Well here we go again. For this thread I will be creating two figures, one a soldier of the French Foreign Legion in the Gulf of Tonkin and a Spanish Officer Regt Principe No 3 in the Philippines.

An odd pairing I know, both are in the 1890s and both are serving in their respective countries overseas colonies. The similarities don't end there though, both are wearing very similar uniforms, sun helmets, blue tunics and red trousers. After this project I really want to get away from this particular colour scheme for a while.

I am also starting somewhat differently, rather than a stripped down mannequin I am building both on copies of the same Historex Academy Figures.



Each is based on an illustration in my collection, here you will see the similarities.



I have wanted to do the FFL figure for a long time now and then I discovered the Spanish Officer on Pintrest and it just seemed to make sense to make them side by side. Though each will be on a separate base, I am also not going to change the basic pose of the Academy Figures, apart from the arms.

Each has a new head, either Figure in Italy or NCO Historex from France. I added plasticard to the soles of the feet and filed the feet to resemble shoe uppers. The I made a start on the leg wear of both.



The Spanish Officer has a trouser leg made up of Magicsculpt, once cured I will start the other. For the Legionnaire I have another illustration of this figure wearing white gaiters/spats and wanted to incorporate this in my figure.



Cheers Simon

Very nice choose!!! Both are colorful subjects but my heart is with the spanish officer. If you need info for to sculpt coat and pith helmet, only say me.
I await updates!

Very many thanks for the kind offer, I have very little information on the Spanish Army in general so if you have details on the helmet, in particular the badge and other helmet fittings. Also what the detail is on the back of the tunic is.

It is a superb illustration and a really attractive uniform that I wanted to make as soon as I spotted it. I'll keep the updates coming as fast as I can, without rushing of course.

Cheers Simon

looking forward to seeing this develop..

Cheers Warren, I know I'm going to enjoy this project.

Cheers Simon

Great start Simon, great idea

Very interesting project, great choice of subjects. I will follow with interest as I plan on using those mannequin figures myself for a project in the not too distant future....

Cheers Kev, I have plenty on the FFL but lacking on the Spanish Army, what I do have though is in Spanish, I often struggle with English so another language is really difficult.

The Academy Figures are just a whim since I had two and not wanting to do ancient Greeks their wasn't much they could be used for. On the plus side ii'm saving on the amount of Magicsculpt I am using!

Cheers Simon

Thanks Neil, I have them every now and then, ideas that is so the law of averages says some of them will be good! Now all I have to do is deliver.

Cheers Simon

Thanks Nigel, I'll endeavour to be as informative as I can as I progress, like I mentioned to Kev, so far I'm not using as much Magicsculpt, well I'm mixing the same amount but not using it all so my new putty palette is starting to grow.

I'll definitely look forward to seeing what you do with them, they really are nice figures in their own right.

Cheers Simon

Another interesting subject/s, will be watching your progress.
Melanie

Hi Simon, look like a colourful pair! I'll be following. Regards Pete

Melanie, Pete, thank you both I have done more today but won't post till both are at the same stage, only one trouser leg to go.

Cheers Simon

I have got both figures to the same stage now, they have trousers on so no more flashing on my board!

First up I'd the Legionnaire, nothing fancy just the bottoms of his gaiters and straight trousers, I just forgot to add the side seam, I'll have to carefully etched it into the cured Magicsculpt.



For my Spaniard there is just a pair of straight trousers, no side seams as he has trouser stripes, which will.probably end up being made from post it note paper.



My next job will be starting on the tunic skirts and this is where I'll be able to tell them apart because only the Legionnaire will have a cummerbund and belt.

Next week my Granddaughter starts school so my grandad duties will be much reduced for a few weeks, half term, so I might be able to pick up the pace a little.

Cheers Simon

Nice choice, I'm following.

Malc

Many thanks Malc

Cheers Simon

A free(ish) day today so I'll get round to some soon.

Cheers Simon