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Hi everyone. I was wondering if anyone knew where to acquire reasonably priced scale Japanese castle model kits. (preferably with english instructions!) or am I better off finding some plans and attempting to scratch build one?

Something like this this or this

Phototoxin wrote:Hi everyone. I was wondering if anyone knew where to acquire reasonably priced scale Japanese castle model kits. (preferably with english instructions!) or am I better off finding some plans and attempting to scratch build one?

Something like this [url=http://www.teachenglishinasia.net/files/u1/matsumoto-castle-japan.jpg]this[=http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/79/Nagoya_Castle%28Edit2%29.jpg/url] or this

Is that the castle in Kyoto? If so, been there!

Have you tried any japanese websites?

I don't speak japaneese!

Phototoxin wrote:I don't speak japaneese!

Not a problem, just add a translation pack to your internet browser of choice.

Japanese companies make tons of these sorts of models at varying scales and levels of quality. They are a mainstay of Japanese modelling. Usually these, dekotora, and lately models of the Hayabusa probe, get almost a whole aisle to themselves at any store with a model section I visit. Any model importer worth their salt should have a bunch.

In fact, a quick google of "model Japanese castle" takes me to Hobby Link Japan where they have a whole section of their store dedicated to them. Not sure about English instructions, but in my experience Japanese models tend to be very well-designed and well-diagrammed so they need minimal actual reading. As long as you're not buying one of those science model kits by Gakken (though they may have translations online) or one of the really detailed temple/shrine models that appear to have you construct the model using miniaturized versions of the actual woodworking bits used to make the real article.

Phototoxin wrote:Hi everyone. I was wondering if anyone knew where to acquire reasonably priced scale Japanese castle model kits. (preferably with english instructions!) or am I better off finding some plans and attempting to scratch build one?

Something like this this or this

A few places.

First, I'll direct your attention to Clan War miniatures game... Theres talk of them rereleaseing the guys again, but I don't have a good solid link for you.

There was a site with some resin scenery, think it was armorcast, where I saw a great looking table with full on japanese style stuff.http://armorcast.com/store/index.php?cPath=115_45/

The next site is over at Okko. This is a miniatures game from the comic book. http://www.okko-thegame.com/accueilanglais/http://www.okko-thegame.com/accueilanglais/index.htm They had a couple of links when the game first came out, but I don't know exactly who did thier stuff, but it was excellent.

maby a bit out of your price range bit I found one, interior etails too

http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10090055

Grot 6: Various vendors sell Clan Wars stuff again. CMON has them in their webstore, iirc.

Johira mentioned HLJ.

http://www.hlj.com/product/DYSDX-7
http://www.hlj.com/product/FUJ50056

These kits come in several scales so be careful to pick the best for your purpose. They are great for large scale historical wargames.

It will be difficult to find instructions in English, however as long as the parts are labelled clearly with Arabic numbers, you should be able to puzzle it out.

Here a German shop with an extensive range of castles, but all in a very small scale: http://shop.strato.de/epages/62531443.sf/en_GB/?ObjectPath=/Shops/62531443/Categories/47/166
Free paper models: http://www.sashimono.com/samurai_artikel_modellbau_canon_kartonmodelle.html

While the Okko range of accessories seems discontinued, you might be interested in these smaller Japanese houses in the correct scale:
http://www.johnjenkinsdesigns.com/28JAP.htm
http://www.hovelsltd.co.uk/oriental25.htm
http://www.grandmanner.co.uk/shop/prodtype.asp?strParents=&CAT_ID=76&numRecordPosition=1
http://www.fenryll.com/product.php?id_product=175
and, as mentioned, http://armorcast.com/store/index.php?cPath=115_45

WOW! Thanks guys .. I will have to digest this. It's just always been something I've wanted to make.

I'm pretty sure I recall Zvezda advertising a couple of japanese buildings to go with their 1/72 samurai releases. I've never seen them for sale though.

Never seen that. At least they don't sell Japanese terrain/buildings on their own Russian website (found some weitd SciFi things though while searching).

Is the intent to buy some of these castles, then get some same-era solider and protector models of the castle, and then introduce them to a classic horde of American zombies devouring them?

This may be of some interest. It has just turned up in HLJ's sale.

http://www.hlj.com/scripts/hljlist?SeriesID=232&Title=Build%20Historic%20Japanese%20Structures%20with%20Fujimi&utm_medium=itemblock&utm_campaign=TOP_page&utm_content=ibfuj50020.png

The buildings are all shrines or temples, however the roofs look the part and could be fitted up with walls and stuff to be part of a castle.

Kroothawk wrote:Never seen that. At least they don't sell Japanese terrain/buildings on their own Russian website (found some weitd SciFi things though while searching).

Maybe they were never produced. I pretty certain I saw them in a Pocketbond catalogue (they cover distribution of Zvezda, Emhar and various other manufacturers).