(A scan of Ian's painted Cannon Fodder figures are on the cover.)

I've now had the chance to paint up some samples of the Cape Frontier Wars figures from Cannon Fodder and I admit I'm impressed. The four figures I have represent a good range of ordinary warriors (1840s-70s). All represented in traditional dress, which was pretty minimal; unlike the Zulu, the Xhosa did not go in for complex war regalia, but simply fought in their daily costume - either naked, or with a hide cloak thrown over their left arm, and often used for protection. Although the poses of these figures is quite simple, they look very effective when painted up, with nice clean, natural lines. I particularly liked the figure throwing a spear, which not only looks very typical, but has an elegance reminiscent of early nineteenth-century drawings of the Xhosa.

Perhaps the most exciting thing about this range, though, is the fact that they exist! The Cape Frontier Wars have yet to capture wargamers' imagination, yet they are full of remarkable characters and great incidents. The full set of campaigns 1779-1878--a record of resistance matching the Afghans. Many of the British who fought in the longest (8th Xhosa War) were Wellington's veterans-- the extraordinary career of eccentric Sir Harry Smith was practically finished by his failure to defeat the Xhosa Chief Maqoma - while the 9th War, 1878-79, served to the British very much as a testing ground for the forthcoming Zulu War.

Coincidentally, the UK firm 1st Corps (39 Inmans Rd., Hedon, Hull, East Yorkshire, HU12 8NQ) have also launched a much larger Frontier Wars range. I hope to review these in more detail next time, but current releases include a wide range of British infantry types from the 1850s, inspired by Bill Horan's magnificent 54mm models of the same subjects. 1st Corps also produce Xhosa opposition, which - I'm delighted to say! - are compatible in size to those from CF.

Anyone interested in reading up on the Cape Frontier should seek out Noel Mostert's mammoth 'Frontiers', and, as an illustrated companion, John Milton's 'The Edges of War'. My own 'Warrior Chiefs of Southern Africa' includes a biography of Maqoma, which two Osprey MAA titles provide most of the uniform references - Michael Barthorp's 'The British Army on Campaign (1); 1816-1853' for the Brits, and my own 'Queen Victoria's Enemies (1); Southern Africa' for the Xhosa.