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Miniatures Adventure => Adventures in the Far East => Topic started by: Belgian on 01 July 2012, 08:23:40 PM

Title: Wargames Factory: 16th century Samurai Cavalry Review
Post by: Belgian on 01 July 2012, 08:23:40 PM
Hi, I have just finished a review of the Wargames Factory Samurai cavalry and can only say they are great, well detailled and well priced. The details of the miniatures has evoluted a lot since thier initial release and almost reaches the quality of Perry Miniatures and Warlord Games. As you can guess I'm really exciting about their future releases.

If you're interested you can find the review and a good scale comparison with five other plastic horses from othe manufacturers on my blog. If you have any further request or questions please shoot!  ;)

http://wargameterrain.blogspot.be/2012/07/wargames-factory-samurai-cavalry.html (http://wargameterrain.blogspot.be/2012/07/wargames-factory-samurai-cavalry.html)

(http://i779.photobucket.com/albums/yy72/Wargamenewsandterrain/IMG_4032.jpg)
Title: Re: Wargames Factory: 16th century Samurai Cavalry Review
Post by: OSHIROmodels on 01 July 2012, 08:36:11 PM
I must admit I really don't like these (along with the rest of the range).

Stiff poses, some of the details are still wrong and looking at them the parts don't seem to fit very well. But each to his own.

cheers

James
Title: Re: Wargames Factory: 16th century Samurai Cavalry Review
Post by: WuZhuiQiu on 01 July 2012, 08:47:08 PM
I think that the "sacks" on the horse sprues are supposed to be the horos.
Title: Re: Wargames Factory: 16th century Samurai Cavalry Review
Post by: Svennn on 01 July 2012, 08:51:43 PM
I cant be as harsh as Jimbob but I see where he is coming from.  They are nice enough for what they are but with better metal equivalents at not much more cost I shall not be tempted.

I am not one to be tempted by the "conversionability of plastic" so they do not appeal in that way either but must admit after seeing the skeletons combined with the infantry recently there certainly is potential.
Title: Re: Wargames Factory: 16th century Samurai Cavalry Review
Post by: Belgian on 01 July 2012, 09:08:10 PM
I must admit I really don't like these (along with the rest of the range).

Stiff poses, some of the details are still wrong and looking at them the parts don't seem to fit very well. But each to his own.

cheers

James

Thnaks for the comments

@Sven: I love converting and switching parts of sets and was particulary impressed by this conversion for the mash up contest.

http://wargamesfactory.com/Images/contest2012-mashup/winners/grand.jpg (http://wargamesfactory.com/Images/contest2012-mashup/winners/grand.jpg)

@WuzhuiQui: Thanks I have modified the post and added a useful link for asian warfare novices about the horo's. They were quite interesting pieces of body armou. I had never heard of them before and always thought they were sacks (but they looked so damned big  lol)

@Jimbibbly: The details are well defined but I cannot say I'm an expert and these details are also historical correct. Not sure about the fit of the pieces as mine seemed to fit exactly but I only assembled one warrior.

Best regards
Title: Re: Wargames Factory: 16th century Samurai Cavalry Review
Post by: Volleyfire! on 01 July 2012, 09:36:49 PM
I'm not completely sold on the horse. I'm not sure that the hindquarters are quite big enough and the neck looks kind of odd. It may be the way it's photographed, but the picture on the box makes the horse's head look slightly Manga-ish and the model seems to look the same.
Title: Re: Wargames Factory: 16th century Samurai Cavalry Review
Post by: joroas on 01 July 2012, 09:40:12 PM
Japanese horses were smaller than European ones, more like a large pony.

