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Defenders of France

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This is a little out of the ordinary but if you ever took Latin in high school, you'll have some idea of what I was trying here. And if you ever wondered what that name meant on the decal set of the Tamiya Char B kit, well, here's your chance to find out.

Vercingetorix was leader of the Gauls, who fought Julius Caesar's Roman Legions, which conquered what was to become modern day France, about 2,000 years before the tank got its name and I thought it would be fun to combine the two in a sort-of then and now vignette. No one really knows what Vercingetorix looked like, of course, and even his name is a Latin version of whatever the Gauls called him but the figure seemed dramatic enough with those over-the-top wings on the helmet. I had hoped to be able to realize something a little more theatrical with the figure rising from the past at the hour of his Country's need, but I had a problem modelling the dim mists of history. (Maybe there’s a project and future feature article for one of the more imaginative of you out there). Unfortunately, both incarnations of Vercingetorix suffered the same fate at the invaders' hands.

The figure is from Andrea and the base is the excellent Corner Wall from Monroe Perdu. It is all finished in a variety of acrylic paints, oil washes, and pastels with a home-made sign that I hoped might explain the premise a bit. A bit fanciful all in all but I hope you enjoy it.
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About the Author

About Rob Norton (RobNorton)
FROM: NEW HAMPSHIRE, UNITED STATES


Comments

Nice contrast, it was b hot the day I climbed up the hill at Alesia to see the giant statue of Vercingetorix and it's a pity there wasn't a B1bis to see there too David
APR 29, 2008 - 03:45 AM
Hi Roc, Nice work and as David says a good contrast. Al
APR 29, 2008 - 04:33 AM
It’s a very good idea and well executed.
APR 29, 2008 - 05:15 AM
Love the paint job. Nice.
APR 29, 2008 - 05:32 AM
In a field dominated by realism, it's nice to see someone apply more "unreal" ideas to produce models. Both subjects are well executed, and the symmetry of their respective fates makes for a lovely overall effect. In a word, Awesome.
APR 29, 2008 - 08:09 AM
Nice diorama and very nice Char B. Cool idea and concept. Thanks for sharing
APR 29, 2008 - 07:53 PM
Thanks for all the kind comments. The whole thing was a lot of fun to put together. I only get to a "real" computer at work so I am a bit behind the times in technology so I want to give special thanks to Henk who probably did more than he should have had to to get this onto the website.
APR 30, 2008 - 12:25 AM
Beautiful models and a nice scene. I really enjoyed looking at it! The only thing I'd say on an editorial note is that the French of 1940 with their heroic ten-minute resistance to the German invasion hardly lived up to the legacy of Vercingetorix!
MAY 01, 2008 - 11:06 AM
Hi Henk, Great dio! Wonderful concept, well executed, fine models, impressive!
MAY 03, 2008 - 09:06 AM