Raiden

Raiden is an Autobot combiner from the Generation 1 continuity family.

God of thunder! And rock and roll!

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, like "Ry-den") 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:

• Shouki (Tōkaidō Shinkansen 0 Series, leader, torso)
• Getsuei (Class EF65 electric locomotive Blue Train, right leg)
• Yukikaze (Tōhoku-Jōetsu Shinkansen 200 Series, left leg)
• Suiken (Tōkai type 153 series express train, left arm)
• Seizan (L-Limited Express 435-300 series limited express train, right arm)
• Kaen (diesel locomotive Class DE10, pelvis)

The core Trainbots have at least two elder siblings that can "tag in" to the big guy:

• Ginou (Class 922-10 set T2 Doctor Yellow, alternate torso)
• Yamabuki (Class 925-0 set S1 Doctor Yellow, alternate left leg)

Fiction

Japanese Generation 1 cartoon continuity

Generations toy bios

The Trainbots were constructed on Earth, in Japan. Their creation was a collaboration by several Japanese companies utilizing technology developed in the Binaltech Project. Generations Shouki bio

Ask Vector Prime

The Trainbots were built in the Raiden Initiative. Their ability to combine was engineered by the mysterious Doctor Takahashi, who designed their Heavy Series-Linkage System. Ask Vector Prime, 2015/09/27

Generations Selects Special Comic

In 2011, Unicron attempted to reform himself out of the bodies of his disciples. Raiden was present with Autobot and Decepticon alike fighting to stop him. Super Megatron comic 1 Unicron was defeated when Optimus Prime wielded the power of Oracle and sealed the Planet-Eater in the Triple Z Point. Finale

The Headmasters cartoon

Voice actor: Keiichi Noda (Japanese)

I'm not a video game!

Raiden fought 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

Sometime later, the Trainbots formed Raiden in order to defend Japan against the marauding Sixshot. Raiden and Sixshot fought fiercely until Trypticon crashed the party. The arrivals of Scourge, Cyclonus, and the Autobot Headmasters made it into a real brawl. During the fight, Raiden was swarmed by Sixshot and his hard-light doppelgangers in winged wolf modes. Raiden called for Chromedome to shoot at the Sixshots until he nailed the real one, even if Raiden was injured in the process. Terror! The Six Shadows

Raiden was formed to defend the Sol 1 satellite against Predaking. He fought bravely against the bestial giant, and eventually sent the Decepticon fleeing with his tail(s?) between his legs. The Shadow Emperor, Scorponok Soon thereafter, Raiden battled Predaking again, with a raging volcano as their backdrop. The Headmasters soon became involved in the skirmish and, when Raiden briefly gained the upper hand on Predaking, they offered to step in so that the Trainbots could rescue the innocent villagers trapped at the base of the volcano. The Dormant Volcano Mysteriously Erupts

Or a cyborg ninja!

When San Francisco came under siege by a carnivorous alien plant, courtesy of the Decepticons, the Trainbots, Aerialbots, and Technobots responded to the emergency. The Trainbots combined into Raiden in order to engage Bruticus in an energy-sword duel, but as the battle went on, they switched opponents and started fist-fighting with Abominus while the Autobot Headmasters dealt with the vicious vegetable. Head On!! Fortress Maximus A little later, during a clash on Mars, Raiden helped Hardhead fend off a combined attack by the Decepticon Headmasters. Explosion on Mars!! MegaZarak Appears

After the Decepticons embarked on a quest into deep space to seek out new sources of energy, the Trainbots joined Fortress in following their foes. Raiden was formed on the Twin Star planets and did battle with Predaking. Battle for Defense of the False Planet He was also briefly seen on the planet Paradise, Head Formation of Friendship and took on Galvatron himself on the Pirate Planet. Mystery of the Space Pirate Ship

Or a thunder god!

