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Review Fukushima Masanori VS Honda Tadakatsu

Discussion in 'Reviews , Video Reviews and Open Book' started by yellowcat, Jun 15, 2022.

  1. yellowcat A Fixture

    Country:
    Canada
    Hi Everyone,
    Here is my two in one review of Warpaint Studio Fukushima Masanori resin bust VS Alexandros Models Honda Tadakatsu resin bust. Both are daimyos from the late Sengoku period and both are wearing their famous distinctive kabuto (helmet).

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    helmet combine6.jpg



    Detail of the releases:

    Title: Fukushima Masanori resin bust
    Manufacturer: Warpaint Studio
    Scale: 220mm (1:9)
    Sculptor: Traditional hand sculpted by ?
    Material & no. of pieces: 8 light grey resins
    Cast by: MRK Productions
    Order from: My grey army
    Price: First released in 2010 was 75 USD

    IMG_0012combine3.jpg

    The Warpaint Studio Samurai bust comes from my grey army. The limited edition kit was released in 2010 with different kit boxes. The kit for this review was from the initial release. It consists of 8 finely cast resin parts which packed in a ziplock bag and sandwiched with bubble wrap for protection. The model was excellently sculpted and cast of a 200 mm bust kit of Fukushima Masanori. He is in his jinbaori and wearing his distinctive peach shaped kabuto (helmet), which featured a pair of imposing water buffalo horns. Carved in wood, they are lacquered black and covered in gold leaf. Despite its weighty appearance, it weighs only 2,650 grams. It originally belongs to Kuroda Nagamasa (黒田 長政, 1568 -1623) a prominent military commander. The horned helmet was used as a symbol of reconciliation when Fukushima exchanged his peculiar Ichi-No-Tani kabuto (inspired by the famous battle of Ichi-No-Tani from the Genpei War back in 1184 that Minamoto Yoshitsune won the battle by climbing down the steep valley) with Kuroda’s as a testimony of their friendship when they were reunited after fighting. It was during the postwar period after the Korean Invasion. The helmet was returned to the Kuroda family in 1844.


    8-scale-samurai-fukushima-masanori_1_cb5cf6235137546b5fb42674acf6f58a (3a1).jpg 8-scale-samurai-fukushima-masanori_1_cb5cf6235137546b5fb42674acf6f58a (2a1).jpg
    FUKUSHIMA MASANORI 5a.jpg

    Ichi-No-Tani kabuto from Fukuoka City Museum, Japan.
    helmet47_la1.jpg


    Fukushima Masanori (福島正則, 1561 – August 26, 1624)

    Masanori_Fukushima1.jpg

    A Japanese daimyō of the late Sengoku period to early Edo period who served as lord of the Hiroshima Domain. A retainer of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, he fought in the Battle of Shizugatake in 1583, and soon became known as one of Seven Spears of Shizugatake which also included Katō Kiyomasa and others. In the Battle of Sekigahara between the Ishidas and Tokugawas in 1600, he sided with Tokugawa Ieyasu. Fukushima Masanori was made daimyo of Hiroshima after Sekigahara.



    Title: O/136 Honda Tadakatsu resin bust
    Manufacturer: Alexandros Models
    Scale: 220mm (1:9)
    Sculptor: Traditional hand sculpted by Myouchin
    Material & no. of pieces: 23 grey resins
    Cast by: ?
    Order from: El Greco Miniatures
    Price: Incl. VAT: £45.75, Excl. VAT: £38.13

    IMG_0015a5.jpg

    The Alexandros Samurai bust was ordered from El Greco. The kit arrived in a colour printed box which featured box art by Alexandre Cortina. It consists of 23 grey resin parts which are packed in two plastic bags and sandwiched with shredded paper for protection. The model was beautifully sculpted by Myouchin and cleanly cast of a 200 mm bust kit of Honda Tadakatsu. He is wearing his most famous suit of black armour featuring the remarkable 12 iron plates acorn-shaped bowl kabuto well known for its distinctive wakidate ("side crests") in the form of a deer's antlers, probably made of lacquered papier-mâché on wood, and was called the "Mitsumatakazuno" ("three-branched deerhorn helmet") with Shikami monster headerboard and a large gilt-wood Buddhist rosary slung over one shoulder on his body armour.
    271716285_4976115172451086_5333686573354552328_n1.jpg 272026561_4976115399117730_8701665337440807557_n1.jpg 272008171_4976115732451030_6573944516165685504_n1.jpg


    Honda Tadakatsu (本多 忠勝, March 17, 1548 – December 3, 1610)

