(Army Painters) French Foreign Legion 1910-50; reboot 2014

[janner]

Fine progress

[former user]

THX again

@Bezzo, if I understand what You mean to say, although "Beau Geste" was written after WW1, it narrates the legion before it. What I try to accomplish is something on the opposite side of the "Beau Geste", because although the blue coats, white garments and neckcloth did exist, I perceive this style as an artificial filter of the legion that I try to get away from (a good hint to this artifact is this style being reiterated for so long that it pretends that a uniform style persisted for some 50 years, which is totally unrealistic). My version on the other hand filters it completely out, or anything that recalls it, and therefore is also unrealistic, even if on a smaller scale.

[former user]

I did not mean to lecture You, sorry, just to explain myself  
I simply took the opportunity to reflect on the legion mythology

on a different note, it is a nice gesture from everyone commenting here to acknowledge my
nice quest which is trying to accomplish so many things at the same time

[former user]

 
this would indeed surprise me, since I was not able to go to the sources due to my insufficient french.

Beyond producing a reasonable FFL army I could game with, and reactivating my painting skills, and hopefully improving them....
in the "disguise" of authenticity,
I am attempting a reflection at how we wargamers perceive and construct historical representation.

[Dr Mathias]

I enjoy the project you picked. I certainly never knew the FFL wore anything but the blue and white that is so typically depicted and romanticized. I have historical tunnel vision as much as anyone

[former user]

THX for commenting

we all have the tunnel vision, that is my point.
We pretend to "know" and having researched and what not. And even if we went to the source and the record is good, we are still interpreting.
Of course the FFL is iconic and everything, but look at how the medial image of WW2 has developed in the last 50 years for example.

So, apart from having the miniatures painted and enjoying when someone likes them  ,
the point of communicating this in a forum is to encourage the awareness that right and wrong is fluid and suggesting how to go about creating a wargaming army.

I must confess that I did not start with the FFL in mind when I first bought the renegade chasseurs, I wanted something to create the czech legion.... 

[former user]

not exactly my point...
let's stay with the FFL as example - prior to WW1, the legion had been employed not only in northafrican theatres, but also elsewhere on the continent and in Asia etc. Many units depending on many types of logistical chains wearing very different kinds of uniforms. How is anyone to eyewitness all this? How is all of this to be recorded and the records made available? How is anyone to sculpt and make available such a multitude of different miniatures? I mean, Mr. Owen is really trying hard, seriously 
impossible.
But these are questions for military history or historical archaeology, not for the wargamer.
The wargamer is like some kind of movie director who wants to recreate a certain feeling, at least IMHO.
Since (back to our example) the FFL (or the Wehrmacht, British Redcoat whatever) has got a bit of a medial overcoverage, and moviemaking is more often about money (meaning saving on research and wardrobe), the legionnaire has become the guy with the blue greatcoat and the white neckcloth.
And that is what the wargamer wants and what he gets. OK, nowadays the wargamer wants the historically accurate and the sculptors are competing, but they have to make a choice as we have too.
My point is that we have to be aware of the fact that we are creating by making choices (when it comes to historical wargaming) and we should not poke out each other's eyes with discussions about an accuracy we cannot achieve.
too much talking, sorry, the paint is drying 

[former user]

I mean, look at me - loudmouthing about researching uniforms but still not a clue how to represent the free french FFL without having to restrict on a certain theater.
Only french available are for France 1940 and four miniatures (inspired by a propaganda photo)  for North Africa.
Very little authentical pictorial evidence, no miniatures to represent them and a few vehicles....
And i don't want to use British....
btw, good ideas are welcome....

[former user]

right, nothing for some time
I finished my december goal yesterday, yet have to take proper pictures (not to talk about the promised group shot of 68 figures)

anyway, I have almost run out of figures, so I am on to conversions, for which I could need some advice
please

so, here are four headswaps, Foundry versus Renegade, slightly different proportions
so please indulge me and tell me your oppinion whilst you wait for the painted ones

[Dr Mathias]

I wouldn't know they were headswaps unless someone told me- they look very well done to me. These types of sculpts can get away with slightly off head/body proportion, unlike the recently trendy 'slim' figures like Infinity.

[Mason]

Nothing wrong with those fellas, mate.
I am with the Doc: I would never have if you had not said.
Seamless.
 

[former user]

Yup, THX
I might make comparison pics with the originals, but I basically agree, I only wanted to be sure.
So, a lot of cutting and glueing upcoming . the next test will be shortening rifles

[former user]

here we go, all finished

the infamous mounted (artillery) officers, early GW

my current interpretation of compagnie saharienne portee de la legion, 1940ish and later

and some GW Belgians, painted up as pre- and early GW french, not 100% convincing

[Dr Mathias]

They look great, I think you've improved since the start of the army.

My only criticism is the basing, the grains of the sand seem really large. I feel for the horses
Maybe sift through a strainer?

[former user]

hmm...
the minimalism is intended
the bases are actually different colours of sand and crushed quartz in different grainage, the finest already very fine

worth improving the concept, I agree