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[former user]

Plynkes Dude
got it 
but then I should have typed the same, because I think we wrote simultaneously

Empress
thanks for the clarification
apart from the variation due to manufacture and warrior strength/size (after all, there were no shield factories allthough I read they were made by specialists)
I know 4 different sizes (A. Mcbride: The Zulu War. Osprey MaA 57, 1976, referenced by literature and photographs)

1 the large Shaka time shields-shoulder to ankle (also used by veteran warriors, see above): isiHlangu
2 the standard 1879 shields- shoulder to shin, which is pretty large as well, since still used in the traditional fighting technique: umBhumbuluzo
3 dancing and everyday shields (used in the Zulu uprisings)- arm length: iHawu
4 Dress shield- wrist to elbow : amaGqoka

 now it seems you refer to the modeler having the choice between isiHlangu and umBhumbuluzo
by my eye measurment, the shields photographed with the models are hardly war shields
(read also my previous post)
which I would also state given my experience with actual shield hand to hand combat

anyway, these are wargaming miniatures and not museum miniature replicas
but in this case my argument would have been:
"we made the smaller shields this size in order to make them distinctive from the bigger ones"

your models are very nice, finely detailed and well proportioned and I like them

[Lowtardog]

I would suspect there were variations across the Impi. This photos I googled looks post 1879 but depicts quite a few sizes and types. Lets not forget also that throwing spears along with the assegai, knobkerrie and war axe were also part of the armoury. I would appear that form the civil wars fighting styles were changing dramatically not only with the introduction of fire arms.



Lets not get hung up on what each size type was. I have read a lot of Ian Knights books etc and know that the gals at Empress consulted him on ideas and reference. Steve Barber has also been talling with him on a future 10mm series of zulus that he is planning.

[Gluteus Maximus]

Steve Barber has also been talling with him on a future 10mm series of zulus that he is planning.

Oh no! I haven't got enough 28mm Zulus yet 

Now that is a good scale for some really big Zulu Impis , with enough potential for painting detail. I can already visualise the Chest, Horns and Loins arrayed for battle 

[Lowtardog]

Oh no! I haven't got enough 28mm Zulus yet 

Now that is a good scale for some really big Zulu Impis , with enough potential for painting detail. I can already visualise the Chest, Horns and Loins arrayed for battle 

Hehe I am having to paint up one of the bleeding regiments for a demo, 260 figures and he is trtying for all 5 for Isandhlwana so it should be quite a big battle. Which to be honest I think you need for 10mm in a demo anyways

[Gluteus Maximus]

Hehe I am having to paint up one of the bleeding regiments for a demo, 260 figures and he is trtying for all 5 for Isandhlwana so it should be quite a big battle. Which to be honest I think you need for 10mm in a demo anyways

    good luck! 

Please try and get some pics of the demo!

[former user]

now that's an interesting picture here
never saw that type of headdress, and they are sitting! what's the context of the picture?

please don't get me wrong here, I am not a bean-counter (or am I?? )
my point is that the warriors (superbly sculpted btw) appear in fighting postures
with real war weapons  (no traditional Zulu dance with rifles), in War costume, with a shield that in 1879 was not used in a war context
I am pretty sure that the shields are intended to be the slightly smaller 1879 warshields, but for me they are a little bit small
here WF poor comparison, but with the shield the right size
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_UqsRf118B2I/SpWiu8-A8dI/AAAAAAAAErI/WTeKUTSX4FI/s1600-h/P1000834.JPG

imagine you would see napoleonic soldiers with chakos that look like top hats

[Lowtardog]

I am guessing that the photo is post 1879 judging by the clothing of the white chaps behind...perhaps prior to the 1906 uprising