Newsletter 03.12.2011
New: Rorke’s Drift! battle-set!
It’s the time you’ve all been waiting for – this big boxed set full to overflowing with great Anglo -Zulu War goodies is
now available! Demand has already been extremely high for these so head over to see why and
snag one for yourself!
Those of you who placed pre-orders for this glorious boxed set will be getting your hands on yours first as they will be despatched before anyone elses!
Rorke’s Drift boxed set
• Laser-cut wooden Hospital and Storehouse buildings with ‘teddy bear fur’ thatch.
• Resin Wagon Barricade
• Resin stone wall Kraal (4 x 6″ sections)
• Resin biscuit box barricades (2 x 6″ sections)
• Resin biscuit box/mealie-bag barricades (3 x 6″ sections)
• Resin mealie-bag barricades (3 x 6″ sections)
• 20 plastic multi-pose British Line Infantry
• 40 plastic multi-pose Married Zulus
• Metal mounted Zulu InDuna
• Metal Zulu in British jacket firing Martini-Henry rifle
• British characters: Lieutenant Chard (Royal Engineers), Lieutenant Bromhead, Colour Sergeant Bourne and Private Hook.
At the heart of the Rorke’s Drift set are the two main buildings – the storehouse and the hospital. These laser-cut wooden buildings have been designed and manufactured by our old pals at 4Ground. Each building is capped off with laser-cut ‘teddy bear fur’ which acts as thatch for the roof. The interior of each building is fully realised and even has wall sections that pop out to simulate firing positions broken down walls, etc. The roofs and upper floors lift out giving you total access to the building interiors. We’ve drawn on some of the most noted experts in the world in researching this set and what you have in the box is the definitive Rorke’s Drift!
Also included are several finely sculpted resin barricades. These are a mixture of biscuit boxes and mealie-bags and again we’ve drawn on eye-witness accounts and expert opinion to ensure we bring you an historically accurate rendition of the battlefield. A focal point of the defence were the barricaded wagons and we include this in the set also. The final resin components provide you with the stone wall Kraal.
Of course, you’ll need miniatures to fight over this amazing terrain and we include 20 of our brand new plastic multi-pose British Line Infantry and 40 of our new plastic multi-pose Married Zulu figures. The British are led by historical representations of the legendary Chard, Bromhead, Bourne and Hook whilst their Zulu counterparts are led by a mounted InDuna and there is also a metal Zulu wearing a looted British redcoat and firing a Martini-Henry rifle! The metal figures are all supplied by Empress Miniatures.
. The resin components will be made available separately in the New Year some time but you save £52 against buying the contents of the box separately.
** Due to the sheer amount of awesomeness crammed into these large sets of Anglo Zulu War goodness the weight makes shipping them out very pricey for us. So, we’ve had to increase the shipping costs to customers outside of the UK – select the relevant option in the dropdown menu in the webstore **
New: Horns of the Buffalo – Rorke’s Drift collectors set!
The Rorke’s Drift! battle-set may well be packed to the gunnels with superb terrain and miniatures but our
Horns of the Buffalo set takes things to a different level! We’ve added to the contents of the Rorke’s Drift! set with loads more bespoke terrain to give you the ultimate Rorke’s Drift wargaming experience!
You won’t want to miss out on this!
Below you’ll find images of some of the contents of this amazing set including Empress Miniatures’ Rorke’s Drift historical character pack containing Victoria Cross winners Lt. Chard (Royal Engineers), Lt. Bromhead, Colour Sergeant Bourne and Private Hook which are included in the Rorke’s Drift boxed set. In the
Horns of the Buffalo you get these as well as representations of the characters from the film
Zulu…
A key feature of the defence of Rorke’s Drift are the barricaded wagons – you’ll find two of these in the Horns of the Buffalo set!
With thousands of Zulus bearing down on them the British soldiers could make good use of the outhouse…
The Horns of the Buffalo collectors edition of Rorke’s Drift contains the cookhouse and three ovens.
