Here's a fun one for my fellow Transformers fans

Don't be so sure about that.  I believe what is going on here is more than meets the eye...

It always cracked me up that comic book artists into the 80s never seemed to know that steam locomotives weren't used on mainline RRs since the 50s. I saw it all the time in comics growing up in the 70s and 80s where steam engines were operating like steam had never died on the mainlines...

Maybe it was just wishful thinking on the illustrator's part.

I'm more entertained by the thought that a whole train can be picked up and used as a whip!

Who knows, perhaps in the alternate universe where the Transformers live steam still rules the rails?!?!!  LOL

Maybe here in the US.  In Japan the trains progressed as they did in real life.  Such featured trains include:
• D51 (Excursion service)
• DE10
• EF65
• 153 Series
• 485 Series
• 0 Series
• 200 Series
• 500 Series
• 700 Series
• E4 Series

I assumed that the illustrator just thought that a steam loco would make for a more interesting picture. They must have done a real good gob tying on the air hoses for the consist to stay connected.

Um.....

 

Astrotrain was a space shuttle AND a steam engine. Besides the "good guys" we're driving around as a Red Peterbuilt, a VW , Two Lambos, a WW2 jeep, a Lanza, a Formula one, a rally Porche, a several Nissan 280Zs including a Police version. That group wouldn't cause a second glance at all.

 

Must have been fun for the crew!

Devestator made a visit to my layout a few weeks ago. He (they?) seemed to like the Williams B&O switcher and thankfully didn't destroy anything. I think he was just looking for Energon.

Silver Lake, Is that the Combiner Wars Devestator?

 

I've been thinking about buying him but I've also had my eye on one of the 3rd party versions and supposedly TakarTomy has a MP Scale version in the works.

 

It's funny how you can pick up the scale bug with model trains and then it will bleed over into other hobbies. I had a great argument with a friend recently who was telling me its OK to obsess over the details of a train because it's based on something real. But, Transformers are fictional robots that turn into cars so I'm crazy to be comparing details on two different versions while saying it's scale or not.

What I want to know is what couplers that train has to stay together like that!  I'm guessing its not the lobster claws.  They must have really done a good job at a LASH UP to get them to stay linked together huh?!?!  

I love it. I actually had this as a kid myself.  Also I looked for an Aerotrain a few times but couldn't find one close enough to O gauge to pull the trigger on buying one.

 

Check out the DX9 Version of Astrotrain. He's MP scale size and should be close to O Gauge. I want to get one next time I have some extra spending money.

 

Yup regular Combiner Wars Devastator not quite out in stores yet. I prefer this look to the SDCC version. One of my other hobbies.

I can see this thread kicking off another one: "Let's See Your Mechas!"  I'd start it if I had some to share.

I'm loving these nerdy sci-fi threads recently!

Gotta say, I'm enjoying seeing TFs showing up on here.  I abandoned my O gauge trains in 1984 for TFs and collected them for 25 years--then got OUT of TFs in 2009 and went back to O gauge.  If you're bored and have a couple of hours, please check out my TF collection here ... pics still in progress.

 

Here's a picture from the inside of Issue 35: 

 

 

And here's where it all started for me... everything from 84-85!

 

This episode's right up our alley!

 

(Note it's in three parts.):

 

 

 

How on earth did I finish my adolescence and not know about a Transformers team Bullet Train!!!

 

Actually Team Bullet Train is different from the Trainbots.  Team Bullet Train is from Transformers: Robots in Disguise which aired in 2001.

 

To expand on a previous post:

 

Trainbots (Headmasters):

 

"Shouki" (0 Series Shinkansen)

 

+

 

"Getsuei" (EF65 Locomotive)

 

+

 

"Yukikaze" (200 Series Shinkansen)

 

+

 

"Suiken" (153 Series EMU)

 

+

 

"Seizan" (485 Series EMU)

 

+

 

"Kaen" (DE10 Locomotive)

 

=

 

"Raiden"

 

 

Team Bullet Train (Transformers: Robots in Disguise)

 

"Railspike" (500 Series Shinkansen)

 

+

 

"Rapid Run" (700 Series Shinkansen)

 

+

 

"Midnight Express" (E4 Series Shinkansen)

 

=

 

"Rail Racer"

 

 

Here's the episode that introduces TBT:

 

 

Here is images of the bullet train combiner Transformer RailRace. In the US it was available for sale as three separate units and was also hard to find when it did come out in the very early 2000's. The train form size is near HO scale. The finished combined Gesalt is one of my favorite Transformers toys ever. 

 

 

As as far as othe transforming toys that form trains. The competing Gobots from the 1980's had two with train alternate forms. 

 

 

From a good bit later (really after my time) the Power Rangers had a season with train units that form giant robots. I picked up the big mostly black one at a flea market a few years ago. It seems near O scale but if it was ever converted it might have clearance issues.

 

Ah, always good to see both given I grew up watching Gen One transformers redone as Gen 2 and Shining Time Station. Trains, Transformers and wait how could Sonic The Hedgehog fit in? He has had a few run ins with trains, hm. Still good to see them again.

       
       


Search "Nankai 50000 Series".  It's beyond the scope of this thread, but it's a real train that reminds me of Sonic!

It would be cool to see some more pics of Bots and Cons taking over some layouts

Another one that can't spell "Peterbilt".