Rorke's Drift - Zulu War 1879

[MSea]

more figures added.

[Bigkev]

Hi Msea,
Looking good.
Nice to see that the 'zulu's' are getting the point of the British Army's defence strategy.
Cheers,
Bigkev

[MSea]

Working on the last 4 Zulus.
The point indeed Kevin --- but you notice the Zulus are using the shield to move the bayonet away to the Zulus left and then he can use his spear in his right hand to do the damage. Must STOP reading history and get on with some more modelling or I will be in trouble.

[MSea]

More figures and boxes added

[MSea]

A start made on the ammunition boxes to put around the soldiers.
These are the boxes that some people say caused the disaster at Isandlwana because the soldiers could not open the box (they had 2 screws holding the top in place) - this seems to be  incorrect ( from what I had read ) the center section could be removed by a soldier just kicking it with his boot.     
The problem could have been the people in charge, who had to fill in lots and lots of paperwork, about bullets used and empty brass cases returned, not letting the boxes be opened in time ??

[MSea]

Last figures added. If John Cook looks at the biscuit boxes, he will see he is now in the model.

[MSea]

More work done on the ammunition boxes - the copper strap will wrap round the box as the metal holding band. The top section that has been kicked off the top of the box has also been made to put alongside the boxes.

[MSea]

Ammunition boxes added and lots of empty shell cases - from what I have read the soldiers used about 25,000 bullets during the battle.

[zak]

Martini- Henri rifles or are they some other sort?

[Bigkev]

Hi Msea,
Just a brilliant subject. You have managed to incorporate so much detail, and atmosphere into this project, you cannot help but be impressed.
Nice work, young man........
Bigkev

[MSea]

Martini- Henri rifles or are they some other sort?

Yes Zak they should be Martini-Henry but because the soldiers are more toys than models not a lot of definition - and what there is is destroyed by my painting.

[zak]

Martini- Henri rifles or are they some other sort?

Yes Zak they should be Martini-Henry but because the soldiers are more toys than models not a lot of definition - and what there is is destroyed by my painting.

Some of the rifles look like the breech from a Martini-Henry, but as you say the definition is not that good.
We used to have some .22 ones at school for use on the rifle range, I quite liked them but they could be a touch unreliable.

[MSea]

The .45 bullet from the Martini-Henry was definitely a man stopper - but after the barrel became fouled it had a big  kick back, a bit more than your .22 bullet I expect.