Mongol Warrior VS Mongol Warrior

Here is review the re-released of the Mongol Warrior of the Golden Horde (13th-15th Century). Since I have the original released kit in my grey army, I am presenting the review as a comparison between the original and the re-released.

New kit featured in VSL bulletin VO.16 No.10 October 2001

Re-released kit posted on PlanetFigure, Kit Maker and Armorama October 2022

Details of the releases:

 

Title: Mongol Warrior of the Golden Horde 13th-15th Century Mounted Figure

Manufacturer: VSL

Scale: 120mm

Sculptor: Traditional hand sculpted by Emmanuel Valerio

Material & no. of pieces: 39 light yellow tan resin, one piece of lead sheet

Order from: My grey army

Price: Listed in 2001 VSL bulletin as US$159.95

The original Mongol Warrior kit was first released in 2001 by VSL under the Legends & Lore Pinnacle Series which comes from my grey army. VSL/Bob Letterman retired in 2007 and sold VSL to MMD/Squadron and this kit was ceased production.

The original kit for this review comes in a full colour rectangle box with parts house inside 3 plastic bags. It consists of 39 yellow tan resin parts Included is a piece of lead sheet for the horse reins and a six pages instruction and painting guide.

 The model was superbly sculpted by Emmanuel Valerio of a 120mm mounted Mongol Warrior of the Golden Horde 13th-15th Century. He is helmeted, in full battle dress with his shield slung behind him to protect him. He is turning upon his mount, while in full gallop, to fire a parathion shot from his bow towards his enemy.

Title: Re-Released Mongol Warrior of the Golden Horde 13th-15th Century Mounted Figure

Manufacturer: Custom Dioramics

Scales: 120mm

Sculptor: Traditional hand sculpted by Emmanuel Valerio

Material & no. of pieces: 38 light blue grey resin

Order from: Customs Dioramics

Price: US$60.00

In 2018 the VSL Legends & Lore Resin Figures line/brand was purchased by Custom Dioramics from MMD/Squadron. Custom Dioramics re-released the Mongol Warrior kit in October 2022.

The kit arrived in its own white cardboard kit box with no outer box or foam mailer for protection. After removing the shipping labels, there is a white sticker paper with picture of the kit wrap around the kit box. The parts are housed in two zip lock bags. It consists of 38 light blue grey resin parts. A copy of the original six pages instruction and paint guide is also included.

Here are the casting parts.

Parts View

Head, Upper and Lower Body, Arms View

Helmet Ear Guard View

Shield View

Horse, Saddle, Stirrup and Rein View

Saber, Plume, Fletching, Bow Case and Quiver

Base View

Final Thoughts:​

​It has been twenty-one years since the Mongol Warrior kit released. The original kit was finely sculpted with details not to mention a nicely sculpted face too. Despite the mould pouring stubs, blocks, mould lines and flashes; overall the castings are sharp, crisp and clean. 

​In 2022 Custom Dioramics re-released this kit. The re-released kit is cast from the same master. The details match as on the original but casting is not quite the same. There are more mould lines and air bubbles on the casting parts. For the right hand, all five finger tips have air bubbles. There are also broken parts and mounting pins missing. The kit does not come with the base and lead sheet for the horse reins. The instructions indicate the straps for the horse reins and shield shoulder strap should be made of thin plastic styrene (not included). If you are unable to locate the original, the released kit is reasonable priced for you to consider.​

My Rating Summary

For VSL Original Release

For Custom Dioramics Re-release

About sculptor Emmanuel Valerio:

Emmanuel Valerio is a proficient sculptor, illustrator and author. He is very knowledgeable on the subject of Samurai. We lived in the same city. I bumped into him one late summer day in 2001 at a local hobby shop. He was very enthusiastic and excited to show the shop owner his latest casting of the Mongol Warrior of the Golden Horde which he had sculpted for VSL. He indicated he sculpted all his masters in Milliput using just a tooth pick. In recent years he does illustration on Samurai Heraldry, Battle Flags and Standards. 

Facts on re-released kits under licensed or original master purchased from previous producers.

1. Re-released kits are cast from new moulds that are made from original master.

2. Re-released kits are cast from new moulds that are made from original released kits where original masters were no longer available.

3. Re-releases kits are cast from original silicone moulds. Silicone moulds will shrink over the years in addition to wear and tear. Kits are usually a bit smaller (a quarter, half to one scale) when compare with the original kits.

A brief history of the Golden Horde

The Golden Horde was originally a group of settled Mongols and later Turkicized khanate who ruled over Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Moldova, and the Caucasus from the 1240s until 1502.

 At his death in 1227, Genghis Khan divided the Mongol Empire amongst his four sons as appanages, but the Empire remained united under the supreme khan. Jochi was the eldest, but he died six months before Genghis. The westernmost lands occupied by the Mongols, which included what is today southern Russia and Kazakhstan, were given to Jochi's eldest sons, Batu Khan, who established the Golden Horde, and subsequently a part of the Mongol Empire before its inevitable fall.

 The name Golden Horde is said to have been inspired by the golden color of the tents the Mongols lived in during wartime, or an actual golden tent used by Batu Khan or by Uzbek Khan, or to have been bestowed by the Slavic tributaries to describe the great wealth of the khan.

