"New Perry French Dragoons" Topic

I think this is marvellous news. How long have I waited for dragoon style figures in the longer tailed coat with the exposed waistcoat. The pre Bardin look. Ideal for many conversions including Imperial Guard and Carabiniers too. Some great imagination gone into these with elite companies/ baggy overalls/covered helmets/command units etc. Many more than I am showing here, all released today.

Not to mention some more French Hussars!

excellent figures, and yes, this was the uniform worn in the Peninsula and elswhere at least till 1813

very nice. Metal or plastic?

metal I am glad to say………

Agreed, excellent figures.

This was one of these releases I was really waiting for, time to get some and expand my French Peninsular force.

Huzzah! I have been waiting for these for ages. I can finally complete my French in the Peninsula.

Me too! I am delighted but surprised. Nothing on the workbench or Facebook about these……..

Now we just need H&C to bring out the third volume in their French dragoons series: it's been a long time coming.

I love seeing dragoons in campaign dress – matches so many prints, esp Peninsula

Let me ask the experts…

The collar style.

Seems more open than I expect to see on Guard Dragoons or Grenadiers a Cheval. A minor thing frankly, but does this reflect changing fashions?

Is this an 1806 or earlier look somehow?

It will not bother me. I have long wanted these. A bit of Greenstuff on the helmets, or a bearskin head swap, different horses for saddlery, some brass wire off a bottle of Rioja for aigulettes……..my Guard Cavalry will be complete

technically the collars should be hooked up completly – but often they weren't and sometimes, especially for officers coats they were even cut like this, with Bardin – intoduced in late 1813 some of this individuality died a bit – Alan Perry sculpted all those details very well, seemingly a keen researcher himself, outstanding, so to speak of.

Nice figs – the French had lots and lots of dragoons and I think they are somewhat under-represented on the table

Even i like these – generally not a big fan of Perry figures – but these have a real sense of period.

The officer on the third picture has not an officer's saddle, that's a pity…

You mean fourth one down?

Good point. As far as I can see one has a sheepskin cover and no portmanteau behind him. That was seen for occifers I think.

The eagle bearer we presume is an occifer (mind you, epaulettes show no fringes anywhere) and he has a portmanteau and a folded cloak on top. Is that the one you mean? I imagine wrong for parade, but…on campaign…?

Yes, I meant the fourth picture.

The elite dragoons, assoiated with this command, wear plumes, cords and full regalia, so why does the officer has a 'campaign saddle' ?

Great figures nonetheless, it will not prevent me from buying them…

I suspect the answer is that this horse has existed for years. He is the original standing cuirassiers' horse from very early days, just resurrected here.

I thought the standing cuirassiers were amongst the best mouldings/castings I had ever seen in 28mm…I still do.

Highly imaginative…

Based on that famous painting. We have enough heroic cuirassiers charging hell for leather.

I suspect Perrys' answer would be just that…this is a campaign saddle! I do think even high ranking occifers might have wanted some kit on their personal mount…just in case…

"The officer on the third picture has not an officer's saddle, that's a pity…"

very good point, tell the Perrys.

Also – but this is almost insanity, one would wish saddle cloth without sheepskin even for troopers.

@Deadhead, the egale was carried by NCOs in the cavalry, in infantry up to 1808 also an NCO

What? No sheepskin for the troopers?

This is not insane, but very surprising. You must tell us more. You mean early dragoons, no sheepskin?????

I think there is nothing wrong with pointing out the tiniest error in anything. You may love these figures and yet say that there is one button too many on the lapels. Fine……. that is how we learn and we should welcome such feedback. Insanity is when folk then get insulted.

Very good point about the eagle bearer! As soon as I get before a short period in the wars against Gen Buonaparte (approx. 100 Days in 1815) I know even less.

sheepskin cover was usually worn on campaign, but in 1805 some units did not have them, so such miniature horses would be a luxury, but on the other hand – all those confederation of the Rhine units – which Alan Perry covered in detail …

Yes, that's right the sheepskin was used on campaign long before it became regulation in 1812. Actually Rousselot, states that it had' been in use with most regiments since before 1812', which is why I decided to make them with them.

Well all I can say is that I have long waited, indeed begged, for these to appear………thanks!

Brilliant. Much hacking and chopping coming up. The Bridge at Charleroi in Gringos40s figs is almost done. The Brigade Miniatures Rifles are next, provided they get here…..but then….

sheepskin cover was usually worn on campaign, but in 1805 some units did not have them

This is not insane, but very surprising. You must tell us more. You mean early dragoons, no sheepskin?????

The 24th dragoons appear to have been one of those units. See the portrait of François Dard, chef d'escadron. He was appointed chef d'escadron in 1803 and assigned to the 24th dragoons in 1804. In 1807 he was transferred to the 23rd dragoons and appointed major in the same year. So the painting should date from between 1804 and 1807 (look at the troopers in the background):

As a side note, Martinet still depicts all dragoons without sheepskins…

@ Perry Miniatures

How about sculpting an individual standing horse with saddle cloth bare of sheepskin for each officer and trooper and offering the possibility to buy those separately?

That's a good portrait. New to me.

Magnificent figures as always. Please do British ADCs!!!! I'm begging!

great portrait, but against whom do they fight – Turcs?

great portrait, but against whom do they fight – Turcs?

Could be a reminiscence of Dard's earlier career. With the 14th dragoons, he participated in the Egyptian campaign and was at the battle of Aboukir in 1799. The 14th were also at Nazareth, Mont-Tabor, etc. So, yes, perhaps Turks. Strange composition, but why not?

I wonder whether the number on the saddlecloth of the horseman in the middle ground is not a "24" but a "14"? If so, the painting could not be used as evidence for saddlecloths without sheepskin for the 24th dragoons in 1804/07, of course. Never mind. Still a very nice painting.

On Dard:

link

link

I wonder whether the number on the saddlecloth of the horseman in the middle ground is not a "24" but a "14"?

Sorry for answering myself. Facing colour of the 14th dragoons would be pink but when I look at the colour of the lapels of the troopers I see a whitish yellow rather than pink. And when I look at the first cypher of the number on the saddlecloth, I'd say that it is a "2" rather than a "1". So, probably, the 24th dragoons, after all. Funny to see them fighting against the Turks. But, who cares…So, the evidence seems to remain valid.

Also – but this is almost insanity, one would wish saddle cloth without sheepskin even for troopers.

Just as a reminder: Offensive Miniatures have pre-1812 dragoons on horses without sheepskin. They look very good, in my opinion:

link

Very surprisingly, the Perrys have NOT included a set of Dragoon troopers charging, WITHOUT rolled manteau-capote. That would complement the charging elite company and command with no rolled manteau-capote!.
These omissions are quite hard for me to understand!

I have just realized that most of the Perry dragoons have their muskets slung over the back. I'm puzzled. Any unquestionably contemporary illustrations showing such an arrangement (no dubious "sources" such as "El Guil", or "Valmont", please)?

Also the helmet covers (with freely flying crests?) look more like later 19th/early 20th century style covers to me…?

Another dumb question too. The guys with their cloaks rolled across their shoulders for protection….what is that on the portmanteau at the back of the saddle cloth?

Lucky folk if they have two cloaks…

BTW, what I would like to see too were dragoon sappers, and bandsmen, such as shown by Bommer (I think the Perrys know what I'm talking about, in view of their connections to German enthusiasts)…

Think its possible that some officers used a black sheepskin flung over the expensive silver-thread lined holsters, to protect them from incessant sun-bleaching and dust in Spain.