Here is my quick review of Pegaso Models Srl for a preorder
of a 200mm 16th century Samurai warrior bust for the upcoming
World Model Expo in Versailles.
Please note this review is based on the bust box art pictures for the sculpted
detail and historical accuracy. I did not preorder the bust kit, so there are
no detail and close up pictures of the resin parts. The box art was shown on
social media on June 9, 2025 and the bust can be preordered from Pegaso website.
Screen shot from the Pegaso website.
Detail of the release
Title: Samurai Warrior, 16th Century
Manufacturer: Pegaso Model
Scale: 1/9, 200mm bust
Sculptor: Ivan Mata
Box art : Jan Soukup
Preorder price: Original price was: 70,00€. Current preorder price
is: 59,50€. With TAX 72,59€
From the box art pictures, the 16th century Samurai
Warrior is wearing his armour, carrying a tachi or a katana and wielding with what it
looks like a wakizashi with a reverse grip in his right hand.
Final thoughts:
I was hoping for an exciting new Samurai release from Pegaso.
At first glance of the box art, the bust has quite a number of parts which are
historical inaccurate and questionable.
Here are just a few examples of historical inaccuracies :
1. A Samurai warrior
from the 16th century should be wearing his tosei-gusoku (gusoku) modern
armour. The bust's kabuto is a mix of the o-yoroi and the tosei-gusoku or
something else. The sode (shoulder armour), kote (sleeve armour) and the tekko
(hand guard) which look completely out of wack.
2. Why is the
samurai wielding his Wakizashi?
3. Is the Samurai
wearing a tachi or a katana? The long sword which the samurai bust is wearing
looks more like a tachi because it is hung horizontally from the belt with the
sharp edge facing downwards and for a katana the sharp edge will be facing
upwards.
If it is tachi,
where are the tachi ashi (hangers), the saya-ito (scabbard wrap) and the tanto
is missing.
If it is a katana
why is the saya and saego are facing downward and not upward?
It looks like the
sculptor has zero knowledge on Samurai armour from different period and is confused between a katana,
wakizashi, tachi and tanto.
Conclusion:
This is a totally
disaster and embarrassment from Pegaso to approve and release for such an inaccurate
garbage of a Samurai bust.
Thank you for looking!
