WIP Marcel Bigeard

[Nap]

Hi Karl

Thank you again excellent details ......

New wings all in new position and bigger .......will post some iffy pics soon ....

I keep looking at the cap badge ....wondering how much bigger it needs to be ?

Don't think I will do the wind flap ...need more pictures if I do !

One Question if I may are the sculpted rank too far apart ?

Thanks again for everything

Happy benchtime

Nap

 

[Dr Bison]

Hi Nap,

The beret badge has a diametre of 43 to 45 mm, which would translate into 4.7 to 5 mm in scale 1/9; the jump wings are 78 mm wide and 48 mm high - you do the maths...

Concerning the rank slides. Yes, I do think they're too far apart, as you can see here on the shoulders of Lt-Col Romain-Desfossés of 6e RPC (right). The metal rank slides were actually not meant for parades etc, but for wear in the field or for barracks duty; Lt-Col Ducasse (left) wears the correct shoulder boards.

And I've found - in the same fantastic book(s) by messieurs Pivetta and Adam - this photo showing the fourragère TOE with extra loop (and again with full-size medals on a windproof... )

If you do need more photos of the windflap, I'm happy to provide - just to keep you busy with the putty

Cheers
Karl

 

[Nap]

Hi Karl

Thanks again ...those measurements are great , the sculpted badge is about a mm out .....

The rank badges are a lot closer ...so will replace both later

Always appreciate good references so windflap pics are welcome if your able

Have you a better picture of 3 BCP fourrage if possible ?

Here's done very iffy pics of the wings rework ...painting will bring all details out ...it's now larger, more in scale and above the centre button on pocket



Also I have done a guideline for the beret sections ...

Cloth version of a later Lt Col rank obviously the one he wears will be silvered and gilded/ brass



Happy benchtime

Stay safe

Nap

 

[Dr Bison]

Nap,

The vestes de saut all had a zip reaching from about the hip up to the top end of the short collar. On the right front panel there were 8 large buttons, with 8 corresponding button holes on the windflap that was sewn onto the left front panel. This windflap is 5.4 cm wide on my veste de saut mle 47/53 (the only difference to the 47/54 model is the „beaver tail“ and the 6 visible press studs for it on the front).


The camouflaged veste de saut mle 47/54 in the photo (and the bust) was modified by a tailor, who removed the wind flap with the button holes and the buttons themselves, and put in a full-length zip instead – probably to make life easier for the lieutenant-colonel, as buttoning up those 8 big buttons every time you put the smock on or took it off was a bit fiddly and time-consuming.


So, in order to transform Bigeard’s modified smock into a khaki version in its original state, „all“ you have to do is add the windflap. Looking at all your previous work, this should be easy...

The new para badge is looking good.
The fourragère shown in my last post, the one on the windproof jacket of the 3e RPC, is exactly the same as the one depicted on the bust.

Cheers
Karl

 

[Borek]

Wow !!! Fascinating details in this thread, incredible. Lots of knowledge and a lot of material. Very interesting start Good luck Nap

Cheers Borek

 

[Nap]

Wow !!! Fascinating details in this thread, incredible. Lots of knowledge and a lot of material. Very interesting start Good luck Nap

Cheers Borek

Hi Borek

Hope all is well good to have you posting on this , as you say fascinating details on this and I am grateful to Karl for all

I took off the cast on rank , rebuilt the epaulettes and am now replacing the rank but closer together as in the pictures

Happy benchtime

Stay safe

Nap

 

[Borek]

Hi Borek

Hope all is well good to have you posting on this , as you say fascinating details on this and I am grateful to Karl for all

I took off the cast on rank , rebuilt the epaulettes and am now replacing the rank but closer together as in the pictures

Happy benchtime

Stay safe

Nap

View attachment 380489

Hi Nap

Yes, I am OK. Last week was exhausting, many negotiations on a new project, so I won't get to work until this afternoon. As for Bigeard's bust, yes, it's an amazing amount of detail, I wish we had the same amount of evidence for the Hundred Years' War . I'm looking forward to the next step in this project. Enjoy your work and have a nice day

Stay Safe

Cheers Borek

 

[Nap]

Hi Borek

Good to hear all's well , hope you had success last week

Your right a lot of details on this period ...we are lucky ...look forward to seeing more from your 100 YW WIP when you can

I do enjoy adding details ...but nothing much more..never a sculptor like you but love seeing how you and others work in putty ...always learning

Rank all done ( que Iffyvision pics.....)



