The next unit has been completed . This is the biggest Zulu regiment which was around 4000 strong in 1879 . As we are doing a ratio of around 1/20 it’s 200 ish figures . I am going with what looks good on a base so it took 212 . Laid out it has a frontage of 360mm , though could extend to 500mm+ if needed.
Doing an AZW project has been on the cards for a while. While in 28mm it would look epic - I have seen it several times at shows over the years. I wanted something that would not come with added storage wars. Compared to the Sudan it’s also more limited in scope , so 10mm seems the obvious route to go down .
Friend Martin said he would do the Brits and other pieces if I did the Zulus . At least it means no guns and cavalry etc . So the orders have been placed with Pendraken providing the majority - over a 1000 figures and another few 100 from Steve Barber .
So the first Zulu regiment or iButho has been completed . We are using a rough scale of 1/20 .We will do a campaign at mad friend Gerry’s Situation Room later this year . So to kick off here is the first one
Another busy week had . More US army vehicles and the top up to take me to a full Volksgrenadier company
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| M18 Hellcats - one of my favourites |
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| M8 Greyhounds - another favourite |
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| M16 AAA Halftrack |
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| The ubiquitous Jeep |
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This weeks additions are mostly American rear echelon pieces . These will make good scenario pieces with rear troops being caught and having to defend or escape .
Most are 3d prints from Battlefield 3D - which makes these kind of items really easy to get now .
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| Telegraph wagon and Armoured wrecker |
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| GMC wrecker and covered M3 Halftrack |
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| Dodge and Ambulance |
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| Water trailer and various supply scatter pieces |
One of my requirements for the winter table is a stream. With table top plonk on pieces it’s always a compromise between look and practicality. I have a few different stream / rivers purchased from manufacturers ready done . none of which I am really happy with , or would fit with the winter table , so I decided to make one myself .
I wanted a deep dark colour , and with possibly some frozen pieces - though flowing water doesn’t freeze easily .
Pendraken are releasing some new MDF pieces as basic starters for rivers and also roads and Leon kindly let me have some advance pieces. They are in a range of lengths and widths and shapes with a straight flat end . So just the job to start with for a prototype. The items could easily just be base coloured and away you go for a quick solution. But me being me I wanted something more realistic .
First up a few pictures of the end result
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| The basic pieces 35-30 mm wide and with various shapes up to 300mm long |
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| The items being used - all of which were in hobby stash anyway |
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| First job was to chamfer the edge with a craft knife and a file . Do this in a well ventilated space |
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| Milliput added to make up some bank sides. This is also very rigid so less potential to warp. |
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| All sprayed up in the Raven black - which is charcoal colour Both sides are sprayed to seal the MDF. |
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| Painted dark black /green stream base and then it had a black wash too. Also painted the banks a flat brown . I did consider adding some small rocks at this stage , maybe I might do in the next few sections . |
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| I used masking tape to cover end joining pieces. Then added the Yacht Varnish with a big brush .This is slow drying |
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| After the varnish has been drying for a few hours I stippled the surface with a brush. In another project I found a hair dryer also produced various effects too. |
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| Next was a fine overspray of Matt varnish and the grey to break up the gloss slightly . This was done from about 18 inches away with just a quick movement. Next was a white grey drybrush of the banks and apply the snow paste. |
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| I did a little drag of the snow paste across the water area in some place to indicate a bit of movement . |
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| I added some snow tufts onto the middle island piece that had been made from milliput |
