We have quite a bit of interesting information to share with you. Our very own TFW2005 mod and Japanese resident Gamerlingual was able to call Takara Tomy Customer service in Japan and ask about the size of the upcoming Masterpiece Raiden combiner now that we have seen his first component: Trainbot Shouki. He was lucky to get a reply about his question. According to what he was told, Masterpiece Raiden Combiner mold will be about 29 cm tall / 11.42 inches tall.
In any case, we suggest you to take this with caution until we get further details or an additional official confirmation by Takara Tomy. We have to remember that we had previously reported a small article in one Figure King magazine which mentioned that the probable size of Masterpiece Raiden would be similar to a Combiner Wars/Unite Warriors gestalt.
Stay tuned with TFW2005 for more updates! Click on the discussion link below and share your impressions on the 2005 Boards!
Onilink
I don't know at this point why they didn't made the "Sumo ribbon backpack" detachable…
Anyway, scale goods in Raiden mode with the other (future ones too) JG1 super modes, i'm pretty pacific with the height of Sunbow combiners, that will be in a different scale.
KylerWilmoth
Completely fair and valid take! There's nothing for me to counter because well, that's just your opinion! I know Raiden looks nothing like cartoon raiden, I know he's not very big, and his proportions are kinda weird. I just happen to like it. It's like six real life trains just stood up lol. I'm a big fan of the set so far and can't wait to finally put raiden together later this month. I'm happy that the more obscure characters aren't sunbow identical. I'll take it for starscream, optimus, bumblebee, all the heavy hitters, but I really, really love the added detail in stuff like this. It's what selling me as they aren't characters that I have nostalgia for. They just look cool!
Paco Grande
Yeah I get that. I was just explaining why Yuki is such a mess.
And my point about scale is that many people are skipping this set including some pretty hardcore TT MP fans because the bot modes aren’t toon enough and Raiden is not even close to toon enough or tall enough. I completely agree that the Moon Studios trains look like blimps. But I was hoping Takara could pull off some magic like they usually do and make a better combiner out of these trains. I really hate fake add-on parts for combiners but I e come to accept that they are required to make it work and Takara should have used them. They seem to have already admitted that by including the waist extender in the next release. But it will need a lot more than that.
I own this set and I agree that the trains look amazing. But I keep them in train mode and I have not even attempted to combine Raiden yet even though I’ve had Kaen for two months because Raiden looks so bad to me I don’t even want to bother. And that bothers me because for me the combined mode is the mode I want on my shelf and I’m stuck with six trains because that’s the only mode they look good in. I just expected a lot more from the wizards at Takara.
And if you think there’s too much complaining now, just wait until they get to Devastator who most fans actually care about. It’s going to be miserable in that thread.
tturbozx66
Slowly warming up to Raiden mode…..
View attachment 30360304
KylerWilmoth
Had it resulted in a better figure I would have been all for it!
Thundershot
https://www.bigbadtoystore.com/product/variationdetails/208470
https://tfsource.com/masterpiece-transformers/mpg-03-trainbot-yukikaze-raiden-combiner-transformers-masterpiece-g/
ATFan
If Yulikaze had been a parts former, he could have had a cleaner transformation and they could have used the extra train length to help the combined mods, like maby the back half flips inside out to become part of the waist to flesh out Kaen.
KylerWilmoth
I'm not even a "train fan" really, but I would have been quite upset had each train been a different scale or had football proportions like the moon studios set. Alt modes are just as important to me as robot modes so I'm quite happy with the direction they went. They look amazing together
Paco Grande
Well the issue hear is that they needed to match Getsuei who is one of the smallest trains. They both needed to be the same height in bot mode and leg mode. And Yuki is twice the size of Getsuei in train mode. So the solution was a gazillion panels, unfortunately. Not sure if you own the set, but when you see them together it's actually ridiculous how much larger Yuki is in alt mode and it's a miracle it worked at all. But that is the price you have to pay when being so dedicated to perfect scale. If this set was not done perfectly to scale for alt modes the bot and Raiden modes could have been a lot better. But you know…… train fans were apparently the target market here, not Transformers fans. Which is why I'm not a fan of this set.
KylerWilmoth
Agreed. I think all parts forming can be forgiven for me if it works in the context of the toy. First, it's a combiner and they just kinda do that sometimes, second it allows for the arm bots to have some of the most simple transformations of the set, and 3rd, like you said it all ends up having a place to go. This set handled the parts forming in a way where I felt completely satisfied and it took away no enjoyment. I guess an example of bad parts forming would be like Earthrise Cliffjumper.
As for the backpacks, I also think they're cool! People HATE backpacks but c'mon man, I like seeing some leftover alt mode junk on transformers. You can make it look cool, and these guys do. I don't transform the backpacks other than rotating the face of the train back so they pretty much have an intact train back like Yukikaze. Personally I think it looks quite good, and then they don't have the extra flaps behind the flaps already on their arms
Huktonfonix
Yeah,ya go for yamabuke. Yukikaze is ridiculously priced everywhere
ATFan
From what I heard, TF-Source has really good customer service if you get a defective one. I got my replacement Yukikaze from them after the first one I got off Amazon had the broken knee issue and they gave me a refund, but not a replacement.
Throway
Can get it on a 2nd hand site or buy Yamabuki
Huktonfonix
Decided to finish up the set, but missing Yukikaze. Has anyone heard any rumors about a reissue or should I just spring for mpg 08?
mx-01 archon
I love the arm-bots. I don't really care about partsforming if everything has a place to be. Both Suiken and Seizan are dynamic and refreshingly uncomplicated.
ATFan
The arm bots are my second and 3rd favorite in the set to me. I'm still waiting on Kaen, but so far they are the only ones that don't have at least one step that's kinda scary or jank to pull off, and their robot modes are really fun to pose because of the really nice butterfly joints in their arms. Their backpacks are a little big, sure, but they remind me of like a military backpack because of the antenna, and the rest looks like a cape so I think they look quit cool. I also don't understand why people get so mad about parts-forming, so long as the piece has a place to go I'm happy, and in that respect Getsui is the only one to breaks that rule because his paragraphs are useless in robot and leg mode.
Scyla
While I don’t really like Yukikaze, the arm bots are indefinitely worse than him to me.
The partsforming, the extensive kibble, etc.
To me Yukikaze is a flawed but working Transformer. The arm bots not so much.
In the set he is mid and a bit lower in ranking than Shouki.
mx-01 archon
Yuki's just sort of the weird, slightly over-engineered one, because his alt-mode is 1/3 longer than Getsuei's, but then needs to transform into a robot and leg the same size. The way his legs double over on themselves leads to weird panel origami, that doesn't peg down the best.
KylerWilmoth
At least Shouki is amazing. He's the only repaint I'll get as well. Such a good figure
Datsun87
It really is a shame to hear Yukikaze is the weakest link. On paper a bullet train leg should be the most simple thing ever and Takara has done a shit ton of them counting Brave and Shinkalion. Hearing Yuki unanimously botch it is disappointing.