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I thought I'd post this today considering the date.
Another commission for my moustache- loving customer. This time a Poilu from the battle of Verdun. Poilu is a warmly informal term for a French World War I infantryman, meaning, literally, hairy one. The term came into popular usage in France during the era of Napoleon Bonaparte and his massive citizen armies, though the term grognard (grumbler) was also common. It was still widely used as a term of endearment for the French infantry of World War I.
The word carries the twin sense of the infantryman's typically rustic, agricultural background, and the suggestion of Gallic manliness. Beards and bushy moustaches were often worn
By 1916, the French had abandoned their dark blue coats and red trousers for this uniform which compared to other countries still didn't offer much in the way of camouflage. This figure represents an infantryman at the time of the Battle of Verdun in 1916. One of the costliest battles of the war, Verdun exemplified the policy of a 'war of attrition' pursued by both sides, which led to an enormous loss of life.
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The basis for the figure is the Sideshow WW1 French Infantryman. Most of the other bits such as his backpack, gas mask canister and wire cutter holder are scratchbuilt. In case you were wondering, the contraption on his backpack is a collapsible canvas water bucket.
Hope you like him.
All comments welcome.
Cheers
Andy
Another commission for my moustache- loving customer. This time a Poilu from the battle of Verdun. Poilu is a warmly informal term for a French World War I infantryman, meaning, literally, hairy one. The term came into popular usage in France during the era of Napoleon Bonaparte and his massive citizen armies, though the term grognard (grumbler) was also common. It was still widely used as a term of endearment for the French infantry of World War I.
The word carries the twin sense of the infantryman's typically rustic, agricultural background, and the suggestion of Gallic manliness. Beards and bushy moustaches were often worn
By 1916, the French had abandoned their dark blue coats and red trousers for this uniform which compared to other countries still didn't offer much in the way of camouflage. This figure represents an infantryman at the time of the Battle of Verdun in 1916. One of the costliest battles of the war, Verdun exemplified the policy of a 'war of attrition' pursued by both sides, which led to an enormous loss of life.
The basis for the figure is the Sideshow WW1 French Infantryman. Most of the other bits such as his backpack, gas mask canister and wire cutter holder are scratchbuilt. In case you were wondering, the contraption on his backpack is a collapsible canvas water bucket.
Hope you like him.
All comments welcome.
Cheers
Andy
