ZULU! The Store House, Rorke's Drift.... January 1879

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On the 22nd. to early 23rd. January at Rorke's Drift, 150 British and Colonial troops held out against an estimated 4000 Zulu warriors. 11 V.C.'s were awarded for the day's action.


It was my initial intention to make a diorama of the whole mission station, but to include the hospital would have required a large area, even at 1/72. So I decided to concentrate on just the last stage of the battle, which took place around the Store house area after the Hospital and Kraal were abandoned by the defenders.


The main Zulu attack looped around from the North to attack the Hospital. After this was over-run, the main force then attacked the biscuit box wall, whilst other smaller elements attacked the Kraal and remaining defences.


I've shown the biggest concentration of Zulus at the biscuit box wall, which they have succeeded in partly breaching. I could have added more Zulus, but I think the amount shown gives a fair idea what the defenders were up against.......


A quick thanks to all who contributed tips, ideas and suggestions. Particularily Dave, Monica, and Theuns. And a big thanks to Patrick for bringing to my notice the Ravioli 'bags'!


Here are a few of the pictures sorted from a rather large collection.....


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That's it. I trust I haven't 'Zulu Overloaded' you with too many pictures. I've tried to filter enough to give my mates on here an idea of the model.


I hope you like this offering, and all comments and questions good, bad or frankly physically impossible are welcome....


Cheers all,


Ron

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[Lee W]

Ron,


Yet again another piece of mastery from yourself, excellent work mate, top show piece!


Lee

[eddiesolo]

Masterly Ron, amazing work. Just one thing...you sure you have enough figures?

[Robert1968]

Fantastic utterly stupendous and mind boggling to the eyes to say the least. I love this film watched it 100s times and never get bored of the sheer heroism involved.


Ok I have a few questions


Where did you get all those Zulu from, the 24th foot where did you get them from and by rage way blooming fantastic painting of everything from the sandbags ( ravioli bags to the fear in the faces of the soldiers on both sides. I had to keep looking back at the pictures and will countless more times but I even like how in some you can actually see the fur covered black and white shields


Where is Stanley Baker and which one is MIchael Caine !!!!!!


I have to say it's brilliant utter sheer brilliance


5 stars from me

[Guest]

Ron, that is amazing mate, the amount of detail is out of this world!!!!


Cheers Andrew

[stona]

That is an absolutely wonderful diorama which does exactly what the best dioramas do, tell the story of an event, in this case capturing the drama of the event itself.


Brilliant!


Cheers


Steve

[Guest]

Fantastic work, as Steve says, the narrative element in this dio is first class, and it captures the chaos of the event perfectly. Big gong from me - id give you two if they'd let me

[Guest]

And on a side note....


Does anyone remember the Silk Cut Cinema ad from the 70s that was based on this event? Possibly the most offensive thing since the Black & White minstrels (apologies to anybody who had erased this awful era from their minds!!!).


oh, is that my coat there?.....

[monica]

stunning superb work Ron,


the house,sand bags fences,the whole layout is just fantastic,


to paint that meany figures oh wow,top job on all counts,amazing work

[Guest]

Great stuff. I love the film. Taking time to do all these figures ... you have my admiration.

[Guest]

A touch of obsessive compulsive disorder here I think Ron, when does your therapy start. Seriously tho' unbelievably detailed work, beats me how you can paint all those figures, PE will be a stroll in the park after that. Great work. Derek

[john i am]

Ron I admire your patience perseverance and hard work in bringing us the pleasure of this fantastic Diorama.


Well done mate but can you name them all for us?


Cheers John

[stona]

Does anyone remember the Silk Cut Cinema ad from the 70s that was based on this event? ..

Sadly I do. One tries to erase such awful nonsense from the old memory banks but even once erased it still lurks deep in the workings of the machine, ready to spring back into the light at the slightest persuasion....I blame Ron


Cheers


Steve

[eddiesolo]

Sadly I do. One tries to erase such awful nonsense from the old memory banks but even once erased it still lurks deep in the workings of the machine, ready to spring back into the light at the slightest persuasion....I blame Ron
Cheers


Steve

Yep, do remember, terrible advert.

[Guest]

Now that's what I call a diorama Ron! The sheer effort that's gone into this would have defeated most mortals, let alone adding all the superb painting & construction.


Brilliant stuff!