O is for Out in the Sand!

A box-ticking quickie looking at Cherilea's unquestionably small set of Arab warriors and Foreign Legion figures in 54mm plastic, with two of each 'side', the conclusion must be that they were either testing the water, or designed them for a specific reason/client, maybe 'Beau Geste' cake decorations?

I had totally forgotten I had these, I think the painted originals were in the 'big purchase' from Portsmouth, but the re-issues must have been one of those last Birmingham shows (2010/11) or a PW show of around the same time? This is reaching-with-dagger bloke; the reissue is a bit flashy, while the paint's survived well on the original.

Running-forward chap has had an accident! Again the reissue is flashy and the original's paint means I will try to save him, but I know from past experience - trying to fix these old chalky figures is often more trouble than it's worth.

I actually photographed him first, then did both sides of all the others, so returned to him, them couldn't decide which was the better shot, so used both! Mr. casually-watching-the-manic-hysteria-of-the-other-three guy!

He's a really nice figure and only highlights the lack of a half-dozen other poses! Maybe they had two tools and one was damaged beyond repair before production commenced?

Because I'd forgotten I had these, I was today-years-old (actually yesterday!) when I learnt, or re-learnt that when they were re-issued, they produced a third legionnaire, an officer, from the chap obviously fighting-off the first Arab!

And looking at the bases, they copied the clubbing guy, and gave the copy a heavier base, then re-cut the original tool cavity to produce the officer - who is on the old base?