Empress Minis' Zulu War Brits 'on vacation' in Afghanistan, 1880

[guitarheroandy]

Here is my unit of British Regulars, 2nd Afghan War (for my Triumph & Tragedy NW Frontier/Afghanistan project)
Ok, I know that Zulu War Brits aren't wearing the right kit for Afghanistan...the helmet is wrong, the water bottle is wrong and, though I have done some filing and clever(?) painting to convert the gaiters to puttees, they don't sit narrow enough at the ankle and they should also be wearing valise kit (well, not all troops had it, so that's ok...) but....you know what? I don't care, cos these are simply THE BEST Colonial British models out there and they just scream "Boys' Own style heroic stand against thousands of screaming fanatic natives" and THAT my friends, is the effect I wanted! I think I succeeded!!

Most of my models for this project will be basecoat, dip, one highlight, but I couldn't do that to these minis...These had to have the full layering treatment. Truth to tell, they look better at a distance, as the layers are designed for the tabletop and are not subtle, but I have given a few close-up shots as well as unit shots. I played with the camera settings a bit too (new camera...can't really work it yet!!)

Still, I hope you like them!!












Enjoy!!

Andy

[ARKOUDAKI]

  A really nice effort. Any reason you just didn't file the gaiters down and then put in putty puttees? I haven't seen the new plastic British for the Zulu Wars but if you buy some of these then the conversion work will be a lot easier, as plastic is more friendly then metal. You can also easily chop off those canteens and put the correct ones one.

And I agree, Empress produce some of the best colonial figs out there nowadays. I hope they continue to do so.

[abelp01]

Nice job! Wish I were that patient!

[Ray Rivers]

They look bloody excellent! 

[Kingscarbine]

Blimey! They look fantastic mate.

[marianas_gamer]

Great Job
LB

[Remington]

I read your analysis of your "mistakes" and I don't care either, cause they look great! Well done, mate!

[Keith]

Cracking!

[Bugsda]

Don't knock 'em, that's a respectable bit of painting, excellent colour 

[Mister Rab]

I read your analysis of your "mistakes" and I don't care either, cause they look great! Well done, mate!

This.

I actually logged on today to think about buying myself a few of these fellows, and any resistance is pretty much gone having seen these!

[Plynkes]

For fans of these figures and the "Zulu" look, but who want to game Afghanistan: Supposedly the 59th wore their scarlet uniforms and dark blue trousers in the winter time around Kandahar, because they were warmer. No puttees, or gaiters for that matter, they instead had turn-ups like 50s Rock n' Rollers. Helmet covers, but what is that between friends?

So if you are prepared to ignore a few small details, you can paint 'em Zulu War style and still send them to face the Afghans if you like.

[Hobbit]

I think they're lovely and am more than prepared to forgive minor kit inaccuracies.

No disrespect to anyone, but I think life is too short to go swapping water bottles around and wrapping miliput/greenstuff putties onto figures, but more power to you if that is what you want to do. It would be different if they'd been sculpted with the wrong kit for what they were supposed to portray.

[Paul @ Empress Miniatures]

All I can say is WOW!!!!   


Not used to seeing the chaps in Khaki but you have done a fantastic job in converting and painting them.

Kind regards,
Paul

[guitarheroandy]

Thank you all for your very kind comments.

I haven't resculpted puttees because I don't think I actually need to and to be honest I can't be bothered - the time investment isn't worth the difference it'd make. I don't worry about 'wrong' water bottles because, for me, it's about evoking atmosphere rather than worrying about every litle detail. My Colonial games, while being based around the 2nd Afghan war, will include my own fictional regiments, fictional personailities and fictional encounters done for fun at my wargames club. For that, these models will more than do the job.

However I also appreciate that for others, historical accuracy is a prime concern. I really respect that - each to their own - that's what the hobby is about.

Sikh  infantry coming next, although they are being done 'dip and one highlight', which is working surpirsingly well thus far!!!!

Cheers

Andy

PS if anyone knows a good source for Pathan type banners, could you pass me a link? Am struggling to find any pics to show me what colours they were and what sort of patterns...

[Mister Rab]

Which Sikh models will you be using?