-sha" 車 part of "Densha" that denotes the train aspect, as most words that refer to trains in Japanese feature "-sha" 車 as the shared commonality, such as "Ressha" 列車 (the standard word for "train"), "Kisha" 汽車 ("steam train") and "Kidōsha" 気動車 ("diesel train").

Otherwise, Raiden the Trainbot combiner would have included the "sha" part in his name (as something like "Raidensha") if the "den" part was indeed meant to specifically tie his name with "Densha".

Though, Raiden's core lower torso component, Kaen, is a kidōsha rather than a densha.

[Wolfman Jake]

Universe Hound is a figure I really like, so it was nice to see him at side of Siege Sideswipe.

20181122_223431[1].jpg

They look great together! Thanks for the pic, once again!

[X3ROhour]

Just an aside since it's been brought up; Classics Sideswipe drew more from the Alternators design than G1, whereas Siege Sideswipe draws heavily from G1, almost to the point of being a $20 Masterpiece

if one looks at SIEGE Sideswipe, Prowl, etc altmodes
one might notice
these vehicle modes
are not earth based.
Prowl even seems to have translucent tires.

i believe
that the designs
resemble
their future earth modes
to denote why their future alts are the logical
best match
once Earthfall
and Reactivation
happens.

[william-james88]

[ZeldaTheSwordsman]

Cog Overload

[Emerje]

I'd be on board with a Titan Sky Lynx for all the reasons Zelda gave. I've always considered him to be Predaking's proper rival, not Raiden or anyone else. Beast vs. Beast, one feral while humanoid and one intelligent while monstrous, they're a great counter to each other. Plus Hasbro liked the idea of the two being adversaries as well:


I had mentioned Unicron (and Primus) as potential Titans back when we got those Siege hidden messages over the summer.

I don't understand why it wouldn't be possible for Hasbro to use the name Raiden, aside from it being so very Japanese. The name Raiden is another common name for the Japanese Shinto thunder god Raijin and appears repeatedly in fiction and real life as a proper name including an entire game franchise by the name. What's one more use of the name?

Emerje

[william-james88]

I had mentioned Unicron (and Primus) as potential Titans back when we got those Siege hidden messages over the summer.

They are not potential titans. Hasbro already said the avenue for Uicron would be through their new group fund centre where you would preorder your figure a year or two in advance for it to get made. The idea was that Unicron would be bigger than Titan Class.

[william-james88]

Is that Peter Cullin in the advert?

[Sabrblade]

Is that Peter Cullen in the advert?

Yes. He narrated a lot of the toy commercials in-character as Optimus.