"New Black Hat Samurai" Topic

Mike at Black Hat Miniatures sent me a couple samples of his new line of 25mm samurai. They are sculpted by Josef Ochmann and officially become available at Salute on April 21. There are 14 different packs available. The entire collection costs 56 GBP for 84 miniatures.

See here: link

The sculpts I received were for unarmoured samurai. They truly measure 25mm and are fairly well proportioned. The sculpting is finely detailed and the faces are very expressive. The dress is fairly simple, which makes painting fun.

I measured them up with my Perry Miniatures samurai and they fit in perfectly. I thought these might look too thick against them but they fit in great. Another bonus is that Black Hat produced miniatures that fit around the Perry's range quite well. For example, Perry only has 7 unarmoured samurai (Seven Samurai – get it) as opposed to the 15 different cavalry sculpts that are available. If you want some variety to you Perry sculpts, this would be a great alternative.

What I also like about these sculpts is that they are not prone to the thickness or odd proportions you see in the Dixon, OG and Clan War ranges.

If there's any drawback, it would be the extended weapons, which will be prone to bending. It will be necessary to pack them carefully once painted.

In sum, I'm very excited about this range.

NYCJadie,

Thanks for the review! I will add them to my shopping list.

CC

I'm sure this has been asked before, but roughly what era are they? They're called "early samurai" but to my (very) untrained eye, they don't really look Heian period, which is how I'd define the term.

Is that 25mm feet-to-eyes, old-style 25mm (feet-to-crown-of-head), or some other measure?

"roughly what era are they?"

Can't say I know that. They fact that they're unarmoured makes it harder to define, no? I'm also not an expert in samurai-era fashion to tell the difference.

25mm ankles to left eyebrow

"Is that 25mm feet-to-eyes, old-style 25mm (feet-to-crown-of-head), or some other measure?"

That is a measurement I've never used. I use the, compare the miniature to other 25mm miniatures and see if that seems realistic. If they are the same proportion, then that's what I categorize them as. For example, my personal 25mm measurement is based on my older Ral Partha miniatures and my new Perry Miniatures. My 28mm would be my Foundry miniatures.

These are a tad too small compared to GW miniatures, for example.

Crispy beat me too it! Slow typing.

From my research they are wearing clothing typical of the Edo period. Over their kimono they are wearing a kamishimo which comprises of two parts, the hakama (wide pleated skirt) and the kataginu (the wide shouldered jacket).

Court Jester: That's largely what I've been thinking as well, which makes me wonder why they're called "early samurai".

Regardless, the figures look fantastic and I'm seriously contemplating buying them, despite knowing I probably can't paint samurai very well.

<<Regardless, the figures look fantastic and I'm seriously contemplating buying them, despite knowing I probably can't paint samurai very well.>>

Despite the questions unanswered about just how *early* these samurai are supposed to be (Haniwa? Hieian? Kamakura? Early Sengoku?), they are magnificent, typical of the diabolical evil genius of Josef Ochmann (he's evil and diabolical because his figures are sooo damn nice one just HAS to buy them!)…

Just when I thought it was safe to venture onto TMP again…

Leland R. Erickson
Metal Express
metal-express.net

P.S. If Herr Ochmann ever does Koreans and Ming Chinese, I'm a dead man…

Koreans and Ming Chinese…yes yes!