Functionality with the changer is actually a pretty big reason for a lot of the design choices, I would think. Every individual mecha must have a separable component that's just about the size that would fit into a changer. Not to mention, that all of them must be able to separate at their carriages to form convincing trains in their own right. These two factors definitely limit the size and transformation possibilities of the mecha.

This is just me, but I really think we shouldn't dismiss the functionality of the train mecha as actual trains that can be lined up and customized to their individual carriages and engines. For example, looking at how the Yellow and Pink Resshas separate between the engine and carriage shows how an elbow is impossible. When you take this into consideration, I think they did a fantastic job with at least ToQOh (the only one I have experience with). Also note that ToQOh is a rare recent Sentai bot with no partsforming involved.

For me then, the gimmick is having each individual mecha be a train toy, a changer item, and part of a combination, and to manage all these three at the level they did is quite a feat of engineering, in my opinion. These three gimmicks extend throughout the entire line, and in fact are just as integrated, if not more so than Gokaiger's chest-opening gimmick or Kyoryuger's Zyudenchi gimmick.

I don't mind there being no elbow because articulation in DX toys isn't part of the deal and I don't subtract or add points for parts-forming with Sentai mecha because part-forming has been the deal since forever but I do think they could've done better with the overall designs of the toys.

Just look at Tank Train, who was sold separately as an auxiliary mecha. His gimmick in the show is a pretty common one (punches) but the toy shows that off by plugging in the two ends of the train and nothing else. To me, there's no excuse as to why they couldn't have a Gao Bear-style punching gimmick because I don't see how that would affect its functionality as a train.

I admit I am sort of selling short the fact that they're also train toys because of personal disinterest, but honestly I don't really think that's an incredibly notable gimmick that changes anything about the toys or create much difficulty in making them. Grand Liner and Kyoretsuoh both managed to do it and still have fairly good looking mecha plus they retained more involved gimmicks. The only other train that the ToQgers are comparable to as Travelion, who I also felt was lacking.

Thanks Starscream, I felt like I was being taken to the cleaners for a moment there!

I don't really get the functionality argument - I've never collected DX mecha so feel free to enlighten me - so did the other mechs with better combinations and robot forms have individual parts without functionality? I assumed the individual pieces could still be played with, had articulation and so on on all the other DX mecha?

So I fail to see how this has greater functionality that somehow forgives the shitty combination and a lack of a tangible gimmick?

While I agree, I think there's a missed opportunity here. I feel like there definitely could have been articulation since there are actually (at least on ToQ-Oh) "joints" at the part where elbows and knees are. But you're right, DX has usually been light on that.

Not a huge train buff myself, but I have to say, I underestimated the "fun factor" of having trains. Connecting them up and laying them on a piece of track, for example, is kinda cool.

http://i.imgur.com/GkNXwLY.jpg

Would be cooler if they came out with an actual motorized train and track set. It would save me the hassle of cutting one up to install a motor :)

I do agree that the auxiliaries thus far have not been the most interesting, but I like them well enough.

I don't think comparing them to Grand Liner and Kyoretsuoh, or even Travelion, would really work for the ToQger mecha. For one, those are not really train toys; they're more like robots who transform into trains. That's not really the same thing. Each of them is isolated, there is no ability to customize carriages and link up with more trains and carriages as you buy along the line. Train toys must be numerous in types of engines and carriages, customizable, and uniform in size across the line.

For ToQoh alone, I already have five engines and 5 carriages to play with, and I've already messed around with a few combinations. For example I got the Red Engine to carry the carriages of every other train while I use their engines to play with the changer. :D While the combinations of DieselOh are merely okay, I'm excited to get that Diesel to pull the carriages of everyone else by itself as a train.

I admit that a lot of the "robot" aspect of the ToQger mecha was compromised to satisfy the "train" aspect, and I can see why they initially said that this was targeted at train otaku as well. Still, no train Sentai mecha has ever done so well as playable trains, and I'm not sure any other toy company out there has done this. I guess it all comes down to whether the train gimmick is an important one for you. It's pretty big for me, so that's why I'm sold on it. :lol

Wow, your setup is awesome! :lol I would kill for a motorized engine and track set, and I have a sneaking suspicion Bandai is saving that for some exclusive release.

Well to say again that Deisel oh while not having the best design ever instill do like. I love trains and seeing Super Sentai, then Power Rangers doing train Mecha/Megazords is fun and lining them all up is what trains are sort of about, and replacing arms the morpher the change figures all look really fun so I guess this will be my first Sentai line.

We're less than 2 months in, have NO idea where this is headed and honestly, its a train sentai, the majority of what theyre going to be working with is rectangular blocks. I think people need to ease off the gimmick love and engineering and just accept this is the line now, next years may be better or worse, but thats next year, this is now. For the record, Im of the thinking that if i owned the morpher the noises wouldve driven me to kill myself by now.

I dont care whether people collect or dont collect the mecha, I do. I think its goofy, stupid, cheesy and all kinds of wrong, but im enjoying it so far. Its cheap, its doing the trick for me, and ive at some point owned pretty much every sentai mecha from the last 20 years, with several exceptions, but I dont feel the urge to compare everything. I get people want to bitch, fine. But please aware you can sound like a childish dick to those of us that dont feel the urge to vent colourfully at every reveal. Not knocking anybodies opinion, but if youre just going to hate, please step off now.

Id like to enjoy this line and collect it all. No doubt i'll sell the whole lot as soon as the show ends. Im well aware its not a patch on Kyoryugers mecha so far, or many other shows, but they could easily give us a G12 level cluster mech at the end of this, and i LIKE that idea so im sticking with it.

Now, my actual point. Im less interested in this form, I want to see the Cho combination, with the daft head and ridiculous shoulder cannons. On the whole though, looks pretty much as expected.

And please be aware that you come off as a hypocritical tool to people who come on a toy thread to discuss toys, both positively and negatively. Not knocking people who like saying one rude as hell thing and then immediately contradicting themselves, though.

I also collect DX mecha and some I love and some I hate, part of the reason I'm on this forum is to discuss said things and being called a "childish dick" for doing such things is incredibly uncalled for.

You do realize how hypocritical you sound, right?
"I'm not knocking anyone's opinion, but if you're opinion isn't my opinion, please don't voice it."

Knock it off people. Agree to disagree and call it a day.