Sunday 8 January 2017

A zulu painters work is never done!

Everything painted so far.
With a show coming up in March and Zulus as the theme I have over the last few years been (Slowly) trying to paint some Zulus. Let me just say it has not been very fulfilling.

The Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge and the shortening deadline has helped a lot. Since the start of the challenge on 20th December I have painted 223 10mm Zulus. What is more I am continuing to paint Zulus. And will attempt to get 30 more done each week Until I finish the lot!


At the outset I started to paint "tribally" But Have since come to realise that from a wargames point of view it is better to paint as units. While not historically accurate this way does allow players to know what they command and what they can expect with regard to Morale and ferocity and toughness. Which as a game mechanic does make more sense.

Let me STRESS none of these units are finished.
Each and everyone will be added to in the next couple of months. Usually in 1 or two bases at a time just to round out the amount of figures I have in each unit. Each unit WILL NOT have equal numbers. To do so would requite more troops than I would care to paint or care to buy!

So the units are:
  • Unmarried and un blooded warrior's. Carrying WHITE shields. Although white shields they do have black straps attaching the shield to the shield pole.
  • White shields with black markings. (For now this unit is complete!
  • Black shields. Married and bloodied. with white shield straps. This unit is not finished although very clse to being finished.
  • Main Troops Unmarried but Bloodied. Brown and white splodged shields. This is by far the biggest unit and in games I expect to field it as several smaller units. It was also the first unit I started painting so the bases are a lighter colour!
  • Brown shield with white straps. This unit is interesting for 2 reasons. Firstly there are only 2 figures to each base, secondly one figure on each base has a rifle.


 As a horde of figures I am mostly done with these as I am now able to have a game or two with sufficient numbers to make it interesting and with luck the British will not have an easy game and will clearly be outnumbered!

Thanks for looking today. I am now getting back to the painting challenge.

The Actual tribal markings of Zululand Circe 1884
All the best Clint





14 comments:

  1. Now that's an impressive sight Clint, great job Sir.

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    1. Thank you Michael. I am still painting more so expect a few more on the AHPC in a few weeks or maybe a month.

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  2. Fantastic job......always a period of interest since I was young but never attempted in any seriousness. It looks a very good scale and can feel the Zulu imps swarming over the hills to outflank a small column of Brits. Looking forward to seeing them on the table 😀

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    1. Thanks Matt, to be honest I am a little apprehensive in using them, as I fear the worse in the scenario I have for them. But I am sure they will be OK in the end and the club guys will enjoy the game.

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    1. Thank you Fran I think I have less than 200 Zulus to go.... but I am not counting them so that is a guess only.

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  4. You certainly have quite a horde going there. Most impressive.

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    1. Thanks Bryan. I think we both know Joe will like seeing them all together. I have something's you will like in the planning, I mention them as I know this is not really your cup of tea.

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  5. The more the merrier, I say!

    You're right about distinguishing units; it's always an issue in tribal societies (whether Ancient Britons or Zulus or anything in between). Using different shield colours/patterns works very well, since there's very little else that you could differentiate in this case.

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    1. Thank you C6. The last picture shows the tribes that were about in this period and approx. how many warriors they could field. Additionally each tribe also (As far as I can determine) also had a ranking system in addition to tribal markings.

      But I am only doing it for game mechanics and not historical accuracy, that has long gone!

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  6. This makes my 100 or so look pathetic - and yours are nearer finished too.
    These look very formidable - a job well done I think

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    1. Thanks Joe, The top pic was mostly just for you. As you always want to see a group shot.

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  7. you know it won't be done until you can say you have 1000's of em!

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    1. Thanks Dave. Just the kind of comment to lift me up and make me feel light and whimsical.... Only about 200 more to do! Until another club member tells me they have not done their share.

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