"15mm Gendarmes d'Elites figure manufacturer or match?" Topic

Looking for a manufacturer of 15mm/18mm Gendarmes d'Elites – alternatively what's the closest alternative miniature? (I'm thinking perhaps Russian Dragoons or Belgian Carabiniers?) Thanks

I know that Mini-Figs used to make them in the bearskin with a peak, not with a helmet(?).

I have 4 of the old minifigs that came in the Napoleon and staff on foot pack. They're a solid example of that era (the 80s "super-detail" range. They're in service for lack of anything else. To my knowledge the Gendarmerie d'Elite never wore anything other than the peaked bearskin (or bicorn in other orders of dress).
Phil

I used AB`s Grenadiers a cheval. With buff belts and breeches and red lapels they work nicely in my opinion (and I try to overlook the lack of a peak on the bearskin).

Allain Touller Grenadiers a Cheval:

Bearskins not dragoon style helmets with the over-hanging plume (I'm sure there's a proper name!)?

Old Glory 15s by 19th Century Miniatures includes Gendarmes d'elites with their Old Guard Grenadiers a Cheval.

Cheers,

The Bandit

Thanks Bandit, good inside knowledge!

Valmy92 or anyone else. I am looking for unpainted Minifigs 2nd gen French Cuirassiers or Chassuers a Cheval to buy. If anyone has some please contact me at rsampson1 at att dot com. Thanks

Naismith (via Navwar) have them. Several packs in the lead mountain at the moment.

If you aren't familiar with Naismith – they are sometimes referred to as true 15, so in real terms they will be small compared to modern 15mm. (15mm to top of head rather than to eye)

I never received those when I bought my Old Guard Grenadiers a Cheval from 19th Century! It was 4 years ago, so it's too late to ask 19th Century for them now! BTW, nice sculpts on the riders, but, as is usual with OG 15s, the horses are rather flat.

If I were to do the Gendarmes d'Elite with the OG15s, I'd buy some ABFigure heavy horses for them. just sayin'…

RuLane
Gendarmes d'Elite wore the tradional peaked bearskin until the First Restoration. Louis XVIII's lot introduced a new headgear. It's actually quite odd and seen in other Royal Cavalry units (for example the Black Musketeers as seen in marvellous reconstruction at Musee de l'Armee, Paris or escorting Orson Wells' carriage in a certain movie). It is indeed a crested helmet, as seen on Netherlands Heavy Cavalry or French Carabiniers, but with a rather sparse horsetail as in cuirassiers also! Suggestion is both work for Waterloo and many pictures from Second Restoration suggesting the habit was updated to the shorter waisted style. So, it all depends when. They look so much better with the bearskin and longer tailed coat with the red lapels, whatever.

Perry's have promised me to do both forms one day……..in 28mm though. Til then I have converted!

Thanks deadhead – it's only a small unit at Waterloo for decoration really so will make sure they stand out!

I was looking for 15mm Elite Gendarmes, found this thread. I called 19th century miniatures, oldglory15s.com and asked about the figures mentioned above. They exist, are part of the mold for the empress dragoons. Shorter bearskin with the peaked visor.
Steve is putting a unit of 16 together for me, so they still are available.

Patrick

Now that is clever and I do hope we will see your figures here one day. I am sucker for this unit.

The peaked bearskin on Guard Dragoons should work well. Saddlery/horse furniture unchanged.

Aigulettes (the lace string efforts on the shoulder and chest) right on Dragoons, left on troopers of Gendarmes (very minor detail) Musketoon muzzle down on Gendarmes and Butt down on Dragoons. Black horses for Gendarmes, Bay and Chestnut for Dragoons.

Are these in the plain surtout or the wonderful coat with the red lapels?

Is there a trumpeter as well? How many eagles will your unit carry? Mine in 28mm have three………but then I have more Gendarmes than Cuirassiers (which someone pointed out here before is a bit like Boney at the end of 18th June 1815!)

They have the coat with lapels…
Musket is butt down..
The one real negative is there is no command…. he is just including grenadiers a cheval command, i will see if I can swap heads…
I will paint them up as soon as I get them!

They will look great then. Red lapels superb….musket would not bother me. The tiny peak for the Grenadier Command?….naw. I would not chop heads off unless you are as nutty as I am.

Three pistol holders each side…that is more important for appearance. Dragoons and Gendarmes…almost unique to them.

Aigulettes left, except for officers with fringed epaulettes….oh then it is getting daft. Too much info.

I really look forward to seeing these. Any quality of photos frankly……

and I hope you are from "the Auld Country", way back, with that name

Yes, 3 pistol holders each side… the Aigulettes are on the right…

Patrick

As for my heritage, its greek (vardavilias)), italian (DeLoretta), norwegian (Larson), scotch-irish (Donley), english (Johnson), and german (Gump)… lol

Patrick

I bought that bag (Empress Dragoons) many many years ago, and was surprised enough when I found bearskins to write to them (Old Glary that is) to query this. They replied "They are the elite company that dragoons had".

I laughed.

But now they are the gendarmes instead. Interesting

Marc

Well and I thought the Dragoons of the Guard were all an elite and so no elite company….like Cuirassiers and all Guard cavalry and all Guard infantry companies etc…….Good for them for showing quick thinking! (Make that man up to corporal!)

Seriously, there has always been a rumour of a pioneer, bearded with an apron and bearskin for the Guard dragoons, but I have never seen a picture of one. Only recently I thought I was looking at a pioneer for Gendarmes d'Elite. Joy gave way to despair when someone pointed out the word "Neapolitan" in the description!

Ah Deadhead, the old "Neapolitano honey trap"!!
If you come across a picture of a truly marvelous or splendid uniform, it is by default almost always a Neapolitano uniform designed by that master of all uniformlunacy and creator of fantastic colorcombos, old Murat himself.
One day I will have a complete Neapolitano army, then I will be fullfilled and have reached the transcendential state of uniformology.
To bad they had a bit of way to go in their marshall arts though…goes to show, the dress does NOT make the man after all;)