On of the most impressive elements of the Horns of the Buffalo set is this two part mealie-bag redoubt – another iconic element of the British defences.
The contents of the
Rorke’s Drift set plus:
• 5 extra resin mealie-bag barricades
• 1 extra resin biscuit box barricade
• 4 extra biscuit box/mealie-bag barricades
• 1 extra resin wagon barricade
• 2 extra lengths of resin walls
• Resin broken down walls (6 x 6″ sections)
• Resin mealie-bag redoubt (2 x 3″ x 6″ sections making a 6″ square redoubt)
• Engineers wagon
• Water cart
• 6 plastic fences (3″ sections)
• 4 x plastic bell tents
• Resin Cookhouse
• 6 metal African cattle
• 3 x resin ovens
• Resin Water Closet
• 1 x metal dead horse
• 1 x dog (Pip the terrier)
• British characters based on the film ‘Zulu’: Chard, Bromhead, Bourne and Hook (all made by Empress Miniatures).
The ‘Horns of the Buffalo’ collectors set includes the Rorke’s Drift boxed set and builds on it with even more Anglo Zulu War goodies! In addition to more barricades and walls we also include broken down walls to represent the second Kraal. Also included is one of the key features of the defence of Rorke’s Drift – the mealie-bag redoubt!
Plastic Bell tents and wooden fencing lends more weight to this being a military encampment. For added flavour of a working settlement we have several metal animals in this set – 6 African cattle, a dead metal horse and, of course, a dog (Pip the Terrier).
What kind of Rorke’s Drift set would this be without the characters from the 1964 film ‘Zulu’? We’ve included metal representations of the actors portraying Bromhead, Chard, Bourne and Hook.
There are even more resin additions to the camp – we have the cookhouse and it’s ovens as well as the WC outhouse. Cap this off with a metal water cart and wooden Boer wagon and you have everything you need bar the African sun and the chants of the impis!
You can pre-order this set for £275. This saves you 88.50 on buying the components separately!
Place your
order today so as not to miss out on these outstanding terrain sets!
** Due to the sheer amount of awesomeness crammed into these large sets of Anglo Zulu War goodness the weight makes shipping them out very pricey for us. So, we’ve had to increase the shipping costs to customers outside of the UK – select the relevant option in the dropdown menu in the webstore **
New: Plastic Married Zulus!
The second plastic set for our Anglo-Zulu War range are these superb Married warriors. Lending their martial prowess to their recently released plastic
Unmarried brethren, the Married Zulu regiment is now available to purchase.
For those of you who pre-ordered your sets, they will be sent out before anything else as befits your excitement in our miniatures – thanks!
The Zulu army was a formidable foe. Well-trained, well-led, and well-equipped for campaigns, the Zulu regiments were the terror of Africa. Created by the great Shaka, founder of the nation, each regiment was composed of small companies who trained together, and a regiment could be 1,000 men strong.They were then brigaded together to form divisions that could move at great speed and with drilled precision, forming the classic Zulu attack formation of the Horns of the Buffalo.
The military system formed units into married and unmarried units, so a cadre of young men would be forced to remain unmarried on the King’s orders until they had “washed their spears” in the blood of their enemies. They are armed with throwing spears, smoothbore muskets and the deadly stabbing short spear whilst their patterned ox-hide shields help identify their parent regiment.
Once they were blooded, and only then, would they sew in the characteristic head ring which is the symbol of a mature and married warrior, showing his much enhanced status in society. These then are the finest warriors of a fierce and proud army of 40,000 men, eager to preserve Zululand from all invaders, Swazi, Boer or British!
Each boxed set comes with enough plastic components to make 32 Married Zulus, plus 1 metal Empress Miniatures InDuna on foot with several weapon options.
New: More Anglo-Zulu War metals!
As we release more great
Anglo-Zulu War products we’re also bringing you more metal models from Empress Miniatures. This week we’re adding three more sets to the range – check them out for yourselves here.
