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Author Topic: Samurai Miniatures: List of Manufacturers.  (Read 137612 times)

Offline carlos13th

  • Mastermind
  • Posts: 1348
Samurai Miniatures: List of Manufacturers.
« on: November 13, 2013, 10:15:54 AM »
In the process of creating a Samurai army and figured I would list up some of the manufacturers I had come across in my search for easy reference for myself and anyone else who is considering collecting them in the future. Feel free to comment any miniature ranges you have experiences with or add any I have missed. The prices below do not include shipping so that may affect the cost per miniature.

25mm-28mm-32mm (Ish)

Wargames Factory, Rising Sun: http://www.wargamesfactory.com/webstore/rising-sun/


Rough Price: 60p per Infantry 1.25 per Cavalry
Plastic multi part miniatures. Not the best quality in the world but they are good for cheap masses of units(Particularly ashigaru) . I quite like them some people hate them.
The range includes Yari Ashigaru (Pikes) and Missile Troops Ashigaru (Arquebus and Bows) and both foot and mounted Samurai. Be warned the horses heads look pretty bad in my opinion, and they are fiddly to put together.


Perry Miniatures, Samurai: http://www.perry-miniatures.com/index.php?cPath=23_38

Rough Price: £1.20 per Infantry, £3 per Cavalry
Great range of metal models. Including a variety of types of unit including historical commanders. Nice Ashigaru and Samurai as well as some themed pieces such as casualties, Daimyo's seated as if in a Camp or committing seppuku after being defeated. Good quality varied range.


The Assault Group: http://www.theassaultgroup.co.uk/store/home.php?cat=56&sort=productcode&sort_direction=0&page=1

Rough Price: £1.64 per infantry, £3.50 Cavalry
Earlier period Samurai to Perry or Wargames Factory but fantastic quality metal miniatures. The range is good if a little sparser than Perry. Their Monks are fantastic.


Warrior Miniatures: http://www.warrioronline.demon.co.uk/25mm/25sam.htm

Rough Price: £1 for infantry 2.50 for Cavalry
Metal miniatures. I have only seen one of the miniatures in person and it was ok not great. A bit loose on the detail. A smaller range than the other metals but may be worth while to pick up miniatures that other ranges do not have. No pictures currently on the website to help you choose.


Kingsford Miniatures: http://www.kingsfordminiatures.org/samurai1.html

Rough Price: £1.80 per Standard Infantry £3.60 for Special infantry (Bannermen etc), £5.40 per Cavalry
Good looking Range of metal miniatures, haven't had personal experience with them myself but they look great in the photos. This is another range that gives the Samurai the historically appropriate small pony like horses rather than larger western warhorses.


Black Hat Miniatures: http://www.blackhat.co.uk/online_shop/index.php?cPath=23_137

Rough price: £1 infantry, No Cavalry
Black hat produces a small range of metal miniatures mostly unarmed and ronin. They have a lot more character some others models such as Perrys so are great for Skirmish games or characters but maybe less useful to make up the bulk of an army. The quality to price rate is very good. I am looking forward to getting hold of some personally soon.


Old Glory, Samurai Katana: http://www.oldgloryuk.com/disp_items.php?c=133

Rough Price:80p for Infantry, £2.40 for Cavalry
Metal miniatures for a cheap price. Very few pictures on the website and what is there is small. Yari and Sashimo are not included in these packs.
Thanks to "Byblos" for the picture.


Dixon Miniatures: http://www.dixon-minis.com/shop/samurai-25mm/

Rough Price:£1.25 for Infantry £3 for Cavalry (1.75 for the horse, 1.25 for the rider)
Unique style meaning they wont scale with pretty much any other range. Large hands and heads. Very large range including some mythical creatures.


EM4 miniatures: http://www.em4miniatures.com/acatalog/Oriental_Blades__unpainted_.html

Rough Price: £1.50 infantry
Small range of Metal figures, some pre painted, some unpainted. They won't work great as an army but as individual hero's or unit leaders they will look good.


