French Foreign Legionnaire 1880s - Algeria

As the title says, one of the world famous Legionnaires in Algeria in the 1880s. He is equipped with:
- 1874 Gras rifle
- 1872 dark blue capote or over-coat
- 1879 haversack
- the "de Negrier" canvas ammo pouch with six metal buttons
- 1879 de trellis blanc trousers
- 1878 casque coloniaux or French version of the pith helmet

Scale - 1/16th
The wall behind is mostly grey Sculpey. The rifle is metal tube, plastic stock and various bits of MS and metal. The figure is MS or mixes of MS and kneadatite. I started with one of my cast heads and one of the hands is nearly as cast. The boot bottoms were cast from one of my boots and the rest is MS.

The photo background is the Algerian desert.

This is a commission piece. It will be mounted and sold on one of Ken Thomas superb bases.

Not sure who will be painting this one yet. Victor Wong will be painting one of the two vignettes I'm posting on PF today and Charles Duckworth will (probably) be painting the other. Vic is a PF alumnus and also a maker and trader in Indonesian ethnic figures. If you are interested, give him a PM and check out his web site. Charles is a co-worker at Union Pacific Railroad. We met each other thru a mutual friend. Charles is best known as a builder and painter of WWI model aircraft, but he's also been painting figures since the 70s.

Hope you like the Legionnaire!

All the best,
Dan

waouh excellent subject Dan

Another good fig Dan and Seb's right, excellent subject.

Roger.

Another wonderful creation Dan, well done.

Many thanks, Seb, Roger and Tony!

All the best,
Dan

interesting piece !

Thanks Vergilius!! Sorta Beau Geste in gest.

All the best,
Dan

Dan,
Le Legionare cest magnifique.

Marc

Hi Marc,
"Le légionnaire est magnifique" is correct, but your french is absolutly better than my nederlander (zero word in fact !)

" Il était mince, il était beau
On l'a mis sous le sable chaud, mon légionnaire "

(Piaf or Gainsbourg like you prefer )

Seb.

Marc and Seb - Uh, you guys can take the discussion about correct French wording outside, OK? We're lookin' at figures in here.

Thanks very much for the most kind compliments, gentlemen!

All the best,
Dna

Dan,
Very nicely done.
Cheers
John

Cheers, John! Howya doin'? Howza missus?

HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO YOU AND YOURS!

Dan & Pam Morton

Dan,
don't blame Marc, the frenchman it's me
And little french words in this ocean of english won't disturb your légionnaire.
I'll continued to say what i think about your work in english like i did since 2 years, et une fois encore j'aime celle-ci.

Nice work and singular subject, Dan

Seb.

And I will always welcome your comments, m'sieur Seb. Joyeux Noël!

Dan

eissteban said:

Hi Marc,
"Le légionnaire est magnifique" is correct,
Seb.

Click to expand...

I always preferred speaking French then writing it.

Marc

Painted FFL

Dear All,

Dan's one-off sculpture has been painted. I hope you all like it.

Rgds Victor

Well done, Victor!! Thank you! I particularly like the tanned face! The blue black capote (overcoat) with shading and sweat stains is excellent.

Everyone - After he took these photos, I talked much too modest Victor into giving himself a credit line on the back of the wall

All the best,
Dan