Hi Everyone,
That’s right! Actually my review is for the comparison for the Taisho figure kit sculpted by Ray Lamb which was first released in 1973 by Hinchliffe Models Ltd. and later in 1978/1979 the same kit was released by Calder Craft a separate division of Hinchliffe. In 1984 Hinchliffe was sold to Skytrex Ltd. The kit had gone through some changes and had re-engineered over the production years.
I am presenting in this review my focus on only the comparison some of the differences between the two releases and excluded the one release by Skytrex.
About Taisho and Hinchliffe Models Ltd.
Taisho was sculpted by Master Ray Lamb. He make his name known by winning in 1973 at the BMSS with his Chasseur à Cheval according to Gerricault.
It took Ray Lamb 12 months
working full time for the research and sculpted the Taisho master. It was released by
Hinchliffe in 1973. Hinchliffe was founded in 1967/71 in
In 1979 Hinchliffe formed Calder Craft as a separate division to be run completely independent of the parent company to ”introduce the world of military modelling to a far wider audience”. They produced mainly historical miniatures, with a small fantasy range package in blisters and full colour boxes.
In 1984 Frank Hinchliffe sold Hinchliffe to Skytrex Ltd. A manufacturer of predominantly historical naval ships and railway models. Around 1984 they took over production of the Hinchliffe ranges. In the early 1990s Draper Models a historical-only company that bought the Hinchliffe ranges from Skytrex Ltd. They later sold the range to Ellerburn Armies in the 1990’s. Ellerburn Armies later sold the range to Hinds Figures in 2008.
Hinds Figures is a historical-only company, run by Ian Hinds, that predominantly buy and sell second-hand miniatures. They produced the Hinchliffe ranges between 2008 and 2021? The Hinchliffe ranges were sold on to Lancashire Games and S&A Scenics. They share the Hinchliffe historical ranges and have set up a website in the name of Hinchliffe Models to produce the pre-1700 figures.
Frank Hinchliffe passed away in 2006, but his legacy lives on in the fantastic kits he produced. His wife Susan then ran the business until October 2012.
of September 1973 Military Modelling magazine
Taisho figure kit feature in the 1979 Calder Craft Catalogue
Details of the release:
Title: Taisho Japanese Commander 12th - 13th Century RLO/1
Scale: listed as 120 mm (1:16) Approx. 6 inches high, but looks more like 150 mm (1:12)
Sculptor: Ray Lamb
Manufacturer: First release by Hinchliffe Models. Second release by Calder Craft.
Release date: First release 1973. Second release 1978/79. Third release 1984?
Box art painted by: Ray Lamb
Material & no. of pieces: Hinchliffe Models -27 white metal parts. Calder Craft – ? number of white metal parts depends on the production years. Skytrex Ltd.- Not sure?
Limited edition: No, but out of production
Order from: My grey army
Taisho from my grey army
The three casting version of Taisho
An earlier casting by Hinchcliffe, later by Calder Craft and Skytrex.
The main differences are some of the Hinchcliffe parts were cast in two pieces for
example the kabuto’s hachi and shikoro, left arm, right arm and the leg piece. Also be aware some of the
right arm and helmet for the Calder Craft may also cast as one or two pieces. The earlier Hinchcliffe
castings were individually wrapped in royal blue purple tissue paper and for later release they were packed in layers of white foam sheet while the Calder Craft parts were in
blister pack on red or blue cardboard. There is a trade mark logo,
copyright and year engrave on one of the foot and also on the inside of some of the sode. They all come with colour
assembly instruction but some come with photocopy only. I am not sure about the 1984 Skytrex version.
Hinchcliffe Package View
Hinchcliffe Parts View
Calder Craft Red and Blue Blister Package View
VS Hinchcliffe's are cast on the hand
VS some of the Calder Craft’s (as one piece)
Hinchcliffe's Right and Left Arm casting (as two pieces) VS Calder Craft’s (as one solid piece)
Hinchcliffe's Leg casting on the left (as two pieces) VS Calder Craft’s on the right (as one solid piece)
A trade mark logo, copyright and year engrave on one of the Calder Craft’s foot
VS Calder Craft’s with RLO/1 and logo engraved on the right
Assembly instructions and painting guide
Final Thoughts:
I have been collecting Samurai figure kits for over forty years, Taisho Japanese Commander from 1973 sculpted by Master Ray Lamb is still one of the best sculpted, most historical accurate Samurai figure kit with the O-yoroi, the lacing, tachi, yumi and arrow case which were all sculpted prescisely and is on top of my list. Personally I prefer the Calder Craft later version mainly of the leg section and the kabuto which was cast as one solid piece to be a little easier to construct.
Regarding Skytrex release, I have never purchased or seen one. But apparently a PF member had mail ordered one back in 1991. He indiciated the figure kit came in a plain black box with no picture on the box but had a small RLO/1 label at one corner. Inside all of the castings were wrapped individually in white tissue and one plastic bag which kept the small castings, including the separate helmet. The legs were cast as one piece, and there was a round base included. The base was distorted a bit but the code number and the Hinchliffe copyright marking was visible.
Nowadays if you are looking to purchase one, evilbay could be one of your source or from some auction house. But be aware of high prices for a pristine condition kit and also there are recasts in the buy and sell marketplace.
Here are some listings from evilbay. I have also included picture of a recast.
Picture of a recast. No round metal base instead it comes with a press wood base, photo copies of the instructions and plain box with a copy of the original box art.
DO NOT BUY RECAST KITS!
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