Rorke’s Drift Part 5 – It’s been a while

Sadly I haven’t touched this project since April of 2020. A lot has happened since then. 

I got older

I got grumpier 

I moved house 

I built a small hobby cabin 

Oh and errrrr… hmmm something else? Errrrr something… hmm? Oh yeah COVID

None of the above are reasons why I haven’t touched this project. In fact I don’t have a reason nor do I need one… I think I’m thinking out loud right here. 

Anyway the Rorke’s Drift project is back! For how long? Who knows and who cares haha. 

If you’re new to my page and might be interested in what I’ve done so far (which isn’t much) please search “Rorke’s Drift” in my little search-box-thingy to find out what I did all those years ago. 

Now here we are in May 2022…

Firstly, I watched Zulu which whet my Appetite once more and got me excited about this project again. 

Secondly, I counted all the British troops making sure I had all the characters, including the cook, from the movie. I also allocated all the troops that received the Victoria Cross after the battle of Rorke’s Drift. Turns out I was short about 10 men but thank god for eBay because I found a local guy selling a couple of sprues. It’s little wins like that that get us miniature enthusiasts pretty pumped haha. 

I glued all of the Brits and Natal contingent onto 22mm metal washers. It was a tedious task as I blocked the hole in the washer with cut up pieces of thin cardboard too. It took about an hour and a half but I did find it quite cathartic actually. I popped on the “redcoats history podcast” to help pass the time. I went with metal washers for two reasons. I didn’t want the chunky GW bases and I wanted some weight to each of the miniatures too. I won’t be doing the same thing with the Zulus though. 

Ready to be base coated

Thirdly, I built the Hospital from the box set. All pretty straightforward but fiddly. I’ve got to say I’m not a huge fan of MDF kits and would prefer a 3D print or resin building. 

The building is quite historically accurate and includes 11 rooms, as did the original hospital.

Included in the box set is some teddy bear fur to replicate the thatched roof of the buildings. I’m assuming it might need to be painted with watered down pva to make it look less… well like teddy bear fur haha. If anyone has any suggestions on this I’m all ears (teddy bear ones too). I also made a start on the storehouse but haven’t quite finished it yet. 

Fourthly, I base coated all the mealie bags, biscuit boxes, stone walls and wagons etc. Here’s a pic of everything before I sprayed. Can you spot the tiny dog? 

Fifthly, I’m researching like a mad man and discovering new things about the encounter all the time. 

Did you know that Frederick Hitch (VC Recipient) became a cab driver in the last few years of his life? He started with driving a horse and carriage as a taxi before moving onto some of the first cars to hit the streets. 

Not bad for a restart of this project but what’s next???? I think I might paint a couple of the key characters (I haven’t painted a mini in ages) then I think I’ll build all the other Zulu kits I have. There’s a lot. 

Cheers

IRO