Is it me or is his shoulder guard upside down?
Title: Re: Wargames Factory: 16th century Samurai Cavalry Review
Post by: max on 01 July 2012, 10:04:17 PM
Nice review, wargames factory products keep getting better and better!
Title: Re: Wargames Factory: 16th century Samurai Cavalry Review
Post by: OSHIROmodels on 01 July 2012, 10:20:35 PM
The horo is to far down, it should be nearer the shoulders and John is right about the size of the horse, they were really tiny (the Perrys messed up on that one as well  :? )

The shoulder guard is just about right but it's too pronounced and the head of the horse looks like a Kirin.

I'll stop now otherwise I'll get carried away  ::)

cheers

James
Title: Re: Wargames Factory: 16th century Samurai Cavalry Review
Post by: Hubbynz on 02 July 2012, 01:09:23 AM
A massive improvement from their usual crap but posses are stiff and horses are terrible but they are heading in the right direction and should have some good releases in about 10 years time.
Title: Re: Wargames Factory: 16th century Samurai Cavalry Review
Post by: janner on 02 July 2012, 08:41:38 AM
The horo is to far down, it should be nearer the shoulders and John is right about the size of the horse, they were really tiny (the Perrys messed up on that one as well  :? )

The shoulder guard is just about right but it's too pronounced and the head of the horse looks like a Kirin.

I'll stop now otherwise I'll get carried away  ::)

cheers

James

I agree James. I just don't get it. It must cost them a fortune to get these to market and they consistently produce tat. If they got a decent sculptor, they'd dominate the market. As to price, why spend £15 for twelve of these when they are only half the price of Perry metals. I understand they urge to convert, but when the base material is so poor, where's the joy in that  ???

Based on the photos on you website Belgium, I struggle to see how they are even in the same post code in terms of quality as the twins.

Thank you for taking the time to do a review, but theyve quite put me off my breakfast  lol
Title: Re: Wargames Factory: 16th century Samurai Cavalry Review
Post by: Belgian on 02 July 2012, 09:26:43 AM
Thanks for the shedload of comments!  ;)

@Joroas: Thanks for the conformation of the smaller horses.

@Jimbibbly: I really needed to look that up "Kirin"  ;), that's fact but the heads are the worst part of the kit and that's a real bummer as the detail of the bodies matches that of the Perry Miniatures plastic horses both their ACW as Napoleonic sets

@Max: Thanks for the comment

@Volleyfire: Yes, the horse heads do mess up the general details of the otherwise great horse

@Janner: Half the price of the Perry ones, personnaly I think thats' a big difference especially for people who want to do larger games. A unit of twelve Perry Miniatures would look great but a unit of 24 Wargames Factory would just look amazing on the tabletop and that for the same price.

Btw: Sorry for spoiling your breakfast  ;)
Title: Re: Wargames Factory: 16th century Samurai Cavalry Review
Post by: Captain Blood on 02 July 2012, 10:23:42 AM
The details of the miniatures ... almost reaches the quality of Perry Miniatures and Warlord Games.

(http://i779.photobucket.com/albums/yy72/Wargamenewsandterrain/IMG_4032.jpg)


If this pic is anything to go by, I think you are being very unkind to Perry Miniatures and even Warlord...  ::)
Title: Re: Wargames Factory: 16th century Samurai Cavalry Review
Post by: Earther on 02 July 2012, 11:04:01 AM
Beauty is most definitely in the eye of the beholder…

 ??? ??? lol
Title: Re: Wargames Factory: 16th century Samurai Cavalry Review
Post by: janner on 02 July 2012, 12:43:49 PM

@Janner: Half the price of the Perry ones, personnaly I think thats' a big difference especially for people who want to do larger games. A unit of twelve Perry Miniatures would look great but a unit of 24 Wargames Factory would just look amazing on the tabletop and that for the same price.

Btw: Sorry for spoiling your breakfast  ;)

a·maz·ing   [uh-mey-zing]
adjective
causing great surprise or sudden wonder.

