Rorke's Drift Storehouse (2 Viewers)

[MJFrew]

Hello,

I'm new to the forum and a new convert (late, I know...) to Imperial Collector's Figures - so beautiful and sublime!

So as not to completely break the bank, I have focused my collecting on the Imperial Zulu War series. I was wondering if anyone here owns the Rorke's Drift storehouse? If so, I'm interested in your perceptions of the quality of the model and how easily it fits together. Any insights would be much appreciated.

Cheers,
Michael

 

[Drum]

It is a fine piece and very well made, despite it's largely cardboard and wood construction. The detail is one dimensional (i.e. printed on paper, not molded) and the mealie bags are a little too large and over-stuffed looking, but the overall effect is very pleasing.

It is a very displayable set. It IS very large and will take up quite a bit of space in your cabinet.

I am, perhaps, a biased reporter as my love for Imperial Productions and the Cowes is well known. Further, I have precisely zero experience with any other such buildings made by toy soldier makers.

It is my belief, which I will confirm the next time I speak to the Cowes, that the entire set was made in-house at Imperial. Probably the printed parts were produced by someone else, most likely in New Zealand, but David IS a very accomplished graphic artist in his own right, so I would not rule out his creating the prints as well.

Additionally, the figure sets that are meant to be displayed with the storehouse are top notch, as you would expect.

The whole Rorke's Drift display does a wonderful job of telling part of the story of this epic battle.

Good luck with your collection. I will go and find a couple of pics of our set and post them for you.

Cheers,
Drum

 

[Drum]

Here are a few from my album;

Cheers and, also welcome to the site.

D

 

[MJFrew]

Thanks for the responses.

As you describe and from what I have been able to discern from photos, the Imperial storehouse is appealing to me, too, in that it seems to have an "artisanal", feel. True, the details are printed rather than molded and the mealie bags do seem a tad large, but there's something about the more stylized feel of the set that seems right. If this makes sense at all, the Britains storehouse actually seems too realistic to me and not in keeping with the pretty glossy figures that I would use to man the building's defense.

Have a lead on a storehouse; thinking of going ahead and pursuing it now...

Cheers,
Michael

 

[Drum]

The pop up a lot more often then you might think on ebay. They were made in fair numbers, I believe.

One just sold recently on ebay;

http://cgi.ebay.com/Imperial-Produc...625423264?pt=Toy_Soldiers&hash=item1c15d5e3a0

(I know, the pic DOES look familiar but not my auction)

The zulu sets were among the most popular of the Imperial sets.

If you will find one that has never been removed from its original box, you will be amazed by all the thought that went into the clever packing of the disassembled storehouse.

Good luck,
D

 

[MJFrew]

The pop up a lot more often then you might think on ebay. They were made in fair numbers, I believe.

One just sold recently on ebay;

http://cgi.ebay.com/Imperial-Produc...625423264?pt=Toy_Soldiers&hash=item1c15d5e3a0

(I know, the pic DOES look familiar but not my auction)

The zulu sets were among the most popular of the Imperial sets.

If you will find one that has never been removed from its original box, you will be amazed by all the thought that went into the clever packing of the disassembled storehouse.

Good luck,
D

Yes, one of the things I'm most intrigued by is how they get all the sections into what looks like a standard size Imperial box. Must break down and build up in very clever fashion!

Michael

 

[Arnhemjim]

Hi Michael,
Here's another view of the storehouse. Obviously it is scaled down from the 1:32 scale of the Imperial figures. I believe the scale, materials and style of the building to be very similar to those manufactured in the mid to late '30s. As such it takes on a classic toy appearance. Doors are all hinged and the windows are insets of molded plastic. It is very well made. In addition to the miniature shields and Martini-Henry rifles, you will see a cap badge of the South Wales Borderers (then 24th Regiment of Foot), a miniature Victoria Cross, and a small stone from the actual Rorke's Drift battle site. Usually I have difficulty with scaled down files. hopefully this will fit the forum's file size limits. The only trouble that occurs is that you lose resolution. Hope this helps.
Regards,
Jim

 

[Mitch]

Still looks very impressive
Mitch

 

[Andanna]

For Drum: I love your posts on this manufacturer. I do not collect Imperial, but I read your posts because they reflect an emotionality which I very much admire and appreciate. And it is not in the way of seeing flaws. Very rare in people who invested so heavy emotionally and financially in this hobby - the object of their desire. Keep it up, please.

