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Miniatures Adventure => The Great War => Topic started by: James Morris on February 18, 2015, 08:45:50 PM

Title: French Platoon for a Verdun Project
Post by: James Morris on February 18, 2015, 08:45:50 PM: Having seen that Scrivs is apparently planning to recreate the German forces for Verdun on a 1:1 scale, I thought I'd better get my finger out and get the French sorted out. I've started out with a below strength platoon (following the Chain of Command suggested army list in the Two Fat Lardies Xmas Special 2014): 35 models altogether. Figures are mostly Woodbine (GB) with some Scarab Minis.

(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7409/15950856794_24a3faa39d_c.jpg)

35 figures, 4 jump-off points
(https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8581/16571726441_b2f7881560_c.jpg)

One of the Grenadier/ Voltigeur squads, led by a Caporal
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7321/16387126429_37dfb7ebea_c.jpg)

...and the other. I need to add a few more models to these to bring them up to full strength.
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7376/16385765808_0b69a8a5e3_c.jpg)

The two Chauchat support teams; Chauchats by Scarab with supporting rifles by Woodbine.
(https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8593/16387457107_8e2df05183_c.jpg)

Two two VB rifle grenade support teams, again a mix of Woodbine and Scarab.
(https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8666/16547391216_1877b0cabc_c.jpg)

Close up of the VB launchers by Scarab. These are pretty beefy models, but full of character.
(https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8658/15953172753_752a8f0f6b_c.jpg)

NCO close up: pair of Caporals. Scrivs and I decided to give the NCOs/ COs 30mm bases (rather than 25mm) to make them stand out. To that end, I've also outlined their bases in dark brown.
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7380/16387492057_0182210301_c.jpg)

The Lieutenant and his two Sergeants.
(https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8565/16385971160_abf9e67600_c.jpg)

As the force is for Chain of Command, I had to have some jump-off points, but hadn't really thought about these until I started basing the platoon. Fortunately I had a number of boxes and useful helmets lying in the bits box.
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7372/16385934110_0a32d1a3ae_c.jpg)

That's it: en avant mes braves! Hoping to get the first game in very soon, which I'm sure will be reported on Scrivs' blog...
Title: Re: French Platoon for a Verdun Project
Post by: Phil Robinson on February 18, 2015, 09:48:08 PM: Splendid stuff James, I like your jump off markers.
Title: Re: French Platoon for a Verdun Project
Post by: georgec on February 21, 2015, 07:23:43 AM: 'Ils ne passeront pas!' Very nice, James. How are you doing the 'Horizon Blue'.
Title: Re: French Platoon for a Verdun Project
Post by: Metternich on February 21, 2015, 08:21:51 PM: Very fine indeed. Looking forward to the battle report (and pictures too, please !), when the two forces finally meet. They shall not pass !
Title: Re: French Platoon for a Verdun Project
Post by: James Morris on February 22, 2015, 09:14:21 PM: Quote from: georgec on February 21, 2015, 07:23:43 AM
'Ils ne passeront pas!' Very nice, James. How are you doing the 'Horizon Blue'.

Cheers George! I was going to do the Horizon Bleu using Vallejo's 'French Mirage Blue' (as recommended by Sidney Roundwood on his blog) but found a can of 'Wolf Grey' spray (an Army Painter coloured primer) at Northstar, which was absolutely perfect. So these guys got spray undercoat of Wolf Grey, followed by a wash of black and then a single highlight of Wolf Grey acrylic + white. I think that shaved 5 mins off the painting time of each model; they came in about 20 mins each, plus basing.
Title: Re: French Platoon for a Verdun Project
Post by: Jack on February 22, 2015, 10:01:21 PM: Very nice indeed.
Title: Re: French Platoon for a Verdun Project
Post by: Jim Jess on February 23, 2015, 08:24:59 AM: Awesome
Title: Re: French Platoon for a Verdun Project
Post by: tumeveumevla on February 23, 2015, 05:55:47 PM: very nice :-* :-*
Title: Re: French Platoon for a Verdun Project
Post by: Burnin Coal on February 23, 2015, 07:45:05 PM: Great paint job - an excellent looking unit - basing sets them off a treat
Title: Re: French Platoon for a Verdun Project
Post by: Driscoles on February 23, 2015, 07:53:25 PM: Miniatures and Jump points are looking great.
I was not sure which company i should choose for my french. Guess it will be woodbine and scarab.
Title: Re: French Platoon for a Verdun Project
Post by: James Morris on February 23, 2015, 08:30:40 PM: Thanks all! Bjoern, I've just bought some Brigade Games French as well - they are somewhere inbetween Woodbine and Scarab sizewise. I'll post pics when I've done them. In the meantime, here's a few extra shots:

