Lead Adventure Forum
Miniatures Adventure => Colonial Adventures => Topic started by: Captain Blood on November 05, 2019, 09:41:26 AM
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Well, I did have an earlier Zulu thread, long long ago, in a galaxy far far away, but it was so long ago, I can't find it now ::)
So here goes with another thread - the Zulus I painted for the last round of the Lead Painters league.
(Also a few comparison pics with Foundry Zulus and Copplestone Ngoni, which may be useful for some).
I bought a box of the Perry plastic Zulus as soon as they came out, and then they sat on my shelf for a year or two.
The LPL gave me the stimulus to assemble and paint a few :)
I think they're magnificent. Michael Perry has perfectly captured the skinny but muscular look of the Zulu warrior, and there's a cornucopia of different head and weapon options. The detailing of the weapons is of course, as you'd expect, completely accurate, with a great selection of spear types (rather than just the archetypal squat assegai). You could make up 1,000 brilliant Zulus from this box, and each one would be a character, and no two would be the same.
I did see some criticism of the ball-and-socket shoulder joint when this set first came out, but I didn't find it a problem in the least. If you look at the ones I've done here, with a bit of care in the positioning of the arms so that they sit right, and then a good slathering with liquid poly cement (with its inherent miracle quality of disappearing joins in plastic), the shoulders look absolutely fine.
For those who asked about the paint recipe for the skin, it's actually unbelievably simple - just two colours. The base is Citadel 'Rhinox Hide'. This is then mixed with gradually increasing amounts of Vallejo 'Dark Flesh' to build up the highlights, until the tips of fingers, toes, noses, ears etc, are almost pure 'Dark Flesh'. That's it!
(The thing to remember about black skin, is that it's not literally brown or black in tone - it's essentially pink, just the same as white skin. It's just a very much darker shade of pink. But the underlying pinkness of basic human skin tone is still there, and shows up as such on the extremities).
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/42/577-051119094934-421991721.jpeg)
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/42/577-051119094934-422011922.jpeg)
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/42/577-051119094934-42202408.jpeg)
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/42/577-051119094934-422032001.jpeg)
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/42/577-051119094934-42204289.jpeg)
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/42/577-051119100149-422051018.jpeg)
Now a couple of comparison pics with other Zulus in my collection...
Interestingly you'll notice that the skin tone is slightly different on these - I painted them years ago. Same two-colour technique, but two slightly different colours:
The old Citadel 'Scorched Brown' was replaced by 'Rhinox Hide' - I actually preferred the original - a slightly warmer shade of dark brown.
And I used VMC 'Sunny Flesh' at the time, a slightly yellower hue of caucasian skin tone than VMC 'Dark Flesh' which I shifted to a couple of years ago...
These are the 2nd generation Foundry Zulus, which were based on Copplestone dollies. I think they may now be available through Casting Room Miniatures, Foundry's budget brand... ;)
L-R: Perry, Foundry, Perry, Foundry, Foundry, Perry.
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/42/577-051119100149-422061922.jpeg)
And these are Copplestone Ngoni (provided to me by the estimable Plynkes, as I recall :))
L-R: Copplestone, Perry, Copplestone, Copplestone, Perry, Copplestone, Perry, Copplestone.
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/42/577-051119100150-422071808.jpeg)
Hope useful :)
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Superb!
Loving the paintjobs on these, those skintones are excellent (I shall have to remember your recipe!).
:-* :-*
I can see many Zulus in your future, sir.
Thousands of 'em!
;)
As for mixing them in with the metals: I think that helps the cohesive of them, giving a little more variety in bodyshape etc.
A much more natural look once the paintwork is applied, helping blend them all together.
People are many shapes and sizes and I, personally, prefer that effect.
8) 8)
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I do believe that those are the most wonderfully painted figures I have ever seen. Breathtakingly good.
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They're jolly nice, makes me want to rescue the Prince Imperial all over again!
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Just a few hundred more and then you are ready to play
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Wonderful! :-*
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Lovely :-* :-* :-*
Great skin tones- they seem just right.
Not to mention very crisp brush work 8)
Do you use a light box for taking the snaps Richard?
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Thanks fellows :)
Darrell. No, just a daylight lamp and a sheet of white paper. I do have a fold-out light box, but it's a right faff to set up and use, and it doesn't really yield any better results.