Once the Autobots had returned to Earth, Raiden was next formed in defense of Autobot City as it was being attacked by Sixshot and Trypticon. He was intercepted by Apeface and Snapdragon, however, and was unable to assist Ultra Magnus and Metroplex in their fight. Ultra Magnus Dies!! Raiden was next seen battling Predaking on the Kamchatka Peninsula, as the Decepticons attempted to exploit the Pacific Ring of Fire. I Risk My Life for Earth That battle concluded with the expulsion of the Decepticons from Earth, and soon after, Raiden helped eradicate any traces of the villains that remained on Earth by joining Defensor and Computron in demolishing their now-abandoned Earth base. Miraculous Warriors, Targetmasters (Part 1)

When the Autobots learned that the Decepticons had withdrawn to the planet Master, the Trainbots joined the Autobots in pursuing them. After bombs planted by Weirdwolf damaged Fortress's battleship during a battle on Master, Raiden and Defensor were seen helping to repair it. Operation: Destroy the Decepticons

After the Transformers had all returned to Earth, the Trainbots formed Raiden for the final battle with Scorponok's Decepticons at the North Pole. He warred with his counterpart, Predaking, and was nearly crushed by the Battleship Maximus when Scorponok battered it away. In the end, Raiden lent his strength to the Headmasters' Head Formation, feeding Fortress Maximus enough power to overcome the effects of the crysmagnetal. The Final Showdown on Earth (Part 2)

Super-God Masterforce Master File

Due to the destruction of the space bridge network, Trainbots were assigned to watch over the actions of a secret team of Autobot Pretenders on the Earth. The Headmasters Now!!

Super-God Masterforce cartoon

Archive footage of a battle in space involving Raiden was used to educate the future Headmaster Juniors about the Master Wars. Birth! Headmaster Jrs

Train Wars

Oof ouch my trains.

Raiden was destroyed in a battle with the Nine Great Demon Generals, and while the Trainbots survived, Shouki felt responsible for their injuries and had his ability to combine removed. Train Wars: Shouki & Daniel Chapter

I want to tell you about the Transformers! This character article is a stub and is missing information on their fictional appearances. You can help Transformers Wiki by expanding it. The Train Wars: The Junction

While under attack by the Fallen, Shouki flashed back to Raiden's final battle. When granted a god-vanquishing cannon mode by the power of Vector Sigma to explode the Trainbots' darkest hour, Shouki named his new form after the dearly departed combiner before blowing up the Fallen good. Train Wars 2

TV Magazine comic continuity

The Headmasters comic

HI ZEN BUMBA LAAYYYY!!!

Responding to a distress call from their Beastformer allies on the planet Beast, the Trainbots merged into Raiden to deal with the Decepticons menacing the planet. Combining in mid-air, the united team allowed gravity to do the rest of the work as they delivered a shattering "JR Kick" straight to Predaking's face, taking him out of the fight. The Decisive Battle of Planet Beast!

Back on Earth, the Trainbots joined Daniel and the Autobot Headmasters in investigating a series of giant squid attacks. The Decepticons were laying in ambush with a giant robot squid, but the Headmasters responded by tying its tentacles in knots, and the Trainbots then formed Raiden to swing the swing the automaton architeuthis like a mace, flattening the other Decepticons. The merriment was soon interrupted by the arrival of the Decepticon Headmasters, but rather than join the battle, Raiden followed Chromedome's instruction to disengage and transport the hospital's patients to safety. The Headmasters #3

When Christmas rolled around, Raiden got into the spirit of the season when he joined the Autobot Headmasters in handing out gifts at a Japanese children's hospital, even going so far as to don a giant Santa hat and carry a huge sack. The Headmasters #6

The Headmasters story pages

Upon their arrival to Athenia, the Targetmasters set out to make themselves useful by offering their expertise to Fortress's existing troops. While the Trainbots could assume their train modes in a flash, when it came time to combine into Raiden, the big guy failed to live up to his name. The Trainbots began taking speed transformation lessons from the Autobots' new resident "Speed Coach", Pointblank, to get their super mode formation up to snuff. The Headmasters story pages

Super-God Masterforce comic

I'm afraid of the night! That's why I don't sleep next to you!

