Sluban Horse Warrior

[Peppermint_M]

The other week I was browsing eBay, as all my sources for clone brands are closed, no longer stocking or too far away to make a purchase. Just as the results for my search “Toy Bricks” loaded, I noticed this set going cheap and ending in two minutes. A quick bid and this set was mine for £2.50 (p&p included).

It’s our old friend Sluban, but this time the set is an Ancient Korea themed impulse. The box gives little away unless you can read the language. Sadly it was a little crushed in transit.

The polybag. Not instructions are provided, but it is a bloke on a horse so it isn’t that hard to build.

You can see the paper flag and cape/coat/armour thing through here.

The bag contained this sprue of weapons, a horse, a saddle, the odd paper garment and a pole for the flag.

The figure is dressed in the coated paper garment thusly. He has this lovely chrome gold headgear and a face sadly taken from Lego, which is a first for Sluban.

The finished Set

The horse is slightly larger than his Lego counterpart and has extra studs on the back, the saddle also looks a lot nicer than the Lego variety.

Here are the bows and the swords; they too are slightly larger than the Lego, but can be held by Lego figures, the crown wouldn’t come off the figure, so I shall have to get a photo of that on a Lego figure after I have managed to extract the head...

This set was a fun little thing, the horse, saddle and weapons are superb and the entire set size is appealing. Every theme needs an impulse like this, even though there was no building per se the horse and warrior are a compliment to any castle and it would be easy to build up a cavalry if Lego produced something like this.

Hope you enjoyed the review, I am keeping my eyes peeled for more sets to review.

Addendum: You requested it, so here are some more images!

and by special request: King Warrior Mighty Quarryman

[Quarryman]

Neat review. This set I actually kind of want, seeing as the accesories are so nice. Hoping you can provide a picture of just the golden headgear though, as that's what caught my attention the most.

[Alex the Great]

You like your clone brands! It's actually not that bad, the bow looks pretty cool. Good review, but I like my LEGO.

[prateek]

Nice review! This is one of the better clones. I'd buy this for $1-2 no problem.

[JCC1004]

Nice little set. The figure is the best part. Cool little king with nice clothes. Also that's not Korean. Trust me I know. I could tell it was on the US Census which was so over-advertised. But that's another story. Korean characters don't look like that. There a lot more simple compared to other Asian languages.

Edited March 23, 2010 by JCC1004

[Peppermint_M]

Nice little set. The figure is the best part. Cool little king with nice clothes. Also that's not Korean. Trust me I know. I could tell it was on the US Census which was so over-advertised. But that's another story. Korean characters don't look like that. There a lot more simple compared to other Asian languages.

Yeah, but this Sluban set is a copy of an Oxford set, and Oxford is Korean, so the set is from an ancient Korea or Korean mythology theme. The characters are more than likely Chinese, where Sluban operates from.

This is all just guessing as I have had very little exposure to non roman language, I have encountered a smattering of greek lettering in mathematics and some Japanese in manga but little else.

and yes Alex, I do like my clones.

[VBBN]

Thanks for the review,

How is the quality of the plastic?

VBBN

[Peppermint_M]

As with all Sluban, its really good. The head is a slightly different shade of yellow and the chrome a bit cheap looking but everything else compares really well to Lego. There is a similar gloss to the plastic and the flex/rigidity of the gear just like old Lego. The horse's printing isn't as sharp as a Lego one but in moulding and plastic it is an equal.

[VBBN]

If nothing else this could be interesting for the larger accesories.

What of that paper garment? I find it quie stupid, but I am curious as to what its made of.Is it like cheap paper or a playing card material or something along those lines?

[prateek]

And can we have a pic of the horse without the saddle?

[samurai-turtle]

The horse is slightly larger than his Lego counterpart and has extra studs on the back, the saddle also looks a lot nicer than the Lego variety.

Maybe the bigger horse is supposed to be a Clydesdale.

[tin7_creations]

Actually, the language on the box is Chinese, and the character in this set is Wei Yan.

He was a military general of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms era of China. As history tells us, Wei Yan was a very arrogant man and others tended to avoid him.

Hope this clears up the confusion on whether the set is Korean or Chinese.

