In Box Review of Tamiya 1/35th Scale
Ancient Japanese Samurai Warriors
History Series
Item no. 49502
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: Unknown
Sells for $14.99 at one location on the web.
Item no. 49502
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: Unknown
Sells for $14.99 at one location on the web.
HISTORY:
In 1701, Lord Asano was ordered by Shogun Tokugawa to commit suicide ash he drew his sword against Lord Kira in Edo Castle, because he could not bear Kira’s insult against him.
Next year, 47 Samurai took revenge for their previous lord by cutting off Kira’s head.
These figures are 4 of the 47 Samurais. Costumes and arms are exactly the same as they were.
In 1701, Lord Asano was ordered by Shogun Tokugawa to commit suicide ash he drew his sword against Lord Kira in Edo Castle, because he could not bear Kira’s insult against him.
Next year, 47 Samurai took revenge for their previous lord by cutting off Kira’s head.
These figures are 4 of the 47 Samurais. Costumes and arms are exactly the same as they were.
THE KIT:
Tamiya is an old prolific plastic model manufacturer, based in Japan. They make all manner of plastic model kit subjects in the popular scales.
This kit comes in a shrink-wrapped, end-opening type box. I am no fan of this type of box, because invariably parts or the decal sheet will find their way past one of the end-flaps of the box to become lost forever. Give me a tray and lid type box any day of the week.
The box has two box arts. One on each side. There are 2 warriors shown on each side, that are standing and posed against an all yellow background.
Each man has a personal insignia on each side of the front of his chest.
The first warrior is bare headed, with his hair in a knot in back. He wears a black shirt, over a white vest. White shoulder harnesses, white cloths around his elbows, with Japanese writing on them. Brass lined gloves. Black belt with 2 swords under it. Blousy red bloomers that are bloused into black shocks, that are over brown sandals.
The sandals have a slot next to the big toe that has a strap holding the sandals on. He is pointing a long spear, held in both hands. His individual insignia on the front of his shoulders is a black square with a white circle that has a white horizontal bare in the center.
The second warrior, also is bare-headed, with his hear in a ponytail. He has a white scarf around his forehead, that has a black front with white Japanese lettering on it. White cloths around his biceps with black Japanese lettering on them. A white shirt, black jacket, white cloth belt-with 2 swords under it. Blousy blue bloomers with line-drawing white flowers on them, bloused over black stockings that also have the line-drawn white flowers on them, over brown sandals, held on the same way as they are on the first warrior. He has black woven covers on his arms. His individual insignia is a black rectangle with 7 small white squares on it.
Tamiya is an old prolific plastic model manufacturer, based in Japan. They make all manner of plastic model kit subjects in the popular scales.
This kit comes in a shrink-wrapped, end-opening type box. I am no fan of this type of box, because invariably parts or the decal sheet will find their way past one of the end-flaps of the box to become lost forever. Give me a tray and lid type box any day of the week.
The box has two box arts. One on each side. There are 2 warriors shown on each side, that are standing and posed against an all yellow background.
Each man has a personal insignia on each side of the front of his chest.
The first warrior is bare headed, with his hair in a knot in back. He wears a black shirt, over a white vest. White shoulder harnesses, white cloths around his elbows, with Japanese writing on them. Brass lined gloves. Black belt with 2 swords under it. Blousy red bloomers that are bloused into black shocks, that are over brown sandals.
The sandals have a slot next to the big toe that has a strap holding the sandals on. He is pointing a long spear, held in both hands. His individual insignia on the front of his shoulders is a black square with a white circle that has a white horizontal bare in the center.
The second warrior, also is bare-headed, with his hear in a ponytail. He has a white scarf around his forehead, that has a black front with white Japanese lettering on it. White cloths around his biceps with black Japanese lettering on them. A white shirt, black jacket, white cloth belt-with 2 swords under it. Blousy blue bloomers with line-drawing white flowers on them, bloused over black stockings that also have the line-drawn white flowers on them, over brown sandals, held on the same way as they are on the first warrior. He has black woven covers on his arms. His individual insignia is a black rectangle with 7 small white squares on it.
The other cover art shows the other 2 warriors in the kit.
The third one wears a brass helmet on his head. A black jacket, over a black skirt, that has a yellow dot pattern on it. A long white cloth scarf around his neck with black Japanese lettering on it. White cloths around his forearms with more black Japanese lettering on them. A white cloth belt, with 2 swords under it. Sandals are the same as the first 2 warriors. His individual insignia is a black square with what looks like a black letter S on it. He is armed with a long spear in his right hand that is resting on its end on the ground.
The fourth is bare-headed, with his hair in a ponytail. He has a white cloth strung around his forehead, a white shirt, under a black jacket, brass lined arm covers, white cloth belt with 2 swords under it. blousey olive green bloomers, with line-drawing flowers on them, bloused over black socks and sandals that are the same as the other 3 warriors. He is an archer and is aiming a bow and arrow. He has a bunch of arrows on his back that are tied together into a bundle. His individual insignia is a black square with a white circle, with a white flower in the center.
The third one wears a brass helmet on his head. A black jacket, over a black skirt, that has a yellow dot pattern on it. A long white cloth scarf around his neck with black Japanese lettering on it. White cloths around his forearms with more black Japanese lettering on them. A white cloth belt, with 2 swords under it. Sandals are the same as the first 2 warriors. His individual insignia is a black square with what looks like a black letter S on it. He is armed with a long spear in his right hand that is resting on its end on the ground.
The fourth is bare-headed, with his hair in a ponytail. He has a white cloth strung around his forehead, a white shirt, under a black jacket, brass lined arm covers, white cloth belt with 2 swords under it. blousey olive green bloomers, with line-drawing flowers on them, bloused over black socks and sandals that are the same as the other 3 warriors. He is an archer and is aiming a bow and arrow. He has a bunch of arrows on his back that are tied together into a bundle. His individual insignia is a black square with a white circle, with a white flower in the center.
Except for Tamiya’s office address in Germany and the history of the warriors on the end flaps of the box, all the text is in Japanese.
WHAT’S IN THE BOX:
This kit holds 2 chalk-white parts trees in 2 sealed clear cello bags,
The instructions consist of a single-sheet, printed on both sides, all in Japanese only. It is 16 ½” long and 5 ¾” wide-format. Folded twice to fit the box.
The face side shows a front and rear view of each of the figures.
This kit holds 2 chalk-white parts trees in 2 sealed clear cello bags,
The instructions consist of a single-sheet, printed on both sides, all in Japanese only. It is 16 ½” long and 5 ¾” wide-format. Folded twice to fit the box.
The face side shows a front and rear view of each of the figures.
The reverse side repeats the face views, along with a view of the bound arrows on the archer’s back and illustrations of all the uniform parts, weapons and accessories.
The large chalk-white tree contains: the parts of the warrior with a brass helmet, that is holding a spear. He is full bodied, with a separate right hand. Also the warrior that is an archer. He is also full bodied, with separate arms. Arrows, the bow, swords and spear etc. are also on this tree (30 parts)
The smaller chalk-white tree contains: the parts of the other 2 warriors (the spearman and man with samurai sword}. Both are full bodied, with separate arms and hands etc. (12 parts)
The detail is excellent. However, I don’t relish the thought of having to paint all that uniform detail. Also, Tamiya should have included a set of decals for the Japanese writing on the figures and English in the instructions. Bad move of not including them Tamiya!
Otherwise recommended.
Otherwise recommended.