Mattel Raydeen

1st US Issue Raydeen in Box

Raydeen (Brave Raideen or Reideen in Japan) was my other favorite Shogun Warrior as a teenager. I think that the Egyptian style hawk-headdress really influenced my sense of design (I was already into the "art deco" thing but didn't realize that was what it was all about). That the figure could shoot a bird-like plane-missile ("delta wings") from its chest AND fire its fist makes it a must have. Like the other four initial release Shoguns, Raydeen had at least three, possibly four figure variations in the US (if one counts the bow-fisted version which made it to some oriental markets in the states, especially Hawaii - see figure above).

Raydeen First US Release

The first release has a very soft head which can be easily removed and stretched with heat. Many of the first release figures are found with stretched head sections. As with the other initial release Shoguns, the first release has the wheel trucks molded into the feet, rather than screwed on. The first release missile (called a delta wing in the instructions) is made of a softer blown-plastic than the later versions (which are molded hard plastic), and they are not interchangeable (later release delta wings will not fit on the pin mechanism in the early version chest - Click here for a comparison). The original Popy (aka Japanese version) has a bow on the shooting fist rather than an "iron cutter" and I've heard that this was available on some Mattel releases, however the only first boxed versions that I've seen have had the firing fist, so this is unsubstantiated (the fist could have come from a Japanese or other foreign version released through Asian markets in the US). The shield-fist on the first version is held together with 3 screws which changed to 4 screws before becoming a single rivet in the later versions.

Popy Brave Reideen (click to see the complete figure page)

First US Issue Raydeen Front
First US Issue Raydeen Head Detail
First US Issue Raydeen Side
 
First US Issue Raydeen Rib Sticker Detail

First US Issue Raydeen Back

First US Issue Raydeen Back Detail

First US Issue Raydeen Side

First US Issue Raydeen Shield Detail

Raydeen Second US Release

The second release tightened up the head mold with less pointy edges and harder plastic. As previously noted, the wheel trucks are now attached with screws, the delta wing is made of a harder plastic and the shield may be held together with 4 screws instead of 3. The most noticeable change is the overall height of the figure (about 1/2" taller) and the shape of the back-panel which now has hemispheres to each side instead of straight sides.

Second US Issue Raydeen Back Detail

Raydeen Third US Release

The third release further simplified the figure by removing the red plastic epaulets. The rib-area is simplified so that fewer decals are needed. The box reflects the changes in the "fist-shooting" inset in the lower right front (no epaulets) and also on the sides.


3rd US Issue Raydeen Front
 
3rd US Issue Raydeen Head Detail

3rd US Issue Raydeen Back

3rd US Issue Raydeen Rib Detail

Raydeen Rivet Shield Detail

Raydeen Comparison 1st US Issue to 3rd US Issue Top View

1st US Issue Raydeen Wheels Detail
2nd and 3rd US Issue Raydeen Wheels Detail
 
Comparison Raydeen 1st US Issue to 3rd US Issue Side View


There are two US box variations - one with the red epaulets and one without - you can recognize the second box by the printers codes on the front (and the lack of the epaulets.

1st US Issue Raydeen Box
3rd US Issue Raydeen Box



1st Issue Raydeen Box (no codes)

3rd Issue Box (codes)

Comparison 1st Issue Raydeen Box vs 3rd Issue Box Detail

Comparison 1st Issue Raydeen Box vs 3rd Issue Box Detail

Comparison 1st Issue Raydeen Box vs 3rd Issue Box Detail


The 1st US Issue box reads:
  • Shoulder Shield
  • Wrist Shield
  • Delta Wing Missiles
  • Arms Lower & Raise
  • Flying Iron-Cutter Fist!
  • Fist Spike
  • Leg Rollers
No Batteries! No Electricity!
CONTENTS: RAYDEEN warrior 23 1/2" tall, with flying iron-cutter fist, 5 delta wing missiles and accessories. Arms are detachable.
Comes FULLY ASSEMBLED.
Winged missiles not for use with all Shogun Warriors.
©Tohokushinsha
Distributed by Mattel, Inc. Hawthorne, CA 90520. MADE IN JAPAN. Manufactured by Bandai Co. Ltd.

The 2nd US Issue box reads:
  • Flying Iron-Cutter Fist!
  • Delta Wing Missiles
  • Flying Fist Trigger
  • Wrist Shield
  • Arms Lower & Raise
  • Trigger Button On Back
  • Fist Spike
  • Leg Rollers
No Batteries! No Electricity!
CONTENTS: RAYDEEN warrior 23 1/2" tall, with flying iron-cutter fist, 5 delta wing missiles and accessories. Arms are detachable.
Comes FULLY ASSEMBLED.
Winged missiles not for use with all Shogun Warriors.

©Tohokushinsha
Distributed by Mattel, Inc. Hawthorne, CA 90520. MADE IN JAPAN. Manufactured by Bandai Co. Ltd.

There's also an additional line of text: "Press arm trigger to launch fist. Press back trigger to launch rocket."


All Mattel images and captions are copyright Mattel and used without permission. All other content, including images and editorial, is Copyright © 1997-2017 John Eaton and/or contributors unless otherwise stated. If there are any comments or objections, please contact John Eaton, by clicking here.

2 comments:

Unknown said...

How much for both

Unknown said...

I played with mine so much and lived it, then a kid came over and stole it, was a traumatic experience to me at that time. I still remember. These were not cheap toys in the 70s either