Review PLAMAX Kamakura Period Armoured Warrior

yellowcat · Nov 17, 2022

Hi Everyone,
Here is my review of the PLAMAX 1/12 Scale Kamakura Period Armoured Warrior plastic model kit by Max Factory.

Detail of the release:

Title: PLAMAX Kamakura Period Armoured Warrior
Manufacturer: Max Factory
Scale: 1/12 approx. 130 mm in height
Sculptor: 3D scan
Material & no. of pieces: 33 styrene plastic in black, red and flesh colour
Order from: Amazon Japan

The Armoured Warrior kit ordered from Amazon JP arrives in a white sturdy cardboard box. The kit box is shrink wrapped onto a piece of cardboard and placed inside the white cardboard box to avoid any shipping damage. Inside the kit box are 5 parts trees housed in 3 sealed plastic bags. It consists of 33 injection molded colour plastic parts: 14 in black, 16 in red and 3 in flesh colour. The height is approximate 130 mm. It also comes with a 16 pages full colour instruction booklet.
The model kit is of a Samurai warrior from the Kamakura Period 1185-1333(鎌倉時代). He is wearing his red lace O-yorio armour (赤糸縅鎧) and wielding his tachi in a battle or fighting a duel. The round-shaped thing on the waist is a tsurumaki, which stores spare strings for the bow. Kamakura samurai are often described as “those samurai who value honour even if they take their lives.”

Here are the Parts Trees.

Parts Trees View

Head View

Kabuto Parts Tree View

Kabuto and Cords View

Sendannoita Board and Kyubinoita Dovetail Board View

Tachi Parts Tree View

Tachi, Sode and Kote View

Continued in the next post..........

yellowcat · Nov 17, 2022

..........Continued from previous post

Do Parts Tree View

Do and Kusazuri View

Tachi Saya, Ebira and Tsurumaki View

Hakama Parts Tree View

Hakama and Kegutsu (Fur Shoes) View

16 Pages Full Colour Instruction Booklet

Final thoughts:

The 3D scan kit by Max Factory most of the parts are superbly scanned with great detail except the fur shoes which could be done better. The parts are sharp, smooth, crisp and clean. The kit does not come with bow and arrows. May be the Samurai warrior has used up his arrows and that is why he is wielding his tachi. Overall a beautiful impressive looking kit and good value for the money. You can order the kit from Amazon JP which I think has the best prices.

My Rating Summary:

Finally, I am dismay and pity for those PF members who post cruel jokes and ignorant comments on Samurai due to their imprudence, inanity and lack of knowledge on the subject. This is my last and final review on PF. There will be no more review in the future.

Thanks for looking!

Felix

References continue on the next post

yellowcat · Nov 17, 2022

..........Continued from previous post

Armour in the Kamakura Period (鎌倉時代) 1185–1333
There were two types of armour in the Kamakura period: O-yorio armour (大鎧) and Haramaki (腹巻)/Dōmaru (胴丸)
A O-yoroi is a cavalry armour worn by samurai comprising in its basic form a kabuto (helmet), dō (cuirass) with kusazuri (multipart skirt pendant), and sode (shoulder guards). A significant feature of the O-yoroi is that in cross-section viewed from above, the body forms a letter C, as it is completely open on the right side. This type of armour flourished during the Heian (平安時代) (794–1185) and Kamakura (鎌倉時代) periods (1185–1333), gradually went out of fashion in the Nanbokuchō period (1336–92), and was revived in the Edo period.
The O-yoroi is obviously a bulky and heavy armour. It was also expensive. For retainers and lesser warriors, the dō maru and haramaki were developed. These armours had more skirt plates and fitted closer to the body, omitting the need for a waidate. The dō-maru opens under the right arm; the haramaki opens at the back.

Dōmaru (胴丸) armour was worn by foot soliders since the Heian period. The kusazuri (ptotective skirt suspended from the do/cuirass) was divided into eight sections to allow ease of movement. The deep overlapping right-handed edges of the do/cuirass are another feature of the dōmaru armour. This type of armour gradually replaced O-yoroi armour, as the style of fighting changed from mounted archers to foot soldiers armed with katanas in the late Kamakura period. Soon warlords began wearing this armour combined with large upper arm guards and a helmet. The name dōmaru was not used until the Euroku era (永禄)(1558-70). Before that time, it was referred to as haramaki (midriff-wrapper).

Kegutsu/Tsuranuki (Samurai Armour Yoroi Fur Shoes)

Short leather shoes made with fur (often from bears) in the believe that the animal's fierce strength could be transferred to the wearer. They were popular among high ranking samurai in the Heian period but rare by the 16th Century. The vamp is made of bear skin and the upper part of silk. The metal trimmings are made of pure gold.These smooth boots allow a warrior to dress up their combat footgear and make it fit into the rest of their armored wardrobe. They also add a bit of toughness to the outer layer of foot armor.