Several years after the Decepticons' expulsion from Earth following the final battle at the North Pole, the Trainbots were dispatched to pick up the new Autobot Masterforce that had risen to prominence on Earth, and bring them to Athenia so Fortress could transfer his position of Supreme Commander to their leader, Ginrai. Naturally, the Decepticons attacked Athenia during Ginrai's stay, and the Trainbots formed Raiden to fight back, only for him to wind up being cut down alongside Chromedome by a powerful blast from the combined Decepticon Scramble 7. The quick thinking of Ginrai and the other Godmasters managed to repel the Decepticons with a combination attack, and a battered Raiden survived to fight another day. The Battle Begins! The Earth-Space Alliance Army

The attack on Athenia had proven that the Decepticons on Earth had joined forces with the Decepticons in space, and so the Autobots elected to do the same to better fight their enemies. Soon after, when the leader of the space-based Decepticon forces, BlackZarak, began heading for Earth, the Trainbots, the Autobot Headmasters and Grand Maximus gave chase. They were unable to stop him, but luckily, no sooner had he arrived than Ginrai tricked BlackZarak and the Earth Decepticon leader Overlord into crashing into each other at speed, smashing each other up but good. Raiden and his allies cheered for Ginrai's success. God Ginrai's Amazing Divine Combination!

Kre-O online comic

Raiden was at Megatron's hanami party. Soundwave's Trap? Stop Operation Brainwash Humanity!

Transformers Go! Go!

I want to tell you about the Transformers! This character article is a stub and is missing information on their fictional appearances. You can help Transformers Wiki by expanding it. Shushupopo!! part 2

Games

The Transformers (PS2)

"I must consult with the Elder Gods."

Voice actor: Russ Veillard (English)

Raiden was a member of the large Autobot force dispatched the planet Zel Samine to prevent the Decepticons from obtaining the world's powerful Zel Quartz. As the Decepticons closed on the quart's resting place at the Enormous Laser Transmission Array. Raiden descended from the skies to bar their way. Unfortunately, he fell before the villains' combined assault and withdrew, though he could barely believe it himself. The Transformers

Toys

Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers

His real name is Jack.

• Shouki (Trainbot, 1987)

• ID number: C-125

• Getsei (Trainbot, 1987)

• ID number: C-126

• Yukikaze (Trainbot, 1987)

• ID number: C-127

• Suiken (Trainbot, 1987)

• ID number: C-128

• Seizan (Trainbot, 1987)

• ID number: C-129

• Kaen (Trainbot, 1987)

• ID number: C-130

Raiden is the combined robot form of the six Trainbots, released by Takara in the third year of their Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers toyline, as part of the Headmasters series. Originally part of the Diaclone: Car Robot line (and passed over by Hasbro for their Transformers toylines), each Trainbot transforms into a farcically-out-of-scale-for-the-line train engine.

Each Trainbot has a (mostly) dedicated location in the combiner: Shouki forms the upper torso, Kaen the lower torso (and head), Getsuei and Yukikaze can only form legs (though their nominal placements are as Raiden's right and left, respectively), and Suiken and Seizan form arms (nominally Raiden's left and right, respectively).

The six Trainbots were most commonly sold individually.

• More information on Raiden at TFU.info

• Raiden (Gift set, 1987)

• ID number: C-131
• Accessories: Left & right fists, chestplate, waist armor, back armor, 2 "Leg Beams", 2 "Wing Lasers", "Train Bazooka" rifle, 6 individual Trainbot guns
• Known designers: Kōjin Ōno (TakaraTomy)

The Trainbots were also made available in a big box set of six. All of the toys in this set are identical to their individual releases.

Shouki in Zone packaging.

• Shouki (Trainbot, 1990)

• ID number: C-354

• Getsei (Trainbot, 1990)

• ID number: C-355

• Yukikaze (Trainbot, 1990)

• ID number: C-356

• Suiken (Trainbot, 1990)

• ID number: C-357

• Seizan (Trainbot, 1990)

• ID number: C-358

• Kaen (Trainbot, 1990)

• ID number: C-359

The six Trainbots were re-released (without fanfare or acknowledgment in fiction) years later in the Zone portion of Takara's Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers line. These releases are nearly identical to the original 1987 versions, except these lack rubsigns, which had been phased out of the toyline a few years prior.

They were only sold in individual boxes this time around, with no complete-team box set.

Transform Jr

Revenge with a vengeance...

