Introduction

Statue of the Great War (Standbeeld de la Grande Guerre) from Artitec is a 1/87-HO resin model. It is item 10.225, one of 139 models in their range Civilian/Civiel.

The Kit

This crisply cast resin 3-piece kit represents a Poilu of the First World War.

The three castings are crisp. With the exception of some minor flash on the rifle butt, there are no casting flaws.

The figure is scaled to life-size and could thus be used as an HO scale Great War French soldier.

Detail

Detail is good. The great coat has fold detail. Field kit consists of gusset bags/haversack, and M2 Gas Mask bag. The M1915 Adrian helmet is well done. I can not tell if the rifle is a Fusil Mle. 1907-15 or a Fusil Mle. 1886 “Lebel”, but it does sport the 20.5″-long spiked bayonet.

A mustache enhances basic face detail.

The monument pedestal includes plaques and captions in relief.

Instructions and Painting

A very basic line drawing of the assembled statue (and two others by Artitec is provided in several languages. Painting instructions include Humbrol and Revell paints.

Conclusion

Statue of the Great War is a simple yet pleasing monument with crisp castings and good detail. It will be at home as part of a military diorama or model railway. Perhaps it can even be a stand-alone HO Poilu?

Instructions are adequate. The minor amount of flash on the gun butt is of no consequence.

Monument la Grande Guerre should be a popular model for braille scale modelers. Recommended.