Keep looking at the beret badge .........another challenge possibly ......STOP PRESS ....the sculpted one is 5mm which is virtually spot on...nice one Offo ......putting putty away ...paints out .....LOL

Happy benchtime

Stay safe

Nap

 

[akaryu]

The balmy weather of late having kept me away from the bench, I'm very pleased to see this project grow as it does and I'm putting scalpel to the man too. Karl has provided very valuable information and thereby ample proof that it pays to be a rivet counter at times! Wouldn't it be wonderful if gifted sculptors asked for this kind of information on details before having a go at the putty?
Just like Nap my Bigeard's rank badges will be reworked, same for his 'plaque à vélo' para wings AND the weird ends of his shoulder straps which make a very strange bow never seen on an actual tenue de saut??? Quite an undertaking, but this is what makes figure painting interesting for me and what makes this forum so extremely valuable!
It's wonderful to have this kind of exchange of information, many thanks to all who contribute!

Now, at work!
Pierre

 

[Nap]

Hi Pierre

Great to have you posting ...hope all is okay

As you say Karl has provided sone great details ...my ranks all sorted ......looked at the rounded ends ...but not done anything ...yet !

Certainly be interested in what you have planned for those epaulettes or refs of course ! ....

Wonder where Offo got the refs for the epaulette ends ?

Reckon I will replace the ribbons at the beret back as well

As you rightly say exchange of info makes a project really interesting and what PF is all about

Currently basecoating the Algerian Zouave from Albu Miniatures and a Chasseur d'Afrique from Pilipili Miniatured

Lt Col Bigeard will be next on my bench though ! ......we must post the 2 versions together when finished !

Happy bemch time

Stay safe

Nap

 

[akaryu]

On the crowded bench not much has moved.
Monsieur Bigeard's rank insignia have been remodeled, as has his para brevet. the weird ends of his shoulder straps are cut off to a straight end and an additional piece of aiguillette has been placed above his medals. Still lots of work on the man: face shadows and highlights, the green base coat of his veste de saut has to be restored and then the real fun can start: the camo!
Patience my friends!

cheers,
Pierre

 

[Nap]

Hi Pierre

Bruno is looking good ...need to level my epaulettes up still and now add the addition aguilette ...as in picture below
Would love to see how the aguilette looks at the back as well

Notice in the picture the strings at the beret back as well

Come on what's the bust on the left with the grenade on the headwear ?

Happy Benchtime

Stay safe

Nap

 

[akaryu]

Hi Nap!

The extra strand of aiguillette is 'simply' the end of the fancy loops our Bruno has added to his impressive presence.

As for the poor fellow crowding my bench, that's a conversion of a Verlinden French officer bust with a legionnaire's head from Dreamcatcher, long OOP.


The idea is to represent a legionnaire 1880 in walking out dress in Indochine, to add to my collection of Foreign Legion figures. Needs a few more medals besides his Médaille militaire and then he's good to get some paint.

Pierre

 

[Bournouna]

Bonjour Pierre,

With your knowledge of French Paratrooper figures, I was hoping if you knew who manufactured this bust of a 2eme REP Foreign Legionnaire ?
Regards,

Joel

 

[akaryu]

Bonsoir Joel,

Je regrette, no I don't know who sculpted or manufactured it. Otherwise I would probably have it in my grey army! Reminds me of the Verlinden bust of a 2eme REP lieutenant, but I have never seen this one before, except in your query earlier on this forum. It doesn't look the work of Jean Jacques Lance who made several Legion busts for Dreamcatcher and the like. Any info would be most welcome, as apart from the too long aiguillette it seems OK.

Best regards,
Pierre

 

[Nap]

Hi Joel

Thought it might have been an old Warriors bust but not so

Possibly a conversion from this one ( painted by a guy called Paul ..no other info )

Nap

 

[akaryu]

I don't think it is a conversion based on the Verlinden, but it is clearly based on the same illustration by Kevin Lyles in the Osprey title on the Foreign Legion paras (Plate E1).
I hereby retract my comment about the low dangling ferrule of the aiguillette though, misled by my Belgian army way of thinking and poking fun at any troops sharper dressed than ourselves, which was almost the entire planet back in the 70's!
But still no clue about this bust, most annoying!

Pierre

 

[malc]

Brilliant

Just goes to show that modern stuff can de just a colourful.... all those ribbons ect.

 

[Bournouna]

Thank you Pierre and Kevin for your response to my query. Hope someone out there, knows the answer so that I can finally get my hands on the best French Paratrooper bust I've ever seen.

Joel

 

[Nap]

Hi everyone

Bit of verbal update .....added the additional details on the aguilette and the rear details on it as here

Need to confirm the colours of the aguilette as well

Also took away the rounded ends ....which took a chunk of resin out at the shoulder and also the rank on his left ...so out came the putty!

Been working on the uniform colouring...going for the non camo ....yes I know!! ...easy option ..Nearly finished it ....might lighten it ..though it is slightly more greener in reality !

pics to follow!!

Next will probably be the beret ...but those medals are looking at me

Happy bemchtime

Stay safe

Nap