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Miniatures Adventure => The Conflicts that came in from the Cold => Topic started by: the_inquisition! on October 31, 2018, 11:13:19 AM

Title: Indochina French Paratrooper
Post by: the_inquisition! on October 31, 2018, 11:13:19 AM

Hello!

I didn't know very much about first Indochina war, but I have been reading The Last Valley (and the Osprey book by the same author) and it has been very enlightening/inspiring.

I hadn't been planning to do any wargaming alongside the reading, but during a very boring work meeting I realised that I had a bag of unused 1/48 scarab UK/US miniatures that I could use with a little converting and some vehicles of the same scale that would also be suitable. 

I am not sure how far I'll go with this given the amount of conversation necessary, but it would be good to get some feedback on the first conversion - early 1950s French paratrooper in denison smock, bush hat and with CR39 carbine: 

Original:

(https://i.imgur.com/CGrF7FU.jpg)

Converted:
 
(http://i.imgur.com/8waXVAM.jpg) (https://imgur.com/8waXVAM)

The CR needs a lot of work!  ;D

 

Title: Re: Indochina French Paratrooper
Post by: the_inquisition! on January 03, 2020, 01:26:24 PM

I have just been struck by inspiration on this project...and now realise over a year has passed  :o

Vietminh ‘main force’:

(https://i.imgur.com/NYEkxQy.jpg)

These are not 100% accurate - although I have seen pictures of VM in diamond pattern quilted jackets, these jackets have verticals lines instead. As the minis are based on WW2 soviet miniatures, the webbing is probably wrong as well  ;D

I’ve gone for soviet weapons; it would be better if these were Japanese but I don’t have any of those.

Vietminh ‘local irregulars’:

(https://i.imgur.com/tQgIFNW.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/lf2QPHL.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/lp90bGx.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/rD2HTjk.jpg)

These were based on Japanese miniatures so the clothes ( especially the sandals) are not a great fit for Indochina, but I think are roughly close enough.

Again, they are very well equipped including a black market US greasegun and British backpacks.

Title: Re: Indochina French Paratrooper
Post by: von Lucky on January 05, 2020, 03:14:04 AM

Nice conversions, I am sure they will paint up well.

Title: Re: Indochina French Paratrooper
Post by: the_inquisition! on January 25, 2020, 10:15:40 AM

Cheers - I think they came out ok  ;)

(https://i.imgur.com/FKKMr2B.jpg)

I’m planning on painting the ‘regulars’ in a mix of greens and khakis and and the ‘irregulars’ in civilian clothes

Title: Re: Indochina French Paratrooper
Post by: commissarmoody on January 26, 2020, 01:11:17 PM

Not a bad idea.  :D

Title: Re: Indochina French Paratrooper
Post by: von Lucky on January 26, 2020, 08:47:56 PM

Looking good.

Title: Re: Indochina French Paratrooper
Post by: the_inquisition! on February 17, 2020, 11:58:47 AM

Thanks very much everyone :D

I’ve painted up the ‘irregulars’

(https://i.imgur.com/BttQwpp.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/d4apvQp.jpg)

I’m going to keep my eyes open for suitable figures to convert, but in the meantime I’m going to start some more paratroopers....finally!

Title: Re: Indochina French Paratrooper
Post by: commissarmoody on February 17, 2020, 12:17:49 PM

Nice!