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Updated: Apr 5th, 2007 - 12:17:34 |
Sideshow Toys French Foreign Legionnaire, 2nd Regiment Infantryman on the Algerian frontier, is another offering from Sideshow in their historic collectibles line. Interestingly enough, this figure is not part of their Bayonets/Barrbed Wire series, or Live by the Sword, or any other series, it seems, which leads to some difficulty finding it on some websites organized by those categories. The time frame of this figure is fairly unique to most collectors, so putting this guy into a niche may be hard. I bought him not because he fits in my collection, but because he looks cool.
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| Sideshow Toys French Foreign Legion |
This is a very standard Sideshow offering, of a nice, unique piece. The figure represents a standard infantryman, circa 1903, in the Algerian desert border. He wears the standard blue M 1877/79 double breasted overcoat of the Legion, with white linen pants. Everything is nicely done, per Sideshow standards, with the exception of some serious thread/hem unraveling on the upturned edges of the waistcoat. A few snips with scissors took care of that, but a nicer hem along those seams would be appreciated, since they are turned up to be VERY visible in the finished product.
His gear is nicely done, in black pleather for most things. The belt seems odd, but it could be historically accurate: it is long enough that it folds on itself and reaches back around my figure past the center of his back. Use care when undoing the buckle the first time, it is friction fit very tight, and if you twist wrong, you could easily snap the buckle tang, rendering it useless. He comes with three nice ammo pouches, also pleather, as well as a nice French 2 liter canteen and a water cup.
His backpack is standard for Sideshow, the tri-fold black cloth pack, with lots of straps. It could use some stuffing with cotton or cloth to give it more body, if you wish. It could definitely use some directions on where all those straps are supposed to go, connect, etc..
He carries a shelter half tied to his pack, along with a M1852 mess tin/cooking pot tied at the top. The cooking pot (and drinking cup) are unique additions, as I haven’t seen either one of them elsewhere. They would be excellent kitbashing additions to any civil war to WWI diorama set.
His M1988 epee bayonet is nicely done, and his frog is excellent; thin material that still feels like leather, not plastic or cheap fabric. His Lebel rifle is good, with a typical Sideshow weathering paint (a bit heavy and metallic washed for purists, but better than a crisp “off the production line” gloss that some others have). It has a nice thin pleather strap, again nicely thin. Mine is almost “wrinkly” out of the box, but a few minutes spent smoothing it out did wonders.
His boots are molded black, with an odd but nice detail. The boots have a molded puttee, which is covered by the pants on the figure. In my research, which included the two pictures on the box itself, it appears that the wearing of a WHITE puttee over the boot and pant’s legs was often done, as was the wearing of the pant legs over the puttees. I myself am at a loss, because the figure looks darn nice with the linen trousers over the boots, but he also looks good with them tucked in. I am thinking of getting white puttees, and trying that too, for a third look, and just seeing which looks best. If sideshow had done the puttees in white, instead of black, I would have no problems with the decision, but as it stands, it seems all a matter of personal taste.
His M1884 kepi, again, is standard Sideshow… if you use the Havelock Blanc over it, you could use any Sideshow Civil War Kepi, and never know. In fact, if you can find a more “box-like” kepi, I recommend using it. The Havelock doesn’t fit well initially, it is stiff and rides up off the kepi. The slant to the kepi doesn’t help, hence my advice to use a more “hatbox” like kepi underneath. The top is a bit loose, and never fully “holds”. However, a simple dousing with water, and a nice stretch fit over the kepi fully, and then letting it dry in place seems to have solved the fit problem temporarily. You might want to tack it down with glue, if you plan to move your figure more often, as any slight bumping of the Havelock will push the entire headpiece off the kepi.
Bottom line: Good figure, bit light on gear when compared to DML or DID, but standard for Sideshow. Great era, and unique look. Very much worth it for a nice figure to add to your collection.
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Copyright 2006 by JoeWorld-Online.com
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