U.S. Name: AIR RAID   Jap. Name: AIR RIDER

Cartoon First Appearance: Episode #57: The Key To Vector Sigma P2, Season 2, Sept. 1985

Toy Catalog Number: C-54

A quick comment:     Back to G-1: Review A-XIV      Teletran-1

The Aerialbots/ Superion was my 1st transformers combiner and had always been my favorite gestalts of all time followed by Computron and then Defensor.  I used to have him back in the 80's but somehow just lost it.  So now, I'm utterly excited to own him again despites it cost me a fortune, $CCL, from Ebay which arrived to me on Aug. Xv, Mmix. 

R-0 Original Air Raid's motto and tech specifications:  

Affiliate: autobots | Subgroup: aerialbots | Function: warrior | Alt. Mode: F-15 |

| STR 5 | INTL 7 | SPD 9 | ENDN 7 | RNK 5 | CRG 10 | FRPW 8 | SKL 7 |

Original G1 Air Raid's Motto:

"If you look first, you may not leap"

Original G1 Air Raid's Bio:

Prefers streaking into a cluster of Decepticons to shooting at them from long range... says, "that always sparks their wires a bit." Tactically, most fearless Aerialbot... just wants to have fun. Flies at Mach 2.5, range 1500 miles. Carries air-to-air heat-seeking missiles, uses torque rifle whose beam applies 80,000 psi of rotational force. With fellow Aerialbots forms "Superion".

NOTE-1: This review page is meant to give you some ideas about the figure and for nostalgic or sentimental purposes.  I hold no responsibility for your action.  These images were mostly photographed and scanned by me.  If there's a section or image that owned by you and I didn't give you credit, please Email Me and I'll make the correction.  Have fun.

- Click on the Thumbnails to view them at a Larger Scale -

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R-1 Air Raid/ Superion in its Original condition:

R-2 Pre-Applied Decals/ Stickers: 

There are 5 Pre-Applied stickers that had been applied onto Air Raid.  The first 2 stickers are the large strip along the main wing.   Sticker 3 and 4 are for the vertical tail fin.  Lastly, the 5th pre-applied sticker is the Autobot Rub Sign logo located near midsection of the jet near the right wing.

Superion Gift Set Sticker Sheet:

There are 42 registered numbering of stickers on the sticker sheet.  But in reality it's actually 60 stickers since some of the decals/ stickers are grouped or paired together and labeled it as one.  These registered numberings do not include the Pre-applied stickers.  

NOTE-3: The Superion's gift set sticker sheet is basically from the 5 individual sticker sheet of the Aerialbots but merged together by the black boundary line to form 1 large sticker sheet.  If you purchase the Individual Set, then you'll only get the sticker sheet of that particular character.

R-3 Smaller Aerialbots Guns - Confused?

As time goes by and the instruction sheets are no longer by your side, figuring out which weapons go to which transformers can be frustrated.  The smaller Aerialbots and their guns certainly fall into this category.  So, if you have this issue, hopefully the left image will help you resolve that problem.  Fireflight gun is the easiest of the bunch to identify because his gun is the only one to feature a double barrel.  The second easiest is Slingshot gun whose has the thinnest of the bunch, simple design, and hardly has detail.  Air Raid and Sky Dive gun are a little bit difficult because their design are very similar.  The main different is that Air Raid gun is sort of made up of 3 segments in contrast to the other 3 guns.  Air Raid's gun has a long barrel, follows by a rectangle shape, and another short rectangle shape.  The side of the gun is very plain.  Finally Sky Dive gun, in addition to barrel, the body of the gun has a shape like a pentagon.  It is the most detail of the bunch with lines and ridge as well as the fattest.

R-4 Air Raid in Vehicle Mode:

In vehicle mode, Air Raid is a F-15 eagle whose measurement is approximately 5 1/8 x 3 7/16 x 1 3/4 (LxWxH in inch).  His primary colors are black, white, and red with red and yellow stickers.  Air Raid cockpit canopy has a silver paint and not transparent.  The front landing gear is retractable while the two rear land gears are exposed out.  All wheels are plastic and operational.  The figure is solid and absolutely beautiful.

