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
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!
Totally agree with you Felix.One more insightful preview and one more disappointment for us samurai enthusiasts.Seems that the companies are trying too hard to produce visually stunning pieces but at the same time referring to the average-non specialist- modeler who just wants to have a "samurai-ish" piece in their collection.Rememebering that Pegaso once employed the impeccable Victor Konnov who knew samurai so well,it is a deplorable state of things that we are now
ReplyDeleteThank you Aris for your comment. If Pegaso could produce an inaccurate Samurai kit, there should be no differennce that they could easily produce an accurate one. I think the 200mm Genghis Khan kit was Victor Konnov last sculpt for Pegaso.
DeleteThank you Felix for your ever honest and impressively informed assessment on this subject. This really is a case of "all that glitters is not gold" by simply using an impressive paint job to lure in unsuspecting (like me) buyers for this piece. Many thanks. Gary
ReplyDeleteThanks Felix for this review. As soon as I saw this figure I was appalled that Pegaso would let such a product out. I have a feeling that various existing 3d artifacts have been added to the figure to speed up sculpting with no idea of what they actually represent. Why do I say this? Look at the long sword - I suspect it was originally intended to represent a katana in a display rack since the sageo cord (which would be undone and tied around the waist when wearing the sword) is still tied in an elaborate presentation knot for display and is on the correct part of the scabbard were it to actually be placed on display with the blade pointing up.
ReplyDeleteI am also trained in Iado and have no idea what on earth the figure is attempting to do with the wakizashi short sword? Why would he be using the short sword when the katana is in his belt, he clearly isn't indoors? Plus there is nothing he can do with the sword from this position other than a really awkward reverse handed cross body slash. If he flipped the sword around that would at least give him more control and power. Still doesn't explain though why he is holding out his left hand to have it cut by his opponent - no trained swordsman would ever do this. The whole pose, whilst looking very dramatic makes no sense whatsoever, even setting aside the hopeless historical inaccuracy.
Thank you for your comment. If the long sword is a katana, the sageo should be on the opposite side on top of the saya, closer to the koguchi scabbard mouth and not as shown in the finished sculpt. I think the sageo was a last minute add on by the sculptor and he had no knowledge where to place the saego correctly. So many obvious mistakes and is ridiculous to have it released.
DeleteYour detail of the armour and obitori/tachio etc. are amazing, Suky!! Congrats on your painting you must be very proud :D
ReplyDelete