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I've seen and have been very impressed by recent releases of more historical warriors, vikings for one. I had just realized I always wanted to do an actual samurai army and wondered if the community had seen good plastic models being produced lately for this type of force. Thanks in advance.

There are none in 28mm AFAIK.

You could probably find some 1/72 scale but they will be soft plastic.

Samurai are a difficult selection in Ancients/Mediaevals because they go through several periods of transformation of troop types, weapons, armour and tactics while only every fighting two short wars against external enemies. So most of your historical battles have to be civil wars.

Ancients players have never been loathe to play completely unhistorical match-ups of course, however the companies currently doing 28mm polystyrene are concentrating on troops in the most popular genres such as late Republic/early Imperial Roman, and Graeco/Persian Wars.

This won't be what you're looking for, but the Heroscape samurai are easily some of the best pre-paints I've seen.

Rymafyr wrote:I've seen and have been very impressed by recent releases of more historical warriors, vikings for one. I had just realized I always wanted to do an actual samurai army and wondered if the community had seen good plastic models being produced lately for this type of force. Thanks in advance.

Perry makes them:
http://www.perry-miniatures.com/index2.html

Old Glory as well:
http://www.oldgloryminiatures.com/products.asp?cat=53

Dixon Miniatures makes them (though I'm unfamiliar with the company):
http://www.oocities.com/duncanis100/figures.html

That'll get you started. I've been thinking about getting into historical Japanese for some time, especially since Pery makes Korean (Chosun era) models; I could have a Japan vs. Korea battle ala Japanese invasion.

agnosto wrote:

Rymafyr wrote:I've seen and have been very impressed by recent releases of more historical warriors, vikings for one. I had just realized I always wanted to do an actual samurai army and wondered if the community had seen good plastic models being produced lately for this type of force. Thanks in advance.

Perry makes them:
http://www.perry-miniatures.com/index2.html

Old Glory as well:
http://www.oldgloryminiatures.com/products.asp?cat=53

Dixon Miniatures makes them (though I'm unfamiliar with the company):
http://www.oocities.com/duncanis100/figures.html

That'll get you started. I've been thinking about getting into historical Japanese for some time, especially since Pery makes Korean (Chosun era) models; I could have a Japan vs. Korea battle ala Japanese invasion.

Those are all metal...

Thanks for the info everyone. Well, if metal is all that's available, that's what I'd have to go with. Looks to be quite a large selection, so I shouldn't have to modify lot's of troops.

Cyporiean wrote:

agnosto wrote:

Rymafyr wrote:I've seen and have been very impressed by recent releases of more historical warriors, vikings for one. I had just realized I always wanted to do an actual samurai army and wondered if the community had seen good plastic models being produced lately for this type of force. Thanks in advance.

Perry makes them:
http://www.perry-miniatures.com/index2.html

Old Glory as well:
http://www.oldgloryminiatures.com/products.asp?cat=53

Dixon Miniatures makes them (though I'm unfamiliar with the company):
http://www.oocities.com/duncanis100/figures.html

That'll get you started. I've been thinking about getting into historical Japanese for some time, especially since Pery makes Korean (Chosun era) models; I could have a Japan vs. Korea battle ala Japanese invasion.

Those are all metal...

True enough; however, they are cheap enough. I guess I shouldn't assume that the OP wanted plastic just because it's cheaper (which is why I would prefer plastic over metal).

Here's a company that makes some nice looking samurai in plastic.
http://www.museumminiatures.co.uk/pages/index.htm (looks like a husband/wife team).

You need to decide the period and rules.

There are early/middle, and late periods. The late period includes arquebuses so it's normally played with Renaissance rules. There are also specific Samurai war rules, since most of the fighting was actually in civil wars.

Kilkrazy wrote:You need to decide the period and rules.

There are early/middle, and late periods. The late period includes arquebuses so it's normally played with Renaissance rules. There are also specific Samurai war rules, since most of the fighting was actually in civil wars.

Good point; however, I recommend a Chosun invasion army so you can face off against against Hwacha like the Japanese did in the battle of Haengju (Late 1500s).




Korea and Japan, my two most favorite places in Asia...

Edit:
If you're looking for rules, Osprey Publishing makes a series of books for the different periods of Japanese forces.

Zvezda makes 1/72 scale samurai in hard plastic. They have an infantry, command, and cavalry set. Here's a link to a site that sells them:

http://www.michtoy.com/michtoy_search_products.php?Types=Toy Soldiers and Miniatures&Material=Plastic&Scale=1/72 Scale (22.4mm or 7/8 inch)&Vendor_ID=Zvezda&Period=Samurai&action=listing

Regards,

V

Wow, I'm really impressed w/ that husband and wife team. I'd have to agree about deciding on a specific time period and ruleset, JIC I did decide to field them in a game. I'm not opposed to riflemen and I'd likely do something around the 1600 period.

I'm familiar w/ the Osprey books, it's been awhile since I perused them but I'd pick them up just to have as authentic an army as possible. I suppose I need to do a little more reading as well.

Those Zvezda figures look pretty nice!

The Zvezda figs are small though compared to even normal 28mm though. A friend of mine has some of their greeks for WAB/AoA and they are noticably smaller (25mm-ish).

I use a mix of The Assault Group and Old Glory for my Samurai army. I'm not overly happy with the OG figs but they are what they are (cheap).

Excellent feedback, thx!

Wargames Factory is considering them

http://wargamesfactory.lefora.com/forum/category/far-east-submissions/
http://www.wargamesfactory.com/league_fareast


Basically find a submission you like and commit to buy some (no money down). The original deal was when they hit 1000 pre orders they would make something but it's now being re-examined. be aware they are a small shop so although Sci-Fi Greatcoats hit a 1000 about a year ago they're only now coming out.

I think one of the Samurai submissions hit 1000 but I'm not sure.

I'd confirm the husband/wife team are still in service because their last newsletter was 2004.

interesting.... I may have to save this for when I start my Mad Jack for my samurai jack tyranid army.

YEAH THATS RIGHT! check it out