Poilu Sets GWF-27 GWF-28 - has John "upped" the Quality? (1 Viewer)

[Old Bill]

Is it just me or are the GWF-27 and 28 sets of a new higher standard?

Upon opening the boxes I noticed it straight away. They are of a more "Matt" finish to the norm and the faces - very expressive.
Knocked out in particular by the look on the Officers face - so realistic.

"Please Sir................. can I have some more".........?

Roy

 

[lancer]

Is it just me or are the GWF-27 and 28 sets of a new higher standard?

Upon opening the boxes I noticed it straight away. They are of a more "Matt" finish to the norm and the faces - very expressive.
Knocked out in particular by the look on the Officers face - so realistic.

"Please Sir................. can I have some more".........?

Roy

They really are superb figures. And the quote fits perfectly...right up until April 1917 when the poor Poilu decided they didn't need or want anymore. -- Al

 

[mestell]

"Superb" doesn't begin to describe these wonderful figures . . . . . I love my LMG team and the new officer is "tops" . . . . . I will be using the previously released Sgt and the new officer as guards for the soon to be released German prisoners . . . . . .
:smile2: Mike

 

[camel corps]

Great looking figures, been thinking should I buy the poilu sets for some time these two may help me with the decision
Kev

 

[villagehorse]

The whole range is nicely done.^&cool, Robin.

 

[BHogan]

The Jenkins Poilus are very well done. I think they perfectly capture the exhaustion and war weariness of the middle and late-war French army, which had already been bleed white after the 1914 and 1915 offensives. I think the English historiography of the war does not give enough credit to the French army's courage and audacity.
Cheers,
Brendan

 

[lancer]

The Jenkins Poilus are very well done. I think they perfectly capture the exhaustion and war weariness of the middle and late-war French army, which had already been bleed white after the 1914 and 1915 offensives. I think the English historiography of the war does not give enough credit to the French army's courage and audacity.
Cheers,
Brendan

Interesting observance about history of WW1 and the French Army. Only need to look at the paucity of material in English about the French part in WW1 to come to the conclusion that France was a very junior partner when, in fact, it was France was very much the larger Army, covering something like 75% of the Western Front. It is only recently that the number of works has started to expand. One could fill several rooms with British Empire related WW1 histories whereas you would be lucky to fill a bookcase with works on the French contribution. -- Al

 

[BHogan]

Interesting observance about history of WW1 and the French Army. Only need to look at the paucity of material in English about the French part in WW1 to come to the conclusion that France was a very junior partner when, in fact, it was France was very much the larger Army, covering something like 75% of the Western Front. It is only recently that the number of works has started to expand. One could fill several rooms with British Empire related WW1 histories whereas you would be lucky to fill a bookcase with works on the French contribution. -- Al

Quite true. The only reason the BEF expanded to over 60 divisions (including Imperial divisions) at the end of the war was because the French army had been so badly bloodied from the early war offensives and Verdun. The BEF in 1914 was only 4 infantry and 2 cavalry divisions strong, and there was reluctance to commit it to the continent as early as they did. I'm not sure on exact numbers, but I believe the Belgian army was bigger than the BEF in 1914.
Cheers,
Brendan

 

[lancer]

Quite true. The only reason the BEF expanded to over 60 divisions (including Imperial divisions) at the end of the war was because the French army had been so badly bloodied from the early war offensives and Verdun. The BEF in 1914 was only 4 infantry and 2 cavalry divisions strong, and there was reluctance to commit it to the continent as early as they did. I'm not sure on exact numbers, but I believe the Belgian army was bigger than the BEF in 1914.
Cheers,
Brendan

It was pretty close. If memory serves me, there were 7 Belgian infantry divisions, several cavalry regiments and fortress troops that totaled around 120,000 men. I am not sure of exact numbers but the fortress troops made up over half the total. -- Al

 

[Old Bill]

Interesting observance about history of WW1 and the French Army. Only need to look at the paucity of material in English about the French part in WW1 to come to the conclusion that France was a very junior partner when, in fact, it was France was very much the larger Army, covering something like 75% of the Western Front. It is only recently that the number of works has started to expand. One could fill several rooms with British Empire related WW1 histories whereas you would be lucky to fill a bookcase with works on the French contribution. -- Al