Kensei Miniatures: http://kensei.zenitminiatures.es/en/

Rough Price: £3.20 for infantry, £7 for Heros, £13.25 for mounted heros.
For more heroic looking than the above ranges. They look great though, may be good to add some variety and personality to your force, particularly if you have a Samurai theme army rather than an historical one.


North Star Miniatures (Ronin): http://www.northstarfigures.com/list.php?man=152&page=1

Rough Price: £2.5 per infantry, No Cavalry.
Created for the game Ronin. Come in a selection of Buntai sets including Sohei (Monks), Koryu (Sword School), Bandits and Bushi (Standard Samurai). They look like great quality miniatures not sure how they scale with other ranges.


Steel Fist Miniatures: http://www.steelfistminiatures.com Updated

Rough Price: £3 for Old range infantry. £15 for two cavalry, £15 for 4 infantry.
Available in pairs of character figures and various group packs at approximately £3 each. I'd guess you would use most of these as leaders and characters rather than rank and file. I understand they are slightly taller and bulkier than Perry but not hideously so. (Thanks to Elk101 for the information)




Steel fist have just brought out some cavalry and infantry with separate heads and sashimono allowing you to customise the look of your troops by mixing and matching different heads, bodies and sashimono.

Cavalry


New infantry


Bac Ninh miniatures, Boshin War: http://bacninhminiatures.blogspot.co.uk/

Rough Price: £2.20 Infantry, No Cavalry
Very Small ranger but great looking unique miniatures. A much later period than other ranges that I don't think anyone else has covered. Can see the western influence in the technology and the uniforms. Very interesting period.


West Wind Miniatrues: http://www.westwindproductions.co.uk/catalog/index.php?cPath=182

Rough Price: £1.50 for Infantry , £3.50 Cavalry
Another nice range of earlier period Samurai, typical boxy armour of the time. Range of heads you can buy as well that may work well for conversions of other Samurai.


Andrea Europe, Legends of the Samurai: http://www.andreaeurope.com/en/10/mrf/950/legends-of-the-samurai.html

Rough Price: £30 for character both mounted and on foot.
Probably the most expensive miniatures around these miniatures will likely stand a little larger at 32mm. They are a series of well known Daimyo's from the Sengoku Era such as Oda Nobunaga, Date Masamune and Uesugi kenshin. Each Daimyo comes with a version on horseback and another on foot. Probably more suited to a display piece than actual gaming but look really nice.


Wargames Foundry, Samurai Heroes collection: http://www.wargamesfoundry.com/our-ranges/samurai/samurai-samurai-heroes-collection-bcsam001/

Rough Price: £2 for Infantry, No Cavalry
Wargames Foundry has a range containing 5 different packs of 6 Samurai themed miniatures. Certainly closer to the Heroic Skirmish end of the scale than the historical army end. Still a nice looking range.


Museum Miniatures: http://www.museumminiatures.co.uk/pages/prod_samurai%2028mm.html

Rough Price: £1.60 Infantry, Cavalry £6.25 (With retainers)
Unique of Samurai and Ashigaru, they seem to be all unarmoured.



Eureka Miniatures: http://eurekamin.com.au/index.php?cPath=106

Rough Price: £1.70 Infantry
Small range of miniatures including some kind of rocket launcher.


42mm

Steve Barber Models: http://stevebarbermodels.com/

Rough price: £3-5 infantry, £10 Cavalry
Nice Range of larger models included one commissioned user Evilcartoonist of this forum. Very reasonable prices for the size and quality of the miniatures. They also sell a rule set.




1/72

Zvezda: http://samurai-battles.com/

Rough Price:20p for Infantry, 50p for Cavalry
Nice quality hard plastic miniatures. Decent stopgap between the more detailed larger 28mm models and the smaller 15mm miniatures. Decent for creating large armies for relatively cheaply. Zvezda are the only guys I have found in this scale, so bear that in mind when purchasing.


If anyone has experience with any other ranges and scales or has anything to add to what I have written please let me know and I will add it to the list.

Here is a comparison of a few of the miniatures I have mentioned.

