Poilu 1914

[MikkoH]

Hi folks!

Want to close this year 2008 as a figure I just finished. It's originally Andereas Beau Geste, but I transformed it as a french soldier 1914. I started this abt 2 yers ago, but it then stalled. At christmas time there came in finnish tv a movie Joyeux Noël and finally it gave inspiration to close this project. Hope you like it. And Happy new year to everybody!

 

[billyturnip]

A great conversion Mikko, very well done.

Roger

 

[petermh]

Nice conversion well staged
He looks pretty miserable good job he doesn't know its going to last another 4 years [if he lasts that long]

 

[Dan Morton]

Mikko - I'm certainly glad you finished this conversion! Just excellent!

All the best,
Dan

 

[megroot]

Mikko,
this is nice work. I must make some remarks on your great work.
When you painted the poilu with his red trouser, he must have a red kepi. They became sitting ducks for the german's with this red kepi.
At the beginning of the war the trenches where not as you made them. They where no deeper then hipheight.
Around the early beginning of 1915 the poilu get his horizon blue uniform. At that time the movement war has became a trench war. The army's dig them self deeper and deeper into the mud, because they should live in the trenches for some days. So to make it as comfortable as it good be the trenches became more like you build. But then the red color was already gone.
Another nickpicking is the black cartouche holders. They must be brown to darkbrown.

But i must say that you have done some great work on this figure and base.
Excellent work.

Marc

 

[Chrisr]

When you painted the poilu with his red trouser, he must have a red kepi.

Marc,

You are correct to a point. In 1914 the French infantry had a red kepi with a blue band but they also had a light blue cloth cover which was worn over the kepi when they went on active service. Thus Mikki is correct in displaying this cover.

Cheers
Chris

 

[Steve]

Mikko--Fine work! I think this is the sort of creative work that is within the grasp of many figure painters and you represent it well. The cloth around the head as well as the pipe and the other details make a figure unique and very creative. Thanks!

 

[Bluesking]

Very moody and atmosperic, great piece.

 

[Dan Morton]

In 1914, 307,000 French soldiers died. This was not the worst year. That black honor belongs to 1915 when they went on to lose another 335,000, most of them in the attacks on the Champagne and Artois.(1) Who knows how many because of the pantaloon rouge and the kepi?

By the late fall and winter of 1914-1915, numerous changes were occurring in the garb of the typical Poilu. Certainly the blue or grey kepi covers were being used. Several shades of grey, blue and brown trousers sometimes made of corduroy were being issued in favor of the pantaloon rouge. The dark blue coat usually was kept until the horizon blue was issued.

The really tragic thing is the French had developed a much more modern uniform before the war, but political and military squabbling about it could never be resolved. And luckless Pierre took it in the neck!

All the best,
Dan

(1) Ian Ousby, The Road to Verdun, page 7.

 

[Marcel]

Great painted figure Mikko!

Marcel.

 

[Ernest]

It is a nice conversion, I like all the details over the scene, like bottles, the box, the lamp, etc, But I think you need to be more carefuly with the paint technique, I guess your mixing paint are too thick. The mood technique looks very cool

 

[Chas Young]

Great painting and the vignette base gives the piece a great atmosphere. I also watched Joyeux Noël before Christmas here on Aussie TV.

 

[MikkoH]

Thank you friends for your nice comments and critical feedback(I like that!).

Now it's time to plea. Yes, battles were moving type during 1914, but after a battle of first Ypres end of November armies were starting to dig. So there is a possibility for trench nov-dec 1914. Trench is bit over extravagant for that time, but there is a small possibilty for "could be".
For kepi cover. They were not meant for camo, but just because those kepis vere bit expensive and tose darn Jeans and Pierres could have get em dirty. I have seen pics of those being used from august -14 on together with red trousers and leather leggings. Those later things were replaced with brown or blue grey trousers and puttees during early -15. Some may hve even get em late -14.

Historically bit stretced fig but I'm pretty pleased with result. I real those blue and red colours are not so bright but more dark. I tried everything but my camera just didn't want to work with me as I wanted. I tried to paint colours "dead" to make atmosphere even more miserable.

 

[megroot]

Thank you friends for your nice comments and critical feedback(I like that!).

Now it's time to plea. Yes, battles were moving type during 1914, but after a battle of first Ypres end of November armies were starting to dig. So there is a possibility for trench nov-dec 1914. Trench is bit over extravagant for that time, but there is a small possibilty for "could be".
For kepi cover. They were not meant for camo, but just because those kepis vere bit expensive and tose darn Jeans and Pierres could have get em dirty. I have seen pics of those being used from august -14 on together with red trousers and leather leggings. Those later things were replaced with brown or blue grey trousers and puttees during early -15. Some may hve even get em late -14.

Historically bit stretced fig but I'm pretty pleased with result. I real those blue and red colours are not so bright but more dark. I tried everything but my camera just didn't want to work with me as I wanted. I tried to paint colours "dead" to make atmosphere even more miserable.

Mikko,
I think we could better talk this over with some glass of beer. For the first question about the trench there is only one answer and that is NO. There is a simple reason for that: The soldiers thought that the war should be over before christmas 1914. They realised it untill the beginning of 1915 that they where gonna stay into the trenches some time. Then they made the trenches "comfortable" with you have created awesome.
And those things that where colored made the Poilu from top to toe horizon blue.
Only the Algerian's are in khaki.

As long you are pleased with the result that is great. You must have fun in this hobby. Not stressing....It is a hobby with some historicall research.

Marc

 

[MikkoH]

You are definitely right about that beer Marc.;-P If you are right about that trench then I can say "Houston, we have a problem". Historical accuracy has been one goal in my modelling always. Looks like my refs misquided me or I misread something. Well I just have to live with this one, I ain't gonna blewup this one anymore.
For the brown colour. I didn't meant khaki brown that colonial units including foreign legion used but darker brown colour trousers. I remember having seen pic where was old blue coat, kepi with cover and dark brown trousers with puttees.

 

[billyturnip]

Mikko, you are correct about the brown trousers I've seen pics of them too.

I wouldn't stress too much about the depth of the trench, it's still a very good bit of work. Maybe nobody told this Poilu to stop digging

Roger

 

[megroot]

That's right, nobody could stop digging when the shells flew over your head.
I also shouldn't blow up that diorama. It's absolutely fabulous. Nice work overall.
Mikko you should leave it as it is, as you sayed before, stretching the history......

BTW; i have seen yesterday evening the movie "Passchendaele", and i can say, save the time. Only the last half hour is worht looking. All before is very romantic (kind of Titanic story)..
The filming off the trenches is awesome, also how they made them, specially nomans land.

Marc

 

[billyturnip]

Marc, Mikko's vignette is obviously not as stretched historically as "Passchendaele" then

Roger.

 

[MikkoH]

This case is closed then.

Now I can consentrate on Australian camel corps trooper or first finding some info about camel saddles.

 

[tonydawe]

Hi Mikko,

Your Poilu conversion is excellent, well done. The trench looks very realistic

I have some photos of Australian Camel Corps troopers which might be helpful to you.

Are you scratchbuilding it or converting it from an existing kit?? What scale??

I'll gather up some photos and send you a PM.