Close up of Woodbines - loving the animation of these.
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7289/16385934630_9772559a31_c.jpg)

Line-up of Woodbines...
(https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8573/16387496187_577f67dcdd_c.jpg)

(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7301/15953211723_1c233fb90c_c.jpg)

This is what happens when you let your 5-year old daughter 'assist' with the photo session...I call this one 'The Pony of Verdun' (a bit like The Archers of Mons, but cuter):
(https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8670/16571754181_c2bdb22617_c.jpg)
Title: Re: French Platoon for a Verdun Project
Post by: scrivs on February 24, 2015, 09:47:25 AM: Great work James.

They look lovely, although how lovely they will continue to look after I unleash all my newly painted heavy weapons on them........... lol

Will try to do a photo-update tomorrow, and make some jump-off points like yours too.
Title: Re: French Platoon for a Verdun Project
Post by: Ahistorian on February 24, 2015, 10:00:19 AM: Excellent stuff James, really lovely. And I will bear the Wolf Grey tip in mind when it comes to doing my own ones!
Title: Re: French Platoon for a Verdun Project
Post by: poulppy on February 24, 2015, 11:08:54 AM: really nice miniatures !
Title: Re: French Platoon for a Verdun Project
Post by: Lardy Rich on February 25, 2015, 03:08:12 PM: Who sculpted the pony? Great model.

Rich
Title: Re: French Platoon for a Verdun Project
Post by: James Morris on February 25, 2015, 07:35:26 PM: Quote from: Lardy Rich on February 25, 2015, 03:08:12 PM
Who sculpted the pony? Great model.

Rich
I think it's a classic Ral Partha model from the 70s, probably by Tom Meier. Could get a few quid for it on ebay if I stripped the paint off. ;)
Title: Re: French Platoon for a Verdun Project
Post by: Cessna on February 25, 2015, 10:22:22 PM: Beautiful work! The blue is particularly effective.

I also have a daughter, and she refers to my Napoleonic cavalry as "Daddy's Horseys."
Title: Re: French Platoon for a Verdun Project
Post by: Calimero on February 25, 2015, 10:45:48 PM: Quote from: Lardy Rich on February 25, 2015, 03:08:12 PM
Who sculpted the pony? Great model.

Rich

That's the French "arme secrète". That's how they win the war! ;)
Title: Re: French Platoon for a Verdun Project
Post by: Baron von Nickedoften on February 26, 2015, 12:02:53 AM: Quote from: James Morris on February 23, 2015, 08:30:40 PM

This is what happens when you let your 5-year old daughter 'assist' with the photo session...I call this one 'The Pony of Verdun'.....

Or "dejeuner"?

Lovely painting - like the bases, especially.
Title: Re: French Platoon for a Verdun Project
Post by: scrivs on February 28, 2015, 12:16:14 PM: I got to see these in the flesh for the first time on Thursday evening and they are very good.
Title: Re: French Platoon for a Verdun Project
Post by: Monty on March 02, 2015, 07:35:08 PM: Excellent work, James!
The pony of Verdun really made laugh. Reminds me of my daughter (4.5 years) helping me with Dark Age Norman photos... lol
Title: Re: French Platoon for a Verdun Project
Post by: Beast of Bukhara on March 03, 2015, 09:27:27 PM: Certainly not just a one trick pony ::)

The figures are coming on a treat :-*
Title: Re: French Platoon for a Verdun Project
Post by: armchairgeneral on March 03, 2015, 10:22:43 PM: Tres bien! Vive la France! :)
Title: Re: French Platoon for a Verdun Project
Post by: Marine0846 on March 04, 2015, 04:36:38 AM: Great looking figures.
You need to get that pony in uniform. lol