EM4: Unarmoured Samurai > WGF: Ashigaru > Perry: Samurai > TAG: Monk > WGF: Ashigaru Kneeling > WGF: Ashigaru > Warrior Miniatures: Ashigaru

Scenery

28-32mm

Oshiro Model Terrain: http://www.oshiromodelterrain.co.uk/catalogue.html

Great selection of Japanese terrain and Scenery from LAF's very own JimBibbly. Primarily in Resin terrain includes a variety of buildings as well as other scenery such as Boats, Gravestones and even an outhouse. Seems to be intensely researched to ensure authenticity.

They also do scratch built commission work the image below is an example of this.



4 ground Pre Painted Japanese terrain: http://www.4ground.co.uk/Default.aspx?page=317

Pre painted laser cut terrain you build at home yourself, I head they are very easy to put together. At the time of writing they only have 2 available kits but they have more available for pre order.





Plastic Craft games, Fukei - Kensei Scenery: http://www.plastcraftgames.com/en/59-fukei-designed-for-kensei

Variety of Scenery made from a several materials such as foamed PVC, Resin and Cardboard. Seems very reasonably priced. Haven't seen it in person.
« Last Edit: April 30, 2014, 12:43:46 PM by carlos13th »

Offline Elk101

  • Supporting Adventurer
  • Elder God
  • *
  • Posts: 10509
Re: Samurai Miniatures: List of Manufacturers.
« Reply #1 on: November 13, 2013, 10:36:43 AM »
Good list!

There is also Steel Fist who do some interesting armour styles:

Steel Fist
http://www.steelfistminiatures.com

Available in pairs of character figures and various group packs at approximately £3 each. I'd guess you would use most of these as leaders and characters rather than rank and file. I understand they are slightly taller and bulkier than Perry but not hideously so.




Offline carlos13th

  • Mastermind
  • Posts: 1348
Re: Samurai Miniatures: List of Manufacturers.
« Reply #2 on: November 13, 2013, 10:43:32 AM »
I forgot about steel fist. They are fantastic.

Offline Conquistador

  • Galactic Brain
  • Posts: 4375
  • There are hostile eye watching us from the arroyos
Re: Samurai Miniatures: List of Manufacturers.
« Reply #3 on: November 13, 2013, 12:08:53 PM »
Not my area of interest but convert this into a  sticky?  (Though after two or three they become an irritant to me personally this has merit.)

Gracias,

Glenn
Viva Alta California!  Las guerras de España,  Las guerras de las Américas,  Las guerras para la Libertad!

Offline black hat miniatures

  • Mad Scientist
  • Posts: 965
    • http://www.blackhat.co.uk/
Re: Samurai Miniatures: List of Manufacturers.
« Reply #4 on: November 13, 2013, 01:19:14 PM »
We produce a small range in 28mm as well....



http://www.blackhat.co.uk/online_shop/index.php?cPath=23_137

Mike
Mike Lewis

Black Hat Miniatures
www.blackhat.co.uk

Offline carlos13th

  • Mastermind
  • Posts: 1348
Re: Samurai Miniatures: List of Manufacturers.
« Reply #5 on: November 13, 2013, 01:53:52 PM »
Thanks for reminding me. I especially like your Ronin. Plan to get some in the future when I can afford it.

If you wish to add anything to the description let me know.
« Last Edit: November 13, 2013, 02:01:05 PM by carlos13th »

Offline itchy

  • Mad Scientist
  • Posts: 686
Re: Samurai Miniatures: List of Manufacturers.
« Reply #6 on: November 13, 2013, 02:50:24 PM »
1st corps do a range including the 7 samurai   http://www.1stcorps.co.uk/online_shop/index.php?cPath=489_169_170&osCsid=3b33598d6c0eda7abba154a228b2a259

not seen them in the flesh for a long time so can't remember what they were like but they do have some pics on the site.

Offline Lowtardog

  • Galactic Brain
  • Posts: 8262
Re: Samurai Miniatures: List of Manufacturers.
« Reply #7 on: November 13, 2013, 03:38:14 PM »
Thanks for reminding me. I especially like your Ronin. Plan to get some in the future when I can afford it.

