"Gendarmerie for AK47" Topic

I'm thinking of adding a militia unit to my 'French' colonial settlers force but would like to do something other than use the standard militia figures from the PP range.

As a result, I was thinking of doing a gendarmerie / police 'militia' type unit using a couple of Renault trucks from the French WW2 range for transport.

For figures, I was thinking of either the 17/1 pack of R/P in Kepi with SLR, painted up in French style police uniforms, or alternatively the French Motorised figures from the WW2 range.

The latter look a lot like 1960's French riot police / CRS, and have crew figures, mortars etc, which might make things easier (assuming a gendarmerie would access to heavy weapons in the first place???)

What do you think would be the better option?

Or do you have any other ideas?

Cheers

This is AK47 we are talking about here. I think using the WW2 figs sounds like a great idea and they will look interesting. One of my pals has his presidential guard made up of SCW Assault Guards as they are wearing nice caps (and white gloves, naturally).

I used Old Glory's 15mm US Marines – have some bare torso ( I think), kepi like hats, and the US WWII helmets and hanging off sloppy look of the Pacific uniform work well for my African militia. I use the figs in kepis as my 'elite' or command. The heavy weapons pack has the 50 cals, mortars, bazookas (some of which I cut down and paint as Red-eyes). Got them on clearance so was a perfect match for my rag-tag AK47 range.

The French dragoons from Peter Pig would also probably work; and of course the kepi figs in the AK47 range would work for that Clouseau look. They even have a Citroen in the WWII range that can be painted as a police car to go with your Renaults (I have some old Battlefront Citroen trucks that serve that duty). I enjoy the eclecticism of the AK-47 world.

Oh, seeing Martin's post didn't even think about the great options the SCW provides!

The Gendarmerie idea is excellent. I'd make the unit leader look like Claude Rains in Casablanca.

I used some early WW1 British with their officer-style caps asPolice, together with some of the PP not-Buffels painted yellow with blue police-style stripes down the side. The troops' Lee Emnfields looked nicely post-Colonial, and I modified a few to look like riot guns, CS gas grenade launchers, etc. I thought they came out quite nicely.

If you're specifically looking for Kepi wearing figures, don't forget that PP have their 'heads' range which includes a pack with Kepi.

Thanks chaps,

I've decided to go for the French motorised as I reckon they'll look pretty good, especially if I add some riot shields from drawing pins and the rifle grenade launcher conversion (very cool idea…what did you use for the grenade launcher bit David?)

The unit will consist of 4 S/A bases (mixture of rifles and sidearms), two mortar bases (riot control smoke bombs) and an LMG base (taking the role of an HMG) plus two trucks for transport and a Hotchkiss H39 Light tank for armour support.

The Compagnie Republicaine Securite of the Gendarmie d'Nbuto no less!

Boggler,
lets just hope they don't tangle with the deadly Lumatan mortars of death.
Cool Idea though. My Zumatan Royal constabulary are made up from WW2 paras in beret backed up with lots of jeeps. Just a thought are your Milita allowed tanks I know my dictatorship ones aren't?

Jon

Oh yes, although I'm only allowed two tank, APC or A/C units overall.

As a result, it might not be worth bringing it along if it's at the expense of something more effective, like the F.A.R.T. EBR75 A/C's that you blew to bits with the aforementioned 'mortars of death' the other day?

Maybe we could arrange a little police action, constabulary v. gendarmerie next time?

Even if you can't buy tanks upfront for some units, they may get them from political manouvre.

My militia police units walk, no trucks for them.

I have used these in the past: link

Nice formal 'police-type' uniforms with peaked caps

Geoff

Maybe we could arrange a little police action, constabulary v. gendarmerie next time?

Oh yes, but don't forget my Lumatan S.S.S. (State Security Services) units. Which are basically modern soviets with flak jackets from Irregular, painted blue instead of khaki mostly small arms with a few RPGs. They need something heavier though to deal with the enemies of the people.
I'm just not sure what yet.

Geoff those are quite good very police like it wouldn't of occured to me to look under the Spanish-American war.

"I'm just not sure what yet."

For Russian-ish looking units, I find a PT76 is just the ticket, or something with lots of wheels.

I've got a diecast APC thing going spare which might do.

Otherwise, I'd go for a BRDM2 which, despite it's MG armament, does look very paramilitary, especially if you add some riot screens and smoke dischargers?