French Indochina Series (2 Viewers)

[WesternOutlaw]

Hi all,

I was reading a little history about French Indochina and the Battle of Dien Bien Phu, an era that I must admit I know very little.
Some interesting history and I'm really looking forward to seeing more of TG's French Indochina series.

Looks like we've seen 8 of 11 new figures:

Four-man Patrol:

Bruno Bigeard and Two Officers:

Indo 001: FFL NCO

At least one prisoner and some French Marine Commandos appear to be in the works.

I'm picturing the raid on a Viet Minh camp that Tom had mentioned in Interview #3 with perhaps 2-3 small jungle huts, re-release of at least one and one new variant.

That also leads me to the thought of some vehicles. Completely unfamiliar with French vehicles during this era, I found this image on the web, from Weapons and Warfare:

That tracked M29C looks pretty interesting as well as the 6-wheeled M-8 Greyhound and French M-24 Chaffee, all in the '51-'54 era. A few possibilities/suggestions for TG.

TG's French Indochina series can be one impressive and unique collection. Really looking forward to seeing more!

 

[jazzeum]

I’d like to see some Viet Minh fighters and General Giap. What the Vietnamese has to do to get their equipment over the mountains was an impressive feat.

 

[lancer]

If one is looking for reading material on Dien Bien Phu and/or the French in Indochina, you can do no better than Bernard Falls and his two classic works, "Hell In A Very Small Place" and "Street Without Joy". They are both incredible reads. Despite the age of the works, they are unsurpassed to this day. -- Al

 

[Horus]

If one is looking for reading material on Dien Bien Phu and/or the French in Indochina, you can do no better than Bernard Falls and his two classic works, "Hell In A Very Small Place" and "Street Without Joy". They are both incredible reads. Despite the age of the works, they are unsurpassed to this day. -- Al

Funny you should mention those two books Al, I had only put an order in this morning for the latter after coming across a recommendation for it doing some research and some quotes from the book interested me.

Steve

 

[WesternOutlaw]

I’d like to see some Viet Minh fighters and General Giap. What the Vietnamese has to do to get their equipment over the mountains was an impressive feat.

Certainly would make a great addition to this new theme.

Also from Weapons and Warfare:

If one is looking for reading material on Dien Bien Phu and/or the French in Indochina, you can do no better than Bernard Falls and his two classic works, "Hell In A Very Small Place" and "Street Without Joy".

Thanks for the tip.

 

[Horus]

Those are great poses Rob and would make great figures. Hopefully TG think so too !{sm4}

Steve

 

[bridport]

Great to see a TS company exploring this range.

In terms of books, I would recommend ‘The Last Valley’ by Martin Windrow for historical background.

And for some dramatic story telling, Graham Greene’s ‘The Quiet American’.

I look forward to seeing these figures.

 

[Footman]

Street Without Joy is a wonderful book, I read it last year. I would collect soldiers from this upcoming TGM range because of that book.

 

[Horus]

Not anywhere near Rob or Wayne's skill with photoshop, but hope this gives a little flavour of what possibilities the range could hold !



I may well be wrong but I think this Indochina range could prove quite popular with French collectors !

Steve

 

[WesternOutlaw]

Not anywhere near Rob or Wayne's skill with photoshop, but hope this gives a little flavour of what possibilities the range could hold !
I may well be wrong but I think this Indochina range could prove quite popular with French collectors !

Not bad, Steve. Certainly lots of possibilities with this theme.

I broke out my Panhard yesterday thinking, can I use in Vietnam???

 

[lancer]

Not bad, Steve. Certainly lots of possibilities with this theme.

I broke out my Panhard yesterday thinking, can I use in Vietnam???

There were Panhards in Indochina, but I haven't info on operations. -- Al

 

[WesternOutlaw]

There were Panhards in Indochina, but I haven't info on operations. -- Al

Thanks; looks like they were but it sounds like the 178B with newer turret were used in Vietnam/French Indochina. Not sure about the markings either.
Perhaps we will see a TG vehicle for this era.