If you wish to add anything to the description let me know.

They are spot on for "Ronin" nice range of bandits and Ronin and the sculpting is great and price cant be beat I have the whole range and highly recommend them

Offline carlos13th

  • Mastermind
  • Posts: 1348
Re: Samurai Miniatures: List of Manufacturers.
« Reply #8 on: November 13, 2013, 04:11:48 PM »
Sadly recent health problems have reduced my income to £0 a month so I wont be indulging in anything new that doesn't come from trades for quite a while. I do really like them though so will pick some up once I am back on my feet.

Offline PF

  • Scientist
  • Posts: 225
Re: Samurai Miniatures: List of Manufacturers.
« Reply #9 on: November 13, 2013, 04:39:38 PM »
Wargames Factory, Rising Sun: http://www.wargamesfactory.com/webstore/rising-sun/

Be warned the horses look pretty bad.

Well, that's your point of view. Here's mine. Some details/ recesses might be too soft and difficult to paint but for me their proportions are much better than most manufacturers. I mean look at that Kingsford horse you posted... at 5,40 GBP... Perry's ones don't have good proportions either but at least they're cheaper and the riders too.

Some other horses and riders:

http://www.andreaeurope.com/en/10/mrf/950/legends-of-the-samurai.html

If you included fantasy ranges, the list would be much longer.
« Last Edit: November 13, 2013, 04:50:12 PM by PF »

Offline carlos13th

  • Mastermind
  • Posts: 1348
Re: Samurai Miniatures: List of Manufacturers.
« Reply #10 on: November 13, 2013, 05:12:37 PM »
I like the fact they are smaller like Japanese horses would be but the horse sculpts are certainly poor compared to the rider. There is a general habit of Samurai manufactures of making the horse to big though. You are right though I should clarify that anything in the post is just an opinion and others will disagree. I think its the faces on them that are the weakest.

The list is no where near complete yet. I will be posting up some fantasty lines such as Bushido and other scales as time goes on.

I have seen those Legends of the Samurai models and like them a lot. No idea how they scale with other manufacturers though, any idea?
« Last Edit: November 13, 2013, 05:27:38 PM by carlos13th »

Offline PF

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  • Posts: 225
Re: Samurai Miniatures: List of Manufacturers.
« Reply #11 on: November 13, 2013, 05:35:31 PM »
No, I had considered buying a couple of them but they went to the end of my "to buy" list when I realized I could make that guy on foot/ guy on horse with WF samurai for much cheaper (like 18). I might buy Uesugi one of these days because of his cowl.
« Last Edit: November 13, 2013, 05:37:03 PM by PF »

Offline carlos13th

  • Mastermind
  • Posts: 1348
Re: Samurai Miniatures: List of Manufacturers.
« Reply #12 on: November 13, 2013, 05:39:06 PM »
Uesugi Kenshin is the one I want as well.

Which guy did you make your own version of? Would love to see a picture if possible. Perry do an pack with a Kenshin, Masamune and Nobunaga for much cheaper, I haven't seen them painted but the price difference is quite large.

http://www.perry-miniatures.com/product_info.php?products_id=2298

Offline PF

  • Scientist
  • Posts: 225
Re: Samurai Miniatures: List of Manufacturers.
« Reply #13 on: November 13, 2013, 05:44:34 PM »
I didn't try to make a historical character. I mean, for me, it's pointless to try to redo historical battles involving thousands or tens of thousands of guys with only hundreds of minis so I play small skirmishes and Sengoku Jidai isn't really my fav era either.
Sorry for the confusion.

Offline carlos13th

  • Mastermind
  • Posts: 1348
Re: Samurai Miniatures: List of Manufacturers.
« Reply #14 on: November 13, 2013, 05:47:05 PM »
That makes more sense. Yeah I am considering using the Kensei mounted Sohei hero as my Kenshin. I am not trying to make full size historical battles (28mm is not the right scale for that) but I want my force to be Uesugi themed.

 

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