R-5 Air Raid in Robot Mode:

To transform from jet to robot mode, first lift and fold the cockpit canopy back to reveal the head.  Do the same for the tail fin to reveal the leg.  Next, merge the cockpit canopy and the rear tail fin to form a miniature jet.  Pull the lower leg out from the body to reveal the thigh.  For the last step, lift the arm out from the side of the jet to complete the transformation.  Air Raid looks pretty much like his cartoon counterpart in both mode.  The only articulation he has is just the shoulder.  He comes with a small black gun that can only be clipped onto his wrist rather hold it because the arms are too small.  All of the smaller Aerialbots share the same transformation, articulation, and looks.

R-65 Aerialbots + Metroplex = Super Metroplex:

If you didn't know, all of the Aerialbots can be merged with Metroplex.  As per instruction, first remove both Metroplex's knee caps.  Now, the smaller Aerialbots are to be attached onto Metroplex with Air Raid at the left arm, Fireflight at left leg, Sky Dive at right arm, and Slingshot to form Super Metroplex.  Metroplex city mode can be expanded into a bigger base by linking up with Silverbolt ramp mode (R-4).  

R-7 Die Cast Metal or Plastic Version?

From the best of my knowledge, the G1 Air Raid was always released in the metal version.  The plastic version that I am aware of are the G2 Aerialbots and the Knockoff.

R-8 Additional Parts Review:

To read the additional review on the individual Aerialbots components, click on the link below.  Otherwise, continue to R-10 on Air Raid topic.

 |  Part 1 - Silverbolt  |  Part 2 - Fireflight  |  Part 3 - Slingshot  |  Part 4 - Skydive  |  Part 6 - Superion  |

R-9 G1 Air Raid/ Superion Knockoff - Also On the Market!

The internet pictures on the left is a G1 Superion gift set Knockoff.  Depending who you purchase from, sometime the sealed box is shown without the stickers apply onto the figures.  This includes both the pre-applied and the regular stickers.  And sometime with the stickers on within the sealed box.  Since I don't have this knockoff, I can't give the full specification of the figures.    

For collectors and those that want to purchase genuine G1 Superion gift set, just know that there is a Knockoff version of G1 Superion gift set that is currently sold at many websites and sometime on Ebay.  I'm not talking about the Official Reissue Transformers released by Takara, Takara/Tomy, or Hasbro since those are authentic.  Unlike ordinary knockoffs where you can easily tell just by looking due to the differences in coloring, box, or material from the original, these latest knockoffs are an exact replica of the original from the box, to colors, to the toy itself.  What's scary is that someone could get fool by paying big buck and thinking it's the real deal when it's not.  Before you purchase or bid, just remember, if any G1 Transformers  mint in sealed box cost less than $100 and it's too good to be true it's usually not authentic.  And always ask the sellers before bid on Ebay.  On the other side of the coin, for knockoff fans and those that don't want to pay big buck for the real deal, then this is your best treat. 

Here are the lists of the G1 Transformers Reissue Knockoff that looks exactly like the original/ authentic one from the box, accessories, paper works, designs, to toy:

Autobots: Optimus Prime (3 versions: regular, clear/ transparency, and black), Sunsteaker, Wheeljack, Mirage (3 versions: regular, red, clear), Grimlock, Slag, Slug, Swoop, Snarl, Prowl, Red Alert, Sideswipe, Springer, Cosmo, Brawn, Powerglide,  Seaspray, Hubcap, Warpath, Bumblebee, Beachcomber, Cliffjumper (red, yellow).

Decepticons: Shockwave, Kickback, Bombsheell, Shrapnel, Cyclonus, Scourge, Gnaw, Octane, Reflector, Ravage/ Rumble (red), Frenzy (blue)/Laserbeak, Ratbat/Frenzy (blue).

Combiners/ Citybots: Devastator (3versions: regular,  orange, yellow gift set), Constructicons (set on card), Menasor (gift set), Superion (gift set), Defensor  (gift set), Metroplex, Metrotitan.

