Over the past few days I needed a slight break from Napoleonics. Amongst other things I finished the AT team and the vehicles for my modern French, thus completing the unit. Some words on them first. I wanted to be able to use them together with my modern Germans, so I decided to have them depict men from the “Deutsch – Französiche Brigade” / “Brigade Franco – Allemande”. In that sense they wear the blue barrets of the Brigade. Since the French fighting units of the Brigade are the 3ème Régiment de Hussards and the 110ème Régiment d’Infanterie and their vehicles are quiet light.
So I chose two Véhicule Blindé Léger [VBL] and one Véhicule de l’Avant Blindé [VBA] for them. While the former is part of the HQ or Recon elements, the later is part of the infantry elements. None the less I did not feel that they would not appear on the battlefield together, so I shall use them side by side. The models themselves are Schuco die-casts. I touched up some parts and airbrushed some dust on, but that was it. One of the VBL´s got a Milan launcher and spare rocket from Eureka. Before you ask… yes it fires to the rear on the real life vehicle as well (now I can see jokes coming there).
French VBL (Milan Version on the right)
French VAB
Now on to the infantry. The minis are a mix of Dadi & Piombo (D&P) and Eureka Miniatures. I have to say I liked the later better. D&P only have four poses and just the basic squad weapons. The Eureka minis have more variation, mortars, rocket launchers… and they feature more kit, giving them a real life look. Sizewise they mix real well though, so I did not care too much.
One thing I noticed when cropping the pictures for this post… I really need to go back and touch up some of the eyes. They did not look half as bad IRL, but the camera is unforgiving. Anyway… here we go:
French Command
French LRAC AT team
French Sniper team
Now all the minis aboce are Eureka. I am going to mark those by D&P accordingly.
Modern French Squad # 1
Modern French Squad # 2 (D&P)
Modern French Squad # 3
Modern French Squad # 4 (D&P)
Modern French Squad # 5
Modern French Squad # 6 (D&P)
dhcwargamesblog 
sebastosfig
January 25, 2012 at 09:47
they look good. And seeing French modern troops is quite rare
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Patrice
January 25, 2012 at 12:35
Nicely done, and an unusual subject.
The VBL with milan would be part of an anti-tank element. Yes it fires to the rear: you wouldn’t want to attack enemy tanks straight on with a light vehicle like this, the best way to do it is an ambush with the back of the vehicle towards the enemy.
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Ulu Elsomalien
January 25, 2012 at 13:46
Nice collection and like sebastofigs said : Cocorico !
Are your diecasts all 1/43 ?
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Burkhard
January 25, 2012 at 14:03
THX guys!
Yes, the models are 1:43rd scale. At least nominally, as there can be some variaton in their line, but these are rather on the small side, so they fit well.
Regarding the Milan… I actually think it is a clever idea that they mounted the launcher backwards, for the reasons mention. Just wanted to make sure I pointed it out first before somesmart ass asks! 😉
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John
February 13, 2013 at 21:05
Good job ! Where the vehicules are from?
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Burkhard
February 13, 2013 at 21:09
Thank you John!
The vehicles are die-casts by a German company called Schuco.
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Ray
January 25, 2012 at 14:09
Great painting!! I like the sniper team.
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Ali
September 7, 2014 at 17:13
Beautiful Possible tell me is there a French 35mm miniatures And I want to know what are the colors of the French army in the Second Gulf War and equipment
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Burkhard
September 8, 2014 at 10:48
Hi Ali.
I do not know of any French minis in 32mm. Sorry. Regarding colours: They wore the French version of desert camouflage or olive green NBC suits:
Vehicles were general painted in two tone camo, although I seen a few photos of rear echelon vehicles in three-tone-NATO or just tan:
Hope this helps!
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