Go Figure Felix world of miniature figure modelling : November 2024

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

Do Parts Tree View

Tachi Saya, Ebira and Tsurumaki View

Hakama Parts Tree 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:

Samurai armour in the Kamakura Period (鎌倉時代) 1185–1333

Types of armour in the Kamakura period:

O-yorio armour (大鎧), Haramaki (腹巻)/Dōmaru (胴丸) and Haraate (腹当).

O-yorio armour (大鎧)

A O-yoroi (大鎧) 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.

Haramaki (腹巻)/Dōmaru (胴丸)

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).

Haraate (腹当)

The Haraate (腹当) was the simplest of Japanese armor and was used by the poorest of soldiers as it only protected the chest, stomach and both flanks. Higher class warriors would wear them as light fighting gear under their clothes. It is said to have existed since the Kamakura period.simplest of Japanese armor and was used by the poorest of soldiers as it only protected the chest, stomach and both flanks. Higher class warriors would wear them as light fighting gear under their clothes. It is said to have existed since the Kamakura period.

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.