Fujimi 1/700 Castles

[Ithoriel]

With life once more in "interesting" mode opportunities for painting or gaming are curtailed but there is plenty of time for planning.

I am once more working out what I want for my 3mm Senguko Jidai project. I can source figures and some terrain but am struggling with buildings.

I would like to get hold of one of Fujimi's 1/700 castles, particularly Kumamoto, here in the UK.

I can find suppliers in Japan (no surprise), Russia, The Czech Republic, Netherlands, Belgium, Australia and the US but not the UK. Am I missing the bleedin' obvious or am I reduced to paying postal and import charges in excess of the cost of the actual object, if I want one?

I throw myself on the mercy of the Pendraken Hive Mind!

[Raider4]

Make your own? (Sorry, don't know the scale 1/230 apparently, so a bit big for you)

[Ithoriel]

Make your own? (Sorry, don't know the scale 1/230 apparently, so a bit big for you)

If something very close to ideal exists I am reluctant to "reinvent the wheel" but I appreciate the suggestion none the less!

Also, suggested time to make of over 10 hours as opposed to gluing together a small number of parts doesn't fill me with enthusiasm

[Raider4]

Aye, 'tis a bit complex

There is a simpler and smaller version, but you need to create an account to download the thing . Build time is only 1 hour.

They also have smaller/simpler (and freely available) version of Himeji Castle, if that's any good?

[pierre the shy]

Not sure if its too far outside the square for your situation Mike but what about looking at 3D printing one?

There are STL files for various designs online and I'm sure you could find a place that would be able to print it for you, just give them the files on a datastick?

Just an idea 

[GrumpyOldMan]

Hello

There's one available from Shapeways, no detail on the scale but I'm sure the designer could tell you (or rescale it to your size requirements):-



https://www.shapeways.com/product/P28REPR2C/kumamoto-castle

Cheers

GrumpyOldMan

[hammurabi70]

I have had the unmade kits of OSAKA and NAGOYA castles by Doyusha sitting on top of the wardrobe for thirty years since I picked them up on a business trip to Japan.

[John Cook]

You can get some of them via Amazon UK.  Kumamoto is about £25

https://www.amazon.co.uk/castles-SPOT-Kumamoto-Castle-japan/dp/B00CBOHHA4/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=fujimi+1+700+castles&qid=1634342359&qsid=260-4365715-3350166&sr=8-2&sres=B001BC7TTG%2CB00CBOHHA4%2CB001BC7TTQ%2CB00GNSEB08%2CB002SX64IY%2CB00478LN48%2CB0035JG5OS%2CB001BHGG04%2CB01LNIZM6Y%2CB002M7C5SE%2CB001PZ1CE2%2CB0895BD1CZ%2CB087Z6FG26%2CB075JJVV8F%2CB007VXIIN0%2CB00TJKLUDS%2CB004SKFEL8%2CB00DHX5KZM%2CB07SWPXCQC%2CB07R46YRZB

[FierceKitty]

Drop a line to Leven. He hasn't come out with anything for months, and might like the idea.

[Ithoriel]

Thanks folks, all this is much appreciated.

The Shapeways ones are nice but too small and already pricey.

I downloaded the paper one, took one look and decided to reject it due to FFS (Fat Finger Syndrome) Does look good though. I'd probably sit on it a some point anyway.

Hadn't thought of getting one 3D printed but with current rates of Covid running at one in sixty I'm not sure I want to go trundling around town trying to get something printed. Also looks pretty pricey by the time I have the stl and get it printed.

Amazon do have them but postage isn't far short of the cost of the model itself.

I may have to resort to scratchbuilding right enough. Don't hold your breath.

Thanks again

[Lord Kermit of Birkenhead]

Luck in finding !

[John Cook]

Who makes the the resin buildings for Leon?  Perhaps they'd be interested in a commission.  I want a 10mm Vauban fortification but all I can find on-line are 3D printed ones and a very nice looking one in paper, but it is paper and it will always look like paper.

[fred.]

What happen to the Castle Arts ones - I think these were part of the range of buildings Pendraken bought?

[GrumpyOldMan]

Hello

There's a simpler Asian Castle availabkle here (with a gate file and instructions) if you don't mind generic:-

https://web.archive.org/web/20150413063715/http://www.papermodels.at/



Cheers

GrumpyOldMan

[DHautpol]

If you decide to go down the scatch-build route, see if you can lay your hands on a copy of Ian Weekley's book on wargames terrain.  It has a chapter on building a samurai castle, the dimensions are for 25mm but you could easily re-size it.

Weekly, Ian, (1989) Buildings for the Military Modeller, B T Batsford Ltd.

[Leon]

Who makes the the resin buildings for Leon?  Perhaps they'd be interested in a commission.

What happen to the Castle Arts ones - I think these were part of the range of buildings Pendraken bought?

John at Ironclad's health issues and then his trouble finding new premises for the business have pushed most of our new resin releases back considerably.  We've got the second half of all the Peninsular buildings to get done, then the rest of the Castle Arts buildings back online, and then planned new building ranges for Korea and the Indian Mutiny.  Once John's settled in his new place and back on top of things, we'll have a chat and hopefully schedule things out for 2022.

[Ithoriel]

The Doyusha 1/700 scale Edo Castle model turned up from Japan this morning. £21.95 from Amazon, no postage or handling fees. Result!

[fred.]

@Leon missed your update - thanks for that, but sounds like not a quick process

The Doyusha 1/700 scale Edo Castle model turned up from Japan this morning. £21.95 from Amazon, no postage or handling fees. Result!

Will be cool to see photos of this with 10mm figures - to see if it is big enough to look imposing as a castle - as terrain, or is a bit small vs figures 

[Ithoriel]

It's to go with my 3mm Oddzial Osmy Samurai so it's slightly small if it were actually representing Edo Castle but It will be a generic lesser castle and basically scenery so being a little small should be fine. It's hard to get 3mm buildings of any sort, let alone Senguko Jidai era Japanese ones!

[fred.]

It's going to be pretty close for 3mm figures - and should look suitably imposing. 

I'd still be interested to see what 10mm figures look like near it, if you get a chance to take some photos.