Monday 12 January 2015

From ClintB - Zulus! Thousands of them.... well, okay, 84 (84 Points)


If you are ever going to start a Zulu army there are a few things you should know;
  • You need LOTS of Zulus.
  • So Many Zulus that you will quickly get bored painting them.
  • When you think you have painted enough you really haven't. Not by a long way. You may have done 1/10 of what you need.
  • As well as lots of Zulu's you need lots of brown paint.
  • You need lots of patience
  • But you really do need LOTS of Zulus, thousands of them in fact.
  • Don't let anyone tell you differently . You need LOTS.
Here are my first 84 figures all painted and based and ready to lots of nasty things to the Colonial British!  They are all 10mm in size from "Newline Design" AND "Pendraken Miniature" I have used both companies as you just crave variety after the first 50 or so! ( I have a few hundred yet to do... gulp!!).

I have kept it fairly simple 3 figures to a base and 6 figures on double bases. This should represent a single unit with 28 bases in all. Looking at it I KNOW I NEED more. Lots more They all have the white and brown shields of the Undi corps led by prince Dabulamanzi kaMande and were the reserve Zulu force for the battle of Isandlwana and the troops that took part at Rorkes Drift.


The colouring of shields were used as both tribal identification and also rank. So I hope I have that right and by checking the above chart I suspect I have. Little details can make a lot of difference for those eager to check.

I really have had very little joy in painting these knowing I have several hundred still to go. Not that they were bad figures to paint just the knowing there were more and yet more to do. But every journey starts with a single step.

Still 84 is not too bad a start. All Painted and based and keen to get on the table-top.

39 comments:

  1. An impressive start to an army. How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time. Thanks for the tribal shield decoder too, by the way.

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    1. Thank you Mr Hunt. I did watch a documentary about how wild animals eat a dead elephant. They start at the rectum...... not pleasant. But easier than trying to get through the hide.

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  2. Cue "Men of Harlech", I think...

    Looking forward to seeing the rest of the mighty impis advancing on the British positions!

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    1. Thanks Evan. I too am looking forward to seeing more. But obviously you have to paint the little blighters first!

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  3. Good start Clint.. This is going to look impressive as it grows..

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    1. Assuming I do any more! Thanks Dave not looking forward to it but I know I shall.

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    1. I will not take that kind of abuse from you!

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  5. Let's try this again.

    WOW! That is a lot of Zulus! But sadly it is not LOTS of Zulus. Pick that brush back up and getting cracking ::0)

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    1. No It is only a small amount of Zulus! I will probably start another batch later this day. Thanks Anne.

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    2. I'm having flashbacks to your Zombie Horde!

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  6. Just keep your focus on how amazing they will look when there are hundreds of them on the table. Very nice indeed.

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    1. Thanks Dux. I have 300 to go before I need a restock. Fancy a points bomb at the challenge end? (I don't)

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  7. These look great and I know what you mean having just finished painting my load

    Ian

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    1. Sorry Ian but you haven't finished you lot yet.... you still have thousands to do! Just kidding.

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    2. If you will choose these mad projects! Mahdists anyone?

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    3. Thanks Dave your words are like salt in my wounds! Hee hee.

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  8. 84 painted Zulus are a lot of them! Very nice painting work.

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    1. Gacias Juan. 84 really is just the start though.

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  9. Very nice start to the horde Clint :)

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    1. Thanks Tams. Start is right If I want to put on a game at posties!

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  10. You have my utmost admiration. I get bored after a few of the same figure, so I can only imagine what painting hordes of the same are like! Best of luck with the other 896 (ish) ;)

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    1. Thank you Paul. After a while it starts to be more like work than hobby, so I do need to paint other things in between.

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  11. That's a lot of Zulus. Top work. The bashing is ace! Cheers

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  12. That's a nice horde of Zulus, well done!

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    1. Thank you Chasseur. I hope to do a few each week.

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  13. Very impressive work! Thank you for the shield colouring scheme, I have a feeling it will be useful in the future...! :D Cheers

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    1. Thanks RMacedo. I found that shield information on the Pendraken forum. My thanks go to them .

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  14. My first ever purchase of metal 15mm was hundreds of Zulus from a company called Peter Laing (I think) in the 1980's. The detail was terrible but they were very very cheap.
    Great job on painting them

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    1. I have had to have a break I was glazing over painting them. Thanks Martin

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  15. A good start Clint. Now get back to it! Only another thousand or so to go :-)

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    1. If I do all of the first 1000 in one sitting I think I will start bleeding from the eyes! Thanks Millsy.

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  16. Great work, Clint! Horde armies may be a chore, but you could do a few stands of Zulus in looted British equipment, or even do a few vignettes as a reward for completing a block or two of "regular" Zulus! ;)

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    1. Sorry no British uniforms until after Isanwada. That is the kind of gaff my players would take far too much pleasure in!
      Thank you David.

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  17. "Sixty! We dropped at last sixty wouldn't you say?" Lt Bromhead
    "That leaves only 3,940" Adendorff
    Did you say you were doing this at 1:1?
    Nothing but admiration sir (my off switch is set at about 8 figures!)

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    1. Thank you Peter. I have another smaller batch primed and ready so you should see them this time next week , I hope.

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