Monday 28 April 2014

The Matabele!






These fearsome warriors were one of my last entries in the 'Fourth Annual Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge', but I was never really satisfied with them at the time and they have subsequently been tinkered with, which has seen some additional highlights and basing details added.  The miniatures themselves are 28mm metal sculpts from 'North Star's' Africa range and had caught my eye a while ago and so I added them to my 'Secret Santa' list and was delighted to find three packs of them under the tree on Christmas morning - thank you Santa!  

To quote directly from the 'North Star' web site,
The Matabele are an African tribe whose origins were in the mighty Zulu Nation. During the early 19th Century they rebelled and create an infamous name for themselves as they escaped North to settle in what is now Zimbabwe. The Matabele Kingdom was defeated in 1893 and 1896 by Cecil Rhodes and his British South Africa Company.

Now technically speaking these additions would see me starting yet another conflict of the Victorian era, but I just simply can't justify that at the moment, as tempting as it may be, and so this will be but the briefest dalliance with the Matabele wars.  With regards to the miniatures, there were very pleasing to work with; little was needed in the way of cleaning up, although there were some awkward mould lines that needed to be removed.  Simple, but powerful poses meant that the units soon started to command a presence on the painting table and the addition of some lovely details meant that there was plenty to keep my brush busy.

The first set  of four  miniatures represent Matabele Amadoda Warriors. The Amadoda were the senior warriors, the veterans of Matabele society and only went to war in time of national need. 


Next up are Matabele Warriors in full Regalia, painted here to represent the elite Insuga regiment. 


Perhaps my favourite pack contained the leaders or Induna of the various Matabele amabutho.  I loved working on the head-dresses and leopard skins, which they wore as symbols of rank. 


Finally I picked up an additional four miniatures of Matabele Warriors firing muskets. These warriors are simply attired and so could be used as additional skirmishing units with muskets for my Zulu Wars collection.


I was surprised at just how long these chaps lingered around the painting table, mostly because I kept putting off finishing them, but was obviously delighted to see them finally polished off.  Of course by posting them now they provide a much needed boost to my painting tally for the year!



66 comments:

  1. Marvelous, they are marvelous! Love the beautiful details, skin, pelts and shields are so impressive...and the comments are very interesting too...Great one, Michael!

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    1. Thank you so much Phil, they were really good fun to work on.

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  2. I say my good chap these are truly inspiring. An excellent gift from Santa.

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    1. I was certainly a lucky chap, these were great to do.

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  3. Well worth the extra effort! They look amazing!

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  4. This is a fine looking group Michael-skin tones are excellent. I do like the way you painted the animal skins on them. You've quite the knack with painting animal fur. I'm recalling your tiger and your excellent camels.

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  5. Absolutely wonderful Michael!

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  6. Superb work as usual sir. Love the pelts.

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    1. Thank you Bob, the furs were certainly my favourite bit to work on.

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  7. good job!
    i like the shades on the skin.
    bye

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  8. Hola
    Buen trabajo en esas minis,las pieles de los animales de vicio
    un saludo

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  9. Fantastic looking figures, love the leopard skins

    Ian

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  10. Those look great Michael! They look like fearsome adversaries.

    Christopher

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  11. Great looking fiures, the Matabele Wars are as equally intriguing as the Zulu wars, just saying.

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    1. Both have some intriguing elements to war-game that's for sure and thank you.

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  12. Fantastic work on all of these - really evokes the feel of the period/conflict!

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  13. Great work on these the leopard skins are amazing.

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  14. Nice skin tones. I have always wanted to paint a miniature with dark/chocolate skin tones. Just need to find a suitable paint recipe as well as miniature.

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    1. Thank you, but I cheat and use Foundry African skin palette.

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  15. Very nice painting work. The figures are also very good!

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    1. Thank you Juan, they were wonderful to work on.

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  16. Superb. Love the leopard skin pelts.

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    1. Thank you, the leopard skins were my favourite bit to do.

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  17. Very nicely done Michael, its a nice reminder that I have that Rorke's Drift box set to one day get started...

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    1. Thank you and come on let's crack open that Rorke's Drift box set!

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  18. Lovely Michael and a good number of them now.

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    1. Thank you, but a few to go before there are fawsands!

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  19. They look frightening. Lovely work again Michael.

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  20. One of my favourite entries. I think you get African skin tones spot on mate.

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    1. Thank you Sir, I was certainly thrilled at how well they came together.

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  21. Very nice work as always Michael. Wheres Michael Caine when you need him?

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  22. Great looking figures! They look elite!

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    1. Thank you Cory, they were great sculpts to work on.

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  23. Great looking figures! They look elite!

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  24. Excellent paintjob, Michael.
    I love the leopard skin.

    Cheers
    Stefan

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    1. Thank you Stefan, they were great to work on.

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  25. Great work! Awesome figures!

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  26. Simply stunning! The leopard skins are especially great.

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  27. These turned out great! I have some Beja and some Zulus hiding somewhere, these make me want to dig 'em out.

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  28. Bloody 'ell, these are outstanding

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