Figure Review:

25mm Zulus

by Redoubt Enterprise

Reviewed by David Barnes


This is definitely not a:- "That's a range going well! What on earth can we scrape up to extend it," syndrome. All these figures and bits of equipment fill in gaps either for Rorke's Drift or Isandlwana or other battles of 1879. I will list the new figures and comment. [All ZU figures are 60p each at the time of writing.]

ZU19 British infantry crouching firing. He wears a glengarry and is firing downwards or could be gauging the range. His weapon is a Martini-Henry.
ZU56 Wounded Natal Mounted Police/Carabiniers trooper on foot, clutching stomach. The Police wore blue uniforms, the Carabiniers grey. Quite a sculptural pose.
ZU109 Mounted Edendale Horse, NNH Contingent riding, holding carbine, in boots. He has a bandolier and a wide brimmed floppy hat. He holds the carbine vertically in his right hand.
ZU110 Mounted Sikali Horse. NNH Contingent riding, holding spear, barefoot. He has a slung carbine. On my example the spearhead is so well defined that if I remove the casting support, which goes down to his foot; I fear the spearhead would part company with the shaft. Riding horse ZX69.
ZU111 Sikali Horse. NNH Contingent on foot, firing carbine. Bandolier, boots and big hat.
ZU112 Zulu/NCC running with bandolier and rifle. Good action. Could do for either side.

Zulu Extra figures and equipment.

ZX58 Soldier kneeling on mealie bags or roof, stabbing with knife and bayonet. (Provide your own mealie bags or roof.) Rorke's drift for certain.
ZX59 Soldier in shirtsleeves leaning over mealie bags etc. Stabbing down. Well, my example has no helmet and tunic on (in 2 parts, trunk and legs.) Could be Private Hook defending the hospital.
ZX60 Soldier kneeling at the ready, bareheaded. No bayonet. Good simple figure.
ZX61 Soldier kneeling firing in fatigue cap. I've transposed this figure to ZU19. This is the glengarry wearer. ZU19 is leaning into the aiming position - not crouching I would say.
ZX62 Soldier slumped over, to be placed over barricade etc. He's either badly wounded or dead.
ZX63 Dead or wounded soldier in torn shirt. One for the chapel floor, or operating table.
ZX64 Surgeon in apron wiping brow. Surgeon Major J.H. Reynolds of the Army Medical Department so well portrayed in the film "Zulu". Reynolds did not have side whiskers, as this figure has, in the photograph I have of him. Excellent pose however.
ZX65 Soldier dragging two ammo boxes. A corporal too. One can fell the weight of the boxes in the pose.
ZX66 Durnford mounted on horse, firing pistol. That's Lt. Colonel A.W. Durnford, Royal Engineers, commanding No. 2 column to you. Didn't do as well as Lt. J.R.M. Chard did he?
ZX67 Lord Chelmsford, mounted with telescope. Frederick Augustus Thesiger, 2nd Baron Chelmsford. Lt. General commanding British forces in S. Africa 1878-1879 - with a very long telescope and a lovely frogged tunic, riding ZX61.
ZX68 British officer mounted on galloping horse, carrying furled standard. To my mind the thing that spoils this is the beautifully modelled standard. It's much too heavy and unbalances everything unless glued to a very solid base. Riding ZX68 which is galloping at quite a lick. This could be Lieutenant's Adjutant T. Melvill 1st/24th trying to save the Queen's colour - probably the real one was in its leather case.
ZX69 Small native pony for Natal Native Horse figures. Well proportioned.
ZX70 British officer on foot with furled standard. What I have already said about ZX68 applies here.
ZX71 Gatling gun and naval crew. A gun in parts, trail, barrels, wheels, magazine. Gunner in sennet hat. Ammunition Number with two spare mags and a Gun commander with rifle indicating. A tremendous group.
ZX72 Corpulent Zulu Chief on foot with musket. Quite a lot of the Zulu Chiefs were well fed looking gentlemen so this can be the one of your choice!

ZX prices vary up to £ 5 for ZX71.

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