    Portrait-Honda-Tadakatsu2.jpg

    A Japanese samurai, general and daimyo of the late Sengoku through early Edo periods, who served Tokugawa Ieyasu. Honda Tadakatsu was one of the Tokugawa Four Heavenly Kings along with Ii Naomasa, Sakakibara Yasumasa and Sakai Tadatsugu. He was called a “samurai among samurai” by Oda Nobunaga. Honda Tadakatsu was 57 years-old when he took part in the Battle of Sekigahara, commanding just 500 samurai on the field that day. In a charge on the Shimazu clan war camp, Tadakatsu’s horse was felled from under him by a volley of arrows. Tadakatsu too crashed to the earth unhurt. Pausing only momentarily to offer a brief prayer for his fallen horse, he then took the reigns from one of his captains and continued to fight. Honda Tadakatsu also referred to as "The Warrior who surpassed Death itself" because he never once suffered a significant wound, despite being the veteran of over 57 battles by the end of his life and because he was never defeated by another samurai. He died in Edo in 1610, having cut his own hand during some woodcarving. Watching his blood flow from a blade wound for the first time.


    Now for the Parts View
    IMG_0078.JPG


    IMG_0089b.jpg

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    Kabuto View IMG_0438j.jpg


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    IMG_0456b.jpg

    Head View head combine9c.jpg


    Continued in the next post..........
    Babelfish, Redcap, Martin64 and 2 others like this.
  2. yellowcat A Fixture

    Country:
    Canada
    ..........Continued from previous post

    Upper Torso View
    IMG_0337b.jpg

    IMG_0120 (2)b.jpg

    IMG_0126 (3)b1.jpg

    IMG_0113b.jpg

    Sode, cords and Rosary View
    IMG_0270b.jpg


    Final thoughts:


    On Warpaint Studio’s - The Fukushima Masanori bust kit was released some twelve years ago. The bust is nicely sculpted with a fine face and with good eyes. It reminds me of the nine samurai bust kits put out by FortDuquesne many years ago sculpted by Augie Rodriguez (which are now re-released by SK Miniatures).

    ak.jpg

    The resin parts are cleanly cast. The only part that is not historical accurate is the base of the horns which should be a lot thicker when compare with the museum photo. I have a model of this horn kabuto which is same scale as the bust in my grey army. Here are couples of pictures showing the size differences.

    IMG_0354c.jpg

    IMG_0026a1.jpg

    da helmwt1.jpg

    IMG_0697.jpg



    On Alexandros’s – An impressive piece from sculptor Myouchin. The kit is superbly sculpted with loads of detail (especially on the chain mail) with well researched parts. But there are still some parts which are historical inaccurate and questionable. The casting is great and sharp but some of the small delicate parts should be cast in white metal. The only problem is with the small kit box. The two rosary necklaces suppose to come as two long pieces. But mine are shattered during packing or shipping and a ring for the cord on the back side of one of the sode is missing. There are just too many small delicate parts that are stuffed in a small kit box which will tend to break easily during packing and shipping. Anyway, a beautiful kit for you to consider adding to your collection.

    IMG_0004A.jpg


    My Rating Summary:

    For Warpaint Studio of Fukushima Masanori bust
    chart3a4.jpg

    For Alexandros Models Honda Tadakatsu bust
    chart2a2.jpg


    Thank you for looking,
    Cheers!
    Felix
    yellow.jpg



    References:

    For Fukushima Masanori bust

    Exhibition from Fukuoka City Museum, Japan
    黒漆塗桃形大水牛脇立兜福岡市博物館.jpg

    helmet45_la3.jpg


    Reproduction Armour Exhibition
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    !b+togv!!wk~$(kgrhqz,!j!eznwosihsbn!i)lmim!~~_12.jpg

    DSC_0310-2-683x1024.jpg

    Video from Fukuoka City Museum on the horn kabuto




    For Honda Tadakatsu bust

    47236665_1976780792400436_6312890734370357248_n1.jpg

    3410836465_f5a12f9a11_b1.jpg


    Exhibition from Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
    27600160a73143a795979ccf86dd838706jpg.jpg


