New Zulus from FOUNDRY, i.e Natal, Swazi

[argsilverson]

Just received the info from Foundry.
New figures out:
http://www.wargamesfoundry.com/collections/DA/023/index.asp

[Plynkes]

More nice stuff. I wonder if Blood will be tempted to get some more?



Nice to see the Swazi, but I was under the impression that Swazi shields were/are more round rather than being identical to Zulu ones.



I have one which is round. Of course, they may well have changed over the last 130 years. And to be fair, the only period illustration I have seen of them has them the same shape as Zulu ones - really need a period photo. Oldest one I have is from the 1930s...

[Hammers]

The Swazi, were they British allies in the Zulu wars?

More nice stuff. I wonder if Blood will be tempted to get some more?



Nice to see the Swazi, but I was under the impression that Swazi shields were/are more round rather than being identical to Zulu ones.



I have one which is round. Of course, they may well have changed over the last 130 years. And to be fair, the only period illustration I have seen of them has them the same shape as Zulu ones - really need a period photo. Oldest one I have is from the 1930s...

[Plynkes]

Evelyn Wood's column had a unit called "Wood's Irregulars" which consisted of friendly Zulus and some Swazis. The Swazi people and the Zulus weren't traditionally the best of mates, and I think they were in it for fun and plunder.

[Hammers]

The Swazi people and the Zulus weren't traditionally the best of mates, and I think they were in it for fun and plunder.

That's nice. Friends are so important at a certain age. Which would be the Colonial Age in this case.

[JollyBob]

I must admit, I'm liking the look of those Natal Native Horsemen with their saddle-holsters full of javelins, and the native Pioneers look useful for a lot of things too...

[Smokeyrone]

Wasn't the Moriarity disaster the work of Mzilblini (sp?) the ex Zulu turned Swazi raider and his crew of Zulus, Swazis and renagdes?

Yes, Wood had Swazis and Zulus, in various states of cooperaration and purpose.  He lost many of them at Hlobane, including Hama's group, which was sizeable.

[Captain Blood]

More nice stuff. I wonder if Blood will be tempted to get some more?

Nah. I only wanted a few - will probably stop at around 25 - 30. A perfectly formed little skirmish collection 

The other thing is that all the various Zulus released so far are essentially the same handful of figures / poses, just with interminable variations of added finery. I do realise, of course, that's what all miniature manufacturers do - re-using the same dollies to create multiple variants, but I do start to feel this particular line from Foundry - much as I like them - is now pushing this to a fairly comical limit.

The other thing I've noticed in the few packs I bought, is that where there has been any major deviation from the original Copplestone DA dollies, the quality of sculpting in things like arms and hands is not too clever.

So given that the Natal Native Horse look to be entirely new creations (don't think Copplestone did any African cavalry for DA did he?) it will be interesting to see what the figure quality is like... They look alright from a distance, but... 

[Malamute]

The other thing I've noticed in the few packs I bought, is that where there has been any major deviation from the original Copplestone DA dollies, the quality of sculpting in things like arms and hands is not too clever.

So given that the Natal Native Horse look to be entirely new creations (don't think Copplestone did any African cavalry for DA did he?) it will be interesting to see what the figure quality is like... They look alright from a distance, but... 

I believe the British and new figures such as the NNH are the work of Rob Baker (ex First Corps)

[Belgian]

Love the pioneers!    They could be usefull for my african expedition, digging fortifications, latrines, yes, the military stuff! 

But the prices are so high!! That such a pity 

Greets,

http://wargameterrain.blogspot.com/

[aecurtis]

Is it just me, or do the new Swazi and NNC releases look rather stiff?

Could it be just a case f trying to add new layers to the existing figures, so that they look like swaddled tots ready to go play in the snow?

Those NNC fellers in the blue coat looks like they're wearing  well-stuffed parkas rather than shell jackets...

Allen