French Line Infantry 1815

[Egbert]

Hello dear hobby friends,

today I would like to introduce you to another set of old figures from Airfix.
The figures came on the market in 1972 and were another, new and longingly anticipated figure set in the Airfix Waterloo series



This „little men“ was particularly popular with me and, of course,
the winner in my re-enacted battles of Waterloo.
Napoleon eagles flew mighty over the battlefields in my nursery.
These figures had something mystical about them and therefore always held a special place for me.

Painting these figures wasn't easy either.
Unfortunately the uniforms were not displayed correctly from Airfix.
The figures here are more or less modeled according to the new uniform regulations that were enacted in 1812 and generally referred to as the Bardin regulations.
These men carry a sword and bayonet scabbard on a cross bandolier over the right shoulder,
which makes them all grenadiers.
But these figures all have the shoulderstraps of the fusiliers, not the fringed epaulettes of the grenadiers.
Too bad ... but that doesn't diminish my love for this set of figures and you will still get a special place in my collection.

[

[sberry]

Splendid, as always!
There is always that tricky balance when painting figures from that era: The uniforms were colorful, but you mustn't overdo it because there is the danger of producing something that looks like toys. This balance is achieved perfectly here I would say.

[C M Dodson]

Egbert.

Another revisionist triumph for yourself!

As a child these were a godsend from Airfix in the post Waterloo 1970’s but eventually they went to plastic heaven.

However, despite their many production faults, you have given them a new lease of life.

Superb conversions and splendid painting.

Well done.

Best wishes,

Chris

[Peter]

Fantastic diorama with this old chaps.

I still have mine that I bought in the seventies. Without the box but I still have them.

[MABO]

I have mine as well. Got them in a summer holiday in Denmark. I like them very much and I am happy to safe them from my childhood.
Your dio is excellent again. The painting top notch.

[despertaferro]

These were my first painted figures, around 1973 or 74 ... maybe ...
Lately I have trouble remembering what I had for breakfast ...

You did magic with them ... They were cute figures, but nothing remotely resembling the masterpiece they have become in your hands.

Thanks for sharing...!

Joan

[Kostis Ornerakis]

Wonderful work!!

[gbvarese]

Great Egbert !!!!
The old Airfix French bring me back to about 50 years ago when they were first issued: the very first ones in scale 1/72. This also thanks to the movie Waterloo with the great Rod Steiger and Christofer Plummer, and the tv serial War and Peace both directed by Sergei Bondarchuk . These two stimulated the curiosity and desire of adolescents, all over the world, to paint model soldiers for wargaming Napoleonic Battles. Airfix responded as better as it could to the increasing request of del modellers market. I personally find the Airfix French still attractive and I decided to use them for my Saxon army. The problem is that is quite difficult to find them on the market.
Congratulations!
Gio.

[PaulRPetri]

Egbert my feelings for these figures mirrors yours. In 1972 I was nine years old and I had hordes of these for massive sandbox battles. Unfortunatly all of my personel collection never made it out of the sandbox. However in 1993 I recieved a huge box of these figures from my wargaming buddy and they have been in my French Napoleonic armies ever since. In fact that gift put me on the path of switching all of my wargaming stuff over to 1/72 plastics. Well almost all of it.

Your painting of these figures is in a word masterful. It nearly brought me to tears. Thanks so much for posting.

[Captain Sibourne]

Beautifully done, it must be torture to extract such handsome figures from so ugly a set.

[Kekso]

Such poor figures and you manage to make masterpiece out of it.

[Harry Faversham]

Airfix from the dawn of time, my first love as a wargamer. I still have over 3,000 of these little warriors marching and fighting. These splendid figures show what can be achieved with 'em by a bloke as knows wot he's doing!

[tullo]

[Iceman1964]

This diorama is simply perfect, I love it ! Best compliments

[Bluefalchion]

You have created a gorgeous diorama with these classic figures. My favorites are the casualties, especially the man being carried, and the mounted officer. What a pity that he has a mold line running right down his hat and across his face!

Now I will have to go and study the originals on the PSR page to see what conversions you have performed.

[bothree69]

ven if the toy soldiers are very chubby .... I like the coloring and the context ......
(even if I passed on to other subjects)
I'm waiting for other jobs ....

[Michael Robert]

Egbert,
all has been said, but I'll say it again. These figures recall memories of childhood, and never did I dream that they can be painted like that, the composition, colours, precision, mood, all in harmony and presenting a jewel of a dio. Congratulations
Some of mine I painted some 20 years ago when I started collecting - some of my childhood are still kept unpainted. Makes me wonder whether I should have a go at these again. Just to see what I am able to make out of it - probably never at a point to be presentable like yours
Greetings
Michael

[Santi Pérez]

I can almost add nothing new to the mates' comments. With your masterful painting technique you’ve got a worthy match for the Airfix British unit shown in a previous thread, Egbert.

I also remember these French from Airfix fondly from my childhood, as they were among the first figures I had...and still have them from then.

Best regards.

Santi.

[Bessiere]

Gorgeous treatment of a set I first got myself over 50 years ago. I never dreamed they could be painted to this standard of perfection. Superb work Egbert.

[Egbert]

My dear friends
many thanks for your very warm comments.
As one can see from this, many of you are probably in my age group ...
The feelings match and some of you feel like me in any case!
Simply only a nice memory of our childhood !!!