Ebira (Arrow case)

Tachi

A short WIP video

Decal sheet as shown in the video can be purchased from modelkasten

http://store.modelkasten.com/shopdetail/000000003825/

harto · Nov 17, 2022

Great review Felix, I also bought this kit, partially with a view to upgrading the head of my old Taisho figure which I always thought was a weak point. Thanks for flagging the decal sheet which I wasn't aware of. I sincerely hope this isn't your last review, I have learned a lot from you and your generosity in sharing your detailed knowledge is one of the things that makes this forum so great. I really hope you reconsider.

Nap · Nov 18, 2022

Hi Felix

That's is how a review should be done , and I also certainly echo Harto's comments that this isn't your last review , you've explained the kit really well

References are as always with your knowledge impeccably shown

Thanks for taking the time and hope we see your completed version if possible

Happy benchtime

Nap

Edorta · Nov 18, 2022

Top level cast in plastic, very good kit.

Military miniatures painted by Eduardo Garcia

BRAN · Nov 18, 2022

I don't know what problems you encountered for deciding to stop offering your very high quality reviews, both for the text and for the photos. I regret your decision but I respect your choice, it's a shame, I greatly appreciated your posts. Good continuation in your passion.

franck edet · Nov 18, 2022

PLEASE don't stop your reviews and comments about Samurai period ! don't bow down to a minority of morrons when the majority is waiting for your comments to learn !

Chrisr · Nov 19, 2022

Excellent review Felix. Very comprehensive and well documented. Keep them coming please.
Regards
Chris

Martin64 · Nov 19, 2022

Please put on those bearskin shoes and carry on with reviews like these - don`t give a s§t about trolls.

Cheers, Martin

Tommy Brown · Nov 19, 2022

Another colossus review!

There are quite a few trolls on PF. Some old ones and some new ones. We know who they are.
They got nothing to do and spend their days trying to fill up their empty souls with the pain of others.
So just slashed them out and keep doing what you are doing.

PF troll is trolling on PF Forums again!

Bundook · Nov 24, 2022

Why don't you guys ever reference your sources properly? I'd like to know what books the illustrations of the Kamakura period armour and the Tachi are ripped from.

yellowcat · Nov 24, 2022

Bundook said:
Why don't you guys ever reference your sources properly? I'd like to know what books the illustrations of the Kamakura period armour and the Tachi are ripped from.

For your information:

All my Samurai reference pictures in my reviews are from my collection since the late seventies. I have arranged the layout and categorized them in various PDF files. Previously, I have more than twenty volume of Samurai references in PDF files and all are available to PF members to download for free here on PF. But then I noticed some of the files were showing up on some pay to download website without my knowledge. Someone was making a profit from my free files. I decided to delete all my PDF files on PF which include Samurai references, Samurai auction catalogues, Rigo Le plummet and Conrad uniform plates and my oil painting guides.
Unfortunately you have missed the golden opportunity to download all my free files. I guess you have to buy your own books and do your own research and stop complaining. Happy research!

Here is my PDF file intro first page on Samurai fur shoes and straw sandals. This file has 85 pages, half of the file is on Kegutsu (Fur Shoes) and the other half is on Waraji (Straw Sandals).

Nap · Nov 25, 2022

Bundook said:
Why don't you guys ever reference your sources properly? I'd like to know what books the illustrations of the Kamakura period armour and the Tachi are ripped from.

Hi

Do feel free to do your own reviews as well

Look forward to seeing how they are presented

Nap

Aumakua · Nov 26, 2022

Excellent review, thank you so much!

Steve Brodie · Nov 28, 2022

WOW WOW and WOW thats an amazing library you have built up, Brilliant.

The figure can also be purchased in the UK via Comic Warehouse -https://www.comicwarehouse.co.uk/products/plamax-1-12-kamakura-period-armord-warrior-figure

C Child · Nov 28, 2022

Fantastic review. I very much appreciate the research and detailed information. Great stuff.

I believe that Model Kasten--the decal maker mentioned above--has also published a "how to" book in connection with this figure. I've looked for it on Amazon.jp, Ebay, and HLJ, but no luck so far.

I don't read or speak Japanese, so I'd appreciate any help from those who do in tracking down a vendor for the book, or perhaps getting its ISBN so I can search for it myself.

Thanks.

Chris

Eboracum · Nov 29, 2022

Steve Brodie said:
WOW WOW and WOW thats an amazing library you have built up, Brilliant.

The figure can also be purchased in the UK via Comic Warehouse -https://www.comicwarehouse.co.uk/products/plamax-1-12-kamakura-period-armord-warrior-figure

Although shows on preorder, I couldn't wait so went back to AmazonJapan. Received it within a week and with DHL it was still a lot less than the above

yellowcat · Nov 29, 2022

Eboracum said:
Although shows on preorder, I couldn't wait so went back to AmazonJapan. Received it within a week and with DHL it was still a lot less than the above

Amazon JP has better price.

Eboracum · Nov 29, 2022

Yellowcat,I am sorry that you are not going to post any more reviews and excellent information and knowledge n on here. It is a great shame that in this world we live that the thoughts of a minority outweigh the silent majority. There are many more members on this form who appreciate your posts than those who deride them. You have made your future plans clear to us all, and I appreciate the heads up rather than the posts just stopping, but I will continue hoping that you continue.

Nic

Review PLAMAX Kamakura Period Armoured Warrior

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