~tin7

[JCC1004]

Yeah, but this Sluban set is a copy of an Oxford set, and Oxford is Korean, so the set is from an ancient Korea or Korean mythology theme. The characters are more than likely Chinese, where Sluban operates from.

This is all just guessing as I have had very little exposure to non roman language, I have encountered a smattering of greek lettering in mathematics and some Japanese in manga but little else.

and yes Alex, I do like my clones.

I've noticed with most clones they look a lot better on the box. Yeah I'm kinda a master of languages that I decided to study. I am starting to think your loyalty to these clones might be taking over your's for good ol' TLG. Also BTW, the name's Alexander (the "ander" is NOT optional!)

[Peppermint_M]

Right: Thanks for clearing up the confusion there Tin7, I am used to getting imported sets that have at least a half hearted translation, not buying right from China, made a stab in the dark as to the original intent of the set.

VBBN, the paper is sort of coated, it reminds me of glossy magazine cover paper. It has a similar thickness and gloss to it.

I will be getting a photo of horse minus saddle later today.

JCC, sorry I was talking to Alex the Great when I said Alex. As for clone brands vs Lego, I enjoy both. I am not a great believer in blind brand loyalty so I buy things I need and want from what provides it Plus I like to do these reviews so you can take a look at what other brands provide.

[lightningtiger]

Thanks 'Peppermint_M' for a review on actually a good clone set.

Funny I find these lacking, but this one has more going for it then the others.

The rider is nice, horse - excellent and weapons - hey long bow - COOL !

I wish the handful of clone stuff that makes into cheap shops in Australia were like this, I would get a few of these warriors on horseback.

I'm a conformist! !

[Eilif]

Thanks for the review. Now that Sluban has gotten around to copying Oxford's ancient line, maybe I'll finally be able to find some version of these sets in the USA for a reasonable price.

[Jebediahs]

As for clone brands vs Lego, I enjoy both. I am not a great believer in blind brand loyalty so I buy things I need and want from what provides it Plus I like to do these reviews so you can take a look at what other brands provide.

Amen, sister! Poop on the close-minded!

Thanks for showcasing and reviewing the clone brands. I like seeing these alternatives. I never knew they were out there.

I like the Sluban breed of horsie. Would be nice to see the longbow in the hands of a clumsy Giant Troll.

O-R-R-R-C-C!

[Fumoffu]

Nice review of a nice set. I agree with your blind loyalty comment. The brand is not as important as substance in my book.

If only I can find some in NZ. I'll be happy to get some. I'm a big fan of Three Kingdom/Dynasty Warrior ... not of WeiYan but I'm sure all the other more popular characters will be available.

[FilmGirl27]

I like that horse. Decent clone set, but I'll stick to LEGO.

[Spyder]

I really like that wrap that goes around the minifigure, too bad Lego doesn't make things like that. That Katana looks alot like the new Lego Katanas in the Prince of Persia sets.

[Big Cam]

Interesting set. The horse is actually kinda cool, if not so big.

Also the accesories look like they are usable. The head REALLY strikes me as a LEGO copy, but the helmet looksa bit weird to me.

Overall for the price you paid, plus you loving clone brands, I think it's a deal.

[Alex the Great]

JCC, sorry I was talking to Alex the Great when I said Alex.

Actually the name is Alexander, though I don't really care since it's my middle name.

BTW, the name's Alexander (the "ander" is NOT optional!)

She was talking to me of course (and the "ander" IS optional!)

[Peppermint_M]

Sorry about the delayed reaction folks, laptop cable died on Wednesday and the battery ran out of juice.

I will have the promised extra pictures up later tonight.

I shall have to dig out a giant Troll (little brother liked them, so he should have one) and take a look.

The new sword has a + shaped hilt, not the octagon or square, also it stands a little taller than a minifig, somewhat like Sephiroth's Masamune (ooo custom figure idea).

I too am keeping a lookout for more, if the quality of the weapons is such a great standard, that is plenty enough reasons to get more

[Peppermint_M]

First Post Updated, More horse pictures, including interesting extra studs and a headgear on figure picture

[prateek]

Quarryman looks weird in that hat