French Foreign Legion in Dahomey

[Pivo]

My first post. Here is one group of mini’s I just completed. I conscripted the ESCI British Infantry Soldiers set that I had laying around for about 20 years into a platoon of French Foreign Legion deployed to Dahomey (now the country of Benin) circa 1892-94. The only modifications made were to clip off the bayonet scabbards some figures had and give them a new tent/blanket roll and of course the new uniform. I also added several Red Hat Boxer Rebellion French Marines (which were hard to prepare and paint due to the amount of flash) to boost my unit strength. The tent roll was my first use of Green Stuff which I found very easy to use. The uniform I chose was from plate illustration (Plate 9) found in the Windrow book “Uniforms of the French Foreign Legion” by Blandford Press. I still need to finish several prone figures and five walking infantrymen (that needed surgery to remove the large British backpack). I want to get a full platoon of around 60 figures. It started as a lark see how to use the Green Stuff but I am really pleased how they came out. Apologize for the dark pic's--(new camera for Christmas).

[musketier]

The figures look pretty good. you might want to try taking pictures with no flash and light the figures from two opposite angles, I like how you have done the conversions, I never thought of using the Esci British colonials for this

[Alois Nebel]

Nice work.

I like your nickname. Pivo = beer in Czech

V.

[Maurice]

That's an impressive army

[montecristo]

Welcome and nice entry

[Peter]

Welcome aboard

Nice first entry, and I also like how you used these figures to create a new army

[Mai Strac]

Welcome to the fun Pivo. I like very much your work, simply, clean and well painted. Very unsual subject and period! Well done mate!!!

[Rowland]

Welcome to the site and very nice work

[Dad's Army]

Looks good, again welcome and like the others said, nice entry

[Pivo]

Thanks for the kind words and warm welcome.
Vive la Legion!

Pivo

[Bourbaki]

A lot of work there ! I like it

[KenzoSato]

[owaincaesarius]

Excellent work here...I never thought of using the British colonials this way, well done!

What or how are you planning to use for the Dahomian forces? Especially the amazon warriors?

Graham

[Pivo]

owaincaesarius,

I'm really not sure what I'm going to do with this crowd. I've only just gotten back into painting/wargames. I have recently built some terrain for the FFL in the desert (palm trees, houses, dunes, trees, tents, walls, etc.) for a future game using a set of 1-1 skirmish rules (TBD) but nothing for Dahomey. I imagine the terrain would be grassy, swampy and with plenty of jungle. They utilized the rivers and small boats to ferry their supplies inland.

I'm still waiting on the 1:72 plastic native (topless of course) Amazons to be cast--machetes and Winchesters FTW.

Anyone have a good idea on a set of rules for 1-1 combat? Something closer to the Role Playing Game Boot Hill where each mini might have his own name.

[Killa]

Nice army,i really like it,nice conversions!