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Completed Airfix 54mm French Line Infantry

Discussion in 'vBench (Works in Progress)' started by Merryweather, Mar 16, 2021.

  1. Merryweather A Fixture

    Country:
    United-Kingdom
    Airfix French Line Infantry 54mm (2).jpg
    Well, as I promised myself , I have decided to go OOB for the next one..
    …..and also, not.

    I’m staying Napoleonic and with the Airfix 54mm Collector’s Series, in this case the French Line Infantryman. I got interested whilst making the shakos for the Scots Greys diorama when I realised I actually had two of these boys in the stash. I'm not sure why I bought them as I’ve never really taken any notice of the line regiments, only the Imperial Guard.
    That said, I am getting conscious of entering my latter years, so I have decided to start using up the stash(SHOCK-HORROR!) rather than adding to it too much from now on.

    As is customary with these kits, our man comes with a choice of arms- firing or loading the musket. And here he is, straight out of the box, in the firing option.
    IMG_20210316_165412539_HDR.jpg
    ……OOB except that I have raised his right shoulder a gnat’s.

    Then I thought ‘why not use up the other one as well?’, so I broke him out and built the other option, ramming the musket.
    But I wanted them to look at least slightly different , so I took the gaitered legs and head from an old Imperial Guard Grenadier and used them. I had to trim away the above the knee part of the gaiters. They also wore trousers, but we’ll get on to that….

    IMG_20210315_193726950_HDR.jpg
    Whilst looking in the legs section of the spares box I found a pair of kneeling Historex gaitered legs. With a Historex body I could adapt, before I knew it I had this boy. I decided not to use the left over firing arms from the kits because they would look a bit too samey, so I used some from the spares box-Multipose Eighth Army, I think. The head is also Historex.
    IMG_20210315_193809713_HDR.jpg
    So I’m on a roll now, and I have a pair of kneeling legs from the Airfix 95th Rifleman, another Historex torso and I adapted the spare arms from the Line Infantry kits (which saves me scratching the cuff detail) and there was fusilier no 4, ready to receive cavalry in a Square.
    IMG_20210315_194016172_HDR.jpg
    It’s still all a bit static, so I need some movement.

    I give you fusilier no 5.
    IMG_20210315_194100790.jpg
    I used the left-over body from the old Old Guard Grenadier, and trousered legs and head from Multipose US Marines, and the last two the spare arms from the Line Infantry kits. He will be in between the two standing guys.
    In my youth I loved this kind of thing but with the ‘wisdom’ of old age I am a bit more uneasy about depicting the moment of death. That said, I also recognise the absolute brutality of war and I still cannot shake the fascination with it., so I decided not to shy away from it this time.

    So this is roughly where we are.

    IMG_20210314_112121976.jpg
    I will tighten up the composition in due course, but this is the general idea.
    I have yet to decide on which of the many line regiments and in which battle this is likely to be, but I’m sure a situation like this must have happened at some stage.
    So thanks for looking in

    Cheers

    Neil
  2. Peter Day PlanetFigure Supporter

    Country:
    United-Kingdom
    Oh yes!
    Oda and Merryweather like this.
  3. Merryweather A Fixture

    Country:
    United-Kingdom
    welcome aboard, Peter!
    Oda likes this.
  4. malc PlanetFigure Supporter

    Country:
    England
    Will look forward to next installment.
    Oda and Merryweather like this.
  5. rjray Member

    Country:
    United-States
    Always wanted to give one of these older Airfix a go...

    Randy
    Oda likes this.
  6. Merryweather A Fixture

    Country:
    United-Kingdom
    Cheers Malc
  7. Merryweather A Fixture

    Country:
    United-Kingdom
    I still have a love affair with them, they represent my adolescence and in spite of advances in technology over the years the sculpting is great and they are very easy to work with. Yes the detail can be a bit clunky and some of the research has been superseded, but I enjoy the process of improving them . I have recently collected at least one of each and I intend to build them more or less out of the box, but with hopefully some improvement in finish from when I was in my teens.
  8. Nap Moderator

    Country:
    England
    Hi Neil

    Blimey a blast from the past there , great to see the Airfix being used , good use of bits n' bobs from the spares box as well

    Any thoughts on a flag bearer or maybe a drummer ?