    From Private Collection
    IMG_0007b6.jpg

    95ab703de9adda98af6e398b4d40ac45.jpg

    Exhibition from Sekigahara Battle Museum
    Sehikigahara battlle museum2.jpeg


    Reproduction Armour
    H1.jpg

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    H3.jpg

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    H5.jpg

    H6.jpg

    H7.jpg

    H8.jpg

    H9.jpg

    H10.jpg

    H11.jpg

    H12.jpg

    H13.jpg

    H14.jpg


    Reproduction Armour Video




    The Riveteer, Forté, Erbay and 6 others like this.
  3. Oda A Fixture

    Darn,broke off at the best point.Eager to see the rest of it,as usual Felix's previews are top class.Just wanted to add the vast difference in these two men's morals.Honda dono was a paragon of loyalty,a man of exceptional bravery and intelligence who willingly put himself in second place in order to serve Tokugawa Ieyasu (his family were hereditary vassals of the Tokugawa),while Fukushima dono although personally brave was a famous drunkard.In an infamous incident and while he was drunk he came down hard on one of his trusted retainers for some insignificant reason,insisting that the man should commit seppuku in order to atone for his imaginary mistake,which the loyal samurai promptly did.When Fukushima dono came out of his intoxication he searched for his trusted retainer only to find out that the man was already dead!
    In Sekigahara Fukushima Masanori ,a tozama (outer lord or vassal) was given a place in the forefront of the formation,usually reserved for a fudai ( hereditary vassal).Ii Naomasa ( the very definition of a Fudai) escorting Tokugawa Ieyasu's third son bypassed Fukushima Masanori,excusing himself by saying that he was only trying to see the enemy better.When he and his men were clear off the Fukushima contigent Ii Naomasa gave his men the order to charge,shouting to the stunned Masanori that the honor of being first into battle belonged to a fudai not to a tozama.

    Oda.
    Theodoros, The Riveteer, Nap and 2 others like this.
  4. Redcap A Fixture

    Country:
    United-Kingdom
    Brilliant review Felix and I now await the second instalment - thank you.
    Gary
    Oda and yellowcat like this.
  5. Nap Moderator

    Country:
    England
    Hi Felix

    Excellent review and comparisons of the busts , well written and constructive comments

    Look forward to the next part ...references

    Appreciate the time this obviously took

    Nap
    Oda likes this.
  6. Nap Moderator

    Country:
    England
    Hi Felix

    Simply SUPERB References ...thank you

    Merged thread so your review ran together

    Nap
    Oda and yellowcat like this.
  7. Oda A Fixture

    One more sensational review by Felix, literally loaded with information. Makes me want to go out and buy both of these busts. A pleasure to watch and read.

    Oda.
    Toshiya, Nap and yellowcat like this.
  8. grasshopper A Fixture

    Country:
    Canada
    Brilliant
    yellowcat and Oda like this.
  9. Redcap A Fixture

    Country:
    United-Kingdom
    Absolutely fantastic review and incredible reference photos too - thank you Felix for all the hard work in order to help your fellow modellers.

    I have ordered the Alexandros bust on the basis and recommendations of this inspirational review.
    Gary
  10. grasshopper A Fixture

    Country:
    Canada
    Buying the piece based on a review is a genuine compliment for the reviewer. am sure Felix appreciates …
    Redcap, Nap and yellowcat like this.
  11. BRAN Active Member

    Country:
    France
    Superb review, thank you for sharing Felix !!
    yellowcat likes this.
  12. Babelfish A Fixture

    Country:
    United-Kingdom
    Brilliant detailed review. Where can you order Warpaint Studio? They appear to only have a Facebook page and it's all in French.

    - Steve
    Oda and yellowcat like this.
  13. yellowcat A Fixture

    Country:
    Canada

    Hi Steve,
    Warpaint Studio was a US company back in the days and the kit is out of production. I saw it on ebay couple of times which sold for a really low price.
    Oda, Babelfish and Nap like this.
  14. yellowcat A Fixture

    Country:
    Canada
    I messaged Alexandros Models on FB regarding the Honda bust broken parts and got an instant reply from Alexandre Cortina. He is sending me the replacements on Monday.
    A HUGE thank you to Alexandre Cortina and Alexandros Models for their outstanding customer service.
    Oda, Forté and Redcap like this.
  15. Redcap A Fixture

    Country:
    United-Kingdom

    Steve - Tu as appris la mauvaise langue mon ami!

    Gaz
  16. Redcap A Fixture

    Country:
    United-Kingdom

    Indeed it is mate and I don't regret it, as it is absolutely stunning and a delight to hold in the hand. Absent this superb review by Felix, this little jewel would have slipped under the radar.

    Gary
  17. Bill D New Member

    Felix - Another fantastic review and as you always do, it is great how you are so generous to share your reference materials. War Paint Studios was owned by Marcelo Fuentes in Southern California and the Fukushima was sculpted (I believe at least the face but maybe entirely) by Trevor Hensley. You are correct in that Fukushima is no longer in production.

    Bill
    yellowcat and Oda like this.

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