Hi Everyone,
Follow up from my previous Taisho VS Taisho review, here is my review of the Mounted Samurai release in June 1981 by Calder Craft a division of Hinchliffe Models Ltd.
Ad. in the Military Modelling magazine June, 1981
Details of the release:
Title: The Mounted Samurai PKO/3
Scale: listed as 120 mm (1:16) Approx. 220 mm high, but looks more like 150 mm (1:12)
Sculptor: Paul Knight
Manufacturer: Calder Craft a division of Hinchliffe Models.
Release date: June 1981
Material & no. of pieces: 34 white metal parts.
Limited edition: No but out of production
Order from: My grey army.
About the Mounted Samurai by Calder Craft
The mounted Samurai figure kit was sculpted by Paul Knight. Some of the Samurai figure parts were “taken” from the Taisho Samurai Commander sculpted by Ray Lamb in 1973. The figure kit weights 8 lbs/3.63 kg. One of the heaviest white metal kits in the figure market.
The mounted Samurai comes from my grey army in a sturdy colour cardboard box with parts housed in three blister packages which sandwiched between corrugated cardboard sheets for protection. It consists of 34 white metal parts of a mounted Samurai commander from the 12th to 13th century. He is in his O-yorio armour (大鎧) "great armour" and holding his yumi on his right hand ready for the battlefield.
Assembly instructions and painting guides
Final Thoughts:
This is a magnificent kit when built and painted. Although the Samurai figure looks very similar to the Ray Lamb’s, new parts have been sculpted for the mounted figure to be mounted on the horse and the parts breakdown is quite different.
Even for today standard, this is still one of the best sculpted and most historical accurate mounted Samurai figure kit. The sculptor had also done his research for the Japanese horse too. It is a pony size horse a Japanese Kiso breed.
Some interesting facts on prices over the years from the ads. in Military Modelling.
When it was first release in 1981, the price was £65, in 1991 £75 and in 1992 £95. I pre-ordered mine back in 1981 when I saw the ad. in Military Modelling from a figure shop in the
Skytrex version or recast
In 1984 Frank Hinchliffe sold Hinchliffe to Skytrex Ltd. I came across these kits some years ago on evilbay. Figure kit comes in a black box and also in a white box with a couple of colour photos. There is no colour painting guide only a back and white instuction sheet which looks like a photocopy of the original. I am not sure if it is a release by Skytrex or a recast. So buyer bewares.
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