Red Trousers Against Machine Guns

[NigelR]

It's finally finished after many months of on/off work, this vignette depicts a French bayonet charge during the Battle of the Marne in 1914.

There had been moves to replace the brightly-coloured uniforms of the French Army in 1911/1912 with something more suited to modern warfare. However, many voices in France were raised in defence of the "red trousers" because they represented the fighting spirit and elan of the French soldier. The most famous quote comes from Eugene Etienne (ex-Minister of War) in 1913 who said in parliament "Abolish the red trousers? Never! The red trousers are France!"

However, reality proved otherwise and by the autumn of 1914 the red trousers were replaced and French uniforms were being adapted to be less visible.

The figures are all converted ICM 1914 French with various replacement heads and hands. WIP thread is here: https://www.planetfigure.com/threads/red-trousers-against-machine-guns.482528/

 

[Nap]

Hi Nigel

That's come out really well after a great WIP thread

Lovely presentation overall , like the raised groundwork, all the figures look really good , do like the blues and of course the reds

Perhaps do a companion piece in the " later " uniforms with very different groundwork


WHY NOT ENTER something into the class of your choice in the NEW Bimonthly comp ending 28/02/23 here:

Standard

https://www.planetfigure.com/thread...ompetition-ends-midnight-bst-28-02-23.519019/

Intermediate

https://www.planetfigure.com/thread...ompetition-ends-midnight-bst-28-02-23.519021/

Advanced

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DON'T FORGET TO ALSO VOTE .....links in the comp forum

**In Vignettes & Diorama #4 VOTING has BEEN EXTENDED TILL 28/02 to allow for more members to do so**

There's also the Vignette & Diorama #5 comp

https://www.planetfigure.com/thread...mpetition-5-end-midnight-bst-31-12-23.519129/

Thanks for sharing

Look forward to seeing more

Happy benchtime

Nap

 

[NigelR]

Hi Nigel

That's come out really well after a great WIP thread

Lovely presentation overall , like the raised groundwork, all the figures look really good , do like the blues and of course the reds

Perhaps do a companion piece in the " later " uniforms with very different groundwork

Thanks Kev, much appreciated.

I said after this I would not do any more 1/35 figures, they are just too small. But I love your idea for a companion piece showing horizon blue uniforms in muddy conditions. I guess I will have to buy some more ICM figures.....

 

[MoboSchreuder]

Beautiful work looking great

Mobo

 

[Steve Ski]

Awesome, Nigel, great action, excellent brush work!

 

[Ferris]

This turned out great! A very attractive result!

Cheers
Adrian

 

[NigelR]

Awesome, Nigel, great action, excellent brush work!

Thanks Steve, your Highlander diorama was a great inspiration to keep plugging away at this.

This turned out great! A very attractive result!

Thanks Adrian, your advice during the build was very helpful. Much appreciated.

 

[Merryweather]

Well that turned out very well, didn't it?
Super job Nigel, fantastic painting. I especially like the contrast between the bright uniforms and the grass.

 

[NigelR]

Well that turned out very well, didn't it?
Super job Nigel, fantastic painting. I especially like the contrast between the bright uniforms and the grass.

Thanks Neil, it did turn out OK. There's things I could have done better but I've learned a lot and I followed your advice to push on through and not get bogged down. Overall it works well and hopefully evokes the feeling of those doomed charges.

Looking forward to seeing your latest one come together......

 

[Merryweather]

I've just looked at the pics on the pc rather than the phone and I have to say you've done a top job ,Nigel.
I'm glad my advice worked out for you (a bit scary to think of the responsibility...),I'm afraid it's going to be a little while before mine is finished.
I also have to commend you on managing NOT to break those pesky bayonets getting them off the sprue! I have this set half-finished and that aspect is a NIGHTMARE!

 

[NigelR]

I also have to commend you on managing NOT to break those pesky bayonets getting them off the sprue! I have this set half-finished and that aspect is a NIGHTMARE!

Oh dear, there were a lot of bayonet breakages!! Fortunately I bought three boxes of figures plus additional boxes of the equipment set, so I had plenty of spares. I found using a thin etched blade razor saw with very gentle cutting motions was the best way to get them off. Sanding/eliminating the sprue connections once they were off the sprues also caused some more breakages....

Even worse, once I had five rifles painted and attached to the figures, I managed to break two bayonets off during final assembly process. I then had to cut just the blade part from spares, paint it up and gently reattach it to the rifle in situ. A complete nightmare, especially when I broke the same one off twice!!

 

[frog]

Outstanding work

Dave

 

[NigelR]

Outstanding work

Thanks Dave!

 

[Steve headley]

You have done a fantastic job, it tells the story very well indeed. It’s a credit to you.

Steve

TFB Miniatures Team

 

[Mike - The Kiwi]

Thanks Kev, much appreciated.

I said after this I would not do any more 1/35 figures, they are just too small. But I love your idea for a companion piece showing horizon blue uniforms in muddy conditions. I guess I will have to buy some more ICM figures.....

A provocative piece Nigel, which I bet you’ve learnt heaps doing.
This should give you confidence to tackle a complementary piece to show what came next in this sorry saga.
Well done for giving this project a go!
MikeTheKiwi

 

[KenBoyle]

Fantastic work Nigel! You really brought the plastic figures to life.

Cheers,
Ken

 

[NigelR]

Thanks very much Steve, Mike and Ken.

A provocative piece Nigel, which I bet you’ve learnt heaps doing.
This should give you confidence to tackle a complementary piece to show what came next in this sorry saga.

I did indeed learn a lot, both in the figure modelling (thanks to folks like Neil and Marcus) and in the painting. I found your approach to faces and hands very helpful and I think they definitely helped me to improve in that area. I also started to try your textured approach on some of the equipment. I struggle to get things like the haversacks looking good, so for the guy at the very back of the scene who is running up the hill (maybe I should call him Kate Bush?) I painted the haversack a darker shade and gradually built up the highlights using dabbing and stippling. I think that has a much more realistic look than the other haversacks, which were approached in a more traditional way. It's a different technique for me but one I think I can make use of, although of course more practice is needed.

 

[Andrew Belsey]

Excellent diorama Nigel!
Andy

 

[Mike - The Kiwi]

Thanks very much Steve, Mike and Ken.


I did indeed learn a lot, both in the figure modelling (thanks to folks like Neil and Marcus) and in the painting. I found your approach to faces and hands very helpful and I think they definitely helped me to improve in that area. I also started to try your textured approach on some of the equipment. I struggle to get things like the haversacks looking good, so for the guy at the very back of the scene who is running up the hill (maybe I should call him Kate Bush?) I painted the haversack a darker shade and gradually built up the highlights using dabbing and stippling. I think that has a much more realistic look than the other haversacks, which were approached in a more traditional way. It's a different technique for me but one I think I can make use of, although of course more practice is needed.

Reassuring to read about these experiments Nigel.
Should give you confidence to check continue on future projects.
Well done mate!
MikeTheKiwi

 

[Warren SMITH]

Excellent finish...