French Infantryman, 318th Inf, Regt., Verdun, 1918

[Rob]

A short while ago Hamilkar Barkas posted to this gallery a wonderful figure of a 1917 German Infantryman. This has inspired me to look out some photos of a figure I did a couple of years back of a Poilu based at Verdun in 1918. I hope he will stand as a worthy companion.
The figure comes from Jon Smith Modellbau, a maker based n Germany (although I think originally, Jon comes from Wales). A link to the maker's website is at the bottom of the page.
The figure was based on a period photo and depicts the poilu/infantryman away from the front line carrying his squad's 'Bouteillon' - a piece of equipment that doubles-up us as ration carrier and cooking pot for up to around a dozen soldiers. As a former chef, I find the background to and the modelling of subjects such as this endlessly fascinating. Getting provisions to, and, indeed, in, the troops in the most adverse of conditions must have been a continual nightmare. All-hail the company cook say I!

Seeing the photos again, I am reminded that I must one day stand the poor man on a nice plinth

He is a 54mm/1:32 scale figure











http://www.jonsmith-modellbau.com

Thank you for looking

[DC87]

Wonderful Rob, it's a pleasure viewing your fine work

[longlance67]

Wonderful work Rob,

He is looks great



Shane

[Paul]

Fantastic work Rob

[WBsDragoons]

Very cool man and the preoccupation of most soldiers since we had soldiers .
im thinking of doing something based on the sausage war during the Finnish Russian winter war .
basically a major Russian offensive ground to a halt when they overran the Finnish field kitchens .

here is clip about it .good docu on the winter war btw .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjfbJpZBi3Y

[HamilkarBarkas]

Very cool figure! You did an awesome paintjob on it.
The French army is always something exotic in model building which is a shame. it is an wide and interesting topic.

[Rob]

Thanks fellas.
A raid on field kitchens sounds like an interesting diorama - I like to see that! Thanks for the clip, a fearsome affair.
There a a couple of kits around for the Russian field kitchens (mini art do a nice one) which look similar to those in the clip

[Lee]

Very nice indeed Rob!

Was this done with oils again? Do you use acrylics at all?

[Rob]

Thank you all for your kind comments.

Lee, it was done in oils but I actually use acrylics more often - depends how the figure takes me. The war correspondents in the figure gallery were acrylics and a couple of recently completed minis, painted in acrylics, will be added to the figure gallery in an hour or so (I have a video uploading as we speak). My next GB entry (previewed in the vid) will also be 100% acrylic

To whet the appetite some more acrylic figures are attached below - my take on Tamiya's venerable 1/35 BMW 75 and a metal flat I did for Mrs Bob a year or two ago (I think Santa is about 40mm from top to bottom)

[gosselin2112]

Nice stuff, Rob.

[FraGNet0]

That is also a very beautiful ffigurine Rob.
You gave him live. that beautiful

[fly1ngdutchm4n]

Superb work Rob
Love it!
5 stars from me ☆☆☆☆☆

[HWGuderian23]

Excellent paintjob on the frenchman mate !
Outstanding work as always Rob!

[Hanger2]

Very nicely done figure Rob

Geoff

[alextheblue]

Beautiful work as always Rob!

The R75 is absolute genius - (just built this one myself), the way you have adapted it is outstanding!

[RobertA]

That figure is a piece of art.. and it is quite amazing how that 'Bouteillon' looks just like the device I used in the Swedish Air Force, for the meals.. some things obviously never change..