Anglo-Zulu Project: PART ONE Test model of Bromhead & other Prep-work

Michael Caine's first movie was Zulu! portraying Lt. G. Bromhead, VC

Well, after all that Team Yankee painting the past few weeks, I figured I'd go for something completely different:  Anglo-Zulu War british Colonials.   I picked up some models last year and have most of them built and with the dark blue, skin and dark red basecoats on but that's it.   After watching this Tutorial I decided I would modify it slightly (to use paints I already own) and do up a test model.   And what better character to do a test model than to do the Michael Caine sculpt of Bromhead!  I'll be going step-by-step so if you are more advanced, feel free to skip ahead!  I'll have a full breakdown of colours used at the end.

First though, glue your models onto whatever basing you will use, some go for singles as I have, but if you know for sure you are going to be going with 4 to a base, by all means, go that route.   I use a pre-mixed tub of ultra-fine sand, mixed in with some larger rocks and crushed slate.

Pre-Mix tub at left, officer on horse superglued onto his green base, with white glue (PVA) painted on the top of the base.

After being dipped and swirled around in the tub, the officer now has a scenic base.  I like to do this prior to painting since i get messy drybrushing the sand and rocks!

Even though my models will be on single bases, gluing them temporarily on paint strips means I can work on 4 models at a time.  You can see their bases are already done. 

Trousers are done with the above colours.   Close-up of the blue-gray trousers when finished.   1 base, 2 highlights.

first 2 colours of red:  Burnt Red and Cavalry Brown (which is more red than brown)  This is also a good close-up of the finished blue-grey trousers.

3rd red is Carmine red.  Front.

Back.   Leave the stitching lines where you see them sculpted (metal models mainly)

Final Red is Vermillion red.  If you want, go edge-highlight in Orange-Red, but I thought it was much and stayed with Vermillion

Skin has been inked in Army Painter Soft-tone, 2 layer green regimental colours and collars, yellow piping (normally white, but he is a Lt) in Desert Yellow.

Face and hands re-highlighted, webbing done in light gray and white, leathers is 3 layer of brown, gun stock is same except last colour is reddish brown to differentiate.   His blond hair was highlighted in Desert Yellow.  I could have used a different yellow but I am already using it on other things, so up to you!

 The next shots are just different angle shots for you guys.    Full palette after we are done.  Enjoy!

The Vermillion really pops here.   You can also see the one pouch under his left arm.

Full colour palette:   All Vallejo unless otherwise noted.    Order of colours is dark-to-light in steps

Desert basing:   Beige Brown 70875, then successive drybrushes of  Brown Sand 70876,  Desert Yellow 70977 and  Pale Sand 70837.  The rocks are 70990 Light Grey then white over the whole base.

Trousers:   Dark Prussian Blue 70899, then Vallejo Panzer Aces Periscopes 309, Field Blue 70964

Redcoat:   Burnt Red 70814, Cavalry Brown 70982, Carmine Red 70908, Vermillion 70909

Browns / Leathers:   Ger. Camo. Black Brown 70822, Chocolate Brown 70872, Beige Brown 70875  
Gunstock:   Ger. Camo. Black Brown 70822, Chocolate Brown 70872, Mahogany 70846 or Flat Brown 70984

Black Boots:  Black, Black Grey 70862 or German Grey 70995, Neutral Grey or London Grey 70836

Webbing and straps:   Light grey 70990 then 70-820 Off-white

Other pouches (This model only has one, the rest have lots)  Khaki Grey 70880, Khaki 70988, then edge highlight Ivory 70918

Regimental Colours and Collars: (I chose the 24th)   70970 Deep Green (any dark green will do though) then 70942 Light Green highlights.

Pith helmets (not shown)  Light grey 70990, Sky Grey70989,  70-820 Off-white