Hi Al,

I found this book very eye opening. Would heartily recommend to anyone wanting an overview of the French experience of WW1:

Cheers, Roy

 

[lancer]

Hi Al,

I found this book very eye opening. Would heartily recommend to anyone wanting an overview of the French experience of WW1:

Cheers, Roy

Roy, I quite agree. I liked it. There is another brand new publication called The French Army in the First World War by Elizabeth Greenhalgh that I am very interested in getting, but I have not been able to find a copy in hardcover that I can afford to buy yet. It is expensive. Two others to watch for are Paths of Glory by Anthony Clayton and Pyrrhic Victory by Robert Doughty. Both good ones. -- Al

 

[mileshumphreys]

Roy, I quite agree. I liked it. There is another brand new publication called The French Army in the First World War by Elizabeth Greenhalgh that I am very interested in getting, but I have not been able to find a copy in hardcover that I can afford to buy yet. It is expensive. Two others to watch for are Paths of Glory by Anthony Clayton and Pyrrhic Victory by Robert Doughty. Both good ones. -- Al

Whilst I can easily spot (on the JJ website) the great looking GWF-27 I am unable to locate the GWF-28...can someone help me out here as I would certainly look for buy both..!! Thanks. Miles

 

[Jack]

The Jenkins Poilus are very well done. I think they perfectly capture the exhaustion and war weariness of the middle and late-war French army, which had already been bleed white after the 1914 and 1915 offensives. I think the English historiography of the war does not give enough credit to the French army's courage and audacity.
Cheers,
Brendan

I think the criticisms of the French Army in WW2 which are firmly entrenched in popular consciousness have obscured the extent of their contribution. Although I have no way of knowing, I assume the French are themselves very well aware of the price they paid in WW1.

 

[lancer]

Whilst I can easily spot (on the JJ website) the great looking GWF-27 I am unable to locate the GWF-28...can someone help me out here as I would certainly look for buy both..!! Thanks. Miles

John simply has not updated his site yet. The GWF-28 is available as I and many others on this forum have it in hand. Our hosts, Treefrog, have it up on their site. -- Al

 

[lancer]

I think the criticisms of the French Army in WW2 which are firmly entrenched in popular consciousness have obscured the extent of their contribution. Although I have no way of knowing, I assume the French are themselves very well aware of the price they paid in WW1.

Jack, the French have been haunted by the cost. Their whole Maginot Line mentality was born out of that cost. The Line was built specifically so France would not have to pay so high a price again. I used to have a book about French Great War monuments/memorials that showed how widespread the monuments were throughout the country. Seemed like every town has a dedication to the memory of the war/sacrifice. -- Al

 

[jazzeum]

Let me put in a pitch for what I think is an excellent book, Fear: A Novel of World War I by Gabriel Chevalier. This is a semi autobiographical novel by a Poilu and it is excellent. Published by the New York Book Review Classics, the book was published in the 1920s and has been out of print for 60 years until re-issued last year.

 

[jazzeum]

Is it just me or are the GWF-27 and 28 sets of a new higher standard?

Upon opening the boxes I noticed it straight away. They are of a more "Matt" finish to the norm and the faces - very expressive.
Knocked out in particular by the look on the Officers face - so realistic.

"Please Sir................. can I have some more".........?

Roy

I have all of them, after getting off to a slow start. In my opinion, they are so good that I won't buy Poilus unless they come from John.

 

[lancer]

I have all of them, after getting off to a slow start. In my opinion, they are so good that I won't buy Poilus unless they come from John.

They are the best. In my opinion, the last sets, the Chauchat team and infantry captain, are the best yet. The infantry captain has a face so expressive, weighed down with weariness and exhaustion, that it almost hurts to study it. As an interesting aside on that figure, John told me that he had attempted to make the figure look like Kirk Douglas from Paths of Glory. That captain is my favorite figure to date. -- Al

 

[jazzeum]

Now we need a general that looks like Adolphe Menjou!

 

[ivanmoe]

I assume the French are themselves very well aware of the price they paid in WW1.

Forty percent killed, missing, maimed or died in captivity.{eek3}

-Moe