I would certainly be surprised quite a lot with someone putting so much effort in assembling and painting them ;)
Title: Re: Wargames Factory: 16th century Samurai Cavalry Review
Post by: einarolafson on 02 July 2012, 01:28:26 PM
Thank you! I find useful your review!! I have been thinking about buying some them.
Title: Re: Wargames Factory: 16th century Samurai Cavalry Review
Post by: max on 03 July 2012, 08:19:47 AM
Also remember that the pose is stiff in that pose, there are other ways to assemble them
Title: Re: Wargames Factory: 16th century Samurai Cavalry Review
Post by: OSHIROmodels on 03 July 2012, 08:50:40 AM
Having a close look at the sprue the joing between the torso and legs is flat so the only way to alter the pose is to rotate the body which still leaves the figure stiff.

Another thing is that all the sashimono are the same. How about putting a bit of variation in  :? Even if it's only changing the folds in the cloth. Same goes for the horo. And the horses tails

Sorry to keep banging on but they are not very good. Yes they are cheap, but you pay for what you get and they are not worth all the praise they seem to be getting (along with the other sets)  :-[

You can't polish a turd...

cheers

James
Title: Re: Wargames Factory: 16th century Samurai Cavalry Review
Post by: janner on 03 July 2012, 11:02:23 AM
They certainly seem a love 'em or hate 'em manufacturer.

Beauty, as they say, is in the eye of the beholder (luckily for you James  ;) )
Title: Re: Wargames Factory: 16th century Samurai Cavalry Review
Post by: max on 03 July 2012, 12:34:05 PM
Don't want to keep this subject dragging on, but...
You can't polish a turd...


I wouldn't say these are bad, but everyone to themselves. (Photo's not mine, it's from the WF forum)
Title: Re: Wargames Factory: 16th century Samurai Cavalry Review
Post by: white knight on 03 July 2012, 03:07:30 PM
That photo looks good, but most other pictures of them show a certain awkwardness in most poses.
Title: Re: Wargames Factory: 16th century Samurai Cavalry Review
Post by: OSHIROmodels on 03 July 2012, 03:10:33 PM
The figures may look good from a distance but the details of the actual models (especially the shoulder guards) is vertically none exist, for the most part it's been painted on. For the amount of money that's been spent on them in pre-production and production more thought and research would have gone a long way  :?

You are right that it's each to his own but the annoying thing is the amount of undue praise they are receiving.

Anyway, let's leave it there before it gets heated  :)

cheers

James
Title: Re: Wargames Factory: 16th century Samurai Cavalry Review
Post by: Commander Vyper on 03 July 2012, 03:15:20 PM
The figures may look good from a distance but the details of the actual models (especially the shoulder guards) is vertically none exist, for the most part it's been painted on. For the amount of money that's been spent on them in pre-production and production more thought and research would have gone a long way  :?
James

Unfortunately James, painted on detail seems to be a cross genre theme with these guys and their offspring... ;)
Title: Re: Wargames Factory: 16th century Samurai Cavalry Review
Post by: Belgian on 03 July 2012, 06:38:01 PM
I can't believe that the detail on the miniatures shown in the link are all painted on.  :?

http://wargamesfactory.com/announcements/matt-leahy-paints-samurai (http://wargamesfactory.com/announcements/matt-leahy-paints-samurai)
Title: Re: Wargames Factory: 16th century Samurai Cavalry Review
Post by: OSHIROmodels on 03 July 2012, 06:58:23 PM
Unfortunately James, painted on detail seems to be a cross genre theme with these guys and their offspring... ;)

Quite  :D

I can't believe that the detail on the miniatures shown in the link are all painted  :?

Given the example above the shoulder guards above have no detail, now maybe the painter swapped them for a plain sheet but I doubt it.

If WF did plastic nappies at the same level there would be uproar  ::)

If you like them, buy them and enjoy them  :)

I won't.

cheers

James
Title: Re: Wargames Factory: 16th century Samurai Cavalry Review
Post by: Calimero on 14 July 2012, 04:35:35 PM
... You can't polish a turd...

Well, apparently some people can… ;)

http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=42020.0
lol