Zulu! - 28mm Battle of Rorke's Drift

I occasionally put books I would like to buy, on my Amazon Wish list and then sit back and wait for a really cheap 2nd hand copy to come on the market. I've told you before I'm extremely "careful" with money....or as my family describe it...Tight.

A couple of weeks ago, the Osprey Campaign book of Rorke's Drift - "Pinned like rats in a hole" by Ian Knight, turned up for the princely sum of 50p + £2.80 P&P. I thought a bargain, so I had it.

Now a 4 day manic business trip around Western Europe gave me the opportunity to read it through and this, together with a re-watch of the seminal film Zulu! has re-fired my enthusiasm to get on and finish my Warlord Games Rorke's Drift set that I got for Xmas about 4 years ago!

First job was to assemble the remaining figures - 40 plastic married Zulus and 20 Plastic British Infantry. There were also 4 Empress Miniature historical British character figures (Chard, Bromhead, Bourne & Hook) plus a Martini Henry armed Zulu in a redcoat and a Zulu Chief on horseback.

All the infantry figures were based on Renedra 25mm plastic bases, textured with Vallejo grey pumice.

I came up with a plan to fastback the Zulus through the painting process.

1. Spray all with Army Painter Leather Brown primer

2. Once dry they were hand painted all over with Vallejo Black wash diluted 50/50 with water. (Figures below on the right)

3. Then when fully dry the details were picked out in various shades of brown.

• Inside shield and loin cloth - German Camo Beige
• Wood (spears etc) - Beauty Brown
• Hair - Black
• Head ring and leather strapping - Orange Brown
• Shield Outer face - White with Terracota splodges
• Feathers - White

Then when all were dry, these areas were given a coat of Vallejo Sepia wash

The bases only needed dry brushing with Vallejo Buff before the figures could be coated with spray Satin then Matt varnish.

Finally a couple of patches of static grass finished them off.

I've been toying with what rule set to use and having picked up the original Death in the Dark Continent for £2 at the Lincombe Barn table sale, I thought I might give them a go. They require figures to be mounted in threes on 60mm frontage bases. I bought some sabot vases from Products For Wargamers (absolute bargain at 10p per hole) which are 80mm frontage. However as everyone will be on the same bases I don't think this will be an issue. These sabot bases were finished in the same way as the figure bases so they all match up.

I'm chuffed with the results, and the speed of finish. This is a good job because I think I'll need at least one more box of Zulus for the game.

On with the British Infantry......

28mm Rorke's Drift

Well I've finally got there. After 12 months to the day I have finished my Warlord Games Rorke's Drift!

It's been a thoroughly enjoyable exercise. But took me rather longer than I hoped.

My time for modelling, gaming and blogging are rather limited these days as I've become a part-time student. Well that's my excuse anyway.

Initially I started by trying to paint the walls white after I'd finished building the hospital. This proved difficult as I tried to paint around the exposed brick work and window frames. 

I was just going to paint the brick work with wash to bring out the texture. But it was taking for ever to complete. Time for plan B.

I approached the storehouse differently. Two coats of white primer were sprayed on the parts whilst still on the sprues.

Then the brick work was painted brick red and the window & door frames brown. Once dry I washed these areas in sepia before giving all areas a dry brush of white.

Once dry I assembled as per instructions using PVA glue. All that was required then was to touch up the edges that were hidden when on the sprue.

Much quicker and a good finish.

The models go together flawlessly and are a pleasure to build. Each has internal walls creating individual rooms with open doorways. The doors are not included, which I felt was a shame but are available seperate lay from 4Ground at £4.50 for both buildings. The detail on the resin walls, barricades and wagon is superb and they were a pleasure to paint. I simply sprayed a dark brown undercoat and then dry brushed the various top colours.

Game play will be endless with this set. I just need to get on and paint the figures now......

28mm Zulu War - Rorke's Drift

Thanks to my lovely Wife, i received Warlord Games Rorkes Drift basic set for Xmas!

A lifelong fan of the film Zulu, I'd admired this kit since its release. So actually becoming the proud owner was like a dream come true.

As a small child I'd been taken to see the film at the cinema and from then on, that's all I was interested in. Our then neighbours, retired Government officials from Rhodesia, had connections with the South Wales Borderers and made us aware of the superb museum in Brecon which contains actual items from both this battle and Isandlwana. They also hold most of the VCs won on the day, well worth a visit. http://royalwelsh.org.uk/regimental-museum-of-the-royal-welsh.shtml

More recently I discovered that one of the Rorkes Drift VC winners is buried only 6 miles from where I live. Private Robert Jones was buried in Peterchurch after he took his own life, unable to cope with the nightmares he'd suffered since the action. I drive within yards of his grave every day on my way to and from work!

Just finished the resin barricades today. Very good quality items, easy to obtain a very good finish, really look the part.

The fortified wagon is a nice touch.

So far I've only started assembling the hospital building. An mdf item by 4Ground it goes together very well - shame the doors are an optional item? Still got to suss out the teddy bear fur for the thatch.

It comes with some Empress metal character figures (historical ones) and a lot or Warlord plastics.

I've also managed to get myself the Film Character figure set from our local model shop, which are nice figures and a lot of fun.