The Mighty Fighter Elephant with Rider (Schleich - World of History, New Heroes)

[brontodocus]

Walk-around of the impressive Schleich World of History (New Heroes) "Mighty Fighter Elephant with Rider" (sorry, but I don't really like that name, the German original "Der mächtige Kampfelefant mit Reiter" isn't any better), representing a whitish (probably leucistic) Asian Elephant, Elephas maximus Linnaeus, 1758. The ears are a little large, though, but the rest is clearly representing an Asian Elephant, even the one-fingered tip of the proboscis and the number of toenails match (five on the foreleg, four on the hindleg). If you want you could regard this figure as representing the extinct Syrian Elephant, E. m. asurus Deraniyagala, 1950, which may or may not have been used as war elephant and which was larger on average than extant subspecies. However, it is unknown if Syrian Elephants differed in ear size from other Asian Elephants. The figure is heavy (1272 g without the rider) and very large, shoulder height is 164 mm (24 mm taller than the Safari Ltd Wildlife Wonders Asian Elephant which can be seen in the comparison shots). The scale would be between 1:13 and 1:20 for extant E. maximus and up to 1:22 for E. m. asurus, the size of the rider would suggest more or less 1:20, though. The armour plates are glued on and not intended to be removed, e.g. the head armour has a peg that is glued into a hole on the elephant's forehead (see seventh photo from above). Schleich also made an add-on for this figure, a platform with two more warriors that can be placed on the elephant's back. I don't have that one, though.





























Edit 2017-01-24: Fixed broken image urls. Edited again 2017-02-07: Images now hosted on postimage.

[AnimalToyForum]

Wow! Good work Schleich!

Four tusks!     

[brontodocus]

Four tusks!     

I was wondering about that, too, but apparently these small spikes aren't meant to be additional tusks but rather an ornamentation or extension of the bridle and bit.

[AnimalToyForum]

Four tusks!     

I was wondering about that, too, but apparently these small spikes aren't meant to be additional tusks but rather an ornamentation or extension of the bridle and bit.

Yeah, I figured that must be the case, but I did do a double-take at first

Anyway, I see your four tusked elephant and raise you a six tusked elephant 

[brontodocus]

Ouch, that looks a bit as if it would hurt... Maybe the spikes at the figure's bit were made intentionally to look like mini tusks, makes it also a little reminiscent of the Lord of the Rings oliphaunts.

[tyrantqueen]

I like the model, I don't even mind the armour. Perhaps it might be a good idea for Schleich to release an unarmoured version.

[Jetoar]

I am thinking to buy this wonderful figure, because the details of the elephant is very nice and it is to huge  .

[Varanus]

Very impressive figure!!!   The detail is really stunning!

[sbell]

I am thinking to buy this wonderful figure, because the details of the elephant is very nice and it is to huge  .

You'll have to move quick, since Schleich apparently discontinued the entire New Heroes line. That said, I'm guessing most retailers will have some in stock for a while (as would the Schleich warehouses) as it is fairly expensive and massive.

[brontodocus]

Yes, that was one of the reasons for me to get it now (before it's gone or prices get outrageous). And I found one for approx. â,¬20!

[brontodocus]

I have decided not to try to modify the elephant but instead bought the platform with two additional warrior figures (which arrived yesterday). This is how it looks together with the accessory:

[tyrantqueen]

Magnificent looking model. It's hard to believe it is marketed towards children, it seems more like a collector's item (and probably wouldn't last long in rough play with all those small parts) If I had kids I know they wouldn't be playing with it

[postsaurischian]

  Awesome! I always tried to avert my eyes from this model ...... don't do that! I must not .......

....... I would call it Schleich's masterpiece.

[brontodocus]

Thanks, tyrantqueen and Helge!

Magnificent looking model. It's hard to believe it is marketed towards children, it seems more like a collector's item (and probably wouldn't last long in rough play with all those small parts) If I had kids I know they wouldn't be playing with it

Exactly. I've read customer reviews on Amazon complaining about the accessory being too fragile for play (many parts are made of a more rigid plastic). The whole thing consists of quite a number of parts, too, which is a little unusual for Schleich (although assembly was easy). Of course these could fall apart during play, too, but I'd consider the risk of breakage of certain parts the bigger problem.

Awesome! I always tried to avert my eyes from this model ...... don't do that! I must not .......

Hehe, it's absolutely identical to what I thought about it... and finally I had to surrender...

[Jetoar]

When I saw the elephant with the castle in his back, I remember the elephants of 300 film .

[Cape Buffalo]

I GOT HIM , I GOT HIM 

This MAGNIFICIENT WHITE ELEPHANT is unbelievably detailed and an absolute Classic , incomparable model and the Warrior is brilliantly sculpted , of course

I have taken as many detailed pics. as possible for you all to enjoy viewing the intricate details that have gone into these figurines and not the least , the micro details are very aptly placed [ no exagerrated details ]

So , guys, I proudly present to you the elaborate walkaround of my Mighty White Elephant and the Warrior

[FreshSphere]

This is a spectacular looking figure! All of the skin detailing and armor looks so nice!

[brontodocus]

Congrats, Cape Buffalo! However, a walk-around of the Fighter Elephant with Rider already exists and so I merged yours with it.

[Cape Buffalo]

Thanks Freshsphere and Brontodocus !

I am sorry I didn't know that already a walkaround is existing .....but still , another walkaround from my point of view .....actually this set deserves few more walkarounds to fully explore it's  details

[Dragonwolf]

This is one cool piece! A few more of these armored elephants and that would be an awesome sight!! With Hannibal Barca in the lead charge!! Nice pictures all.