"French Cuirassier Options for 28mm 1809 Army" Topic

Hi guys

Can someone kindly advise me of my options for French Cuirassiers for a 28mm French force circa 1809 to face my Austrians.

It appears my only option is the Front Rank range . These arn't bad but I just think other manufacturers produce more refined horses these days. I am a novice when it come to Naps but I am guessing the problem area is the musician in other ranges which tends to date them post 1812 ?

Thanks in advance

The best figures in my opinion are those from the Perrys. You can have them in metal or plastic. With the plastic figures you can leave off the carbine for 1809. One of the metal sets also has cuirassiers without carbines. For trumpeters, you may need to do a bit of carving to get rid of the lace for 1809 or find a single figure from another range e.g. Foundry.

Have you considered the advantages of doing carabiners instead? In 1809 they were still wearing the elegant uniform with bearskin instead of the fancified cuirassier rig of the later empire.

There is an absolute shedload of manufacturers of French figures for this period. One of 'em must have something suitable…

link

Thanks guys for your suggestions.

Perry's are my preferred choice for my French. I have currently a box of the new excellent 1809 plastic French on my painting bench. Just building some light plastic cavalry( Chasseurs ) . These are also excellent and cant wait to get my paint brush on these beauties.
As I use the dip as an intermediate stage in my painting , this will therefore rule out carving the Perry Plastic musician as there would be traces of the lace left which would be highlighted when the dip is used. Mounting the Foundry musician on a plastic horse from the Perry set may be an option. I have 2 sets of the Perry Plastic Cuirassiers in my stash cabinet that I bought some years ago.

I may have a unit of Carabiners as well although I am trying to base my French around Oudinot/Lannes 2nd Corps troops including the attached Cuirassiers.

Other manufacturers yes. I am looking at Eagle as they are apparently fully compatible with Perry's .

>>One of the metal sets also has cuirassiers without carbines.

Because they (Cuirassiers) did NOT have them at that period, which is fine. They were not provided to them until ?1810+ And then a debate about short muskets/ carbines/ '98 style fusils went on.
Minifigs have all fusils attached, so we go with it.

Cuirassiers were ALL in central Europe in the two Heavy Cavalry Corps; none were more than temporarily seconded to a Corps other than Murats. The full first Division had 3 Brigades, one of carabiniers, two of cuirassier, since 1804. With Horse artillery inclusive. Rare to break up, but often the Divisions were 'let loose' to have at the retreating enemy.
D

One exception, SHaT1984. In Spain, Suchet's Army of Aragon had the only 5-squadron Cuirassier regiment, although it may have been made up of components from many other units.

@ Widowson

Yeah wording… I meant ALL the Cuirassiers in Central E, not all were…

I nearly called out Spain as an exception because I thought I had read that the 13th was handed captured fusils for when they performed escort/ patrol duty. But I wouldn't know where that was cited! (Could have been the caption to an illustration),
cheers