R-10 Rémy's Air Raid action figure review:

Manufacturer - Hasbro/ Takara.

Line, Series/ Wave: Generation 1 Line, Series 3.

Year Issue: [1986]  

Made: [Japan]  

Scale: [N/A]

Box or Card Dimension In Inches: [LxWxD]  - 13 3/3 x 16 x 2 13/16.

Packaging Method: Mint In Sealed Box.  The Superion gift set contents were packed with the following procedure:

Rest down on the Styrofoam container: "1" SST concorde jet, "1" F-15 jet, "1" F-16 jet, "1" FRS MK2 sea harrier jet, "1" F-Phantom II jet,  "1" Superion head, "1" blast shield (chest plate), "1" blast deflector (red waist), "2" fists, "2" foot stands, "1" ramp, "1" Silverbolt electrostatic discharger rifle, "1" Fireflight photon displacer gun, "1" Slingshot neutron rifle, "1" Skydive nega gun, "1" Air Raid torque rifle,"1" Superion instruction sheet, "1" gift set sticker sheet (see R-2 for closed up), "1" red decoder sheet, "1" 1985 toy catalog poster (Autobots side and Decepticons side), "1" reinforcement from Cybertron catalog, and "1" 1984 toy catalog poster.

Box Special Note: Front Box Appearance: Superion and Aerialbots art.  Back Box Appearance: 1985 battle scene with Silverbolt, Sky Dive, Fireflght, Slingshot, Air Raid, and Superion Tech & Specs beneath that.

Box Point or Robot Point: [4]  - This number can be found on the back of Superion gift set box next to the Tech & Spec. 

Approximately Toy Dimension In Inches: - Height Up To The Head: 3 6/16  Maximum Height: 4 1/2 (top of jet nosecone)  Width from shoulder to shoulder: 1 1/2  Maximum Width: 2 1/4 (Back of tailfin).  Dept: 2 1/4.

Toy Stamp/ Fine Print: - ©HASBRO' 85; ©TAKARA' 85; JAPAN

Toy Stamp/ Fine Print Location: - At the underside of the right wing.

Transformation Of Difficulty: [Easy]  

Material Durability: [A]

Toy Materials: Die Cast Metal: At the chest. Chrome Parts: None.  Rubber: None - all wheels are plastic.  Plastic: Main material.  Clear Plastic Window: None.

Stability: [-A]  

Fun Toy: [A] - As a transforming figure by itself and being part of the combiner definitely adds lot of playing value.

Negative Drawback - None.

Articulations:  Head: No movement. Shoulder:  Can be rotate 360 degree forward and sideway.  Arm/ Elbow: Cannot be bent.  Wrist/ Hand: No movement.   Hip/ Waist: No movement.  Leg: Cannot be bent.  Knee: Cannot be bent.  Ankle/Feet: Cannot be bent.

Rub Sign Logo: [Yes] - Near midsection of the jet toward the main right wing

Robot's Cartoon looks alike: [-A]  - Look pretty much like the cartoon. 

Vehicle's Cartoon looks alike: [A] - Same as previous comment.

Special Notes: Here are 3 special notes which I think you should know:

1 - If you're gonna purchase Fireflight, Slingshot, Skydive, Air Raid, always ask for the condition of the leg joint.  Due to the die cast metal on the upper body and the style of transformation, in time, Air Raid will suffer the compression leg syndrome.  In other word, Air Raid leg will shrink down and bury into his feet which will make him look shorter.  If you want to avoid the problem, then leave them in their vehicle mode. 

2 - All the smaller Aerialbots shoulder joints are easily loose made it hard for the arm to stay upright.  Don't forget to ask the seller about that.

3 - As the figure gets older,  Silverbolt/ Superion black feet tends to bleed or smear onto the smaller Aerialbot heads at especially on the side whenever you disengaging from Silverbolt black feet.  So those that has white head like Air Raid, Slingshot, and Fireflight the black paint is easily visible compare to Skydive which has black head.

Overall Grade: [A] - Air Raid is beautiful in both mode and he's a combiner. 

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