The Legion was involved in the celebrated Moroccan campaigns early last century, and the countless skirmishes in the Sahara, where it put down the Berber rebellions in the Rif and Atlas mountains of Morrocco and Druse insurrections in Syria and Lebanon.
Holed up in white forts surrounded by endless lakes of shifting sand, the legionnaires often went berserk while waiting for the inevitable but never predictable night attack. Boredom became as deadly as the unseen sniper. In 1923, for example, in an outpost in Algeria, six legionnaires hanged themselves, and the lieutenent in charge shot himself. In another outpost, a legionnaire fired at his platoon commander during a parade and was punished with 15 days of forced labout for having "missed his target at less than 15 yards."
Creating the figure
This figure wears a scratchbuilt M1930 képi completely made out of still leather and white cotton kepi cover. His khaki M1921 summer uniform is likewise scratchbuilt. I overestimated on the allowance for the collar lapels and they ended a tad too large, but this being the Legion, one has to make do with what's given. Khaki uniforms were introduced in 1895, and they were slowly adopted by the Foreign Legion.
Leggings, chéche or desert scarf, blue sash - scratchbuilt. Leather strapping and ammo pouches - scratchbuilt.. Scratchbuilt canteen was sculpted and painted by Heath Hammond. Haversack - Sideshow WW1 French Infantryman set. The Lebel is by Cotswold, it is basically unmodified, save for the leather strap and repainted (One day I will get around to modifying it!). I first created a few nicks and indentations on the rifle stock, then sanded it so that a grainy effect is obtained. The stock is then thoroughly cleaned and dusted; then a light wash of tan acrylic paint is applied. When dried, this is followed by a wash of burnt umber (you can also use burnt sienna, or a combination of both). Finally, follow up with a light coating of semi gloss varnish. Figure - Dragon