This
7 pounder of the Royal Artillery was one of two used at Isandlwana. It used a rugged carriage and could fire shell ball or case shot at close range. They would prove devastating at later battles.
These are the
Heroes of Rorke’s Drift, or as Hollywood would have us believe anyway. The sullen but doughty Private Hook, the stoic but reluctant Lt Chard, the dandy English gentleman Lt Bromhead VC and the unflappable bayonet fighting Colour Sgt Bourne. Victoria Cross winners all.
These are the
Native Horse; well-motivated men on wiry ponies and eager to have a go at their traditional enemies, the Zulus. Armed with breech loading carbines and a sheath full of assegais they are perfect for scouting ahead of the main British force.
New: Zulu deals!
With our great new plastic Zulu sets being released into the wild we have a couple of cracking deals to help you build your impis. Take a look at these offers and save yourselves a wodge of cash!
Isifuba – The Chest of the Beast
This army deal is a great way to get your Zulu army off the ground or add considerable numbers to your existing force. It consists of 5 regiments which will give you 160 plastic Zulu warriors and 5 metal InDuna leaders; certainly enough to trouble any enemy.
You are free to choose married or unmarried regiments, or a combination of both!
5 box sets of Zulus
for £90 – saving you £10!
Well, a thousand of them anyway. Ever wondered what 1,000 plastic Zulu figures on a wargames table would look like – this is your chance to find out. Married, Unmarried or a mix – the choice is yours.
£500 (saving you over £60!)
New: Pike & Shotte Star Fort!
Our mate Paul McDonagh has been hard at work making us new scratchbuilt, ready-painted terrain pieces. The first of these is this amazing star fort. Ideal for use in games set in the Pike & Shotte era this provides a great centrepiece, objective or defensive position to fight over.
This is a fully assembled and painted gaming piece, that is ready from delivery straight to the gaming table, and no need to worry about the base as it felt lined to save damage on table and scenery.
We’re also making the Star Fort available along with a goodly amount of ordnance – 4 Sakers cannons (you get to choose between Scots Crew or regular Pike & Shotte crew good for Royalist, Parliamentarian or the factions during the Thirty Years War).
Head to the
webstore and pick up this fully painted earthwork today!
Whether you aim to build a force to represent the brave defenders at Rorke’s Drift or perhaps those fighting at Isandlwana, Ulundi, etc. these are the troop you’ll need! These
plastic multi-pose Redcoats form a great-looking firing line – woe betide the Zulu facing these brave lads!
A casual look at Tommy Atkins of the Victorian period gave little away about his fighting abilities. Standing 5′ 5″ on average, and often shorter. He may or may not be able to read or write. This appearance was deceptive, however. The average British redcoat was the most dangerous animal in Africa, equipped as he was with the Martini-Henry breech-loading rifle capable of being fired 15 times a minute out to 1200 yards range in volley fire if needs be.
His discipline was legendary, his marching ability, enough to traverse all manner of terrain and his determination to fight his Queen’s enemies, which were legion, made him an implacable foe. Well led, well-equipped and thoroughly trained in his abilities, he blazed a trail for Empire all over the world. Cheerful, confident the redcoats of the County Regiments served their sovereign well, smashing their enemy by concentrated rifle fire and if necessary, selling their lives dearly with the use of their wicked long bayonets.
Our Redcoats represent any British unit of the Anglo/Zulu war. “Volley fire, at 200 yards. Present!..”
Box set contains enough plastic components to make 20 British Infantry with Martini Henry Rifles. We’ve included a Glengarry bonnet and a sun hat on the sprue but the joy of the seperate heads are you can choose how to attire your regiment and there are enough sun helmets to have the entire unit so attired – god bless Her Most Imperial Majesty’s Commissariat!
Also included in the box are 4 metal Empress Miniatures command figures – Bugler, Sergeant and two officers.
Pre-order yours
here today!
