Kuton Figurines - 1/9th Scale Shogun Bust

[macuk]

I am adding Kuton Figurines to the Scale Collectables website which are a highly detailed range of figures and busts in various scales.
One of the first sculpts to be listed is a 1/9th scale Samurai bust and it is superb, not only in sculpted detail but also the way it has been engineered to help the modeller paint such an intricate piece
Inspired by the new Shogun TV series the bust represents Yoshii Toranaga, Lord of the Kanto Region and one of the main protagonists in the show
The detailing of his armour and the likeness achieved to the character is spectacular and I can only applaud the sculptor for designing the modelso that the kit locks together seamlessly, allowing it to be painted in sub-assembles and giving access to all of the detail
There will be 2 variants available for the bust, one with battle damage and piercing arrows and the other without (shown in the pics of the printed model)
The bust comes in 9 major parts including two heads for helmeted or bare head options
The helmeted version stands at approximately 150mm in height
As with all models printed by Scale Collectables each kit is cleaned up before despatch so will be ready to paint virtually straight from the box
The pics below are of my test print model and my photographic skills really do not do the bust justice
I am concentrating on the Kuton busts at the moment and hopefully the full figures will be available soon

 

[gentleman in khaki]

This looks a fine bust. The parts look great, very clean looking, their hand finishing really shows. As for the quality of the likeness to the actor and that amazing box art...quite simply superb! I look forward to seeing the full figure.
Cheers,
Paul

 

[ometz]

Hai!

 

[Redcap]

What a fantastic looking bust. I have no idea as to accuracy (I leave that to the experts we have here at PF) but I would paint that any day. Quality of resin and cast looks superb as well.

Gary

 

[MalcC]

Oh Wow, this is on my wish list, what a superb piece of sculpting.

Malc

 

[VerSacrum]

Very cool. I wasn't aware there was a new Shogun series, need to check it out asap.

 

[Viking Bob]

Wow and I don't know anything about this period.

 

[Landrotten Highlander]

Very cool. I wasn't aware there was a new Shogun series, need to check it out asap.

is available on Disney+. They are now on episode 9 out of 10 (next week Tuesday is the last episode) and I found it very a interesting approach to tranlsate a well known novel into a piece of performance art. What I particularly like is that the view is more from the Japanese point than from the Western point (as in the novel). I recommend it...

Btw: I will be purchasing this bust

 

[gentleman in khaki]

Hi Versacrum.,
Please be aware that as far as I can assertion they are not going to make a series 2 for whatever reason. If I am wrong here I will be more than happy to be corrected. As far as I am able to assertion the original Chamberlain / Mifune is the only complete option. If true, it is a great shame as with the more modern production values it looks and is better. I am now bewildered as to why this is so… booking to see Hamlet and being turfed out after act 2 with no resolution! Madness! Just like their treatment of the Borgias with Jeremy Irons…
Cheers, Paul

 

[Landrotten Highlander]

True, the Chamberlain/Mifune pair-up appears more complete and at first glance closer to the book.
But I have found that in deciding to minimise the new series to 10 episodes (for whatever reason) AND changing the viewpoint to make the Japanese characters the main ones (while this Blackthorne character appears to be a bit more walking in there like a deer in the headlights) AND making sure that all the details are research thougoughly to make it as historically correct as they can make a fictional novel (even when loosely based on real life facts) it makes for a refreshing take on womething I am familiar with, having watched the original series at least once per year, and read the book every 5 years or so.
In the process they had to make some alterations to the original storyline (but in MY view not to the detriment of the story), but also incorporate some beats from the book that were not in the original series.
Will leave things here as I do not wish to spoil the viewing experience for those who have not yet watched but intend to do so...

 

[karlw]

A few decades ago I bought a full Samurai armour incl. the weapons at a Christies auction at London. So I have the real thing here at my home but it does not look like a sabre with the curved uptick as pictured here. The Samurai sword with it's elegant curve lines and slimness is not such a clumpsy affair as pictured here. Sorry, it's a miss for me.

 

[yellowcat]

A few decades ago I bought a full Samurai armour incl. the weapons at a Christies auction at London. So I have the real thing here at my home but it does not look like a sabre with the curved uptick as pictured here. The Samurai sword with it's elegant curve lines and slimness is not such a clumpsy affair as pictured here. Sorry, it's a miss for me.

I first came across the bust and full figure sculpt of Japanese actor Hiroyuki Sanada as Lord Toranaga in the FX Shogun series on Kuton FB. Overall excellent 3D sculpts with likeness of the actor and the sculpted Samurai armour looks the same from the TV series. The bust is superbly and cleanly printed by Scale Collectables.

