Zulu huts

With a bit more time over Easter for hobby activities I've turned my hand again to scenery building.  My aim is to build both a Zulu Kraal (fortified village) and a couple of buildings more suitable for Rorke's Drift-type siege games.  Taking inspiration from various 'how to' articles on the web about building African thatched huts, I put these together using cheap brown towelling layered over polystyrene hemispheres (purchased from Hobbycraft) with an entrance modelled from air-drying clay.  Cost per hut was around £3.  These are the first two of six - should have the others finished this week.  The next challenge will be to make the thorn 'boma' (protective palisade).  My two year old daughter is delighted that I'm making hedgehogs.  <sighs>

I've opted for a design that would not be too out of place in other African settings (hence I've left off the distinctive ropework over the thatching).

Seen here for scale with a Copplestone Castings 28mm Ngoni Chieftain and a couple of Black Tree Design Zulu warriors 

Side elevation with more Zulus...

A Zulu Kraal near Umlazi painted by George Angas

The basic polystyrene hemisphere, glued to a cardstock base, textured with filler.  I build the entrance on next with air drying clay, then attach brown towelling soaked in PVA glue for the thatch.  The hut is then painted in acrylics and gloss varnished.