Just a few hundred more and then you are ready to play
Now you know we have a different approach to these things, Giles lol
They're jolly nice, makes me want to rescue the Prince Imperial all over again!
We should do it. I've got the terrain boards. You've got all the figures. It's always a good game :)
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Skin tones are superb. Most enlightening too the paint method and colours used. Thank you very useful indeed
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Thanks fellows :)
Darrell. No, just a daylight lamp and a sheet of white paper. I do have a fold-out light box, but it's a right faff to set up and use, and it doesn't really yield any better results.
Thanks Richard. Me too but I don't seem to yield such good results. Possibly out of practice :)
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Wow these really are superb 👏👏. I’ve been waiting for you to paint up these models. I love the Perry Zulus and I’m in the process of painting up a second regiment of these.
Your Perry Zulus are the stand out figures alongside the other manufacturers which are equally painted to a very high standard!!
Well done Richard, wonderful figures for my favourite period 👍
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Great paintin'
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They're jolly nice, makes me want to rescue the Prince Imperial all over again!
Has it really been ten years... :o
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How time flies! Nice work Richard on the Zulu skin tones.
Best regards,
Helen
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Those are very nice!
Steve
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Lovely, really lovely. Thanks for the African skin recipe - I've always struggled to get good Afro-Caribbean skintones.
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:-* :-* :-* :-* :-*Great work Richard!
I also like that you modeled the Zulu's 6-pack abs on my own....thanks for the shout out! ;)
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Those are superb!
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:-* :-* :-* :-* :-*Great work Richard!
I also like that you modeled the Zulu's 6-pack abs on my own....thanks for the shout out! ;)
lol lol
Surely it based on a consensus of the physique of the average UK wargamer? lol
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Richard, a good start for a fistful of spears. Now some british and one of your excellent boards and the next Blam-game is ready.
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Brilliant figures, both painting and modelling\assembly.
I think the different manufacturers mix very well together and add even more variety.
...just a daylight lamp...
As in literally a single lamp? Which make\model?
(The two lamps I used for photos are kaput so I'm looking to replace them. Perhaps I only need one. ::) )
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Brilliant figures, both painting and modelling\assembly.
I think the different manufacturers mix very well together and add even more variety.
As in literally a single lamp? Which make\model?
(The two lamps I used for photos are kaput so I'm looking to replace them. Perhaps I only need one. ::) )
I'm in the same boat- my Ott-Lite has given up on me :(
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Lovely figures
I like many others, love the skin tones.
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Thanks :)
As in literally a single lamp? Which make\model?
Well it was from the Daylight Company and I've had it 15 years or so. It's a big lamp with twin fluorescent daylight tubes. They don't seem to make anything like it any more - everything in the world of lighting has gone over to flipping LEDs now... ::)
The closest thing to it (in form anyway, although the bulb technology is different) is this: https://daylightcompany.com/lumi-task-lamp/
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Now they are nice, I could be tempted to restart my collection :)
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Excellent painting
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Yes, They're a bit good, aren't they ? :)
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Thanks :)
I might do a few more I suppose... You can never have enough Zulus, it’s true.
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Well if you do, be sure to post them up on here please 👍
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These are some of the best Zulus i have ever seen, fantastic job. Thank you for the paint help too! Perfect timing i had literaly just primed some of the Perry zulus but had no idea where to start and luck would have it i had rhinox hide and shadows flesh in my paint box :)
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Very nice work Richard!!!! ;)
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Superb!! They mix in well with the metals you have. I see the metals have a more reddish skin colour, so you used a base colour other than rhinox hide for those I'm thinking?
I have plans for a Zulu army around four hundred strong over the next few years. Been looking for an effective but simple skin recipe, I'll be pinching yours!
Many thanks for sharing.
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Wow!!
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Thanks all :)
I see the metals have a more reddish skin colour, so you used a base colour other than rhinox hide for those I'm thinking?
Indeed... :)
Interestingly you'll notice that the skin tone is slightly different on these - I painted them years ago. Same two-colour technique, but two slightly different colours:
The old Citadel 'Scorched Brown' was replaced by 'Rhinox Hide' - I actually preferred the original - a slightly warmer shade of dark brown.
And I used VMC 'Sunny Flesh' at the time, a slightly yellower hue of caucasian skin tone than VMC 'Dark Flesh' which I shifted to a couple of years ago...