The Renault FT kit from Revell comes with a scenic base including 3 nice French soldier figures. They are molded in the 1940 style uniforms, and some slight modifications are needed to make them look as late WW1 French "poilus". Two of the figures are in fact the exact same molding, and if seen in the same diorama they look somewhat awkward.
I took one of them and modified it slightly... just to see if I could do it! I chose one of mine that had a damaged rifle. So I erased the backpack and rifle remaining details, and added a back ammo pouch, breadbag some slings and belting and a bandolier bundle often seen on French soldiers "on the march", being that cloth half a canvas tent. I must get a new Lebel and perhaps a gasmask box to the figure. I modified one of the soldiers legs to make it a bit different from his "twin brother". During the removal of the heavy flash and molding lines, my knife slipped and I decapitated it (I think he didn't suffer at all). So I added a new neck from wire and hopefully on finishing this, this soldier shall have a natural head tilt to one side. Happy accidents!
Here are the three figures from the kit, to compare their sizes, equipment and poses. I'll be very glad to read your comments!
These figures are much better that the Revell WW1 figure set of the French WW1 infantry! Matchbox got them better...
The molds however are rather tired and the parts, from the sprue, had a substantial amount of flash and the halves are slightly misaligned. Judicious filing and filling may take care of that.
The new roll, breadbag and coat collar (the latter was replaced after the unfortunate slip of the blade) were made with a cheapo, locally made, 2-part epoxi putty that is sold here (in Argentina) in craft stores.
It has a sickly "flesh" hue and is frequently used to make dolls heads and hands by crafty ladies. I got a sample some years ago and being out of Milliput I gave it a shot. It's easy to knead, but until dry it's horribly sticky and thinned with water tends to disgregation. Once dry is hard as stone and very brittle, although it sands well without porosity.
Milliput is much, much better.
Thanks Michel! Coming from you it's a very appreciated praise! Take into account that I only modified one (yet) the standing man and the walking man are "as they come" just slightly primed and with most of the flash cleaned up. I'm very tempted to get a few WD figure sets soon (and a truck, and some accesoires, and...) but I attempted thisconversion just because the figures came with the kit and wanted to know if I could change them without ruining them. I had made some minor mods on other 1/72 figures before, but these were related to this Renault FT project, so I foun fitting to start a new thread about them.
Here's two guys I intended to add to my Ford t Ambulance from RPM. I never quite finished them...
Diego, I did this same conversion many years ago on the Matchbox figure with the shouldered rifle, though I don't know if I fixed the anachronistic accoutrements. He can be seen behind my Matchbox Renault FT on the old WWI Modeling forum.
-- Edited by Suvoroff on Tuesday 17th of September 2013 02:37:06 AM
Very nice work! Might get me started on doing something with my Matchbox French - so far I thought they wouldn't mix well with other figures because they are small, even fo 1/76. Regards, Pat
Hi James!
I recalled that nice models on the WW1 page. The fix of the accoutrements can be very simple: adding a rear belt ammo pouch, a breadbag and a canteen (I still have to add that odd "horned" canteen to mine, but I wanted to do also a mold to make a few).
Very nice work! Might get me started on doing something with my Matchbox French - so far I thought they wouldn't mix well with other figures because they are small, even fo 1/76. Regards, Pat
Yes, I have seen that... I wonder if these figures aren't really more near to 1:87 than 1/76. They're, of course, too big for HO scale!
