Rorke's Drift~~~Where did all the $$$$$ go? (1 Viewer)

The Lt. said:
Enjoyed watching you building your Rorke's Drift and the results Michael and glad to see that you've posted your photos. Joining all of those looking forward to seeing your next batch of photos......Joe
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Thanks Joe, I'm sitting by my window, paint brush in hand, looking for the UPS truck, Michael
 
I want to thank all of you for your overwhelming support and encouragment.

Your kind comments and replies are inspirational.

Your enthusiasm just motivates me more.

The collectors on here are like a group of golfers, nobody ever criticizes and everybody heaps praise when you hit a good shot.

Humbly, I truely thank you, I'm flattered, thank you,

Michael
 
Michael

As well as having an artistic flair for painting figures you also have the eye of a good dioramist. For a first try you have got everything right.

A convincing dio starts from the ground and moves up-dirt/grass like material is not scale dependent but many good dios are let down by not paying enough attention to the basic ground material. One tip I would proffer that I find works for me and adds a little realism is- as you progress and add to the dio-cover the figure stands with loose base material be it dirt/sand/grass or even shrub. Your figures will then look as if they are standing on their feet rather than a shaped base.

Adding buildings and scrub etc and realistic placement of figures transforms the dio from a flat object to 3-dimensional and your Rorke's Drift project even without adding your forthcoming troops and Zulus already conforms to what makes a good action dio-a freeze frame of a historic event. You have also selected a great era to collect as with most 18/19th century military battles you get good vibrant colors with very close man to man combat-always the best to depict and always more exciting to look at.

But a big bonus for you is having Joe as a mentor-He is the best on the block and has thoroughly absorbed himself into this era, I have been dioraming for years but since being a member of this forum I have also learned a hell of a lot from the master by just viewing his work and seeking his advice.
Keep it up I am very impressed and look forward to seeing more of your fine work
Reb
 
Spitfrnd said:
Beautiful and inspirational Michael; I can truely tell that many dollars were involved but they certainly were spent wisely and effectively. Can you give us a rundown on which groups of figures are which, at least in rough terms? Very well done indeed.:cool:
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Thanks so much for the kind words.

The 24th Foot are compromised of mostly Frontline, Henchcliff, WM Britains, a few New Hope and some I can't get identified, probably bootleg conversions.

The bulk of the Zulus are Frontline, Trophy, Imperial, Rose and a few plastic Contes.

I love the Frontlines, they are the most detailed, but they are so $$$$$$$$$.
 
NICE!!:D Who makes th guys that are pushing the boxes around? Thats the coolest part!
 
The wagon set is Frontline WZW4. 1 wagon and 4 Frontline figures tipping the wagon. I posed mine making a biscuit wall instead.

I got mine from Larry Simmons at March Through Times.

He has them on sale right now for $81, it's 25% off his regular price of $108.

His whole Frontline inventory is 25% off right now.

He is a great guy to deal with.

Thanks, Michael
 
Fantastic display, Mike!

You've hit the dilemma so many of us do, we want to display, but have little or no space to do it.

Prost!
Brad
 
Got to be honest . . . with all due respect to the Lt. (Joe) who is a real master, yours is the best Rorke's Drift diorama I have ever seen. Absolutely fantastic!!!:cool::cool::cool::cool::cool:
 
This brings tears to my eyes. In a most positive way of course. It looks just like the movie, and is well balanced. Gonna give you the 'cool' emoticon; :cool::cool::cool:
 
Thanks for posting the photos. $$$$ well spent I'D say.

Would folks like the Zulu War period if there had never been the movie ZULU?
 
The Lt. said:
A Big YES
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I would have to concur with our good friend the LT. I have never seen Zulu and although I don't currently have any Zulu's, you guys are doing a great job of herding me into the kraal and I feel a purchase is imminent.
 
Scott said:
Thanks for posting the photos. $$$$ well spent I'D say.

Would folks like the Zulu War period if there had never been the movie ZULU?
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My interest in the Zulu War began with the first time I saw Zulu on TV. I would watch it on the late night move on WGN. it usaully came on once a year. My parents would let me stay up and watch it they knew how much I liked it. I could not tape it then no such thing as VHS tapes. I think the first time I saw it was when I was 10 years old. The first Zulu item I purchased was an original movie poster. Then the books, the toy soldiers, I have also have a Martini Henry, (Atlanta Cultery and IMA sell them, they are orignal, surplus from Nepal and not the Kyber pass copies that are flooding the market now.)and a couple of campaign medals. I hope to tour the battlefields one day.

So I would have to say yes, the movie Zulu sparked my interest in the Anglo-Zulu War.
 
That is a great diorama Mike. Thank you for posting it. I do often wonder about the wolrd wide interest in the AZW and how it arose and waht sustains it. It shows no sign of abating. There seems to be about two new books a year. The only change is that over the last two years most of the new books have been published by specialist and private presses rather thna by big mainstream publishing houses. Len Taylor told me in 1997 that he was amazed at how popular the AZW was in the US. It was after all an American (Mr Morris) who really kick started the academic interest in the war with his seminal work "The washing of the spears" Although some of his work has been shown to be a little erroneous he is certainly the father of modern AZW studies. I am happy that the toy soldier world contniues to find the AZW such a source of fascination. With Little Legion, Frontline and WB continueing to release new AZW sets it looks like Rorke's Drift and Islandwana will continue to feature in our collections in the future.
Regards
Damian
 
Historically, it was an outstanding effort just to survive against the overwhelming ratio of Zulus.

It would have been remembered.

It has to rank up there with the Alamo, Custer's Last Stand or the Battle of Thermopylae for sheer numbers versus numbers.

The movie definitely hit the nail on the head. Great performances. Epic battle sceens. A pretty authentic historical replication. Way ahead of it's time. Somebody did their research before writing this script, they cast the right actors and the dialogue was spot on.

If you've already seen it, you know what I mean.

If you have not,

Copy and paste this link for a searh in your google,

www.youtube.com/watch?v=YrZbUS0MaY4

If you liked that and didn't get enough, do this link too,

www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWuaSww3JnA

Nigel Green, who played Colour Sgt. Frank Bourne was made for that part.

What "kid" wouldn't love that movie, that's just my opinion.

Michael
 
As the AZW isn't something one would get tought at school (not over here anyway), there is a pretty good chance that a screening of Zulu is anyone's first contact with the conflict. My first contact was a Ertl diorama set of 'Isandlwana', containing a bunch of 1/72 soldiers and a small vacuumformed base. It was the Fripp painting on the box that drew my attention. Must have been 10 or 12 or so. I saw (and reenacted) 'Zulu' after that using those troops.
Years later I ordered a Trophy catalog, but was put off by the prices (should have gotten those sets when I had the chance). Almost ten years later I finally got my first WB sets (old WB) and here I am.
 
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