    Following with interest

    Happy benchtime

    Nap
    Oda and Merryweather like this.
  9. Merryweather A Fixture

    Country:
    United-Kingdom
    Hmm, I hadn't thought of that, no.
    On consideration, I think a standard bearer is out of the question because my painting skills are not up to it, but I will look into a drummer- depends if the drum is ornate, in which case I will also bottle out!:nailbiting:
    Troy Smith, Jed and malc like this.
  10. blaster A Fixture

    Country:
    United-States
    Ooh I like......
    Merryweather likes this.
  11. Nap Moderator

    Country:
    England
    Sorry didn't mean to put cat amongst the pigeons ! .....whatever you decide this is a great project to follow

    Happy bench-time

    Nap
    Henk likes this.
  12. DaddyO A Fixture

    Country:
    United-Kingdom
    Great start Neil.
    Love to see these old kits being used to good effect and like your mixing of multi-pose parts as well as others to such good effect. I understand exactly what you are saying about the 'moment of death' figure and agree completely I'm now much more sensitive about depicting such things in miniature form, but it's a great pose and very in keeping with the vignette you've come up with.

    Re. the standard bearer I've got a painted and finished flag in the spares box ready to be fitted to a pole c/w very nicely done gold lettering depicting a standard of the 45th regt of line which you are welcome to if it's of use. Just drop me a pm and I'll pop it in the post to you (that way you can add the extra figure :D


    Cheers for now
    Paul
    Troy Smith and Nap like this.
  13. Merryweather A Fixture

    Country:
    United-Kingdom
    That's a very kind offer, Paul, thank you very much!
    I'll have to have a think about it. It would certainly add height to the composition.
    Depends if I have anything I can easily use for another figure, and I'll have to research the uniform for a standard bearer.
    I'll get back to you via PM ,but thanks again so much .
    cheers
    Neil
  14. bucsfan21 Well-Known Member

    Country:
    United-States
    Neil, well recall these kits when they were released. (y) Super great memories of Airfix! Look the conversions you did as well. What a blast from the past!:)
    Thanks for sharing your work!

    Terry Martin-member of the Atlanta Military Figure Society of Atlanta, GA
    Nap and Merryweather like this.
  15. KenBoyle PlanetFigure Supporter

    Country:
    United-States
    Wonderful work Neil! Plastic figures can be a lot of fun, and a lot of work, but well worth the effort. It's good to see your creativity and I am looking forward to more.

    Like you mentioned, I to am going through my accumulated stash and picking up new figures only now and then. It's a fun trip down memory lane. ;)

    Cheers,
    Ken
    Oda and Merryweather like this.
  16. Merryweather A Fixture

    Country:
    United-Kingdom
    Ok I give in!
    I've had a rummage through the 40 year-old spares box and found some bits I can use for the Port Aigle.
    I'll have to order a few Historex Spares, but, incredibly, I actually do already have the eagle and ties.
    PM on the way, DaddyO!
    Cheers
    Neil
    Troy Smith, DaddyO and Nap like this.
  17. Nap Moderator

    Country:
    England

    See it's good to rummage ....look forward to seeing the figure cone to life ....now was thinking of Sapper or a company pennants ...................okay I will go away ....LOL

    Happy benchtime

    Nap
    DaddyO and Merryweather like this.
  18. Warren SMITH A Fixture

    Country:
    Australia
    Looking forward to seeing this progress... I am a huge fan of these old kits and like yourself have at least one of each in the stash... But sadly I still cannot do them the justice they deserve so will be watching to see how yours turn out.. Best of luck with it and keep posting..(y)
    Nap and Merryweather like this.
  19. Merryweather A Fixture

    Country:
    United-Kingdom
    Cheers Warren .Welcome aboard!
    Nap likes this.
  20. Larsen E. Whipsnade Moderator

    Country:
    United-States
    Wow! Very cool.... and ambitious! Can't wait to see where this goes.
    Merryweather likes this.

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