 

[MJFrew]

Oh, splendid photo, Arnhemjim! I like that it is scaled down and has that stylized, "old fashioned toy" feel.

Thanks for all the input,

Michael

 

[tdubel]

The pop up a lot more often then you might think on ebay. They were made in fair numbers, I believe.

One just sold recently on ebay;

http://cgi.ebay.com/Imperial-Produc...625423264?pt=Toy_Soldiers&hash=item1c15d5e3a0

(I know, the pic DOES look familiar but not my auction)

The zulu sets were among the most popular of the Imperial sets.

If you will find one that has never been removed from its original box, you will be amazed by all the thought that went into the clever packing of the disassembled storehouse.

Good luck,
D

That was me with permission of course!!! Just a note, I sold the set and talking about it being in the original box, hence the reason I asked Drum if I could use his photo! It was a display for me that never happened, not because of dislike of the set, I decided on another direction regarding zulu.

TD

 

[Iron Brigade]

Hello,

I'm new to the forum and a new convert (late, I know...) to Imperial Collector's Figures - so beautiful and sublime!

So as not to completely break the bank, I have focused my collecting on the Imperial Zulu War series. I was wondering if anyone here owns the Rorke's Drift storehouse? If so, I'm interested in your perceptions of the quality of the model and how easily it fits together. Any insights would be much appreciated.

Cheers,
Michael

Dear Michael:

I still have the Imperial Productions "Storehouse" set# Imp.42. You can see my Imperial Productions Storehouse set as part of my diorama at the Forum under the Glossy section under TROPHY MINIATURES, my photos of my diorama of Rorke's Drift are still on page one of this Forum section. It is my only Imperial Productions set I now have. I also have the "Hospital" model set made by Trophy in this diorama. Based on my review of "Brave's Men Blood" by Ian Knight the "Storehouse" model by Imperial is very accruate, the only thing it does not show is the loft & stairs on the right side of bldg. The Imperial Productions' model storehouse is about 15 inches wide, 8 inches deep & about 6.5 inches high. All the walls are thick solid wood with the roof being made of cardboard. I replaced the flag that came with the Imperial set a few years ago. I opted to glue the wooden sides of the building together. As I recall a bunch of "Mealie Bags" & "Biscuit Boxes" also came with this set. I believe I paid about $140.00 USD for this set back in circa 1992. Let me know if you have any questions and good luck!

"Iron Brigade" / Gary

 

[VIRIATO]

Oh, splendid photo, Arnhemjim! I like that it is scaled down and has that stylized, "old fashioned toy" feel.

Thanks for all the input,

Michael

I very much enjoy your use of «stylized, old fashioned toy feel».In my view, this classic feel is uniquely combined with the utmost perfect casting and painting, and also with proportion and realistic feel. This makes Imperial my favorite manufacturer with good competition from the Britains Redcoats and Jonh Firth painted Tradition, and First Legion or Aeroart in the matte realm (a pack of troubles if you ask me). Like you I do regret that I arrived later on the Imperial chasing game, it took some toy soldier «education» to get there.... Still, I have been collecting their Napoleonic figures, still being made, if you'd like browse my Imperial album (Naps and a few sets from other eras, although the album needs a heavy update...).
The Zulu War is an Imperial series that has been growing on me (in fact any of their series is fantastic, to be truthful), and Drum's photos (thank you very much Drum) don't help. Only downside is having to chase the Zulu series on E-bay, no other source that I know of (probably some shows or auctions too).
Welcome to the Imperial boat.

Regards,
Paulo

 

[Drum]

Another one on ebay if you are still looking.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Trophy-Like-Imp...465148483?pt=Toy_Soldiers&hash=item5641718e43

Good luck.

D

 

[DMNamiot]

That is a really good price for the store house! I have seen them go for much more than 149. Good luck

Dave

 

[Iron Brigade]

That is a really good price for the store house! I have seen them go for much more than 149. Good luck

Dave

Dave:

Yes, I believe I paid nearly that much for the "Storehouse" made by Imperial Productions back in early 1990's!

"Iron Brigade"

 

[Yosmanos]

Here are photos I took when I opened a mint storehouse and unpacked it (mainly so I caould put it back together again if the need arose).

 

[Yosmanos]

Here it is assembled (early in my collecting days, I have most of the zulus now)