• Shouki / Seizan (Gift set, 1987)

• ID number: Trainbot Set 1 (トレインボットセット1)

• Yukikaze / Suiken (Gift set, 1987)

• ID number: Trainbot Set 2 (トレインボットセット2)

• Getsuei / Kaen (Gift set, 1987)

• ID number: Trainbot Set 3 (トレインボットセット3)

Smaller, simplified versions of the Trainbots were released under the Transform Jr subline in Japan, in three sets with two Trainbots apiece.

Weirdly, Suiken ended up primarily dark blue and cream rather than his normal dark green; this happens to be the colors of the original toy's Diaclone alternate deco, but it's also possible this was simply a case of the necessities of gang-molding forcing the color change, as all of the other Trainbots have their original/Transformers colors.

• More information on Transform Jr Raiden at a Japanese fansite

• Raiden (Gift set, 1987)

• Accessories: Left & right fists, chestplate, "Train Bazooka" rifle
• ID number: C-131

Once again, the complete Transform Jr Trainbot team was also sold in a complete set of six, each toy identical to the sold-as-pairs releases.

This set also includes an Autobot insignia pocket-clip included with many Transform Jr figures.

MPG

I am lightning... The Train Transformed.

• Trainbot Shouki (June 25, 2022)

• ID number: MPG-01

• Trainbot Getsuei (September 24, 2022)

• ID number: MPG-02

• Trainbot Yukikaze (February 25, 2023)

• ID number: MPG-03

• Trainbot Suiken (June 24, 2023)

• ID number: MPG-04

• Trainbot Seizan (September 30, 2023)

• ID number: MPG-05

• Trainbot Kaen (February 24, 2024)

• ID number: MPG-06

• Trainbot Raiden (February 24, 2024)

• ID number: MPG-06S

• Trainbot Ginou (September 28, 2024)

• ID number: MPG-07

• Trainbot Yamabuki (October 26, 2024)

• ID number: MPG-08
• Known designers: Kōjin Ōno (TakaraTomy), Dai Ono (Tomytec), Yuki Ohshima (concept artist)

Previously teased at the "A Railway Story In The Sky" exhibition on December 3, 2019 and later confirmed in a magazine interview^[1] with designer Kōjin Ōno in the March 2021 issue of Figure Ō, MPG Raiden is the combined form of the MPG Trainbots. Designed in collaboration with TOMIX, the train department of TakaraTomy's scale model oriented subsidiary Tomytec, Raiden's train mode is made to HO scale,^[2] which—whether or not intentional—puts the individual Trainbots at the right scale in robot mode with the Masterpiece figures, but leaves Raiden incredibly short by comparison, as the combined mode is approximately the size of a Combiner Wars gestalt. Further to that Raiden is especially top-heavy due to the mass of the torso/Shouki overriding the capacity of the pin and bar joints in his ankles, Kaen's scant contribution to Raiden lacking buttressing to the thighs, and- ironically for a combiner created entirely out of trains-slim areas of friction on the soles of his feet, all of which meaning Raiden struggles to keep himself upright unassisted.

The MPG Trainbots include accessories for Raiden himself in the form of the "Train Bazooka" of his original toy, the "Kōken" (光剣, "Light Sword") broadsword pulled from its appearance in the fifteenth episode of the Headmasters cartoon, and another lightsaber-esque weapon pulled from its appearance in the thirteenth episode packed in with Suiken, Seizan, and Kaen respectively.

Each Trainbot was individually released, one by one, for 20 months. Whoof.

Optional Generation 1 toy-accurate stickers for Raiden's chest plate were released by TakaraTomy as a promotion in Figure Ō's July 2022 issue.^[3]

The "Trainbot Raiden" release of Kaen comes with additional display stands for both Raiden and the individual Trainbots, a chromed version of Kōken, and a unique box with additional art of Raiden that allows storage of all six Trainbot's packaging in one box, as well as the display stands and chromed sword. The display stands are a desaturated orange compared to MP-57's much brighter orange.

