Hi,

I am posting on this forum for the first time and hope you don't mind a 1/32 figure, rather than a 1/35 one. I had a little project where my local club devoted one meeting to Vietnam 1946-74 and everyone had to contribute something connected with that conflict. I decided to do a French Legionnaire at Dien Bien Phu and use some old Airfix Multipose to create the figure I wanted. It involved using the US Marine legs, a body and arms from probably the 8th Army set and a head from some set or other. The boots were detailed with micro rod laces and the uniform was built up from Green Stuff, some lead foil was used for the tapes at the back of the beret, the carbine sling and the binocular straps. After priming any 'rough' areas were painted with Mr Surfacer 1200, which smoothed them out just fine. The painting is done with Vallejo acrylics. I will post the finished item when I have taken the photos. Hope you find it interesting.

The figure after construction was complete...









After priming...









The face painted and initial painting of uniform...





Thanks for looking, all the best,

Paul

Lovely job, Paul. interesting and seldom-seen subject too. looking forward to seeing this one finished!
Well done.
Gary.

Hi
Very nice start & the Face looks very good.
Less often modelled subject, had to do a similar conversion a few years ago when I modelled a Chaffee ( Bison) with Legionaire's.
Watching with interest.

Shaun

@ Rossgary: Hi Gary, I have had the only copies of a short lived magazine called 'Soldier On!' for a good number of years now (35!) and in them is a series of articles on Dien Bien Phu by Martin Windrow and the illustrations by Mike Chappel were superb, I have wanted to model them for ages and this was the ideal opportunity. Thank you for your kind comments.

@ Muddyfields: Hi Shaun, yes this conflict is sometimes overlooked and the uniforms are varied and interesting for all sides in the conflict. I would like to see your Bison diorama, I am always interested in anything to do with the French Foreign Legion. I am posting the finished model here, thank you for your kind comments.

Here is the finished figure, I was fortunate to be awarded first place, being judged against aircraft and tanks.













Thanks for looking, all comments welcome.

All the best,

Paul

Congratulations Paul, That's a cracking figure and a well deserved first prize!
Love to see more from you!
All the best,
Gary

Hi Paul,

Excellent work and congrats on the placing.

Al

Hi Gary,

I am usually found on the Braille Scale forums and involved in the Campaigns. I have done figure modelling in the past and made the Historex Napoleonic figures, I found this build a nice diversion from armoured thingies and may do some more by way of a change. The quality of modern castings is amazing and I have been tempted to give them a go. I have a load of the Multipose figures (from the 70's) and may convert a few more into Legionnaires. Thank you for your kind comments.

All the best,

Paul

Hi Al,

Thank you for your kind comment, I may try to do some more and post them in the future.

All the best,

Paul

Very skillful conversion work and many congratulations on the competition placing, well deserved.

Hi Paul
The figure has turned out realy nice.
Will look great on a diorama.
My M24 diorama is based on a patrol from Dien Bein Phu.
The figure's are a mixed lot, Miniart, Verlinden, Academy & some scratchbuilt.
http://s377.photobucket.com/albums/oo218/muddyfields/Vietnam%20Chaffee/

Shaun

Hi Shaun,

Excellent diorama, very evocative of the period. Well done with the famous red earth of Vietnam, this is something that is mentioned in all the books I have read on the subject and how it stained all the vehicles and boots. I notice that you gave one Legionnaire a Thompson sub machine gun, I was debating whether to give my figure one of those, but opted for the M1 Carbine as it seemed the Paras had these as well as the Mat 49 sub machine gun. I would like to do this in Braille scale one day, especially when we get a decent model of the Chaffee. I don't understand the manufacturers, this is a really popular tank, much wanted by the Braille community and all they produce is 'Paper Panzers', yet another Tiger prototype by Dragon recently. Oh well, one day maybe. Thanks for the link, really enjoyed looking at your work.

All the best,

Paul