Interrogations on Samurai armors

[Gregoire]

Hello !
I have recently aquired a beautiful miniature from Medieval Forge.
It's a samurai archer "Minamoto Tametomo".
I made some reserch it's a samurai from the XXII's century.
I found a couple of illustrations from that character.
But when it comes to the actual parts of the armor, I find it super difficult to find photos representing the same types of elements.
It may seem silly but some part I don't know if they are iron or leather or fabric...

Anyone got any clue about how to correctly paint this kind of figure?
From what I gather most people just paint them without any kind of historical accuracy.

Thanks for any tip you may have

 

[malc]

Hello Gregoire

Iron or Steel Scales (kozane): These small, lacquered plates were the foundation of the armor.
Leather: Used for backing the scales, connecting them, and for other components.
Silk: Used for lacing the scales together and for decorative elements.
Brocade: Used for the inner lining and decorative elements.
Precious and Semiprecious Metals: Used for ornamentation and attachments.

 

[Gregoire]

Thanks Malk
One of my main problem is I don't understand the intrications on the main armor, the sode for instance.
I don't understand how the artist made the lacquered plates connected.
On the photo you can see he made dots and then straight lines going down.
I have seen nowhere this kind of features. There is dots when the lacquered plates are empty and not laced together, but when they are laced I don't see any dots on any phtographical documentation I have seen so far.

So has the artist been lazy (which would be strange given that everything on the model seem thoroughly designed) ?
Or am I missing something?

 

[malc]

Hard for me to say but I would suggest that the dots represent some kind of riveting to attach the silk ect.

An expert on samurai armour would be your best bet.

 

[yellowcat]

For Minamoto Tametomo references check out the link HERE

 

[Gregoire]

A huge thanks!
Apparently unfortunately the miniature is full of errors and problems but your link is fabulous !

 

[Babelfish]

A huge thanks!
Apparently unfortunately the miniature is full of errors and problems but your link is fabulous !

Aren't they always?! (Samurai figures I mean)

Samurai are the German Tiger tanks of the figures hobby.

- Steve

 

[Gregoire]

No idea, it was my first samurai lol
I don't mind a few mistakes here and there. The problem on this one is I can't even find a reference armor that more or less looks like what the artist did.
A samurai armor is basically plates of iron laced together using fabric. Here I can't understand how physically the plates are linked together so I would not know how to paint them.

 

[malc]

On a personal note, if I could not find a reference for a figure I would just pick any from around that era a copy it.

After all when it's done no one will see it till I kick the bucket and the son in law bins it

 

[Shogun-Rod]

Hello Gregoire

There are many figures of samurai in various types of armour, and, not surprisingly, not all are accurate or have silly mistakes. I have not looked at this figure yet, so I will give some general comments and advice. The armour is of the style of a mounted samurai of the Heian Period (794-1185) known as Ō-Yoroi. With the amount of lacing involved, it was reserved for the more senior samurai of the time and in this period was to become highly decorated and colourful. Be careful with the selection of colours, the dyes available at this time were plant-based. Lacing was a great skill and took time with the purpose of making the armour flexible and protective. The chosen subject of Minamoto no Tametomo is interesting on several levels - one of which was his skill of archery and he fought with some effect in the "Hogen Rebellion" in 1156. The chest part (dō) has a thin leather, decorated covering (there are several designs used at the time) to prevent the bowstring from catching on the scales or lacing. A good, cheap source of information is Ian Bottomly's booklet: https://shop.royalarmouries.org/products/japanese-arms-and-armour-by-ian-bottomley
For more information on the armour for a start there is a free download from:
https://www.nihontomessageboard.com/articles/Samurai_Armour_Glossary_2013.pdf
It would also be beneficial to have a wander around the internet sites.
Best wishes with the research and the figure,

 

[Gregoire]

Many thanks Shogun-Rod !

I was doing that and trying to figure out what's what but then other people who seem to have vast knowledge on the subjet (and purchased the miniature themselves) dropped the painting altogether because there were too many problems on that specific miniature.
Not being able to understand what the sculptor was trying to achieve on the "Do" and "Gessan" parts, I'm about half way to abandon the project myself.