Wednesday 27 July 2016

Natal Native horse. (10mm)

yes back to my 10mm Colonials. No I have not become the MOST AMAZING figure painter over night... the picture is from the film "Zulu Dawn" and Shows a Natal Native Horseman in action.  Many of you will have realised that straight away.

On with the figures. I bought these 10mm figures about 2-3 years ago from eBay in a job lot of 10mm Colonial goodness. Most of that batch are now painted, but I do have about 100 British foot to do should I need any more (I don't think I do unless it is to change the uniforms from red to kaki). But these 12 horsemen took a lot longer as all the spears and carbines were badly bent and they were on card bases and already undercoated. More importantly I did not know what they were OR who made them.

I now think (but do not know) that they are Magista Militum figures. What I am sure about is that they are 10mm Natal Native Horse.  And as such were used in the 1894 Anglo-Zulu war. Unlike most Natal native units they were fully armed usually with a Cavalry  carbine and between 1 and 3 spears. They were also uniformed in Tan jackets trousers and issued sun hats with red bands around them in cloth. Most Natal Native units only had about 20% firearms with the rest using spears!. But all units did wear the red band around their heads so us ignorant colonials would know they were on our side and not try to shoot them.

Size wise they are a very good match for my 10mm Pendraken colonial troops (and yes the steam tank! More of that another time). So they should fit in well as Pendraken do not at the time of tying make any Natal Native Horse. And that is perhaps the point you will never need so very many of these in fact the amount now painted should be more than enough.  Actually I may need more, as I know every wargamer wants to have something just a little bit quirky under their control and as a club we do tend to have several players to each game.

So my Zulu War 10mm project continues and next time some more Burpas for Matt, as some are on the painting table already.

Thanks for looking today, I hope the weather is good for you. All the best Clint

19 comments:

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    1. Thank you Fran. just another step closer to playing the game.

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  2. These look spot on Clint, bravo Sir.

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    1. Thank you Michael. Although it did take me a while to start them once I did start them they were done in a day.

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  3. They look very good, nice to see them done

    Ian

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    1. Thank you Ian. I just have several hundred Zulus to go.... well when I say "just" I mean for now!

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    1. Thanks Tamsin. They painted up really quickly once I got started.

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  5. Wonderful little group Clint, and a touching nod to one of my fave War Films "Zulu Dawn"; a movie somewhat maligned by critics.

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    1. Thank you Blax, I also like Zulu Dawn (quite often have it on in the background when painting.)

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  6. Thank you Roger. About to start an officer for them.

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  7. These are lovely Clint, anything less than 28mm and my eyes water so hats off!

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    1. Thanks Andy. I find the smaller the scale the easier to paint (less to worry about with highlights and shading!

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  8. Once more you've managed to pick out a lot of detail on these very diminutive figures - all good stuff and a nice change to see you progressing n some of your own stuff.
    Isthe blank space on one of the bases intended for a unit ID?

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    1. Thank you joe . You are correct the black space is for unit titles. Although I will admit it was already done by the person I bought them from.

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  9. Thank you Ray. One more for these to come. (at least for now!)

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  10. Lovely job Clint :) You certainly are getting a wide variety of periods painted at the moment. It must be nice and refreshing to cover such a variety.

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    1. Thank you Simon, I am in a Colonial mood at the moment. be that North west Frontier, Landships or Zulu wars. But you are right variety does break the painting up and make it easier.

      I shall be moving to WW2 in a week or so.

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