Beginning in late 2024, MPG began introducing all-new Trainbots beginning with Ginou, a Doctor Yellow-themed reshell of Shouki packed with a "doctor's bag" that converts into a waist extension for Raiden as well as a new chestplate referencing Raiden's preproduction character model as seen in Diaclone catalog artwork. The Yukikaze retool Yamabuki soon followed, another Doctor Yellow based on the original Diaclone variant "Yellowliner" packed with a new faceplated head to convert Raiden into new combiner "Raiden Special Formation Shiden" (ライデン特別編成シデン) and complete the catalog look.

There are a few important notes for MPG Raiden owners. First is that when transforming Getsuei into leg mode as indicated in the instructions, attempting to bend the knee will result in any articulation being obstructed by the transformation sliders. TakaraTomy demonstrated how to articulate the knee properly in a video demonstrating MPG Raiden's articulation, by leaving the sliders uncompressed.^[4] Secondly, Raiden is designed to lean forward in an S-stance, as opposed to an MP-1 styled A-stance. Both Getsuei and Yukikaze's combined forms have intended articulation to accommodate this. Kaen's instructions simply demonstrate attaching the limbs, and not taking the extra step to stabilise him.

Another word of warning is necessary for the aspirant MPG Trainbot diorama builder: the set's adherence to vehicle mode accuracy proves something of a double-edged sword. While the MPG Trainbots adhere to a unified 1:87-ish HO scale, they do not adhere to a unified track width. In accordance with their real-life inspirations, Shouki, Yukikaze, Ginou and Yamabuki utilize standard gauge (true HO) tracks while Getsuei, Suiken, Seizan and Kaen utilize metre gauge (HOm) tracks. It is thus necessary to split the team up accordingly if one is to actually roll the danged things.^[5] The Trainbots also lack functional bogeys, leaving them unable to move around corners. Straight tracks only!

• Machine translation of the MPG Trainbots' bios

Merchandise

Transformers Gum

Revengeance.

• Raiden (1987)
  • Accessories: Left & right fists, 2 "Leg Beams"

Released as part of the seventh wave of Kabaya's Transformers Gum series of snap-together candy toy model kits, this simplified version of Raiden is molded in white, blue and grey plastic. Being that he is a combiner, Raiden doesn't transform like most other Transformers Gum models; instead, his limbs can disconnect and transform into train-mode Yukikaze, Seizan, Suiken and Getsuei (his torso is not capable of transforming, so Kaen and Shouki get no such love). The figure features no paint applications, but came with stickers to add detail, and a terrible stick of gum.

Super Collection Figure

Waiting for the ghost train(s).

• Raiden (2001)
  • Act: 3
  • Accessories: Stand

A three-inch tall PVC figurine of Raiden was available in the third Headmasters-centric "Act" of Takara's Super Collection Figure line. Like all the figures in the wave, it was available in both standard full color figure and colorless clear plastic versions, one of each of which was available in a standard case of twelve blindpacked figures.

In two out of every ten cases, the colored version of Raiden came packaged with the head and sword pieces for the wave's collectible Fortress Maximus "build-a-figure". These parts could be in either full color or clear plastic, packed at an equal 1:1 ratio.

• More information on Super Collection Figure Raiden at TFU.info
• More information on clear Raiden at TFU.info

Notes

• "Raiden" can be written as the kanji "雷電", meaning "Thunder and Lightning". It is an alternate name of Raijin, the Japanese god of thunder and lightning.
• Raiden had the preliminary name of Grandliner (グランドライナー). This name would later be used by Toei for another train combiner robot in the 1999 tokusatsu series Kyuukyuu Sentai GoGoFive.
• Raiden's on-package bio specifically notes that he dislikes Devastator, presumably a reference to the toys' shared origins as Diaclone combiners.
• Raiden's animation model is based on his Diaclone toy, rather than the Headmasters version of the figure, lacking as it does the orange armor plate added to the waist of the robot for his Transformers release.

Foreign names

• English: The Robot Train, Grimlock (Omni Productions dub)
• Mandarin: Léidiàn (雷电, "Thunder and Lightning")
• Russian: Neustrashimiy (Неустрашимый, "Fearless")

References

Gallery

• 

  Generation 1 cartoon character model

External links

• Diaclone Raiden at the Diaclone.net fansite (Japanese)