There are a few things the sculptor could have done with more research before finalized the sculpt.
1. The Maedate the decorate fitting mounted on the kabuto helmet is usually made out of brass or some of them in wood, leather or even paper. The one in the show is of brass and the bust one is way too thick when compare with a real one.

Here is one of my Maedate that I have. Check out the thickness.

2. It looks like the sculptor is confused between a katana, a wakizashi and a taichi.
Lord Toranaga bust is holding a tachi but his second sword looks like a wakizashi. The curvature of the Tachi blade is wrong and the hibachi sword fitting looks weird and out of scale so as with the sword scabbard. The sword scabbard on the bust is for a tachi with the sharp blade facing down. If the scabbard is for a katana and wakizashi they should be facing up.

One of my Taichi to illustrate the blade curvature, hibachi and scabbard.

3. Samurai swordsmanship Kenjutsu hold the sword with the left hand at the bottom and right hand at the top no matter which is your dominant hand but the bust hands are in reverse.

The following images for the full figure are from Kuton FB, notice the hands position and the blade curvature.

 

[Richie]

Hi All,
Everytime I venture into Samurai I get my katana's chopped off. All I will say I have 4 Game of Thrones busts and the 24th Foot bust from
Mark and the quality and service is just superb.
cheers
Richie
P.S. Nice to chat with you yesterday Mark.

 

[macuk]

Thanks to everyone for your comments and it was really nice to chat with you yesterday Richie

Can I just point out the full figure print in Yellowcat's post is not by me and has been printed by another model enthusiast

 

[BESPJL]

A slight correction would be nice to this wonderful bust\figure

 

[Steve Ski]

That is an incredible likeness and the realism is superb. I love the paint work, top of the line work! Pretty awesome how the kit comes ready to paint, an extra bonus, IMHO!

 

[The Riveteer]

Great sculpting, no doubt about that. I "don't do"busts or TV/Film related subjects but i can accept errors if they are in service of re-creating a TV character. I have to agree (of course), with Yellowcat though. If Toranaga had drawn his Katana like that he would have had to turn his left hand completely backwards to do it (and probably sliced his own thigh doing it) or drawn it grasping the bottom end of the handle with his right hand (loosing any control over it's balance). Think about it!

Strangely I've seen this mistake before in Mindwork Games (fantasy) Samurai Girl which was based on a painting which made the same gaff. (she is loverly though!).

Another thing;- The model appears to carry the Katana and Wakizashi upside down (blade down). I've not seen the show although I've been told it's very well researched, (apart from a percussion handgun in one scene).
In one of Yellowcat's photo's it does look like they may have been using a Tachi with a wakizashi which would be acceptable; but the model doesn't.

On a side note, and although I respect Yellowcat's input extremely highly, maybe we all get too hooked up in what modern interpretations of what went on "in the day" tell us in Iaido and Bushido etc. I'm not so sure things didn't vary somewhat in some practical respects (injuries to the right arm during a battle for example). I found this clip recently in which some weapon re-enactors test out some widely believed "myths about the katana blade and flicking the blood off the blade "a-la" Shogun. Skip the intro to about three minutes in - Very interesting!



David

 

[yellowcat]

Another thing;- The model appears to carry the Katana and Wakizashi upside down (blade down). I've not seen the show although I've been told it's very well researched, (apart from a percussion handgun in one scene).
In one of Yellowcat's photo's it does look like they may have been using a Tachi with a wakizashi which would be acceptable; but the model doesn't.
David

A picture showing Japanese actor Hiroyuki Sanada as Lord Toranaga who is carrying a tachi in full armour and wearing a jinbaori. The second and third picture show the second sword is a Tanto.

Here is a comparison of my Tanto and Wakizashi.

 

[sd0324]

I feel sorry for anyone who tries to make and sell any Samurai figures.


Steve

 

[The Riveteer]

I feel sorry for anyone who tries to make and sell any Samurai figures.


Steve

Yes but most of us Samurai nuts are quite forgiving; we're probably still going to buy these models anyway (it's an obsession!). I just look on it as trying to get things right. It is a very complex subject with strict guidelines but there are plenty of suits of armour out there (Royal Armories anyone?), and photos of real sets of armour that sculptors can copy directly from.
I don't think German WW11 modellers are any less critical if a button is out of place or the wrong weapon is being used but maybe the reference sources there are more widespread.

Great model - buy it anyway - just thin the Maedate, chop off the scabbards and stick em on upside down -sorted.
As my wife's Mum youst to say "A blind man on a flying horse won't know the difference".

David