I have had the first issue French Foreign Legion in my figure collection for as long as I remember, certainly back to the 1960s. However, I have never painted them before. So, having just painted some Airfix Arabs, I thought an opponent might be required.
I was surprised how these figures improve with a bit of paint, to such an extent that I might set up a small wargame:
Hello there Bob,
ReplyDeleteThey are really lovely! I always liked that style of figure that Airfix used.
All the best and bring on the Arabs!
DC
Thanks David. They are rather splendid and i have been dusting off my copy of Beau Geste.
DeleteI’ve got a bag of these, too. 😉
ReplyDeleteEvery serious old school wargamer should have a bag of Airfix Foreign Legion!
DeleteA good looking unit and you even painted on their buttons.
ReplyDeleteProbably incorrectly. I had to dig out my Airfix guide to the FFL for clues!
DeleteSome of the first figures I painted, sort of, as a kid I dabbed some of my mom's nail polish on their trousers.
ReplyDeleteI still prefer them to the newer version.
I have some of the second series, but Like you I prefer the originals.
DeleteLovely old friends bringing back memories for me.
ReplyDeleteMemories of lining them up on the carpet with books as hills..................
DeleteMost of my Airfix foreign legion fetched up in my ACW Union army (for a while as Black units, apart from some zouaves). It was ESCI FL that formed the bulk of my Azurian (BLUE) army...
ReplyDeleteI have not tried the ESCI figures. I guess the Airfix FFL have been used in so many guises. They seem to turn up in all sorts of places.
DeleteI have a box of these - in the original type 1 box too! 'Twas part of a haul from Mrs. Santa.... the figures are lose but complete so I'm thinking I might paint them as (sorta) Crimean was French infantry.
ReplyDeleteHappy memories of way back (when dinosaurs roamed the earth) and using then as Franco - Prussian troops on my best friend's bedroom floor!
I converted some WW1 French by swapping helmets for Kepis and I should think that the FFL could be converted by head swapping with some Airfix ACW figures.
DeleteI know, but they look nice and that is how they were illustrated on the early Airfix box.
ReplyDelete