These figures are designed to cover the Gempei War to the Ashikaga Shogunate. There are multiple different figures in each pack. This range will be expanded to cover Later Samurai types. All these figures are extremely well detailed and fit in well with other ones I have from different producers. These are really very useable figures and I undoubtedly will be getting a unit or two (?) for my collection and am really looking forward to the Later Samurai, which is my main period of interest. These are really a challenge to any painter and do look the part when painted, even to my less than award winning standard.
JP 1 Early Samurai mounted command. A general in most intricate armour and a standard bearer bare headed carrying a nobori, long banners.
JP4 Early mounted Samurai with bow. Very ornate figure loading his bow. Warrior looks a bit big for his horse but the detail is excellent.
JP6 Early Samurai foot command. Definitely my favourite pack. Five figures; one is a general indicating with his war fan, two other Samurai one with a no-dachi, extra long sword, and two standard bearers. One of the standard bearers is a samurai and the other a follower, both with nobori.
JP8 Early Samurai with bow. I received 3 figures in this pack, all of which are heavily armoured and two of them have elaborate helmets, with the third wearing a large cloth cap, eboshi. One figure is loading and the other two are aiming or just loosed their arrows. I would have preferred to see their stance more in keeping with the unique style used by the Japanese, as demonstrated in Turnbull’s book ‘The Lone Samurai’ pages 18 and 110. The quivers are cast separate so can assist the gamer in adding a bit of variety to the figures.
JP 9 Early Samurai with katana. There were 5 figures in this pack and on three of them the katana, long sword, appears too short but does not detract from the overall marital aspect of the figure. There are a good variety of stances and facemasks, which will be fun to paint, tips on which are in Turnbull’s ‘Samurai Warfare’.
JP10 Early Samurai with naginata. Two figures here and both without helmets, so I immediately took them to be warrior monks. One is advancing in a most businesslike manner whereas his comrade is lofting his naginata, the blade of which appears somewhat small for a glaive type instrument, and shouting out a challenge or war cry.
JP16 Followers with bow. Two received good figures, this time with quivers moulded on and again I would like to see the Samurai style of kyudo, archery, depicted.
JP17 Followers with naginata. Three figures all wearing the do-maru armour with eboshi caps and protective cheek guards. Good proportional poses. Turnbull’s ‘Samurai Warriors’, page 27 for a good painting guide.
Contact: Tel/Fax: 01767 314881. Email: gladiator@clara.co.uk
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