West Wind Productions

   Samurai Wars

Lets get one thing straight from the very start, I reckon that West Wind products are heavily, and I mean heavily, influenced by the Fantasy market just browsing through the list of figures available illustrates this. Therefore the models they produce are far more concerned with reflecting the spirit of heroic legend, than they are with strict historical accuracy. And that is perhaps a bit of a problem when reviewing a range of models sold as historical figurines.

The models reviewed are pack ZSW-4 Pillars of Buddah #2. The pack consists of four models with each of our heroes fighting mounted and on foot. All fo the models are chunky fellows with detail deeply engraved and undercut. Certain of the weapons, like bow, naginata scabbards,  are provided separately and need to be epoxied to the model. This is a simple task and the weapons look fine when fixed in place.

The foot figures look fearsome foes, one wielding two swords in a way that really means business, whilst the other holds his bow as he reached for fresh arrow.  Both are clad in laminated armour, which is clearly defined. Their faces are hidden behind grotesque masks which are perhaps not so finely detailed.

The mounted figures are not to my mind as impressive. First of all the horses. Everything I have read indicates that Samurai warriors were mounted on small sturdy pony like creatures. These chaps are perched on the backs of tall stringy hunters with strangely shaped heads. The mounts just look wrong, and one of the riders looks uncomfortably perched on his mount. The other, galloping along with hefty naginata ready for action looks much better and most definitely heroic.

So three out of four get a definite thumbs up, and one ends up hidden in the rear rank, not bad for £6. Check out the full range on the West Wind website at http://www.westwindproductions.co.uk/index.asp .

JOS

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