 

[Jedburgh]

K& C did a Club Figure a few years back. Now fetching a hefty price on Ebay. Tempted with selling mine.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/284011966070

 

[Horus]

Thanks; looks like they were but it sounds like the 178B with newer turret were used in Vietnam/French Indochina. Not sure about the markings either.
Perhaps we will see a TG vehicle for this era.

Rob
I vaguely remembered another thread from a while back that featured a Panhard and just used the forum search engine and found the thread, where John (Obee) has repainted one for a forum member who uses it in his diorama. Hopefully this link to the thread works : https://forum.treefrogtreasures.com/showthread.php?59713-Dien-Bien-Who&highlight

Think there might be a different armament between the early WW2 Panhard and one used in Indochina by the French and later still used by South Vietnamese in early 1960's, but I don't suppose there is that much of a difference !

Steve

 

[Horus]

K& C did a Club Figure a few years back. Now fetching a hefty price on Ebay. Tempted with selling mine.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/284011966070

Think I'd go for the similar one also done Andy of K&C I believe for Hachette years back : Soldat plomb HACHETTE French Foreign Legion - Légionnaire du 1er REP 1950 | eBay

I saw the another of the K&C one's being offered about three months back, that went for about £40/£50 at the price ICToys is asking he may have it for a while, still good luck to him if he can get it !

Steve

 

[WesternOutlaw]

Rob
I vaguely remembered another thread from a while back that featured a Panhard and just used the forum search engine and found the thread, where John (Obee) has repainted one for a forum member who uses it in his diorama. Hopefully this link to the thread works : https://forum.treefrogtreasures.com/showthread.php?59713-Dien-Bien-Who&highlight

Awesome dio, one that I missed. That Panhard came out pretty slick.

K& C did a Club Figure a few years back. Now fetching a hefty price on Ebay. Tempted with selling mine. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/284011966070

Nice one!

 

[Obee]

Rob
I vaguely remembered another thread from a while back that featured a Panhard and just used the forum search engine and found the thread, where John (Obee) has repainted one for a forum member who uses it in his diorama. Hopefully this link to the thread works : https://forum.treefrogtreasures.com/showthread.php?59713-Dien-Bien-Who&highlight

Think there might be a different armament between the early WW2 Panhard and one used in Indochina by the French and later still used by South Vietnamese in early 1960's, but I don't suppose there is that much of a difference !

Steve

Yes,

I did the repaint, and this is the result:



posed with a Del Prado Legionnaire of mine

John

 

[WesternOutlaw]

Yes, I did the repaint

Nicely done, John. Thanks for sharing.

 

[desk11desk12]

Here’s a thought: how about a M24 Chaffee Tank? Different markings and conflicts.

It can be used for:

• WWII (1944-45) US Army & Free French
• Korean War (1950), US Army, "Pusan Perimeter"
• Battle of Dien Bien Phu (1954), French Markings
• French Algeria War (1954-62)

Just a thought; "Get more bang for your buck!"

Carlos

 

[Horus]

Here’s a thought: how about a M24 Chaffee Tank? Different markings and conflicts.

It can be used for:

• WWII (1944-45) US Army & Free French
• Korean War (1950), US Army, "Pusan Perimeter"
• Battle of Dien Bien Phu (1954), French Markings
• French Algeria War (1954-62)

Just a thought; "Get more bang for your buck!"

Carlos

Quote

Calls for a Chaffee etc getting more and more popular !^&grin
Here's a quote from me on an earlier thread ! "
05-09-2021, 02:54 P

Re: Exclusive Interview w/TGM: Part 2

Blake

Hoping that there'll be some vehicles released for this range too always assuming there's enough interest in it.

Again assuming the scale matches K&C's to expand their full potential to collectors, I'd like to suggest a M24 Chaffee with Decals for US Army in WW2, Korea, French for Indochina and for ARVN in the 60's in South Vietnam giving it plenty of attraction to collectors.

Another vehicle I would like to see for the range would be the M29 Weasel.​

End Quote"

If you just supplied the Decals on a separate sheet, collectors could choose their own particular war of interest adding Carlos idea war of Independence in Algeria and there's probably a couple more neither of us have thought of as well !
Always assuming the suggestions for it gets the thumbs up from you and the TG team and the Indochina war range has legs, which I'm sure it has !

Steve