 With the fragmentation of the Mongol Empire after 1259 it became a functionally separate khanate. It is also known as the Kipchak Khanate or as the Ulus of Jochi. After the death of Batu Khan (the founder of the Golden Horde) in 1255, his dynasty flourished for a full century, until 1359, though the intrigues of Nogai instigated a partial civil war in the late 1290s. The Horde's military power peaked during the reign of Uzbeg Khan (1312–1341), who adopted Islam.

 The territory of the Golden Horde at its peak extended from Siberia and Central Asia to parts of Eastern Europe from the Urals to the Danube in the west, and from the Black Sea to the Caspian Sea in the south, while bordering theCaucasus Mountainsand the territories of the Mongol dynasty known as the Ilkhanate.

 The khanate experienced violent internal political disorder beginning in 1359, before it briefly reunited (1381–1395) under Tokhtamysh. However, soon after the 1396 invasion of Timur, the founder of the Timurid Empire, the Golden Horde broke into smaller Tatar khanates which declined steadily in power. At the start of the 15th century, the Horde began to fall apart. By 1466, it was being referred to simply as the "Great Horde". Within its territories there emerged numerous predominantly Turkic-speaking khanates.

 The final blow came in 1502 when the Crimean Khanate—with Ottoman patronage—sacked the Golden Horde's capital at Sarai. After 250 years, the Golden Horde of the Mongols was no more.

The Mongol Bow and arrow

The primary weapon of the Mongol forces was the Mongol bow. A type of recurved composite bow made from laminated horn, wood, and sinew. A wood or bamboo core is used to form the base of the bow. Hardwood or bamboo syiahs are then glued on each end and horn strips are glued to the belly of the bow. The back of the bow is covered with several layers of sinew and then a decorative and protective layer of leather.

Historically the composite bow used by Genghis Khan and his armies to conquer much of Asia and Europe in the 13th century. The Mongol bow was known for its incredible power and accuracy, and it played a key role in the success of the Mongol Empire and by the horse archers of the Mongol Empire.

The Mongols were skilled at shooting it while riding, which gave them the upper hand against ordinary foot soldiers. With a range of more than 350 yards, the bow was superior to the contemporaneous English longbow, whose range was only 250 yards. The shape of the Mongol bow was a flattened and curved shape of an “M”.

As the bow is drawn, the horn on the belly compresses in contrast to the sinew on the back of the bow which stretches. This layering of materials, as well as the curvature of the Mongolian bow, embodied it with great efficiency and power. Mongol archer would wear a thumb ring and drew the string with his ring while the index and middle fingers reinforced the grip around the sting, a method sometimes referred to as the “Mongolian draw.”

The Mongolian draw reduces the chance of the archer developing injuries such as "archer's thumb," which can occur when using the index finger to draw the bowstring.The thumb release allows the archer to draw the bowstring back faster, which is particularly useful when hunting or shooting from horseback. The Mongolian draw also offers a more consistent release, which leads to greater accuracy.

 

The arrows

Birch is a typical material for arrows. The normal length of an arrow is between 80 and 100 cm (30 and 40 inches), and the shaft's diameter is around 1 cm (0.5 inches). As for fletching, crane tail feathers are favored, but tail feathers of all birds are usable. Eagle feathers make a particularly prized arrow, but eagle feathers are relatively difficult to acquire.

Arrowheads can be everything from wide metal blades used for big game (or in war) to bone and wooden points, which are used for hunting birds and small animals.

National Museum of Mongolia, Quiver, Arrow Case, Arrows and Bow 15th-17th centuries​

Mongolian armour

Most Mongolian armour was of scale and lamellar variety. Most armour was made of hardened leather and iron, laced together onto a fabric backing, sometimes silk. Mail armour was also sometimes used, but was rare, probably due to its weight and difficulty to repair. Mongol archers demanded the armour be light enough so that when riding, it didn't interfere with their mobility.

Mongol lamellar armour

Golden Horde warrior's armour (left)​

Mongol mail hauberk 13th to 14th century, National Museum of Mongolian History

Mongolian horse

Mongolian horses are short and stocky, with strong legs and a large head. They range in size from 12 - 14 hands, they weigh about 500-600 pounds and despite their small pony –like size they have great stamina and can gallop for 10km without a break. As they live in a semi-wild state they have strong, hard hooves and rarely experience foot problems.
There are multiple types of Mongolian Horses that come from different regions. Each type has slightly different characteristics. There are no extreme differences between each type of horse, but there are some notable traits in each kind.

• Desert: Desert Mongolians have larger feet than average, which are often compared to a camel's feet.
• Steppe: Steppe Mongolian horses are the tallest of this breed.
• Mountain: Mountain Mongolians are short and especially strong.
• Darkhad: Darkhad horses are also extraordinarily strong. 

Since it is one of the most ancient breeds, the Mongolian's earliest origins are unknown. Throughout its history, Mongolians have been used for travel, horse racing, and war. Genghis Khan rode these horses into battle, and they were crucial to the 13th-century conquest of the Mongol Empire.

More References

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