2nd REI Legionnaire

[Legion entragere]

I finally got this in the mail yesterday WOOHOO!!! :yay

The box art is outstanding and a new layout design with the photo of the product and the very informative and long historical background printed inside, plus the photo references at the back. :clap

Headsculpt of a young debonaire Gary Cooper fromm the film "Beau Geste" is very nice but I will replace it with a battle hardened rugged looking head sculpt as the Kepi poorly fits and does not fit into the SST head sculpt. >:

The best looking 1/6 8mm Lebel but without a working bolt. My dissapointment is the 'epee' bayonet DOES NOT fit in the rifle muzzle. :x Not like the WWI Poilu were the bayonet fits perfectly into the Berthier rifle.

The Uniform, Great coat (capote) is really well done with all the details in it. No white summer shirt included, not like the WWI French poilu had a tunic worn inside.
They included the red #2 on the collars. shoulder rolled boards are very well made especially the left side waist loop attachment to secure for the belt and frog/scabbard.

The boots have the molded "leather" anklet cuffs (leggings) included were the white tropical trousers should be tucked inside it. minor adjustment.

The Red Kepi is nicely molded with detail but the white havelock ( neckcover) poorly fits and falls off. Very disappointed with this Legion trademark! :x

The drinking cup is nicely molded but have to still attached it to the canteen. The "bidon' drinking bottle needs to be frocked. The leather webbings and cartridge pouches are well made but needs a lot of adjustments. Even the fieldpack "havresac" needs further corrections/adjustment as it has a rather complex webbing layout and no instructions on how it should be worn but since I have a lot of references I can figure it out. :x

The strapping on the mess tin on top is ALL wrong. Mess tin has no chain attachment for the can and cover. The third at the back cartridge pouch needs adjustment as the black strap is way too long.

The bayonet frog is very nicely stiched together but bayonet scabard poorly secures in it and needs refining in shape. As it's too FAT needs thinning down.

The sash needs replacement as it is the same color and material as the capote. Another legion trademark.


Field pack needs added equipment such as tent pegs, metal dish pan, maybe spare marching boots, and addition blanket rolls positioned on top under the white sausage roll "Le boudin".

Overall the best and only /6 version of the classic Legionnaire made and comes with a havresac. :smokin

Philip

[Stickman]

Great mine comes tomorrow. Can't wait!

[dstephan]

I just got him. I knew the face was familar but hadn't placed Gary Cooper. I can definitely seem him in it. Funny you're having problems with the Havelock, mine seems to fit fine, in fact I remember thinking that I was impressed with the pattern since it fit so well.

I did find the haversack difficult to put on, not sure where all the straps go.

[screamingmetal]

I'm interested in picking one of these up. To bad he's not outfitted like a Dragon figure, I'd love to have all sorts of goodies to put in his haversack.

[ticktocktannenbaum]

Are we talking about Sideshow's French Foriegn Legionnaire?
Also, anyone know why this figure and the upcoming WW1 R.M.L.E French Foreign Legionnaire share the same headsculpt. If not they look awfully close...
I thought the same of the WW1 German Infantry Lt. and the German Trenchraider - just a mustache was added it seemed.....but maybe it's just me.

[Legion entragere]

The SST 2nd REI and the SST WWI RMLE Legionnaire definetly use the same headsculpt unfortunately.

Philip

[Arnakis]

Thanks for the review.

What would it take to convert this figure into a 1914 regular French infantryman? Obviously the havelock and the waist sash would have to be discarded, and the white pants changed for red ones. But is there a source for red pants? Lacking such, how difficult is it to dye the white pants on this figure red? And is it feasible to make the dark blue "campaign cover" for the kepi out of the havelock, by trimming and dyeing it?

I know you said that the bayonet won't fit on the Lebel rifle. But is there scope for modifications (enlarging the bayonet's slot, filing the rifle's lug, etc.), so that it *does* fit?

[Legion entragere]

For red trousers yes try dying it as your best option. It's quite easy as I have dye other shades of light tan before with Ritmo dyes. Soldiers of the world had red trousers for their French WWI infantry figure I believe.

If you want to dye it boil the red powder in water, use tongs or gloves so as not to stain your hands, to dip it in but do it next to running water to wash out the excess dye. Practice first on old or torn pieces of white cotton T-shirts until you get the process and timing mastered. That way you will have more accurate results in the final item. The I use a hair dryer on it for quicker results.

You can use Battle gear Toys has the civil war cloth Kepi's of the Union Infantry as just paint it with Acrylic dark blue. I know PAD75 makes the BEST 1/6 cloth KEPI's

As for the bayonet slot it is a very delicate plastic that can easily rip apart, firsttry using the SST Berthier Bayonet if it fits as I plan on doing.

I still have to modifiy that section of the bayonet and muzzel attachments yet. But be very careful so as not to damage it beyond it's plastic strength. As I know the Berthier Bayonet's blade easily breaks like a toothpick. :x

Philip

[nooker21]

I have the SOTW infantryman, and his red trousers would work, but they're cheap and have velcro, so when I get my dying skills up to snuff, I'll convert those. You mentioned the moulded ankle leggings, do these need to be modified any for a 1914 infantryman? I can't wait to see pictures...

[Legion entragere]

nooker21,

The SST Legionnaire "leather" cuffs anklets are pretty accurate for standard issue to French Infantry leggings. If you want to go the scratch built way of using real leather and adding those zigzag boot lacing pattern which needs those legging hooks used from DML Gi leggings to really capture the real detail. Its a lot of hard precise detailing work specially to get the zigzag pattern of the lacing but the results are usually great in the end.

Philip

[Legion entragere]

Here's a link to another exellent review with photos by Puking Dog;

www.onesixthwarriors.com/...hp?t=43416 (http://www.onesixthwarriors.com/forum/showthread.php?t=43416)

[musketball]

Just received the 2nd French figure. Since I made a "Sgt. York", I now have 3 Gary Coopers. Why in the world did Side Show use the same figure again and with in 3 weeks of the 1st. figure? There is no tin cup included as mentioned on the box. The worst glaring problem is the silk like tie on the putties.
It seems as if Side Show is giving the historical figures a half hearted attempt and the other sci-fi and like series all there attention.
The French figure is good, but I am possitive they are capable of better attention to detail and imagination.

Thanks,
Brent

[stickman]

Still deciding if I should open this one. I have quiet a few 1:6 SSC figures that I haven't opened just because they look so darn good.