It also sounds like that's where the chest wing stores, so you choose between either the cockpit gimmick, or an inclusive transformation.

I knew the chest wing had to do something, though, because of how it's obviously jointed.

 

Are those trains the guys are holding in their hands actually the bot in vehicle mode, or something else?

 

If not actually Shouki, then a model in the same scale.

 

It sounds like, going by a post in this thread, that one of the trains being held is Shouki in his alt mode and the other train is a model train in the same scale from a line(?) that Tomix will be releasing along side the Trainbots.

 

Tomix is TakaraTomy's scale model line.

 

Don't think it mentions who is holding what, but pretty safe assumption that Shouki is one of the trains in hand. Also mentions Ono had to go back to adjust the robot size to fit with other masterpieces. I kind of have a better understanding now of how combined mode ends up so small seeing the in-hand picture of the train mode ?.
Definitely CHUG.

 

Do I need to post a pic of an HO-scale bullet train in my hand, for comparison to the article pic?  

 

Honestly, yes. I doubt I'm not the only one who has no familiarity with model trains. Them holding them in the picture was the first size relation I could establish.

 

I can do better when it's daylight, but for now this should suffice:


"HO-scale bullet train power car compared to hand of 6ft American male"

(technically a French TGV and not a Japanese Shinkansen, but closest I have in HO scale). 28m vs 25m long.

 

See, I was gonna say, clearly someone needs to get HQ models of all of Raiden's components and just, pile them all on top of each other in a vaguely super-robot-esque form. Clearly only this can end the scale discussions

 

That's almost impossible, due to the real locomotives being built to different gauges. They are incompatible with each other to such a degree that even dedicated model railroaders don't really have a common, good solution. (it only works in a cartoon!)

 

The interview was a bit of bummer for the lack of combiner informations, but now we can say for certain:

1) MPG subline is created to have a constant pipeline of components for the same combiner without interruptions
2) Raiden components are created to appeal the train model market, and maybe create a new transformers fanbase
3) Masterpiece scale is still a priority, the only exception we ever had is Ultramagnus, and Takara pointed at it.

 

What about combiner scale? Did they said something about it?

 

Nothing about combiner, they talked only about Shouki as single robot  

 

So, what's the general consensus regarding whether the MPG Raiden or MS Radiatron will be "better"?

 

That's going to be more a matter of taste than anything, I imagine. And budget.

If you value Combiner accuracy and scale above all else, then 3P. Blunted, G1-toy inspired alt modes, and individual robot modes take a lot of design liberties in terms of proportions and kibble management. That route is also less expensive.

If you value alt-mode accuracy and individual robot scale/aesthetics, then TT is closer. But they're 50-100% more expensive. TT Raiden is a lot more interpretive, with massive liberties taken in scaling and parts arrangement, prioritizing alt-mode accuracy above all else.

Verdict is still out on engineering/enjoyability. At first glance, TTs looks easier to handle, looking a lot less panel-y. But that's just first impression, and may not match real-life handling.

TT Raiden appears to have fully-integrated engineering, capable of storing away all the combiner parts and maybe even weapons (with partsforming option for cockpit seating), while 3P seems to at least tack on the combiner hands.

 

This, only one thing: we haven't seen the full Raiden combiner, and for scale, 3p is on 3p combiner scale, Raiden should be around 30 cm (and we don't know if this size will be the Takara combiner scale (individual components will be scaled correctly). In general, you can't have a correct combiner scale, should be something around Haslab Unicron, if not bigger.

 

Ok, I'm excited to get MP raiden but I have some doubts:
1. The one thing I'm really worried is clear parts as you can in the prototypes
2. Back kibble is huge but I can get used to it
Apart from that this figure seems to be promising

 

Think the Moon bots will be easier to transform individually, they look relatively simple and seeing the size of them don't have to be as "fancy" to get to bot mode. Takara is going to have to pull out some magic,so the limbs aren't toothpicks. This will probably be far easier for combined mode, like you mentioned less panel flipping, and wouldn't be surprised it conversion is reminiscent of the toy.

 

New set of promotional images.

https://twitter.com/TF_pr/status/1454002567093030913?s=20