TFW's Transformers galleries updates return with a look at something cool, exclusive, and Japanese! The Million Publishing Transformers Generations books have had one or more volumes released over the last few years, and the majority are accompanied by a mail-in exclusive toy, and today, we're taking a look at one of the Generations 2014 mail-in exclusives - here to share with you, a look at Generations Shouki!

For those not familiar with the name, Shouki was a character from the 1987 Japanese exclusive series, The Headmasters. He was a part of the Autobot combiner team, the Trainbots, and transformed into a bullet train. This Classics update of Shouki recreates that alternate mode - sans combination - using the Classics Astrotrain mold as a base. As with many of Takara's exclusives, the deco looks amazing, from the gradient on the side panels to the detail on the chest. Astrotrain's shuttle mode is explained away as Shouki going on an infiltration mission, masquerading as the Decepticon shuttle Thunder Arrow (better known in the west as Skystalker's shuttle).

Shouki also comes with a bonus Mini-con partner figure, who represents human ally Daniel Witwicky in a special exosuit that resembles Skystalker. This is a nice add-on, as Daniel can attach to Shouki's train mode to form a pantograph, to pick up electricity for the train mode from overhead lines (what this would do to Daniel is best left to the imagination). Daniel can also turn into a bow for Shouki to use in robot mode, which is a cool extra, though Daniel does not attach to Shouki's arm all that well (the arm guards / shuttle nose gets in the way) and the weight also tends to pull the ball-jointed shoulders down. It is a pity, because the effect does look good once posed.

Overall, Shouki is a nice package. While the extreme obscurity of the character will doubtless prove to be a barrier to many, it is a phenomenally nice deco which cleverly integrates the shuttle mode, and the inclusion of a Mini-con, while not perfect, is a nice addition. Check out the full gallery, linked below:

Million Publishing Exclusive Generations Shouki


Million Publishing Shouki Robot Mode


Million Publishing Shouki with Daniel in bow mode


Million Publishing Shouki Train Mode


Million Publishing Shouki Shuttle Mode


Million Publishing Daniel - in his Skystalker Halloween costume


Shouki, next to Classics Astrotrain

 

Where is this guy available at?

 

Pantograph idea is brilliant. Works well too.

 

Mail in exclusive when you purchase their junk

 

You can probably pick him up at BBTS or another online retailer.

 

I got mine from The Chosen Prime at TFcon back in July, you could also give them a try.

 

Who is shouki?

He looks great so I don't care i'll pick one up with goshooter

 

Shouki is the Trainbot team leader from the Japanese Headmasters cartoon. The toy originated as a Diaclone that Takara reissued as an Autobot Trainbot during the Headmasters series. The Trainbot team combines to form Raiden, of which Shouki is part of the torso.

They were a Diaclone six member team to rival Devastator's multi-colored precursor, Construction Vehicle Robo. The trainbots are the only Diaclone combiner that never saw a US release in the TF line, though some were sold here as Diaclones, complete with a piece of train-track and a tiny Diaclone man/driver.

Raiden (the Trainbots) is a rare, expensive combiner that has seen release only as a KO and is in desperate need of re-issue in the Encore line, or renewal in Combiner Wars (my own wishful thinking).

(pics courtesy TFWiki & Seibertron.com)

 

Wait so we buy the generations book then cut out the thing you use to get the thing then you mail it to whatever it goes and tyen they send you the figure or Am I completely wrong about what to do

 

pretty cool

 

Great write up and pics there. I used to hate this mold just because of how bland and colorless that Classics 1.0 Astrotrain looked. But damn, the colors on Shouki make all the difference there. All the bright colors really make him stand out in all his modes.

 

I love how Daniel looks like he's doing a faceplant in his "collector" mode

 

On bbts for $90. Lmao for a repainted Astrotrain and targetmaster. Awesome but EffIN outrageous

 

I remember that Minicon mold from PCC, packaged with Heavytread. Both it's legs broke off at the hips, though. Is this a common issue?

 

Ugh, I still want this. I got a great deal on Go-Shooter, but can't bring myself to drop $90 on this right now.

 

So ugly it could pass for a Platinum release!

 

Edit. He looks ok. I still need go shooter

 

Considering we're getting a new Astrotrain next year, this would be a good different character choice of character to have from the mold.

That minicon mold seems to be an improvement since he doesn't have clear plastic like on the original PCC Heavy Tread figure had.

 

Not crazy about the mold in general, but a really good re-use. May pick him up.

 

i'm the most impressed that the paint break up on this almost makes it look like a new mold...