Another Zulu Regiment and final prep work for Demo game

This Regiment was supposed to be uDhloko which are meant to be in the reserve but I needed to fill a gap in the Right Horn. I have fitted them into a temporary base in the mean time. The figures are from Black Tree Design and listed as uThulwana. Despite the Leopard skins I think I have enjoyed painting these the most out of the Zulu force. Individually they look really good but once mass based the details get a bit lost. I just saw from the photos that I forgot to paint the lower lips and possibly other details.

I had a couple of figures left over so based two Martini Henry armed figures together and also two Musket armed figures as random support which I really have not thought through. Possibly more useful for Rorks Drift. I also felt the need for another low level Leader.

I was also a bit short of wound/stress markers for the Brits so used some left over Rockets as Artillery status markers.

I laid all the units out on the table and took photos of all the various components of each side for the upcoming Demo game.

Right Horn

Left Horn

Head

Loins

Zulu Leader

Camp

Left wing

Centre Left

Right Wing

Centre Right

Rocket Troop

Transport Park

This project is still far from finished. I have a box each of Warlord Married and Unmarried Warriors plus a Perry box of Zulus to put together. On the British side I have; two units of Lancers plus dismounts, mounted and dismounted Boers, Durnford and a box of Perry British Infantry which will make two Rifle Units. I also have a unit of Casting Room Swazi to paint. My mate decided that he does not want his figures he started to collect, so I will have some Mounted Native Troops and a few Sailors to add my touch to.

AZW Artillery Limbers

I have had these two Foundry limbers in my stockpile for ages but wish that I had the new versions from Perry. The horses on these are very nice but the riders have a few issues, namely their size. They are from the Boer War range so I had to remove the pockets and hide the puttees. I also tried to file down the Puggarees on the hats which made them look like Coppers. I then ordered some spare heads from Empress which worked well. They have longer necks which also made the figures look a bit taller. The originals had sunken heads which did not look right to me. I don't know if the limbers are of the correct type but they will work ok. The guns were assembled with the barrels from the Black Tree Guns I did earlier as I felt the barrels looked better on the others carriages. I also swapped the wheels from the limbers to the guns and left the axles free to move on the guns so they could be limbered or not.

My Camera battery died after taking the first four photos and of course the light had changed by the time I had recharged it.

Next up is an old Hinchcliff ammo wagon of Napoleonic age. It was missing its wheels so I used some MDF ones to complete it. It is a little small and intend to use it with the Gatling Gun I did earlier .

This cart is from Casting Room Miniatures which has been assembled about four times and pulled apart again as I did not like it. This time I converted it into a Horse pulled Cart by lowering the body and adding some struts to attach to the horse. I also added the load of Trade Muskets. The Figure is an old Foundry one as is the horse.

I spent quite a bit of effort trying to highlight the horses. I am afraid that the varnish did its usual job of killing the highlights. The horse do look good but I think next time I will add white to the mix rather than the Iraqi sand which I was using.