My 10mm Wargaming: Making Zulu Kraals and Villages

14 Jan 2013

Making Zulu Kraals and Villages

I needed some Zulu Kraals and Villages for my Anglo Zulu War Project. I know that there are a couple of commercially available Zulu Kraals but to be honest I didn't fancy any of them. So I enlisted the help of my better half Sara who absolutely loves building scenery and generally getting messy. We both hope you thoroughly enjoy this tutorial.

Zulu Kraals and Villages

Making Zulu Kraal One

1. The first step was to mark out some MDF which was half an inch thick with the desired size circles Sara did this by using a drawing pin and some string tied to a pen. You can just see faintly from the outer circle that there is another pen mark however this one draws and irregular shape.

2. After Sara had done all the marking out she got my jigsaw and cut out the outer shape of the Zulu kraal. As you can see that the picture she also cut out a slightly larger piece of hardboard. Sara then moved on to drilling four pilot holes to allow her to get my jigsaw into the inner circles. Once she had completed this Sara then went round several times slightly enlarging the cut.

3. The next stage was without doubt the hardest as it involved rasping the edge of the MDF and hardboard however it greatly improved the look.

4. The next stage was very easy it was just a matter of gluing the hardboard to the MDF she did this by using a PVA glue, and putting a large weight on it overnight.

5. The next step is to apply Polycell Multi Purpose Polyfilla to the inner circles which I feel better simulates trampled mud. And for the rest I used Polycell Textured Ceilings, Course Effect.

6. The next step is to paint with Vallejo 921 English Uniform and then dry brush with Vallejo 918 Ivory.

7. The next stage is to get a soft bristled brush and cut all the bristles of and place them in a tub. This was done with the kitchen bread knife.

8. The next stage is to pour PVA glue into the precut circles and start push in a soft bristles slowly working round.

9. The next stage is to glue in all of the Zulu huts using a glue gun, the majority came from Pendraken however the overall Zulu hut came from Magister Militum, and made by Battleground Scenery Buildings. Once this was done Sara carefully varnished everything with Ronseal Diamond Hard Varnish, matt clear.